INDIA INK: The Exquisite Corpse and Still Life Studies

Friday morning began with a game of the "Exquisite Corpse" as an introduction to the tools and techniques of working with India ink and pens. In the afternoon, we drew from still life arrangements. Both drawings below illustrates the combination of wash and line techniques. The wash provides a foundation tonality while the line work adds structure, texture and value.

Gianna Davy

Guendalina Codella

INDIA INK: Still Life

Lauren Tokunaga

Last night students continued drawing with India ink. Lauren's drawing above is an example of the stippling technique for creating value (dots). The stipple technique yields smooth gradations and soft tonalities.

Jane Collier

Hatching techniques tend to be bolder images as evidenced in Jane's drawing. By employing criss-crossing patterns of lines, she has established strong, contrasting tonalities. In addition, she has diluted the ink with water to create light gray lines as well.

INDIA INK: The Exquisite Corpse

Last night students made Exquisite Corpse drawings exploring the techniques of hatching, stippling, and patterns using India ink and pens. The seal head above exhibits a short hatch technique. The midsection of the drawing also employs the short hatch technique with patterns as well as bold, solid shapes of black. Lastly, the bottom section illustrates a range of thick and thin marks addressing tonal qualities as well as texture.

SPRING BREAK

No classes next week 3/17 thru 3/21. Enjoy the break. Ink drawings when we return.

MIDTERM DRAWINGS

Here are just a few examples of the Midterm drawing exam. The objectives were to address: 1. Composition 2. Distal Cues 3. Value 4. The Categories of Light. All of theses drawings exhibit well balanced compositions with a full range of values and strong attention to the categories of light.

Jane Collier

Kate Donovan

Stevie Young

Gianna Davy

MIDTERM and PORTFOLIO REVIEW

All this week students are working on midterm drawings while I do portfolio reviews one-to-one. Pix to follow.

SMALL COMPOSITIONS

Siobhan Williams

Kate Donovan

Angelica Blancas-mims

Friday morning began with a series of quick, compositional studies. The changes in Siobhan's drawing are subtle but reveal her attention to the negative areas and the relationships between the objects. In the afternoon, students made a finished drawing from the studies. Kate's drawing is sharp, crisp and clear exhibiting rich, contrasting values, subtle textural changes and a well balanced design. Notice the rhythms within the cast shadows. Angelica's drawing exhibits a keen attention to the details, in particular the metallic, reflective surfaces of the objects. In addition, the minimal rendering of the space adds context without being overbearing.

SMALL COMPOSITIONS

Students continued working with small, individual compositions. Here are some examples of the more resolved drawings. The success of these compositions lies within the attention to the negative areas and the relationships between the objects. All drawings are 9 x 12 in.

Jane Collier

Naomi Lehr

Luis Rodriguez Chombo

Leah Lehr

Stevie Young

COMPOSITION:Diebenkorn Comps

Luis Rodriguez Chombo

Inspired by the compositional studies of Richard Diebenkorn, students made drawings from small, individual still-life arrangements. Although the drawing is unfinished, Luis has started with a very strong compositional arrangement. The two rectangular forms create a funnel-like shape that empties down into the keys. The rings of the keys establish a secondary rhythm hooking upward towards the right. In addition, Luis' use of cropping has allowed him to engage with all four sides of the paper.

VALUE: Additive and Reductive Drawing

Gianna Davy

Friday morning began with a still life of two objects. The objective was to work reductively as well as additively. In other words, to use the eraser as a drawing tool. Gianna has very skillfully combined the two techniques. Line and value are unified in their suggestion of volume and depth. Her handling of the space and lighting have effectively created strong atmospheric quality allowing the still life to set into the environment. In addition, the objects are texturally rich clearly expressing the different surfaces.

Kate Donovan

In the afternoon, we added the Distal Cues to our objectives. Kate's drawing is very expressively and painterly in her handling of the materials. Notice how the materials are applied in layered, sweeping motions. The values again are rich and contrasting. Furthermore, she has very effectively used "cropping", engaging with all four sides of the paper. It's subtle but take note of how the values diminish as you move from the ceramic pot in the foreground, to the paint can in the middle and lastly to the chicken feeder in the background.