Upcoming Workshop Information

JAN~ FEB
PUSH YOUR OWN CREATIVE BUTTONS
Subject: Regular timed drawing sessions improve overall skills

Drawing skills are invaluable when creating plein air studies "on the fly". Time spent improving such skills are truly appreciated when the light begins to change and you realize you've gotten the entire scene blocked in - and in record time!

How to begin:

1. Find several simple objects of various heights and shapes – use an uneven number (1,3,5,7) because it is more interesting - OR overlap several shapes to appear as one mass.  (Again, ONE is an uneven number, so if they overlap the composition becomes “ONE item”.)
   
   
2. Light the objects from one direction so that you can see the shadows…this is easier if you place them on a white surface to begin with. Note the difference in shadow color if you use a yellow or bluish bulb. Remember….warm light gives cooler shadows – cool light gives warmer shadows – it is the absence of whatever color is in the light because the object is blocking that color light.
   
   
3. Look immediately for masses of light and dark to help begin your drawing in a three-dimensional frame of mind. Look for easy basic shapes (square, oval, triangle, etc) that will make your life easier – we can ALL draw these basic shapes, so seeing them right off the bat takes the intimidation factor out of a complex drawing. Look also for “negative space” where the area around the object looks easier to draw than the object itself. Once you recognize and reproduce this negative “basic shape” you’re halfway to success.
   
   
4. Set the timer for increasingly longer stretches beginning with about two minutes….make sure you get all the objects blocked in during that time – increasingly shorten and lengthen times until you have done a few 30 second studies as well as building up to five, ten and then perhaps twenty minutes. You will notice that the shortest sessions produce work that is quite reliable because you don’t have time to draw what you “think” should be there – you simply draw what you truly see.
   
   
5. Try to do this each day or at least a few times weekly – especially BEFORE you begin painting – it gets your mood and right brain revved up. Doing weekly “theme” sketches such as garden tools, kitchen gadgets or whatever interests you gives you an immediate inventory of “bread and butter” sketches to add to your art displays. Such small, easily sold items help finance some of the more expensive art items such as framing!

 

ENJOY EACH NEW CHALLENGE!

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