Weeks 7 & 8: Realism, Proportions, Contours, Color

I've thoroughly enjoyed drawing with the Community Day Sketchers! For our last two lessons we learned to draw roundness and realistic contours as we chose things from the crate of realism (shown below); then we learned to blend colored pencils by using only red, blue, and yellow to represent an apple.



You've all gained confidence and knowledge in drawing during the 8-week course. Some of you will be getting jobs in fields such as the graphic arts, construction, or office management--your drawing skills will prove to be very useful! And many of you will someday have families. I guarantee you that your children will one day ask your help in learning to draw. And just think... you'll be able to draw a crab and a puffer fish and a bowl of fruit with them! :-)

Sketch on! --Rob


above: study sketch of contour edges and final rendering with a woodless graphite pencil by Daniel


above: exploring different styles of drawing by Brian (left) and Daniella (right)

Sydney

You've got real drawing skills now, Sydney!!! Throughout the entire course you've always been willing to push beyond your comfort zone and learn new things. I know that the first lessons were challenging, but your determination and positive attitude helped you to develop your own drawing style. As you drew the shell and squash from real life you stepped into a whole new level of artistic expression. Your strong contour lines and accurate eye for proportion really shine in these sketches! The roundness of the squash and the textures of the shell look very natural. Keep practicing sketching realistically and remember to loosen up your line work to express yourself on paper. Keep drawing! :-)

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here

Thalia

It usually takes you 10 minutes to drop into the zone and start sketching, (okay, probably 15 minutes for that way cool apple!) but once you did... whoa!... you became a drawing machine. From drawing wonderfully accurate proportions (the dog), to insanely tight contour lines (antique iron and roundness of the squash), to blending colors on the apple, your ability to grasp the essence of each lesson is amazing! Being able to understand concepts and visualize composition is a valuable life skill. Keep building on this foundation, Thalia; it will take you far in life. And keep drawing!

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here



The contour curves of the squash look very realistic and natural!

Jairo

Your ability to focus on each drawing lesson helped you to progress rapidly, Jairo!! Your natural ability for drawing accurate proportions and realistic contours showed in the early lessons; then continued to improve as shown in the dog and shells--stellar work! Keep working on sketching faster, using more expressive lines and tones. And keep sketching from real life, too. I think you've discovered skills that will be useful in everyday life and hope you explore the possibilities drawing can offer you. I think you really enjoy drawing... keep it going!

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here



Excellent blending of colors and capturing the round contours of the apple. Keep experienting with Prismacolor pencils, I think it will open up a whole range of artistic possibilities.

Daniel

You mentioned that you'd like to become a tattoo artist. With your eye for composition and bold drawing style you're well on your way, Daniel!!! As I watched you use your own proportion-grid technique while drawing, I could see that you spend a lot of free time drawing. Definitely keep it going. Really cool how you approach and plan each drawing as a full-on composition--one of the essential attributes of an artist. I truly hope that you continue to sketch from real life and to look for the delicate contour details. And keep using those bold light and dark tones as shown in the dog skull and shells. If I understand correctly, you'll be returning in the Fall, 2010. I'll have you applying your skills to projects involving students from other schools. Draw on, man!

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here

Monica

Monica, as the weeks progressed, your confidence grew and your natural drawing skills began to emerge. Your observational skills shifted into high gear while drawing the proportions and contours of the dragonfly. And your ability to draw realistic contour lines really started to shine with the study sketches of the bell pepper. You pulled all your new skills together for the colored pencil drawings of the apple--great color blending and natural looking contour curves! Keep practicing--maybe buy a sketchbook this summer--drawing from real life, you've got an eye for it. :-)

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here

Crystal

Once you drop into the zone and get started, Crystal, there's no limit to the potential of your drawing!!! What's really cool is how you started the first lessons by drawing BIG while keeping accurate proportions, helping you to create wonderful compositions using the entire sheet of paper. Your confidence improved rapidly, producing realistic, graceful contour lines such as on the pepper and squash study sketches. Your eye for accurate proportions really shows on your drawing of the dog! And your ability to express yourself in your work, such as the apple, provides a strong foundation for developing a drawing style that will give your pleasure in the years to come. Keep it going! :-)

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here

Lorenzo

Lornezo, your true creative talent and drawing ability are like treasures in a gold mine waiting to be brought out into the open for the world to see. Whether drawing from your imagination or from observation, your skills improved dramatically with each lesson. The drawings of the dog show your unique art style as well as your ability to draw accurate, realistic proportions. I hope you continue to explore the depths of your talents to bring out the shining nuggets of artistic potential.

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here

Isaac

You spent weeks developing your skills; then for your final lesson you took on one of the most challenging objects to draw--the lantern! And you put everything you learned--positive/negative space, proportions, contour lines--into a couple of wonderful study sketches!!! During the course, each time you applied yourself, I saw your abilities improve in a BIG way. Your contour sketch of the squash and colored pencil apple show your eye for depicting 3D roundness and realistic form. Build on this foundation, man! And you'll have skills that you can turn into a hobby for enjoyment in the years to come.

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here



The contour edges of the skull and shell are a HUGE step toward drawing realistically!

Brandon

Brandon, you came into drawing class a couple of weeks late, but with your positive attitude you caught up quickly!! Your confidence in drawing with lines and shapes grew with each lesson. And your eye for accurate proportions has really started to show in your work, especially in the drawing of the dog and the shell! All of your skills came together brilliantly in the curved contours of the shells, especially the one shown above. You're developing a cool style of sketched-in pencil strokes for lighter and darker gray tones. If you're returning in the Fall, 2010, we'll build on this foundation in future projects. In the meantime, grab yourself a sketchbook and keep practicing drawing from real life.

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here

Edgar

After seeing you draw in class and going through your lessons it's clear that you've got true artistic potential inside of you; it simply needs to be unlocked and given the chance to develop. When you focus your intensity on your work, really cool stories and designs emerge in your compositions. I especially like your ability use tones and line work to create a bold representational drawing style, such as in the picture of the dog; then spontaneously riff into powerful street art flourishes. This skill would be very useful if you were to pursue a career in graphic design. So put on the iPod earphones, crank up the music, and keep busy drawing, Edgar!!!

To see your progress, check out your first lesson from 8 weeks ago: Click here