Figure Gesture Drawings

 MEDIA: CHARCOAL

In some areas of this assignment, I found gesture drawing a little fun and exciting. We were to quickly draw different poses, movements and actions of these blue figures in a speedily and spontaneous fashion. Putting time and quickness boosted up the pressure and really tested our drawing skills. Using the media of the vine stick charcoal, we were able to create these different images through what we see. Every drawn pose and movement of the blue figures started with identifying the midpoint of these human figures. By drawing guidelines through the figures we are able to improve our perception of these type of figures and learn how the certain lengths the human figure has on their arms, legs, and body composition. Proportion also plays its role in this assignment by training us once again to try to fit the images on our paper by focusing on size and the various parts of the unit. The figure gesture drawings did not emphasize on detail but actually catch the essence of the subjects that are being drawn. The learning objective was to catch these different essences in a short amount of time which included contour line drawing, bubble drawing, box drawing, and negative shapes. As we worked through all the different dance poses with circles and boxes, we later expand our skills by outlining the figures that we are forming to slowly create a realistic image of our subject. This drawing assignment affected my perception of the human figure by identifying the composition of the small parts of each of the figures. From my personal experience, I enjoyed just letting my mind and hand flow into my drawing. No thinking but just creating out the subject by the way we see it through our minds and then later letting it flow through our hands by our gesture. Sometimes I don't get the image I'm looking for but most of the time I like how my drawings look when no erasing is involved and my arm just flows to what I see by adapting to the essence and objective of this assignment.

Neutral Ground/Crosshatching Still Life Drawing

 MEDIA:CHALK,CHARCOAL (Neutral Ground),PENCIL, ERASER


This drawing assignment was very new to me in so many ways. From my experience, I actually had a lot of fun creating the still life image with an eraser and a chalk. The media used in this assignment was a neutral ground base. We were able to produce this middle value ground by spreading out pencil shavings on our drawing sheets. These shavings helped us create a mix of both light and dark values called a neutral ground base. We were also able to work with a different media on this assignment as we actually use an eraser instead of the usual pencil to create our still life image of the ceramic pot, roll of tissue mannequin, drape, and the stool. At first, I can honestly say I was lost throughout the beginning of the assignment. How am I going to create the given still life image using an eraser? As I experimented with different strokes, values, and shapes, it was clear that I underestimated the power of my eraser. My approach in starting the neutral ground still life drawing was to first identify the familiar shapes I am able to recognize. The ceramic pot was my first target as I quickly saw the lighter values shining on the side. After creating the pot, I worked my way up to the other items and focused on their light values erasing the neutral ground and creating the specific shape. During the assignment, I was fascinated on how we are able to create images through this drawing style. Similar to the Lincoln chalk assignment, our objective was to engage our selves into a neutral ground base and being able to use different media tools such as the eraser to your advantage in pulling out the shapes we see in our still life. We were to create the still life by starting with a surface contour of the drawing. Doing a contour line drawing was not advisable by our instructor because he wanted us to be able to work our way out by recognizing the different shapes to create the image. It seemed a little new to me but it was a very fun way of drawing. Like doing a contour line drawing, a surface contour is just another technique we were able to learn in this course. We used the eraser as a drawing tool just like the way we use a pencil and a chalk. Identifying the different value as well is something we have to look for. When creating these different values we are able to control the pressure we put down into our eraser. We learn how to control our strokes as we get to the different light and dark values. Taking advantage of the light that was given to the still life made it easier to identify these different shadings. Putting our newly learned skill of crosshatching into this assignment helped me see the whole image coming together little by little. If you asked me what was the hardest thing about this assignment I would say creating the drape that was on the mannequin. There were just so many lines and creases I have to be aware about so drawing it was actually a challenge. As I finished up with all the erasing, I used cross hatching to fill in the darker values creating shading on areas that need to shaded. I used the chalk to finish up and bring out the whole drawing. The white chalk really help bring out and emphasize the light portions of my drawing. It was a great media to help add the finishing touches on this assignment. Over all, I had fun doing this assignment. It was hard at first but all it took was time, patience, and practice. What I liked best was actually seeing my drawing come to life. Just knowing that I am able to complete this drawing with a new way of doing so makes me feel a little proud. The down side of this assignment was making mistakes. It was a hassle going back and forth to the pencil shavings to erase and create a new area of neutral ground.

Neutral Ground "Blue Figure" Assignment

 MEDIA: CHARCOAL (Neutral Ground) Chalk, Eraser, Pencil


I found this assignment very difficult for me.  It was really hard for me to work with a neutral ground surface and creating the shown image by using an eraser.  Besides the difficulty, I liked the idea, media and concept involved in this assignment because it was something very new to me.  Using a neutral surface was done by spreading what a can say are shreds of pencil sharpeners on to a piece of paper and getting as much neutral ground as possible.  Without any contour lines, I was left with my eraser and my knowledge about light and dark values.  Our eraser in this assignment served as a very important tool because it acts like a pencil to create the light values that the assignment asks.  We are to create a drawing image of two blue figures and create the light values that are shown with our eraser.  Swiping the eraser against the neutral ground surface creates the light values depending on how hard your stroke is.  I went through erasing areas of the image that need their certain value to compliment the image.  The darker values that are left out are to be crosshatched to the particular value depending on how light or how dark.  After identifying the lighter values of the image, I began to cross hatch my way to finish line by darkening the dark values to bring out the image.  The chalk helped out with the light values giving them that extra touch of light to help us see the different light and dark values of the two figures. 

My thoughts on the surface contour on the subjects was noticing the different value changes on both of the figures.  The areas where shading takes place can be done and filled up by crosshatching.  The surface contour had many changing values and shading on the females legs and the head and upper body of the male.  This assignment really helped me increase my range in value by experimenting with the neutral ground and the eraser.  Creating the light value was really fun but controlling the amount of value came to be a biggest challenge in this assignment.  I can say I learned a lot more when in came to value changes and shading.  The chalk really did help me bring out all the lighter values making it visible to the audience as well as bring out the darker values to help create the whole image. 

Interior (Surface) Contour Still life Assignment

 MEDIA: CONTOUR DRAWING, PENCIL

The interior (surface) contour assignment personally, was a little difficult and tricky to begin with. I had a hard time setting up my composition of the subject because of the way the lighting was set up on the still life image. We had to focus on the shadow of the still life, the different areas that need to be shaded and the lines that were over lapping the whole still life itself. We had a lot of things to keep in mind. As always, I started the assignment by focusing on the outlines and drawing the contour lines of the still life. Again, putting a grid on my paper helped me a lot with balancing my composition in terms of proportion. My main concern was drawing the cloth that was over the statue. I had a hard time with that area but eventually found a way by simply following the lines where the dark values are. As I started to cross hatch the dark values of the image, I begin to see my still life pop out. Learning the cross hatching technique really thought me to see my drawings in a different way by being able to shade and identify and create the different light and dark values to better compliment the images I create.


As I was working on this still life image, I kept thinking about the three types of lines that we learned throughout this semester. Actual lines are full lines that we are all used to seeing around us which are the basic types such as the ones we see on graphs or our grids. Implied lines are dots that are used to form a line. These group of dots together form a line when viewed closely. A common term that can be used is the "dotted line." All these dots connect to form a line. Psychic lines are lines that are invisible and can't be seen. This line can be considered an imaginary line. Psychic lines can be used to help artist with their drawings. Just like our upcoming cityscape drawing, we are to use imaginary lines and wings to help extend our vision and go beyond our drawing sheet. In this assignment, I was actually able to use implied lines into this drawing because of the lines that were placed on top of the image. Physically, the lines were not part of the still life so I had to imagine the lines as if they were dotted so I am able to see through the image. Cross hatching also made a big difference in my drawing. By shading the shadow and the different dark values of the still life helped me enhance my drawing skills and knowledge of the different shaded values.

Black Paper/White Chalk "Abraham Lincoln" Assignment

 MEDIA: CHALK

Who knew creating an image with chalk would be a whole lot of fun. At first, I didn't see the point in this assignment. Chalk is usually used on blackboards the last time I checked. All I knew was I was going to get chalk marks all over myself after I was done with this drawing. As I started on the Abraham Lincoln assignment, I was having a hard time picturing the image in the over head and how am I going to use my drawing tool (chalk) to create my image on my black paper. I started experimenting with the way I hold the chalk. Our instructor suggested us to use the sides of the chalk and lightly go through the areas of the Abraham Lincoln drawing where there are light values and work our way from there. With that in mind, I carefully payed close attention to my subject trying to get every accurate detail of the light values as I leave out the darker values. What helped me a lot was drawing a grid over my black paper to help me focus on proportion. Without the grid I don't think my drawing would be as balanced as the original image that was shown. It was a challenge but as I progress into the assignment I begin to see my subject little by little. This assignment helped me explore the different values not only from light to dark but in a whole new different way. We turned the tables around on this assignment when we work with a light value on a dark surface instead of the usual working with a dark value on a light surface. The chalk served as a very important tool in this assignment and I was very surprise of how much of a tool it can be used in a fine arts course. For an assignment that does not deal with contour lines, this surface contour drawing really helped see the values a lot better. With finalizing my Abraham Lincoln drawing, it was easier to catch all the areas where the appropriate values need to be. I am able to see the light and dark values and with that upgraded skill that I developed, I am able to bring out the best of my Abraham Lincoln drawing.