Week Twelve: SLV Sketchers Get Real

Highlands Highlight: (from week eleven, shown above) Tiana demostrates an excellent overhand pencil grip and smooth arm/wrist movement as she sketches guidelines for her Fernand Leger's drawing. Her bold lines emulate Leger's modern art style. Here's her finished drawing: Click

We had a new sketcher drop into last Friday's session and he got off to a great start. (Check out his dragon, shown below!) Welcome, Jamee! Hilda and I (and fellow students) will help you catch up on the basic skills.

Your sketches from last week are shown below. For the next several weeks we'll be exploring ways to draw realistically. I'll also help each of you develop your own interests and styles such as abstract drawing, cartoons, drawing from nature, anime/manga, etc. This is your opportunity to use your drawing skills in exciting, challenging ways!













This Week's Challenge: Pixar Studios (Monsters Inc., Cars, Wall-E) has just hired you as a concept artist to create a character for a new big-budget animated movie. Your job is to design a character from the realistic object you sketched last week. Make your object come to life by sketching facial features, arms, legs, costume (if you like). A hammer can become a hero. A wrench can become a monster. Get creative! Have fun! Your character will be in the movie with other students' characters. So, talk about how the characters would interact with each other in a scene. Make quick sketches of your character expressing three emotions: happy, sad, angry. If you'd like to add color, go for it! (But only AFTER you've done sketches of your character's emotions.) If you have time, select another object from the classroom and create another character. Note: Don't draw on last week's object sketches. Start new drawings of your object when creating your character.



To help you with ideas and sketching techniques, here are some examples of animated character sketches:

character model sheet

storyboard sketches

old Disney sketches

Wall-E sketches

Draw out your imaginations, SLV Sketchers!

And for those sketchers that have extra time and are feeling particularly brave, you can get a jump start on our next challenge. Drawing hands (Elvis's favorite challenge)! Here's the reference picture of Leonardo's drawing: Click

Can't wait to see your animated movie characters! --Rob

Elvis

Beautiful drawings Elvis!!! Your contour lines show the natural-looking edges and form of the lilies. The curved lines you drew for the edges of the leaves are VERY life-like. I especially like the contour lines and veins that form the leaves. The composition shown below is fantastic! The contour lines and tones of the flowers in the foreground are very well drawn. The fence and mountains in the background give your drawing lots of depth. :) Keep drawing realistically!

Tiana

This picture is fantastic, Tiana! It's a great example of how to draw the realistic form of an object. You've done an excellent job of drawing the curves at the top and bottom of the wafer tin. The curved lines of the lid match the curve at the bottom, making the tin look 3D! I really like how you included details of the package design and logo. The gray tones work nicely to balance the composition. Take a moment to check the 3 lines of words below the Ferro logo. The lines of words should be on a curve that matches the curved line at the bottom of the tin. Do they match?

Gage

Excellent composition, Gage!! What sets this drawing off is the natural curve of the flower stems and the contours of the leaves--VERY good line work! I like how the horizon line is defused behind the water, and the distortion of the stems give the illusion of water. The subtle background shading gives lots of depth to the drawing. Very nice details in the flowers and use of color. The cast shadow is a nice realistic touch. You changed your usual drawing style for this one. :)

Shaylah

Now this is a realistic-looking stapler!! Wonderful observational skills, Shaylah. You took the time to measure accurate proportions and perspective. The perspective angles of the base of the stapler are correct. :) What's really cool is how you drew the curved bottom edge of the handle and shading underneath the handle, making your drawing look 3D. Overall, you did a great job of shading. The highlight, where the top and side of handle meet, is a nice touch.

Keeley

Grab the pasta, turn on the stove, this pan is ready for cooking! You did an excellent job of drawing the curved metallic surface, inside and outside of the pan. The details of the handle are very well drawn. The cast shadow of the handle does a wonderful job of showing depth in your picture. The highlight on the handle is a nice realistic touch. Compare the curve of the closest top edge of the pan to the bottomedge curve. Are they the same?

Jamee

Whoa, Jamee! Your Picasso still life is awesome! Since this is a copy of your still life, we're unable to see your superb use of color and realistic shading. Overall, the proportions of the pitcher, apples, and plate are very well drawn. Your contour lines and careful shading make this composition look 3D!

Lots of cool details in this drawing!! You've done an excellent job of combining patterns and textures to create a highly stylized composition. I like the balanced combination of curved and angled lines of the dragon. You've created depth with an interesting foreground and background. Might be interesting to develop the dragon character further by sketching different positions and actions.

Zach P

Alright Zach! You're putting your skills to work by combining basic lines and shapes to create this flower. Excellent job of drawing contour lines that show the form of the leaves. You did a great job of showing the form of the flower pot with curved lines and shading. This is a big step to drawing realistically!

Leif

This is an excellent drawing, Leif!! You've done a great job of drawing the form of the cooking plate. Details of the control on the side of the plate, and the feet underneath add realism to your picture. Your excellent shading for the inside and front side shows the curved contours of its form. The perspective of the power cord is very well drawn. The only thing this drawing needs is... to be much, much larger! :) Keep going in this direction with your drawing.

Doug

Baskets can be a challenge to draw, but you got an excellent start!! You did a great job of drawing the overall form of the basket. I like how you combined heavy and light lines to show the details of the basket's texture. I particularly like the realistic contour lines of the handle and the top edge of the basket in the foreground. You did a good job of drawing the basic shapes of the cup. The angle of the straws leaning against the brim of the cup make it look 3D. Compare the curved line at the bottom of the cup to the top brim closest to us. The curves should match. Do they?

Hilda

Nice 3D pan!! The contour edges and details of the handle are very well drawn. The cast shadow makes your drawing look realistic. :) The curve at the bottom edge of the pan should be the same as the curve of the top edge of the pan, closest to us. Are they the same?

Character Concept Sketching Techniques

Here are some pictures to show you how concept artists sketch ideas. You can use these techniques when creating your character. Start by quickly sketching lots of basic shapes:






Imagine your object turning into a character in a story. Bring it to life in your sketches.

Reference Picture: Hands by Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci drew these hands in 1474. Now it's time for you to draw them in 2009. :)

Start by sketching guidelines for the overall shape of the hands and arms. See how Leonardo sketched his guidelines before finishing with darker contour lines and shading. Use your skills! Go for it!

(click to enlarge for viewing and printing)

Week Twelve: Composition, Contour Lines, and Catching Up

Hope everyone enjoyed vacation! If anyone has drawings they completed during vacation, I'll post them next week.

Tiana, Zach, and Doug made fantastic progress in catching up with lessons. Some of you still have some finishing up on the Picasso apples and pitcher still life and the Leger 'Cow' this week, if you have time. Everyone got a great start on drawing contour lines. Last session's highlight: Leif broke through, dropped into the zone and concentrated on an awesome contour drawing of his hand!

This week's challenge: Choose an object, anything from a book or magazine. Something you'll really enjoy drawing. Concentrate on drawing its contour edges. And for those that are REALLY brave: Draw an object from REAL LIFE. It can be something like a shoe, hacky sack, skateboard truck, stuffed animal. Place it in front of you and go for it! TIP: Put it on a table and position it so there is lots of negative space around it. This will make it easier to see its contour edges and draw its form.

See you Friday! --Rob

Keeley

You are blazing new trails with your drawing, Keeley!! Your Leger drawing is fantastic. Your did a superb job of drawing accurate proportions in your composition. The details, such as the tree in the background, the cow's face, and the hat in the chair are very well drawn.


Way cool how you got right to work in the hand-drawing session we had in class. By really concentrating on drawing the edges of your hand in the 'blind contour' exercise, you were able to do an excellent job of drawing the contours of your hand. This is a big step to drawing realistically. I also like your dragon fly from the drawing book. :) I hope you continue to draw from the book this week.


Your Picasso still life drawing is magnificent! You did a great job of drawing accurate proportions without using grid lines. :) The shading for the form of the apples, pitcher, and plate is very well drawn. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Is the height and width of the plate the same?

Shaylah

Way, WAY cool that you drew your Ledger composition without grid lines! Overall great job of drawing proportions and including details. Very good job of drawing lighter and darker tones of things in the composition. I couldn't find your hand picture in the folder, but I know you did an awesome job at drawing contour edges and lines!


Fantastic Picasso picture! You really got into shading on this one. I really like how you drew the shadow under the plate, cast on the pitcher... making it look like the plate is sitting on top of the pitcher. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Check the position of the apples on the table in relation to the pitcher. Is their position correct?

Is this your hand drawing?:

Tiana

Tiana, your Leger composition is VERY well drawn!! Excellent use of gray to show the different color values. Great job of including details and overlapping things such as the plant over the shirt. You did a very good job of capturing Leger's art style by drawing bold outlines.


The proportions of your Picasso composition are VERY well drawn. You got an excellent start on shading, especially the apples on the plate. The highlights make the apples look 3D! I'll bring your drawing to class so you can finish it next week, if you have time.


REALLY like your drawing of the egret! You did an excellent job of drawing the bird's overall form. The contour edges of the neck and body are very well drawn. Particularly cool is how you took the time to draw the details of the head and intricate contours of the feathers and legs.

Elvis

Your bold shading style looks awesome on your Picasso drawing! I really like how you blended dark and light shadows to show the form of the apples, pitcher, and plate. Especially cool are the highlights on the pitcher and apples. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Are the apples on the plate and table positioned correctly?


This eagle looks like it's going to fly right off the paper! You did an excellent job of creating depth in your picture by overlapping the wings and lightly drawing the mountain in the background. What makes this drawing come to life is the way you showed the movement of the wings of the bird and tail of the fish. The curves in the wings look very natural. Great job of adding the details of the feathers.


Excellent start in drawing your hand! The contour lines, where the thumb is grasping the ruler look very realistic and natural. Keep concentrating on sketching the edges of things to show their form.

Zach

Your drawing is progressing wonderfully, Zach! Drawing the contour edges of the egret was a big step towards drawing realistically. You did an excellent job of capturing the 'S' curve of the neck and the form of the body. If you have time this week, it would be great if you could draw the Leger 'Cow' or Picasso still life. Hilda or other students may be able to help you with some of the basics. Keep drawing! :)


Excellent work on these lessons! You did a great job of drawing the 3D form of the jaguar. The proportions of the jaguar, dino, and car are very well drawn. I really like the gray tones on the dino and car.

Doug

EXCELLENT work on the Leger composition! You did a very good job of creating the bold outlines and adding lots of details. The proportions of everything are very well drawn, particularly the form of the cow, shirt, and chair. If you have time this week go ahead and draw the Picasso apples and pitcher still life, but don't use the grid lines. :)

Leif

Excellent start on the Leger composition, Leif! You did a great job of including details, such as the hat and chair. I like the contrast of the dark bold lines of the background tree and chair, compared to the rest of the picture. The proportions of the cow and fence are well drawn. Compare your drawing to the reference picture. Is the space in the left of the composition, where the chair is, filled the same?


You had a big breakthrough on the drawing of your fist! You took the time to shift over to the right side of the brain and concentrated on drawing the contour edges of your hand. Keep working on this process of drawing, Leif. :)

Gage

VERY good start on the Leger composition, Gage! You laid down confident, bold lines and gray tones. Great job of overlapping the tree over the shirt. Overall, the proportions are very well drawn. I'll bring your drawing to class Friday so you can finish it, if you have time next week.


You got an great start on drawing the contour lines for your hand! If you have time this week try drawing one or two different poses of your hand, concentrating only on contours and edges.

Our Teachers!

Hilda
Your Leger composition is OUTSTANDING!! All of your skills, including line work and shading, came together beautifully on this one. The proportions are very well drawn. I really like the bold lines you used.


Excellent job of drawing the Picasso still life. Your blending of shadows does a great job of showing the form of the pitcher and apples.


Wow! The contour drawing of your hand were a big step to drawing realistically from life. Keep practicing contour lines, whenever you get a chance. Great job!

These are some scary-looking fish! You've done a great job of drawing contour lines and shading to show their form. The foreshortening of the fish on the left is very well drawn.

Patty
Your! Drawing! Is! Beautiful!!!