Unit 3
Line & Shape
total points: 115
Line
With this unit we are going to start your drawing instruction. I know that drawing can be overwhelming, and scary. All the time I hear students say, "I can't draw."
But that's why you're taking this class, right? To learn! So we are going to break things down and start as simply as possible, with line. Remember what you learned about line in unit one? Let's get into it a little bit more, and practice for ourselves.
Step 1: Line Video (5 points)
Watch the following video and take some notes. (Google Doc). In particular, list the words used to describe the different lines, then write down at least three different words to decribe the lines you would use in your own self portrait.
Step 2: Line Challenge (5 points)
- Use your sketchbook for this.
-Using only line, illustrate the following actions: swimming, walking, jumping, running, dancing, & sleeping.
Whaaaat? Only line?! Yes. I promise, this is just as easy as it sounds. Let me show you...I'll do the first one:
(They can be small drawings. Fit all of them on one side of the paper.)
Shape
So what happens when you start connecting all these lines? We make shapes! We all know about shapes, from our kidergarden days all the way to our geometry class in high school. Shapes can be simple or complex, geometric or organic, but all of them help us start to draw whatever objects we want to draw. Let' s take a closer look...
Step 3: Shape Video (5 points)
Watch the following video and take notes (handwritten on binder paper or on your Google Doc). Pay particular attention to the difference between geometric and organic shapes!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
-If you are still not sure about the difference between organic and geometric shapes, click this link:
Step 4: Organic vs Geometric (10 points)
Take a look at the following images. In your notes, number 1-8, and tell me if the images are made up of organic shapes, or geometric shapes. (Not sure? Ask yourself, is it man made or natural?
Step 4 Part 2:
-Then, on the same paper where you drew the line challenge, draw the following: (Really stop and think about this)
1. An ORGANIC house. 2. A GEOMETRIC fish.
-----------------------------------*CHECK IN!! Done with steps 1, 2, 3, & 4? Great! Now come show me for your points!*------------------------------------
Step 5: Blind Contour - Objects (20 points)
Drawing is about 50% just SEEING. Remember the bicycle challenge? How important is it to really REALLY see what you are drawing? So, in order to practice our SEEING skills, we are going to do something called "blind contour". (Contour = the outline). This is the first step in improving our drawing. Now, how can something with the word "blind" in the title help us draw better?! Well, it forces us to slow down and take the time to do way more observation than we usually do when we just casually look at things.
Here are the rules of Blind Contour:
1. Do not look at your drawing. Nope. Don't you dare! Cover your drawing if you don't trust yourself. (I have paper plates you can use for this).
2. Do not lift your pencil off the paper once you start drawing. It will be one continuous line.
3. Keep your eyes on the object and work your way around it.
4. Go slow. Go slower than you could possibly imagine, then go even slower!!!
Watch one of these videos to get a sense of what it's like: (the guy on the right goes WAY too fast though, so keep that in mind!)
Your Assignment:
Using a large piece of paper, (or the little white boards), and objects from the materials table, you will do 10 blind contour drawings. It's ok if the drawings overlap. Yes, your drawings will probably look weird, but that's OK. Remember: The final product is not what is important here. It's all about the PROCESS. Work big, no tiny drawings!
Examples of finished blind contour drawings: (See, they're all crazy, so don't feel bad!)
---------------------------*CHECK IN!! Done with your 10 blind contour drawings? Great! Now come show me for your points!*------------------------
Step 6: More Blind Contour Practice: 2 Faces (10 Points)
Do blind contour drawings of two faces. (Yes, REAL HUMAN FACES, not cartoons and not drawings!) You can get a picture online, or grab a partner. Take turns doing blind contour drawings of each other's faces, heads and shoulders. (You can use the little white boards if you prefer to save paper). Include the details, and remember the rules:
1. Do not look at your drawing. Nope. Don't you dare! Cover your drawing if you don't trust yourself. (I have paper plates you can use for this).
2. Do not lift your pencil off the paper once you start drawing. It will be one continuous line.
3. Keep your eyes on the object and work your way around it.
4. Go slow. Go slower than you could possibly imagine, then go even slower!!!
-----------------*CHECK IN!! Done with your beautiful blind contour portraits? Great! Now come show me for your points!*-------------------------
Step 7: Modified Contour: Hands (20 Points)
No more blind contour torture! We will continue to work with contours, but now the rules will change. This is what we call "modified" contour, or just plain, "contour" drawing.
Here are the rules for Modified Contour Drawing:
1. Yes, you may look at your drawing.
2. Yes, you may lift your pencil.
3. Stare at your object, and make your hand follow your eye as you work your way around it. Notice all that detail!!
4. Go slower than slow slow slow.
-Your Assignment:
Using two pages in your sketchbook, you will draw your hand twice, in two different positions. If you are right handed, draw your LEFT hand twice. If you are a lefty, draw your RIGHT hand twice. (No naughty hand gestures please, you crazy teenagers, you!) We are still working with just line. Yes, you should add any inside detail that you see. No shading is neccessary yet. They should end up looking something like this:
---------*CHECK IN!! Done with your two hand drawings? Great! Now come show me so I can make sure you are on the right track*------
Part 2:
-Now go back and do five more modified contour drawings of the objects that you used for the blind contour drawings. Pay attention to all the inside details, and also draw contour lines around any obvious highlights or shadows. (This will help when we switch to unit 4 on value).
-------------------------*CHECK IN!! Done with your objects? Great! Now come show me so I can give you your points*-----------------------------
----You are now ready for STUDY DRAWING 1:
A Pair of Shoes in Modified Contour----
Take some time to work on this and turn it in at your own time.
Remember the study drawings? Click this link to go back to the info page (in the about menu)
-------------------------*CHECK IN!! Done with your objects? Great! Now come show me so I can give you your points*-----------------------------
Step 8: Negative Space Drawing: Chairs (10 points)
This is a little exercise to show you that there are other ways to approach your drawing. Instead of drawing the objects you need to draw, why not try to draw the space AROUND your objects? Huh? Well, its the difference between positive and negative space. Basically, Positive space is the subject of your drawing, painting, etc. and the negative space is just everything around it.
For Example:
In this comic book image, Spiderman is the subject right? It's all about him, so he is the positive space. All that stuff in the background that we don't really care about, that's the negative space.
SO if I drew this by only looking at the negative space, it would look just like a contour drawing (with no inside detail), but my focus would be on the background. This is a trick you can use if your subject starts to overwhelm you, or you get stuck. Just change your focus! (A similar trick would be to draw it upside down, but we won't go there!) This is what a negative space drawing of this spiderman image would look like:
TaDA!!!!
-See how it's just a contour drawing with no inside detail?
-See how I darkened up the negative space around it?
-See how I didn't color in the whole thing because that would be crazy?!
Your Assignment:
I set up a few chairs and took a picture of them for you to draw in this style. The image is the first one on the resources page. You may draw these chairs, or find another image to use if you prefer, but remember to get it approved by me!
Use a page in your sketchbook to draw them. Remember: Don't draw the chairs, draw the space AROUND the chairs.
*If you are still confused about Negative & Positive space, watch this video:
The last step....
Watch this video about how to use your blending stick to get a smooth look for your negative space drawing:
-------------------------*CHECK IN!! Done with your negative space chairs? Great! Now come show me for your points!*--------------------------------
Step 9: Negative Space Zentangle Drawing (60 points)
Ok, here we are at the end of unit 3. You've learned a few new things, and have started drawing with contour line. Now you'll see that even with just this limited amount of practice, you can make something really cool.
You will work with contour, zentangles and pen to make something like this:
OOOH Fancy!!
-See how the positive space stays white, and is just a contour drawing?
-See all those random patterns? Those are "zentangles."
-See how nice they look?
-Check out the power point PDF by clicking on the link below and watch my videos to see how it is all done!
Your Assignment:
1. Start with the PDF:
2. Watch this time lapse to see me fix my first contour drawing.
Sketching it out helps fix it so it's just right...
3. When the contour drawing is complete, you will draw some organic lines across it. This will form the shapes in which you will add your zentangles.
You can watch me do this in this video...
4. Time to learn about Zentangles! Either of these videos is good, and kind of mesmerizing to watch.
5. Practice those zentangles on a
separate sheet in your
sketchbook.
(Like you saw in the PDF)
6. Add ink to the
zentangles.
*the ink is optional for distance-learning students*
7. Now draw them into the
shapes you created around
your contour drawing.
8. Add ink! You can see me doing this in the video below....
*the ink is optional for distance-learning students. If you have a sharpie or an art pen, go for it. If not, you can either get the pens from me, or just use your darker pencil to fill it in.*
Need Zentangle pattern ideas?
Go to Linda Farmer's site, TanglePatterns.com
for tons of ideas!
Here is a link:
9. Finishing touches:
-To outline or not to
outline?
-Clean up pen.
-Erase pencil.
--------*CHECK IN!! Done with your negative space zentangle drawing? Great! Now come show me for your points!*----------
You have reached the end of Unit 3.