Week Four Sketchbook Assignment

Use the construction technique from our in-class drawing exercise this week to sketch a group of four people. I chose me and my family. I started with myself, since I'm the tallest in my family, so by sketching the tallest person first, I establish how much space will be used on the page.

Notice that I extended my guidelines across the page. Not everyone in my family is the same height, but those lightly drawn guidelines will help me find their relative height. Next I drew my wife. I started with the square for the head and placed it so I established her height relative to mine.

Next is my oldest son, who is in university. He's taller than his mom, but not as tall as me. As you draw each character, add the little touches that make each character unique. Hair styles, clothing, accessories - all these thing and body language and facial expressions help define each character.

Finally I dre

w my youngest son, who is nearly as tall as me and also an artist (so I gave him a pencil and sketchbook). You can draw any group of four (or more) people, but make sure they are all on the same baseline.

Week Four In-Class Drawing Exercise

Begin as always by drawing a one-inch border, but if you feel confident enough to not use your one-inch matte board square, try just "eyeballing it" this time.

Draw a horizontal line across the page 1/2 inch down from the top border. Draw a second horizontal line to create a one inch deep horizontal column. Draw six 1" x 1" squares in the column, equally spaced. Draw six circles in the six squares. using a very light dotted line, divide the circles in half horizontally. Draw two equally spaced dots on the centre line. Draw a line halfway between the two dots and the bottom of the circle. Make this line the same width as the distance between the two dots. Now try some variations, but always keep the two dots on the centre line and the "mouth" halfway between the dots and the bottom of the circle. Add eyebrows in different positions. Draw a second row as shown. Draw six more heads with different expressions, but add a different nose to each face. Complete the rest of the page as shown. You can drag the jpeg in this post to your desktop and print it out to use as a template.

Week Three Sketchbook Assignment

Set up a table top still life of three objects that have circular shapes in them. Cups, plates, jars and cans are all good items to use. Also be sure to have a directional light source near by. A window, a table lamp, even a flashlight are good sources of directional light.

You will be sketching "construction drawings" of the still life arrangement. Drawing "through" each item as if it was made of clear glass. Pay special attention to the ellipses you see on the top and bottom surfaces of each item. Make sure to arrange the items so they all overlap. Do NOT set up the three items as seen at right below, where al three items are sitting apart from each other.

Notice that you won't need to do any shading on the objects in this sketch. But I DO want you to carefully shade the shadows cast by the three objects. Take your time and really observe the shadows and do your best to reproduce what you see. *Note that you should set up your objects on a white or at least plain flat coloured surface. Patterned surfaces will make it harder to observe the cast shadows.

Week Three In-Class Drawing Exercise

This is the template for this week's in-class drawing exercise. You may want to pull this jpeg off the blog to your desktop and print it out. Note that the measurements given on the template are approximate. There are approximately 1/2" gutters between all of the shapes. You may need to shift and adjust your shapes as you draw them to fit everything in so that it is visually evenly spaced. Even spacing between all the objects is more important than exact ruler measurement accuracy!

As always you are to work freehand - no rulers, no erasers. Draw all the lines and shapes as accurately as you can. Lightly draw as many guidelines as you need to ensure your columns of shapes are lined up side to side and top to bottom.

The drawing above is not complete, but you will continue drawing all the circles and ellipses (ovals) into all the squares and rectangles until every shape is finished. Pay careful attention to drawing circles as round as you possibly can. Go over your lines several times if necessary. watch that your ellipses are smooth and round - not pointy and football shaped! Note that your name should be printed as in the previous exercise.

Week Two Sketchbook Assignment

Find a spot somewhere outside with a flat-on view of the college buildings and sit down with your sketchbook. You may have to move back quite a ways to get a good view of the various buildings and surfaces. Do NOT choose a corner location where you are viewing two sides of the building. Spend an hour sketching the various geometric shapes that comprise the college, as well as any incidental elements (cars, trees, etc.) that you see.

Pay close attention to the contrast of values (light and shade) that you see in the scene in front of you and do your best to capture those contrasting values accurately.

Week Two In-Class Drawing Exercise

This is the template which you will attempt to match as accurately as possible, except you won't be using a ruler. All lines must be drawn freehand in pencil.

Pull the jpeg of this template off this blog to your desktop and print it out. Below is an example of the early stages of what your drawing should look like. Start by measuring in one inch from the outside edge of an 8 1/2" x 11" blank white paper. Draw a border (freehand) one inch in from the outside edge of the paper, as shown. Centre the template inside the border and begin reproducing it as shown below. Work from large shapes to smaller shapes, subdividing everything as accurately as possible.

Notice how I drew guidelines in the bottom RH corner of the page and printed my name in simple all caps block printing. The guidelines should be drawn in the middle 1/3 of the bottom inch of your paper, as shown. Your full name should finish so the last letter aligns with the bottom RH corner of the border you initially drew (as shown). When you're finished, your drawing should look like the example below. You might want to drag this last jpeg to your desktop and print it out so you can compare your work to it before handing it in.