Last evening we finished up with a few more examples of perspective drawing and then did a few exercises in negative space drawing, a technique focused again on shape consciousness – an attempt to remove the drawing process from conscious alterations of the subject by what we expect to see.  This is similar the the purpose of grid drawing.  A summary of the work is below in the thumbnails.  Click on a thumbnail for a larger image.  The images posted twice. There are really only eight pictures.

We missed Kristen and Mary, but know they will return again next week.  John-Andrew, Devon and Marsha worked hard and accomplished a lot.   We also had a four legged guest artist, Nate, who did a good job of eating cheese, crackers and cookies, followed by a stint of laying under the table.  He was also a model for Marsha’s grid drawing as you can see.  The images below include Devon’s negative space chair and his hall perspective, John Andrew’s rooftop view perspective and Marsha’s effort at negative space drawing of a pile of masking tape ovals.  The latter was quite challenging. We also framed drawings with good frames, mats and glass.  I have two more frames waiting for Kristen and Mary when the arrive next week.

We talked about the final paper which will be a summary of all your commentary on drawings and the drawing process throughout the semester (you are all, of course, making these short journal entries either on the drawings themselves, or in your journal book, right?).  This paper should be a typed and double spaced, and a minimum of 5 pages of text.  If you wish to include some reduced images, that would be fine as well.  The paper is not an absolute requirement if you do not require the highest possible grade. You can still get a good grade without it, but I think you will find it a useful exercise.  If you have questions about it, please be in touch.  You will hand in the paper on December 2, along with your entire portfolio for the semester.  I will return them with my comments on our last class, December 9th, when we will have a party to celebrate the ending of the class.

We have only four classes left and the topics for these (tentatively) are:

Nov 4, Drawing and the Imagination – see Chapter 8 in Dodson and the handout I gave you last night.  Kristen and Mary:  Chapter 8 will suffice, but I can get you the handout if you want it.  It is a section of Dodson’s new Book:  Ketys to Drawing with Imagination.

Nov 11, Learning from the Masters – Copying, Sketching and the Power of Influences.

Nov 18, Landscape Images – Principles of Landscape Composition. Hand in Paper and Portfolio.

December 2, Media Retrospective – A Mad Dash to the End with Graphite, Charcoal and Ink

December 9 (last class) we will have a party, food, drink, etc. and I will hand back your papers, if you choose to do one, as well as your portfolios.  We may share our thoughts on the drawing process and what we have learned during the semester.

 Gesture drawing, still life, working in graphite and in charcoal were themes of the day, as well as some philosophical discussions of what makes drawing hard, how to draw what you see and not what you know, and the mechanics of hand-eye coordination.  Everyone worked hard and seemed to have a good time.  Thanks for all your energy and effort.  I’ll look forward to seeing you all next Sunday when we will be working at drawing by making white marks in a dark field and creating volume with value (chiaroscuro )..

You can read her thoughts by clicking here!  I’m heading west tomorrow and will bring the pens and waterbrushes used in this technique to aspiring artists Maya, Sarah and Adam in Sunnyvale, California.  Looking forward to seeing them and their mom and dad on Sunday.

Some very interesting and surprising images resulted from last night’s work.  Thanks to all who participated and for the sustained creative effort.  Next week we will be working from Tufte’s book on Visual Explanations, the chapter on disinformation design and visual explanations of Magic. I think  you’ll enjoy that.