Weeks 7-10: Form, Contours, Tonal Values, Positive/Negative Space, Perspective... and beyond!

Whole lot of creative energy flowing from the Highland School art room lately! We worked on study sketches showing the roundness and contours of veggies and various objects, while aiming for accurate proportions. And we got into using large format paper and charcoal while studying texture, light, and shadows. Students are also working on their own projects, such as Matt (shown above), inking the final touches on his custom skate deck.

Contour drawings of pumpkins by Kayla (upper left), Shaylah (upper right), Koa (lower left), and Emily (lower right)

 
 

Students also used positive/negative space along with lighter and darker tonal values to draw an aloe plant. Upper left is Mark's study sketch; upper right is Sara's study; lower left is Joe's tonal drawing; and lower right is Emily's final sketch.

 

Above left is Gabriella's study of the texture of corn and a pumpkin. Above right is Sage's 2-point perspective drawing of buildings.

Click 'Read more' below to view everyone's drawings and Rob's comments...

Koa

The contour drawing of the pumpkin was a big step for you in drawing from real life. Great job on the curved contours and REALLY cool how you did a version in your abstract style, too. Your observational drawing is improving with each sketch you make.

Angel

Drawing the pumpkin from observation was a challenge for you, but you pulled together a few awesome studies that show the pumpkin's curved contours. I know you made a lot of sketches to get to these three. Keep practicing making lots of study sketches, and drawing things that you're looking at will get easier.

 
Matt

Your confidence in looking at things and sketching them quickly has been improving over the months. These sketches show your own bold artistic style--a great foundation upon which to build your future in design/illustration. :-)

 

Gabriella

I'm seeing so much creative potential flowing out onto the paper with these sketches. Your observational skills have improved dramatically during the past weeks. You're beginning to focus your energy on creating artistic compositions--keep it going! Cool large-format charcoal fish. :-)

Kayla

Amazing progress, Kayla!! Really, REALLY nice contour study sketches. You nailed down accurate proportions and realistic edges of the pumpkins. Your confidence in your line work is beginning to show your artistic style. I think your real inner artist is about to bust out in your artwork! Awesome texture study of the shell and large-scale charcoal drawings of the iron.

 

Sara

Wonderful start on the contour tonal drawing of the aloe plant. Maybe you can finish it sometime. :-)

Shaylah

Just so cool to see you sit down at the table and draw. You've put together a great routine of measuring proportions, finding the edges of things, then sketching contour lines to finish. The pumpkins and shell show your confidence. And your work from your imagination balances out your skills nicely--you're one of the original SLV Sketchers!

 

Sage

I can see, both in your drawings and working with you, that you definitely have lots of powerful creative energy waiting to be unleashed. This set of drawing show your focus on learning new skills. REALLY like your contour study of the pumpkin and the large-scale charcoal drawing--cool shading. You've got to keep drawing your creativity out onto the paper. Also, NICE 2-point perspective drawings!

Zach

Of course, the Zach-style interpretation of a pumpkin. Coolness!

Tory

Hey man, where have you been lately? We've got to get you back into the drawing Zone. You really do have a unique art style that we can develop during the weeks ahead. Nice start on the aloe plant.

Mark

You like to sketch fast. As you've been doing a lot of quick studies over the weeks, you're developing an accurate way of recording information about things, like the pumpkin. Let's keep working on developing this quick-sketch technique. And the large-format charcoal fish... is... WONDERFUL, man! You really worked the charcoal around on the paper to create really cool tones and textures. And your line work came to life!

Joe

Tight line work is your style. And this tonal sketch of the aloe plant is a great example of clean contour line work and accurate proportions. Hope to see you more in class so you can develop some of your own projects.

Emily

And then... there's Emily. Your drawing skills and imagination never cease to amaze. Always nice to see you sketch with such ease and pleasure. Whether it's a doodle or a complex composition, it's fun to see what you'll come up with next. Draw on!