Most of the time when people draw something such as a still life, they draw the objects and then neglect everything around the objects, like the table holding it up, and the wall behind it. A drawing like this shows us a thing floating in nothing instead of an interaction of depth, volume, and surfaces inhabiting a full compositional space.
Still life sideboard with apple by Giacometti (1937)
Today’s OBSERVATIONAL Challenge:
Set up a scene, then remove the objects and draw what’s left. Find ways to describe the surfaces such as wall, table, floor or whatever else is in your scene, and make them look solid and interesting. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but if you need a little inspiration, take a look at the Giacometti drawings here. See how he makes marks across the surfaces to activate them and give them surface. #setthestage
Thank you to our drawing teachers Fran O’Neill and Lyall Wallerstedt for giving us this challenge. Interested in exploring this idea in a class? Beginning Drawing and Drawing II both start this week. I’ll be taking Fran’s Drawing II. So fun! Classes are all online so I can zoom in from my comfy spot and munch on snacks. Come join us! Class sizes are small and space is limited, so don’t wait! Click here to see more.
(detail of Giacometti’s still life sideboard)
Post it
To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #setthestage so we can find your post.
To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post:
A lot of V. Note ideas wither because they are just one little thought or artwork, and I don’t have it in me to flush them out into a complete chapter. I’ve been thinking I should post more of these single notes. Here’s one: an automatic writing by Bruno Leyval. Automatic Writing/Drawing: writing or drawing produced without …
Thanks to Jennifer Small for sending this in response to yesterday’s post about Degas’ failed historical paintings. This one was painted some time between 1857 and 1862 (dates differ), which was around the same time as he was working on the other historical paintings. Paintings and dates: The Daughter of Jephtha 1860 The Daughter of Jephtha study 1860 Young …
Helen Rae (1938-2020)“Her drawings, in colored pencil and graphite, are immediately striking for their vivid imagery, resonant use of color and innovative reworking of source material. Using fashion advertisements as a point of departure for otherworldly journeys into the subconscious, Helen transforms the original images into something uniquely expressive, which possess a strange beauty and …
Day 23: Set the Stage #30SAL
Most of the time when people draw something such as a still life, they draw the objects and then neglect everything around the objects, like the table holding it up, and the wall behind it. A drawing like this shows us a thing floating in nothing instead of an interaction of depth, volume, and surfaces inhabiting a full compositional space.
Today’s OBSERVATIONAL Challenge:
Set up a scene, then remove the objects and draw what’s left. Find ways to describe the surfaces such as wall, table, floor or whatever else is in your scene, and make them look solid and interesting. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but if you need a little inspiration, take a look at the Giacometti drawings here. See how he makes marks across the surfaces to activate them and give them surface. #setthestage
Thank you to our drawing teachers Fran O’Neill and Lyall Wallerstedt for giving us this challenge. Interested in exploring this idea in a class? Beginning Drawing and Drawing II both start this week. I’ll be taking Fran’s Drawing II. So fun! Classes are all online so I can zoom in from my comfy spot and munch on snacks. Come join us! Class sizes are small and space is limited, so don’t wait! Click here to see more.
Post it
To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #setthestage so we can find your post.
To find more followers for your page, you can cut/paste these to your post:
#30sal #setthestage #vnotes #creativechallenge #januarychallenge #drawingchallenge #drawing #art #sketch #artchallenge #artist #draw #artistsoninstagram #sketchbook #instaart #artwork #drawingoftheday #dailydrawing #oilpainting #mixedmedia #drawingsketch #artoftheday #creativity
Padlet
Don’t have Instagram? Post your work to Padlet.
DAY 23: SET THE STAGE https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/p7q2x2le410zm3b9
DAY 22: REVERSE PERSPECTIVE https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/zady37uhzbw40wso
DAY 21: BACCHUS & ARIADNE https://seattleartistleague.padlet.org/SAL/ae63k1leakeqttu5
Deadline for Prizes
Deadline for submissions: 3 days after each challenge post.
January prize winners will be announced in February.
To learn more about the 30SAL Challenge, click here.
Online drawing classes start this week!
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Automatic writing by Bruno Leyval
A lot of V. Note ideas wither because they are just one little thought or artwork, and I don’t have it in me to flush them out into a complete chapter. I’ve been thinking I should post more of these single notes. Here’s one: an automatic writing by Bruno Leyval. Automatic Writing/Drawing: writing or drawing produced without …
Degas put an Ibis on it
Thanks to Jennifer Small for sending this in response to yesterday’s post about Degas’ failed historical paintings. This one was painted some time between 1857 and 1862 (dates differ), which was around the same time as he was working on the other historical paintings. Paintings and dates: The Daughter of Jephtha 1860 The Daughter of Jephtha study 1860 Young …
Colored Pencil Drawings by Helen Rae
Helen Rae (1938-2020)“Her drawings, in colored pencil and graphite, are immediately striking for their vivid imagery, resonant use of color and innovative reworking of source material. Using fashion advertisements as a point of departure for otherworldly journeys into the subconscious, Helen transforms the original images into something uniquely expressive, which possess a strange beauty and …