30 Drawings in 30 Days

Sketchbook Diary

One of the most important attributes of any visual artist is visual acumen, or the ability to discern and recognize the interesting and intriguing visual cues around us. Through strong powers of observation, both of the external and internal world, artists build a repertoire of imagery, themes and approaches toward art production that provide them with the ingredients to build powerful compositions and visual ideas.

Beginning September 11 and continuing on to October 11, each student will be required to record in his or her sketchbook, one specific observation that the student has become aware of that day. This may take several forms:

1. a sketch of an interesting place, person or thing
2. a sketch from imagination regarding a new idea, form or technique
3. a written note, paragraph, poem, etc. that records an interesting encounter
4. a mixed media montage of events heard or seen on the news
5. or anything you find worth recording

The goal is to make you aware of how aware you are within your own environment and the abundance of new and powerful imagery and ideas available to the artist who remains viusally and intellectually vigilant of his or her surroundings.
Be sure to check out more of the sketchbook links listed in the earlier entry on sketchbooks for more ideas.

Still Life Drawing Deadlines

In class critiques will be held for your first two class assignments on the following dates:

9/20 In class Observation drawing in Conte
9/27 Still Life from photo

Still Life Homework Assignment

 

 

The still-life as a resource and subject matter for artists has been an essential tool in art for at least two thousand years. It offers a stable subject from which artists can explore the relationships of FORM & SPACE while also providing enormous opportunities to study light, value and texture. Our ultimate goal in this unit is to utilize these elements of Art in building a strong, cohesive COMPOSITION.

You will be building your still-life model at home and photographing your model for use in class next week. When building your model keep the following factors in mind:

1.       Point-of-View:

You want an interesting and intriguing point-of-view to your subject that engages the viewer and provides a dynamic sense to your composition.

2.       Spatial Relationships:

Insure that you are aware of how the objects in your composition relate to each other on both the 2-dimensional plane, and in their illusion of 3-dimensions. Keep the principles of Variety and Unity in mind when you create your composition.

3.       Lighting:

Light can play a major role in your composition so take advantage f windows or other strong light sources when setting up your composition.

4.       Objects:

Choose objects that one might not normally consider in a traditional still-life. For example kitchen utensils, power tools, bathroom supplies. Etc.