Week Four: Texture, Space, Form

All of you charged fearlessly into the challenge of drawing from real life. Last Friday's session focused on drawing the textures of rocks and branches. It was a great start! Everyone continues to show steady improvement in drawing outlines and contour lines. We'll be exploring texture in future drawings. And we'll be learning more about space and form, too. Your texture drawings are shown below.

Sketchy's Dino Challenge
Everyone got a great start in drawing the form of the dinosaur. In drawing the outer edges of the dinosaur's form, you put the knowledge of positive/negative space to work (just like the egret lesson). The angle of the head and proportions were difficult for some of you. I'll discuss the angle of the head and jaw on Friday. To view your drawings of the dinosaur click here.


This Week's Drawing Challenge: Let's Get Abstract!
Use lines, shapes, patterns and textures to create a drawing from your imagination. Here's the link for getting started: Let's Get Abstract

In future lessons we'll be venturing forth, intrepid SLV Sketchers, into the world of drawing realistically. Practice drawing whenever you can. Remember, you can click on your blog drawings to see a larger view. See you on Friday. --Rob

p.s. Hilda: Ricky can look at trees and rocks, where he's visiting, for his drawing on texture.

Michael

You've made a big breakthrough with your drawing of the rock! You did an excellent job of drawing the overall form of the rock. You did a very good job of drawing contour lines that represent the different angled planes and surfaces of the rock. I also like how you used shading to show the contrast between different planes and surfaces. The cast shadow underneath the rock, in the area closest to us, is a nice realistic touch. Keep focused on drawing like this! Michael's comments: "It was an awesome experience."

Gage

Great job of drawing the 3D form of the block of wood. Lighter and darker gray tones show the left and right angled planes of the block of wood, making it look 3D. Nice job of using vertical and horizontal lines to show the texture of the wood. The way you've drawn heavier, darker texture lines on the darker side of the wood helps to give depth to your picture. The overlapping nail also helps to give depth to the picture. Gage's comments: "It was hard but fun. See you next week."

Elvis

You've done an excellent job of drawing lines and tones for the texture of the wood, particularly the splintered area in the center of your drawing. I like how you've drawn jagged horizontal lines for cracks in the wood. The jagged outlines show the rough edges of the wood. The way you erased highlight areas makes your drawing look more realistic. Elvis' comments: "What I learned from texture is that it is complicated drawing from real life and I need to work on it."

Jared

Drawing the form of this piece of wood is a big improvement in drawing realistically. You're taking time to practice drawing realistically. Excellent job of drawing the oval shape and texture lines on the area closest to us. You also started drawing the darker texture lines for the surface of the bark. Good start at drawing the cast shadow underneath the branch and erasing the highlight areas, making your picture look 3D. Jared's comments: "Today I had a hard time drawing real life stuff, but I know I will get better. We should draw cartoons."

Shaylah

Excellent job of drawing the textures of the piece of wood! You did a great job of drawing the guidelines and outlines that form the wood, then you took the time to add layers of curved contour lines for the different textures. I really like how you experimented with short straight lines and darker and lighter lines for texture. You're on track to drawing realistically. Shaylah's comments: "I think it was very interesting to draw this piece of wood because of all the grooves and wavy lines, how I had to darken certain spots and add the small details. It was difficult in a good way."

Leif

Excellent job of drawing the curved lines that form the branch. You did a very good job of taking time to draw the textures and details of the right end of the branch. The contrasts of the dark shadows and highlights and rough edges make that area look realistic. Overall, you did a good job of adding layers of lighter and darker lines to show texture. Leif's comments: "Texture is definitely one of the hardest drawings I've had to overcome. It's just that every detail makes the picture, and contrast becomes very difficult."

Jaime

Looks like you had fun inventing a key holder with this piece of wood. You did a good job of drawing the outlines that form the wood. On the far left end of the wood your contour lines show the rough texture of the edges. Good start on drawing the large, dark crack and other textures in the wood.

Craig

Great start in drawing guidelines of the overall form and texture of the branch. The left end of the branch, where you've drawn the oval, is well-drawn and shows a 3D view. The light and dark gray tones and texture lines at the end of the branch make it look realistic. The cast shadow underneath the branch add to the realism and give depth to your picture. Craig's comments: "Very difficult. Also fun."

Hilda

I really like how you experimented with lots of layers of curved lines and tones to show the textures of the the wood. I like how you started investigating the darker areas that contrasted with lighter areas, making hard edges that show texture.

Week Four: Sketchy's Dino Challenge

Everyone got a good start in drawing the overall form of the dinosaur. And everyone remembered to overlap the back left leg over the belly, and the belly over the right leg, making the dino look 3D and giving depth to the picture. The angle of the head and proportions were difficult for some of you. I'll discuss the angle of the head and jaw in class.

Here's the link to the reference picture: Click here


Elvis
Overall, the proportions of the dinosaur are drawn well. Good start in drawing the texture of the dinosaur's tough skin. I really like how you spent time drawing details of the bony area around the eye, the strong jaw, and sharp teeth. Contour lines and shading show the strong muscles and roundness of the chest and belly. I like how you've overlapped the legs and belly to give depth to the picture. Very good contours and details of the right claw. Try relaxing your outlines to show more natural curves. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Is the length of the tail the same?


Shaylah
Your outlines have improved a lot! Overall, the form of the dinosaur and it's proportions look good. Compare your drawing to the reference picture to make sure the length of the tail and size of the head are accurate. Very good job of drawing the foreshortened back leg muscles--this dino looks like it's actually running! You also captured the 3D appearance of the dinosaur by overlapping the legs and belly. Good start of drawing the texture of the rough skin and details such as teeth and claws. I particularly like the contour lines that form the right leg and claw.


Jared
Very good job of drawing the 3D form of the mouth. Overall, you captured the basic form of the dinosaur's body. The belly overlaps the back right leg, giving depth to the picture. We'll keep practicing drawing the form of realistic things. It's important to take time draw guide lines, then compare it to what you're looking at, then make corrections before drawing darker outlines, like you did when drawing the branch in class.


Jaime
You've done a very good job of drawing the overall form of the dinosaur. I like how you made the teeth and inside of the mouth look 3D. You've got a good start drawing the texture of the rough skin. In one picture you drew some realistic contour lines for the skin around the front leg. The other picture shows a more stylized texture with bold lines on the leg and around the eye. I'd like to see you develop details like the skin and muscles further, make them look more realistic. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Does the form and angle of the dinosaur's right leg and claws look the same? The bony edges of the head and jaw?


Michael
You've made a big improvement in drawing the form and proportions of the dinosaur. Your outlines continue to become more and more accurate. Keep sketching light guidelines before drawing darker outlines. And try to relax your outlines, making them look more realistic. Take time to compare your drawing to the reference picture. Are the muscles of the back legs the same proportions?

And here are dino drawings by our teachers!


Hilda
Excellent job of creating contour lines that form the edges of the dinosaur! I really like the contour lines in the jaw, neck, and shoulder areas. And the contour lines on the back legs show very realistic muscles and strong, sharp claws. The natural curve of the backbone and tail show the realistic, powerful forward movement of the dinosaur's body. Very good job of blending lighter and darker tones on the upper body, belly, and back legs.


Patty
This dino looks like it's going to jump off the page and chase us down the street! The contour lines for powerful muscles look very realistic. I really like the contours that form the neck muscles and strong back leg. I especially like the contours and shading of the area where the front shoulder attaches to the back and rib cage area. The angle of the bony head and jaw looks very accurate.