Monday is composition day in our 30 Day Challenge, and you’re doing great! Today we’re going to work with negative space, and an element of chance to make it fun.
You’ll need some string, and simple drawing materials. If you don’t have string, try rubber bands, chopsticks, or bamboo skewers. If you prefer not to draw, consider cutting the shapes out of paper or fabric.
STEP 1: Take your string and drop it on the table until you like the shape it makes. Gaze upon it lovingly.
STEP 2: Draw the space around the string, not the string itself. The space around a thing is called negative space, and drawing negative space is good training to help you see more objectively, and put value on all of the pieces in a composition. If you prefer not to draw, here’s where you get creative with cutting out paper or fabric.
STEP 3: Now for the composition part. Decide which way is up, and draw a tidy rectangle around the composition so the gap of the undrawn string intersects with the edge of your drawing on at least 3 sides of your rectangle. Feel free to use an eraser to clean things up. That’s it!
You know what to do
Set a timer for 20 minutes. When the timer chimes, continue if you wish, but 20 minutes is a win.
Post your work to the new Padlet for January 11.
PADLET JAN 11-15 https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/fl2cnuio5g0ocsfp
Post your work to social media with the tags #30sal & #seattleartistleague. To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these tags and add them to your post:
Looking for more information about 30SAL? It’s not too late to jump in! Check out the 30 Day Challenge Invitation, and 30SAL Challenge Day 1. You’ll find information about prizes, deadlines, what to expect, how to participate, and more. Thanks for being a part of this 30 Day Challenge!
Art 21 by Michael Neault | Jan 7, 2013 Ilya Repin, “Unexpected Visitors” (or “They Did Not Expect Him”), 1884-1888. Oil on canvas. 63.19 x 65.95 in. The Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia. When you approach a painting in a gallery, it feels like you’re looking at the entire piece all at once, but what your …
I don’t always have the patience to sit down and draw from observation, but whenever I can manage to glue my butt to the chair I am rewarded with an increase in appreciation for the world around me. For me, to see clearly is an active practice of discovery, curiosity, attention, acceptance, problem solving, flexibility, …
The couple enjoys works by Rothko and Albers. Sarah Cascone, October 28, 2015 Alma Thomas, Resurrection (1966) in the White House family dining room. Photo: Pete Souza, courtesy the White House. Barack and Michelle Obama may be entering their last year in the White House, but that doesn’t mean its too late for the president …
One year ago in March, to protect our students and teachers from a new coronavirus, the Seattle Artist League moved our classes online. The virus was declared a national emergency, and we went into quarantine. We have now been in quarantine for thirteen months. Through this year, we have met each other online to draw, …
30SAL Challenge: String Theory
Monday is composition day in our 30 Day Challenge, and you’re doing great! Today we’re going to work with negative space, and an element of chance to make it fun.
You’ll need some string, and simple drawing materials. If you don’t have string, try rubber bands, chopsticks, or bamboo skewers. If you prefer not to draw, consider cutting the shapes out of paper or fabric.
STEP 1: Take your string and drop it on the table until you like the shape it makes. Gaze upon it lovingly.
STEP 2: Draw the space around the string, not the string itself. The space around a thing is called negative space, and drawing negative space is good training to help you see more objectively, and put value on all of the pieces in a composition. If you prefer not to draw, here’s where you get creative with cutting out paper or fabric.
STEP 3: Now for the composition part. Decide which way is up, and draw a tidy rectangle around the composition so the gap of the undrawn string intersects with the edge of your drawing on at least 3 sides of your rectangle. Feel free to use an eraser to clean things up. That’s it!
You know what to do
Set a timer for 20 minutes. When the timer chimes, continue if you wish, but 20 minutes is a win.
Post your work to the new Padlet for January 11.
PADLET JAN 11-15
https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/fl2cnuio5g0ocsfp
Post your work to social media with the tags #30sal & #seattleartistleague. To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these tags and add them to your post:
#30sal #seattleartistleague #drawingchallenge #drawing #art #illustration
#sketch #artchallenge #drawings #artist #draw #artistsoninstagram
#sketchbook #instaart #drawthisinyourstyle #artwork #drawingoftheday
#dailydrawing #inkdrawing #drawingsketch #artoftheday #myart
#pencildrawing #drawthisinyourstylechallenge #creativity
#creativechallenge #composition #negativespacedrawing #negativespace
30SAL CHALLENGE
SUNDAY: Observation
MONDAY: Composition
TUESDAY: Memory / Imagination
WEDNESDAY: See & Respond
THURSDAY: Vocabulary
FRIDAY: Comic
SATURDAY: Experimental
Looking for more information about 30SAL? It’s not too late to jump in! Check out the 30 Day Challenge Invitation, and 30SAL Challenge Day 1. You’ll find information about prizes, deadlines, what to expect, how to participate, and more. Thanks for being a part of this 30 Day Challenge!
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