Weeks Seven & Eight: Sketching, Composition, Value, Rhythm

Great sketch sessions everyone! We explored proportion and contour lines with the drawing of a dog and the elements of composition by drawing an agave plant. All of you accomplished the goal of sketching loosely, quickly, and accurately.

Be sure to check out the music video of sketchers at Highlands and Star community schools in Santa Cruz. Click here

I REALLY enjoyed drawing with all of you!!! Hope to see you in February as we continue to explore drawing from observation and imagination.

Happy Holidays!!!! --Rob

Jiovany

Wonderful composition, Jiovany!!! This was a huge step in drawing realistically! The proportions of the plant are very well drawn. You did several accurate study sketches until you got contour lines (edges of the leaves) you liked; then you added different gray tones showing the values of green in the reference picture. Your pencil strokes show a lot of confidence and an eye for accuracy in your drawings of the plant and the dog. You got GREAT start in drawing contour lines for accurate proportions of the dog. Be great if you could finish it.

Juan

Hey, Juan!! It's so cool to see you shift to a quicker sketching style with looser line work! You kept your sharp eye for accurate proportions as you drew natural looking contour lines for the edges of the leaves and gray tones for different values of green. The way you used the kneaded eraser for highlighting the edges of leaves and blending tones is a great touch. Excellent start on the drawing of the dog! Your contour lines captured accurate proportions and the realistic folds of the ears. I really hope to continue drawing with you in February and to help you explore the many possibilities drawing has to offer you as a visual artist.

Angelique

Wonderful! Drawing! Angelique! You've taken a BIG step into realism with these awesome sketches. Excellent how you made several study sketches to find accurate proportions of the plant (this is how artists learn to draw realistically). Your contour lines show very natural looking leaves. Great start in adding gray tones to show the different values of green of the leaves. Keep practicing sketching loose contour lines then adding layers of gray tones to show different tones or values of color. Really nice start in drawing contour lines for the form of the dog. The proportions are very well drawn.

And it's so cool to see your drawings from lessons from some of my books. I can see a lot more confidence in your line work. :-)

Anthony

Your loosely sketched composition, looks awesome, Anthony!!! Your confident contour lines show the edges of the plant's leaves. Lighter and darker gray tones show different values of green. Nice job of overlapping the leaves to show depth in your composition. Excellent job in drawing the contour lines of the dog! Overall, the proportions are well drawn. Your skills are developing into a really cool drawing style.

Adriana

REALLY nice composition, Adriana!!! You nailed down accurate proportions with your usual accurate contour lines--very realistic looking plant! Great start in drawing gray tones to show the different values of green in the reference photo. You've got such a good eye for accuracy, it would be great if you started a sketchbook and drew from real life. Excellent contour lines showing the form of the dog! This might be a drawing you'd like to finish.

Justin

BIG-time step forward in drawing realistically, Justin!! Really like how you loosened up and sketched your contour lines quickly while keeping accurate proportions! Great start in adding gray tones to show different values of green on the leaves. And an excellent start in drawing accurate contour lines forming the dot. Nice positioning of the eye and ear. Be cool to finish that drawing. Keep drawing, man!

Kevin

Welcome to Rancho Cielo Sketchers, Kevin!! You are off to a fantastic start in drawing the agave plant! The overall proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) are very well drawn. Really nice job of drawing realistic contour lines to show the edges of the leaves. Great start in adding gray tones to show the different values of green in the reference picture you were looking at. You've got a great eye for accuracy... hope you keep drawing!

Enrique

Whoa!! Enrique was a drawing machine on Tuesday!! Once you loosened up and got into sketching quicker contour lines there was no stopping you. EXCELLENT work in creating a lot of different study sketches. Lots of study sketches helps artists and animators to improve drawing realistically. The proportions became more accurate and your line work became more confident with each new sketch. Great contour edges in the drawing of the egret, too. Keep it loose and accurate with your sketching, man.

Eric

Absolutely AWESOME drawing, Eric!!! Your contour lines are VERY accurately drawn and show very realistic facial features. Excellent contours showing the folds of the ears. Your eye for accuracy just keeps getting better and better, man! It would be very cool to see this one finished. And I hope you start a sketchbook... you've got lots of potential with your skills!

Wells

Right on, Wells!!!! Your confidence in your line work really shines in this drawing! Overall, your contour lines nailed down accurate proportions of the dog's head, neck, and shoulders. Great job of showing the folds of the ears and positioning of facial features. Realistic details such as the nostrils and whiskers help to make the boxer look realistic. Keep practicing, man! I know how much you enjoy accomplishing each drawing challenge. Try starting a sketchbook and drawing from pictures and real life.

Eric H.

Eric, You got an EXCELLENT start in drawing the dog!!! You're gaining lots of confidence each time you do a drawing. And it shows in the natural looking contour lines for the dog's ears and head. The proportions are very well drawn. Great work in drawing the fold of the ear. Be really nice if you could finish this one. Lots of potential showing in your line work! Keep practicing sketching accurate proportions and finish with natural looking contour lines.

David

Welcome to Rancho Cielo Sketchers, David!! You're off to a flyin' start with your drawing of the egret!! Great job of drawing contour lines showing the form of the bird's body, especially the 's' curve of its neck. Its proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) became more accurate the second time you drew it. Keep practicing drawing light guidelines, comparing your drawing to the reference picture for accuracy, then finishing with darker contour lines. Great start in drawing the dog. Hopefully you'll get to finish it. :-)