Day 23 of our 30 day January Challenge was a drawing class trick from Fran O’Neill. The purpose is to trick artists into describing surface and surroundings that have as much interest and presence as the stuff that’s sitting on and in front of it. The most common response to this kind of exercise is “how the heck do I draw a white wall?!?” In short, you find a way across it.
Here are some of my favorite descriptive empty scenes:
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The urge to fill in empty space with an object instead of describing the surface or space itself is sometimes too much for artists to ignore, and there were quite a few drawings that had an object plopped in. Below is my favorite drawing as the artist posted it, and then with an edit from me, so we can see how strong and captivating the drawing is without it.
Original drawing, artist’s name unknown
Doctored in Photoshop by me
This drawing was posted to Padlet without a name. If this is your drawing, please forgive me for altering your original. Contact me or post below so I can credit you, and so that I may send you a token of my appreciation for this beautiful drawing.
I’ve been talking about how to use hands as expressive elements within a drawing. I love this idea so much, both for technical practice and for powerful personal expression, that I made a class to study expressive hands and heads, and I started collecting examples. Some I collected because I appreciated the rendering. Some I collected because the artist …
If I wanted to paint solid, flat, even areas of color without visible brushstrokes I would: Start with a pre-gessoed smooth panel, or apply your own gesso and wet sand between coats. Use a soft brush, like a synthetic squirrel tail. (Hint: You’ll need to use thinner paint with a softer brush) Soft brush still …
Day 28 of our 30 Day January Challenge was to transcribe Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Mewar. Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought, but one of our artists did. Soon after the challenge was posted, I received an email from Dorothy Richards. Her letter is shared below, with permission. Birthday gift? …
Wednesdays are “see and respond” days in our 30 day challenge. Two weeks ago, the challenge was to follow specific instructions for making Sol LeWitt’s wall drawing #118. Today is Sol LeWitt instructions for wall drawing #328. This one suggests you start with a black wall and draw with white crayon. Paper or black painted …
30SAL Faves: Set the Stage
Day 23 of our 30 day January Challenge was a drawing class trick from Fran O’Neill. The purpose is to trick artists into describing surface and surroundings that have as much interest and presence as the stuff that’s sitting on and in front of it. The most common response to this kind of exercise is “how the heck do I draw a white wall?!?” In short, you find a way across it.
Here are some of my favorite descriptive empty scenes:
The urge to fill in empty space with an object instead of describing the surface or space itself is sometimes too much for artists to ignore, and there were quite a few drawings that had an object plopped in. Below is my favorite drawing as the artist posted it, and then with an edit from me, so we can see how strong and captivating the drawing is without it.
This drawing was posted to Padlet without a name. If this is your drawing, please forgive me for altering your original. Contact me or post below so I can credit you, and so that I may send you a token of my appreciation for this beautiful drawing.
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Drawings of Hands: Charles White
I’ve been talking about how to use hands as expressive elements within a drawing. I love this idea so much, both for technical practice and for powerful personal expression, that I made a class to study expressive hands and heads, and I started collecting examples. Some I collected because I appreciated the rendering. Some I collected because the artist …
How to Avoid Brush Strokes With Acrylic
If I wanted to paint solid, flat, even areas of color without visible brushstrokes I would: Start with a pre-gessoed smooth panel, or apply your own gesso and wet sand between coats. Use a soft brush, like a synthetic squirrel tail. (Hint: You’ll need to use thinner paint with a softer brush) Soft brush still …
30SAL Faves: Transcribe an Indian Mini
Day 28 of our 30 Day January Challenge was to transcribe Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Mewar. Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought, but one of our artists did. Soon after the challenge was posted, I received an email from Dorothy Richards. Her letter is shared below, with permission. Birthday gift? …
30SAL Challenge: Instructions for Drawing #328
Wednesdays are “see and respond” days in our 30 day challenge. Two weeks ago, the challenge was to follow specific instructions for making Sol LeWitt’s wall drawing #118. Today is Sol LeWitt instructions for wall drawing #328. This one suggests you start with a black wall and draw with white crayon. Paper or black painted …