IDEAL SOLIDS: Class cancelled

Unfortunately, I needed to cancel class light night. An action I do not take lightly. What we would have done and will do Wednesday evening is address the Ideal Solids (standard geometric forms found within many manufactured items). We will also discuss light and form (i.e. rendering an object three-dimensionally with shading).

LINE: Gesture and Volume Techniques

Ryan

Last night class began with a discussion on Gesture Drawing. Where Contour drawings are single, slow, incisive lines, Gesture drawings are quick, spontaneous and group lines together. Before addressing gestural techniques we made Cross-Contour drawings addressing volume. Cross-contours flow across the typography of a form. The left and right side contours are implied through the repetition of horizontal lines arcing across the form.

Diana

Next, we made Continuous Line Drawings. This technique is a bridge between Contour and Gesture. Like Contour, the line addresses the edges of the form but like Gesture the lines are repeated, the largest parts are addressed first moving towards the smaller parts and lastly, the form is rendered transparently. The objective is to avoid "outlining", which is flat and two-dimensional. The gourd above is constructed like a "snowman"; first you make the bottom, then the middle and lastly, the head.

Emily

The drawing above is an example of the Scribble Gesture technique. This approach addresses the mass of the form while also illustrating the light. Notice when lines are grouped together they act more like values. Dark lines tend to advance in space where dark values recede.

The Mass technique, like Scribble, addresses the mass and light. The object should appear like a solid, smokey, mass. There should be a sense of weight as well as the light patterns.

We ended the evening with Gesture drawings combining the techniques of Mass and Line. The Line portion captures the structure or armature of the form where the Mass addresses the weight, solidity and light.

LINE: Contour Drawings

Dylan

Jennifer

Last night, class began with a discussion on Contour Line Drawing (refer to Line tab above). Initially, we focused on creating fluid, confident lines avoiding the tendency to "hedge" the line. Hedging is a back and forth motion that makes the line have a slight zig-zag or "hairy" appearance. Proportions are NOT a concern at this point in drawing. After completing a couple of studies with even, smooth line quality, we added "accenting"; areas in the line that swell (thick and thin or light and dark). Accents may address changes in direction or structure of the line, changes in value, light, color, texture and changes in weight.

INTRODUCTIONS: Syllabus and Materials

At our first meeting of the semester, we discussed the syllabus and required materials. Downloads of the syllabus with included materials list are available under our class section number in the Schedule of Classes and on the Smith Art 7A Canvas page. Next week we begin discussing Line (ex. above). I suggest searching through the archives on this blog to acquaint yourself with the upcoming topics. Students will need 18 x 24 in. drawing pad, spiral bound sketchbook, pencils and pens.