“Drawing takes time. A line has time in it.”
-David Hockney
In this first assignment based on inner and outer contour, beginning students draw a complex natural object. Our college campus grounds are full of pinecones. They walk by them most every day. Now, I ask they study one.
They work a number of days on this one drawing. I particularly note the group’s patience and concentration as we move through the process. They arrive on time, grab their pinecone and draw. They appear careful observers from the start.
The first critique of this new year goes well. We talk about the quality of the lines, general composition and all various challenges it took to compete these striking studies.
Here are a few…
Angelica’s Pinecone
Gisela’s Pinecone
Julyssa’s Pinecone
Aday’s Pinecone
Alex’s First
Luc’s The Pine Cone Maze
Juan’s Pinecone
Janera’s Pinecone
The class includes a group of returning students ↓ who get to pick their subject matter and work in mixed media. Basically they pick up where they left off last semester. Naturally they include various elements of design in their compositions including value, though they need to emphasize line/edge.
And they do a fine job holding the afternoon critique.
Edith’s The Dried Flower
Angel’s Duality : Typo Phobia
Angel’s in-class assignment ↑ is in mixed media drawing while her homework is the same seed pod completed ↓ in marker. Good idea Angel, I could start assigning this set up to future classes.
Angel’s Lotus Pod : Duality, marker
Seb’s Avalanche
Eamon’s Now That’s What I Call Pod Racing
Aine’s Artichoke
Basically students learn to look closely and see their subject matter. I ask they always consider the lines they use to describe what they see. Most of them (Drawing 1) do this with a variety of fine markers and no eraser. All the while coordinating eye, hand and brain…process is key.
Good start everyone!
Monica Aissa Martinez 