As promised, our next drawing exercise after contour lines was gesture drawing.
The students learned the difference between using a slow concentrated contour line quality and making a drawing using a quick sweeping line capturing the gesture of their subject, which in our case, the subject was each other!
We took turns modeling for the class in timed increments in our sketchbooks. The students were able to describe each model using only one line, drawing with a rapid fluid gesture.
For our medium, we experimented with a few new items: oil pastels and color sticks. Both of these materials are better suited for gesture drawings since they are softer, smoother mediums where as with our contour lines, it is best to stick to a fine tip pen or drawing pencil. The students enjoyed being able to test run a few new tools for their artistic tool boxes :) We changed colors for each model so their sketch book pages are chocked full of lines, shapes, and a ton of 'color, baby, color'!
After mastering several different types of drawing techniques and line qualities, the young and talented artists of James Weldon Johnson advanced to a 'one day- fun day' practice in self-portrait drawing.
The goal of this very first self-portrait of the year (oh yes, there will be MANY more!) was to have the students start putting the previously learned skills into practice by adding value.
Last week, we colored in our value scales and for this assignment, the students were to render their own faces using as many lights and darks as they could see.
We each had our own mirror and started out drawing lightly using an 'H' numbered drawing pencil. As class went on, these incredible future Fridas and Wileys built upon the shadow areas with darker and darker numbered pencils to create a more realistic three dimensional looking self-portrait.
check out their work for yourself!!!
Starting our first self-portrait on a small scale allows more room for growth and skill level as we progress into larger scale drawing and painting projects as the year goes on. As impressed as I already am, I'll tell you all that I'm expecting nothing but EXCELLENCE from these gifted artists of mine!!!! |
... just sayin! ...
As always, thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check back in soon to see
our next venture in the art room .......
STILL LIFE!