Week Eleven: Picasso, Leger, Shading, Composition

Everyone is blowing my mind with how you've improved your drawing! As we move into learning about shading and drawing realistically, the SLV Sketchers are showing they've got skillz! I really like how everyone dove in and took on the challenge of drawing the cubist style Picasso still life last week. And I think Fernand Leger's Le Cycleste was a breakthrough for many of you in drawing expressive lines.

Today, finish Leger's Chaise picture (the one with the chair and cow) and continue with Picasso's still life with the pitcher and apples. Remember to lightly sketch guidelines for the overall shapes in the composition before shading. On this drawing try NOT to draw heavy outlines, instead using gray tones to show different color values, such as the contrast between the apples and the plate they are on. Think about which direction the light source is coming from when making the darker shadows. Erasing the highlight areas would be a nice finishing touch. Hey everyone: no grid lines for today's Picasso still life. :)

There won't be a drawing challenge this week, so you can take time to finish the Picasso still life today and tomorrow in class. I know this week's schedule is tight, but those of you who finish the Picasso still life, and have time today or tomorrow, here's a little extra challenge: Compare the cubist Picasso still life you did last week to this week's realistic still life. Write about how they are different or the same. Explain whatever you can about your experience when drawing the two compositions. I'll post what you write on the blog.

Reference pictures: Click here

Remember, I'll help those of you who wish to pursue your own directions in drawing. Elvis got started with a cool drawing of a motorcycle, shown below. Talk to me about any ideas you have and we'll get you going.

Zach dropped in to draw last week and I hope he continues with the sessions! Great job of drawing lines and shapes in catching up with the rest of the class. Cool frog sketches! Keep working on sketching guidelines before finishing with final outlines, Zach.



I'll see you all tomorrow at 10:10 a.m. --Rob

Elvis

These two compositions are excellent, Elvis! Your drawing skills really came together in both Le Cycleste and the Picasso still life. You did a great job of dividing the still life composition by drawing the shapes of the objects. Your confidence shows brilliantly in your linework and your shading. Continue using your shading skills in the Picasso still life that you're drawing today.



You're off and flying with exploring new possiblities in your drawing skills! The position of the rider's body and the angle of the motorcycle shows lots of movement in your picture. Whenever you can successfully show movement it makes your picture more realistic and interesting to look at. I'll need to look at your reference picture to compare the form of the bike and rider's body. But you've done an excellent job of drawing both. Check the reference picture to compare the size of the rider's body compared to the motorcycle. Is it correct?

Shaylah

Wonderful compositions, Shaylah! You drew very clean contour lines for Le Cycleste. Excellent job of drawing the proportions of the body and show all of the details in the composition. Great job of overlapping the arms and bicycle parts. You did a fantastic job of shading the Picasso drawing! Continue using your shading skills in the still life you're drawing today. Remember to try not to finish with real dark outlines. Go for it!

Keeley

Your drawing skills are progressing wonderfully! Both of these compositions are very well drawn. Excellent job of drawing the details and proportions of Le Cycleste. The overlapping of the arms and bicycle parts are also well drawn. Great job of drawing the Picasso still life. I like how you shaded the objects in the composition and show the highlighted edges of the bowls. Continue using your shading skills in the still life you're drawing today. Try not to draw dark outlines when finishing.

Gage

You're really starting to focus your attention on drawing well-balanced compositions! Excellent job of including details of Le Cycleste. The proportions are very well drawn, and you did a great job of overlapping the arms and tires. Continue using your excellent shading skills in the still life you're working on today. Remember, try NOT to draw dark outlines in the Picasso still life your drawing today.

Tiana

Overall, both of these compositions are very well drawn, Tiana! Fantastic job of drawing Leger's Le Cycleste! The contour lines forming the man's face and body are drawn with confidence. The dark rectangle in the background and the light gray tones are nicely drawn. You did a great job of including crisp details of the man's features and the bicycle parts. Nice job of overlapping the arms and tires. Even though you didn't finish the Picasso still life, your lines and shapes are very accurately drawn. Excellent start in drawing the gray tones. It would be nice to see this one finished. :) Continue using your excellent shading skills in today's still life drawing.

Doug

Fantastic compositions, Doug! Excellent job of drawing the bold lines that show the form of Le Cycleste. Nice job of drawing accurate proportions of his body and the bicycle parts. The shading and gray tones in your Picasso still life made for a powerful comosition. I really like the shading in your Picasso composition. Gently erasing more of the smaller highlight areas, like the edges of the bowls would be a nice touch. Keep moving in this direction with the Picasso still life you're drawing today. Try NOT to finish with dark outlines, instead using your shading skills to show the different values.

Leif

Two superb compositions, Leif! Your confidence in your drawing skills has come a long way during the weeks in class. It's so cool how you sit down in class and start sketching out the guidelines for your compositions. These two drawings show that you're staying focused on measuring proportions and drawing accurate contour lines. Excellent job of including details of Le cycleste. Great start with using gray tones for shading the Picasso still life drawing! I'd like to see you use gray tones to show the color values in the Picasso still life you're working on today.

Gia

Excellent composition! The control of your lines have improved a lot since last week! I see lots more confidence in the outlines that show the details of the figure and bicycle parts. You did a great job of overlapping the arm and tires. Keep practicing sketching light shapes and guidelines before finishing with darker contour lines.

Our Teachers!

Hilda
Two excellent compositions, Hilda! The blended gray tones and highlighted areas work together nicely in your Picasso drawing. The shading and angled lines wonderfully show the cubist art style. Your contour lines in Le Cycleste are very accurately drawn. Your own style of drawing is starting to show brilliantly in your linework and eye for composition.


Patty
Awesome!! Your passion for drawing REALLY shines through on your Picasso drawing. Color, shading, and your sense for composition work in wonderful harmony. I like how you used pencil strokes to show the form and texture of the still life objects. The highlighted edges of the bowls add a lot of depth to the composition. Your mix of colors comes very close to matching Picasso's color palette.

Reference Pictures

Picasso

Leger
(click on picture to enlarge)