Week One: Lines, Shapes, Contours, Proportion

Okay, the Rancho Cielo Sketchers are back in action! New students worked on holding the pencil sideways while sketching (always a challenge at first) and drawing accurate proportions with lines and shapes. Scroll down to view your drawings with my comments.


Pencil warm-ups by Nikkie (above left) and Tisha

Returning students worked on taking our previous lesson (the agave plant) to a large sheet of paper and experimenting with different pencils. Your sketching skills really shined as you kept accurate proportions while drawing BIG! Everyone did an excellent job of drawing contour lines showing the edges of the leaves. Juan REALLY got into the zone while using the 6B graphite pencil!

Click on the picture to enlarge for viewing:

Left to right: Kevin, Juan, Enrique


Left: Wells, Right: Mystery Artist (I need to get your name.)

How cool! Quick-sketch portrait of the drawing coach by Abby. Are my ears THAT big? Hey everyone: If you have drawings that you've done in your free time at school, you can post them here on the blog. Check out other students' work in the eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn.

I look forward to drawing with everyone on Tuesday! --Rob

Tisha

You're off to an EXCELLENT start in drawing with lines and shapes, Tisha!! As you got used to holding the pencil on its side your lines became smoother. I really like how you drew LOTS of study sketches to get yourself drawing in the zone. Each time you sketched the crab and puffer fish you gained more control of your line work. Your confidence really kicked in with your sketches of the toucan, especially where you added gray tones to its body. Great job of drawing accurate proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) of the toucan's head and body. Keep practicing drawing light guidelines for the shapes of things; then finish with darker outlines.



The size (proportions) of the crab's claws, compared to its body, became more accurate each time you sketched it.

Nikkie

Hey! Nikkie! These drawings are awesome! Holding your pencil on its side was a challenge, but you quickly gained confidence with each new sketch. So cool how you kept your guidelines light before drawing darker outlines. (This will benefit you a lot in the future.) Overall, the proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) of the crab and puffer fish are very well drawn. You got an excellent start on drawing accurate proportions of the toucan. Each time you said you couldn't draw, your sketch became more accurate. Imagine what will happen when you start saying that you CAN draw. :-)




Check out: Getting into the Zone

Abby

Alright! Abby! Lots of wonderful drawing happening here! I know that getting used to drawing with your pencil on its side was challenging. But as you finally dropped into the zone, your line work started showing more control. The drawing of the toucan shows smooth, confident lines. The proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) of the bird are accurately drawn. And the different gray tones on its body are a nice touch. Excellent how you drew the puffer fish and crab BIG on the paper with loose, sketchy lines as you looked for accurate proportions. Keep practicing! :-)

Another Mystery Artist? (need your name)

Fantastic start in drawing with lines and shapes!!! The proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) of the crab and puffer fish are very accurately drawn. I really like the light, looser lines you drew for the shape of the fish. Keep practicing sketching light guidelines before finishing with darker outlines. You've got a good eye for proportions, and it really shows on your drawing of the toucan. You gained more confidence in holding your pencil sideways while drawing the bird. The gray tones you added to your drawings are a nice touch.



Check out: Getting into the Zone