Centerline Box thought

Walt Stanchfield used to really get cranky when our sketches where too straight up and down.  So when I'm teaching (and drawing my own sketches) I try to tell the artist to LEAN the pose, push that hip out, move the pose more left and right etc....

If you imagine a box around the drawing from it's furthest edges you should be able to also imagine a centerline down the middle.  That centerline helps you see if the drawing is too straight up and down.  It also helps to keep the work asymmetrical and balanced.

My sketches below show the box that I'm talking about.  I didn't actually draw the box but I was thinking "no straight up and down, no straight up and down!"

Hopefully this works for you because it really helps me to get that LEAN in that Walt talked about.

Forgive the quality of the Iphone pics.

 

Zoo "People"

I recently went to the zoo and it was so hot the animals were nowhere to be seen.  I decided to sketch the other animals walking around.  I always end up drawing the people at the zoo because I find them to be an interesting lot.
These sketches were done fairly quickly and I started using a large sketchbook(9x11) and Copic marker!

Gaze 

No Souvenir

Teddybear head

Tough kid with visor

Umbrella haad

"you mean to tell me that those monkeys can't jump over that railing and attack us?"

Taking pic of the flowers

Grandma walking kid 

Guy with camera

Hawaii five old

Holding up the fence

More Storyroom doodles

Story room doodles

just for fun on good ol' paper.

Observational Drawing

I want to share my impression of what it means when I say observational drawing.  

Many times people can get the idea that observational drawing means to literally observe every nook and cranny of the object or model.  Wrinkles, cracks, knuckles, follicles, pours, nose hairs or whatever can be seen is put into the artwork.  

I think there can be a place for such detailed type of artwork but when I teach the idea of observational drawing I teach the study of story telling through drawing.  That’s the most important part of it all.  If the drawing conveys story and meaning it’s that much more valuable as a piece of art.  

We need to connect with the meaning of our drawings.  If there's no story or meaning to the drawing that was supposed to be from observation then theres less interest by the viewer.  it becomes lines smudges and medium on paper rather than impressions of moments captured that evoke an emotion or reaction.

That’s my goal in observational drawing.  To capture a story or a meaning that makes you think or inspires you to feel something.  One thing I definitely do not do is force anyone into a particular style by forcing details into their art that don’t tell the story.  

the key is what are we observing?  the Story or literal detail that can add up to no meaning?

Don’t let style define substance.  

These one and a half second sketches were of my wife in P90x mode.  I tried to convey the energy in the effort and I thank her for letting me show these.  Frankly I should have joined her.  I could stand to loose a few pounds haha.

It's the weekend!

Have a good one!

A New Year

In my recent class I was pretty excited to see so many people wanting to draw!  The class was electric and the students really pushed themselves.  We had two models "Daniella Traub" and "John Tucker" and they had us speeding through ink and paper.

When drawing two models at a time you really want to build the first trajectory lines around both models simultaneously.  If they're drawn seperately time may run out on the pose and then we're left with half the drawing done.

I likened it to a sculpture who may see the two character pose in a large chunk of marble.  The sculpture sees into the stone and carves out the two characters simultaneously.  I wouldn't think that they'd completely carve one model leaving the rest of the marble in tact.

There's a relationship happening when there are more than one model or person on the street that you're sketching.  An electricity that goes between the two (Or more) subjects that we need to notice and capture in our work.That's the spark of life and interaction that we are trying to catch.  Some of my favorite art has this storytelling in it and draws us in. It can be anything to illicit an emotion- a coy look, a smile back and forth or one chasing another. 

Here's to a new year of lots sketching!

Last class of the year!

Marissa Gomez was here! Last class at DW till mid January.  Keep up the sketchbooks between now and then!!!

Tight brim

Angel in Heels

Here's some quick sketches from last monday.  Rachel Bailit really helped us out with her wings.  We were talking about commiting to shapes and caricature!