In my current series of abstraction classes, each week we focus on a single element of art. Honing in like this allows us to explore different ways into a painting or drawing. By narrowing down, we are able to go farther into an idea. These projects were made in response to a class on line (an online class on line, if you must). For this, line was emphasized as a way to move the viewer around the page, as pathways. These “simple” sketches by students are elegant, thoughtful, and captivating. Below are a few compositional studies of debris piles by Dawn Carlsen.
Dawn Carlsen
Dawn Carlsen
Dawn Carlsen
Dawn Carlsen
This handsome and considerate study of a backyard playset by Elisabeth Tripathi looked like it might benefit from a solution to the lower two ends. We tried adding some possibilities digitally to see how we might finish it off.
Elisabeth Tripathi
(with digital edits)
“One of the line drawings we looked at was a yellow background with a simple line cube that really stuck with me and I decided to select a more neutral (by way of de kooning) background to make sure color or texture didn’t start to come to the forefront. It was a great exercise to challenge me!” “This piece came out of doing 60 quick line drawing thumbnails from my backyard. Thanks for reminding me about Franz Kline’s phonebook [sketches].” – Elisabeth Tripathi
This online format is changing the way I teach, and my classes are benefiting from it. Every week I have a slideshow of works and a collection of inspirations for a series of quick studies, then a larger challenge (using whatever materials you have on hand), and homework to integrate some of the ideas you found in class into your own personal style and interests. Since each week we have a singular focus, people are able to jump in to catch the next topic and not feel they are behind, so I have opened up these classes to welcome newcomers. If you would like to join us as we continue with our studies into abstractions, see below. We’d love to see what you make!
Never underestimate the beauty potential of a simple study on paper. These works are mostly vine charcoal on toned paper, some white charcoal (or white pastel), and pencil. The drawing above is watercolor. For most of these, regardless of color, the toned paper is standing in for medium value, so the artist only has to …
Welcome to the 30 Day Challenge The goal of the 30 Day Challenge is to start the new year with a creative habit. The challenges are diverse, and open to all. Before & After. We start our 30 Day Creative Challenge with two separate self portraits: one as you imagine you were on January 1, …
I’ll be sharing my drawings on Facebook. I’d love to see yours too. Maybe your posts will inspire more people to join the challenge. Post your pics to Facebook: SeattleArtLeague, or Instagram: SeattleArtLeague. #drawingaday #seattleartleague – or email them to me. I’d love to see what you create!
Search the internet for perspective, and Western perspective is pretty much all you’ll see. Billions of lessons illustrating the importance of one point, two point, and three point perspective. Lessons state that this is something every artist needs to learn in order to correctly render the three dimensional world on a two dimensional surface. It …
Abstracting Line
In my current series of abstraction classes, each week we focus on a single element of art. Honing in like this allows us to explore different ways into a painting or drawing. By narrowing down, we are able to go farther into an idea. These projects were made in response to a class on line (an online class on line, if you must). For this, line was emphasized as a way to move the viewer around the page, as pathways. These “simple” sketches by students are elegant, thoughtful, and captivating. Below are a few compositional studies of debris piles by Dawn Carlsen.
This handsome and considerate study of a backyard playset by Elisabeth Tripathi looked like it might benefit from a solution to the lower two ends. We tried adding some possibilities digitally to see how we might finish it off.
“One of the line drawings we looked at was a yellow background with a simple line cube that really stuck with me and I decided to select a more neutral (by way of de kooning) background to make sure color or texture didn’t start to come to the forefront. It was a great exercise to challenge me!”
“This piece came out of doing 60 quick line drawing thumbnails from my backyard. Thanks for reminding me about Franz Kline’s phonebook [sketches].” – Elisabeth Tripathi
This online format is changing the way I teach, and my classes are benefiting from it. Every week I have a slideshow of works and a collection of inspirations for a series of quick studies, then a larger challenge (using whatever materials you have on hand), and homework to integrate some of the ideas you found in class into your own personal style and interests. Since each week we have a singular focus, people are able to jump in to catch the next topic and not feel they are behind, so I have opened up these classes to welcome newcomers. If you would like to join us as we continue with our studies into abstractions, see below. We’d love to see what you make!
Abstracts (MINI) 2 Fridays 10:00-1:30 starts 4/24
Abstracts 6 Fridays 10:00-1:30 starts 4/24
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Never underestimate the beauty potential of a simple study on paper. These works are mostly vine charcoal on toned paper, some white charcoal (or white pastel), and pencil. The drawing above is watercolor. For most of these, regardless of color, the toned paper is standing in for medium value, so the artist only has to …
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I’ll be sharing my drawings on Facebook. I’d love to see yours too. Maybe your posts will inspire more people to join the challenge. Post your pics to Facebook: SeattleArtLeague, or Instagram: SeattleArtLeague. #drawingaday #seattleartleague – or email them to me. I’d love to see what you create!
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Search the internet for perspective, and Western perspective is pretty much all you’ll see. Billions of lessons illustrating the importance of one point, two point, and three point perspective. Lessons state that this is something every artist needs to learn in order to correctly render the three dimensional world on a two dimensional surface. It …