Week 1: Lines, Shapes, Patterns, Overlapping

Great to be drawing at the Ranch again! A whole new crew of sketchers got started with learning about measuring accurate proportions. We focused on holding the pencil on its side and using the whole arm while drawing. Here are pencil warm-ups by Freddy and Cristian:

 

After pencil warm-ups, everyone got into drawing guidelines for basic shapes... 

Working from reference lesson pictures, students learned to correct sizes of proportions (the sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) by sketching on top of mistakes. Francisco's drawing of the crab (above, left) shows changes in the position and size of the crab's claws.  Jared's toucan sketch shows excellent use of light guidelines for accurate proportions of the body compared to the head.

Arturo's toucan study sketches (above) show his use of guidelines as he searched for accurate proportions, compared to the reference picture. Overall, he improved the proportions of the head and body. Great job of adding light and dark tones.

As we made our way through the lessons, everyone started gaining control of their line work. Erika's toucan (above, left) shows lighter guidelines before final outlines. Cristian's toucan (above, right) shows a keen eye for accurate proportions.

The overall shape of the puffer fish can be tricky to capture. Francisco's guidelines nail down accurate shapes. We also got into overlapping shapes to show depth of space, as in the frog drawn by Francisco. 

To view everyone's sketches and reference pictures...

Online Student Show, 2010

What a Year! The Online Student Show features student drawings from six different schools in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The theme of the show is Drawing from Observation and Imagination. All students have drawings posted!

To see your drawings and other students: Click here

Week 9: Roundness, Proportions, Contours, Study Sketches, "Getting Squashed"

We launched into drawing from real life as we dipped into the 'crate of realism' and grabbed a bunch of squash to sketch. Some REALLY fine study sketches emerged out of the session as a number of you began to show your true artistic styles!



For the last couple of weeks we'll continue exploring realism as well as drawing from the imagination.

See you all Tuesday! --Rob

Kevin O.

With these study sketches you've made a tremendous step in drawing from real life!!! As you focused on the roundness of the form of the squash you sketched accurate proportions and natural-looking contour edges. Very cool how you started with light guidelines; then drew on top of your mistakes until finding the form with darker contour lines. Excellent contour sketch of the shell! Keep practicing study sketches as you begin to develop your artistic style. Consider getting a sketchbook and sketching things from life. Nice work, Kevin.

Cassandra

Great to see you loosen up with your line work and get sketchy!! Superb effort in sketching the round contours of the squash. Really like how you drew the flatness at the top where the stem attaches--very natural looking! Nice job of adding lines and tones for the texture. And WAY cool to see you cut loose and throw some very expressive lines around on the study of the pineapple! A bolder drawing style is beginning to emerge in your work, Cassandra. I hope you continue to explore drawing from real life, perhaps in a sketchbook. :-)

Angelique

Looks like you had fun getting squashed last week!! As you got into the zone and loosened up on your line work, some very expressive and accurate sketching shined through! In particular, you captured the overall roundness of the squash with contour curves while, at the same time, showing the flatness where the stem is attached--very natural-looking sketch! Now that you've gotten into sketching over your mistakes, keep doing several quick study sketches of things before finishing with tighter contour lines and tones. Fantastic effort in drawing from real life, Angelique!

Tisha

Yes! We're starting to see your TRUE inner artist in these sketches, Tisha!! You broke away from tighter drawings and launched into much more expressive line work. What's really cool is how you started with lighter, freer guidelines and drew on top of your mistakes; then you depicted curved contours with darker, confident lines. I really like how you spontaneously combined the woman's face, from your imagination, with the observational sketch. The accuracy of the proportions and contours of the lantern improved BIG-time in your second study. Keep the sketchy style going! Maybe get a sketchbook?