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.

Contour/Texture Composition Drawing

MEDIA:CONTOUR DRAWING,TEXTURE,PENCIL

I had a little difficulty finding my picture subject for this drawing assignment. I chose this picture because not only did it show two people interacting with each other, it also seemed simple and easy to draw. I started my drawing by setting up my composition by using my view finder which in my opinion helped me a lot through my drawing assignments. I drew a grid over my paper to help me proportion my image in the right areas of the paper. I then started drawing the contours of my image and outlining each detailed material I could fine. Once I was done, the hardest part for me was actually fitting the different textures from my hand made texture catalog. I wanted each texture to be able to compliment the whole image as a whole and match each part of my whole subject. As you can see, I decided to set a background on my image first. I chose about five different textures and covered the background to shoe more of my interacting image. The bumpy patterned textures of the seated tile texture, the checkered cutting board, and the barbeque rack make up a great background image. For my images skin, I chose the soft texture of a table to show the smoothness of both the woman and the man. I wanted to use the table texture because it was a great fit to compliment the smoothness of their body. With the woman's hair being a little wavy, I used the foot stool patterned image texture to create the woman's strands of hair. As for the man, I used the bumpy image of a nearby parking lot to show off and bring out his spiky hair. I had a little fun with the attire of my figures. Giving them different styles from their pants to their top. I used a patterned rack to create a little styled effect on the man's pants. I used a classroom chair to create dots for the man's shirt. As for the woman, I went and used a rigid texture of a bumpy table for both the pants and top. As much as possible I tried to make all the textures match most of the parts of my image. I also kept in mind to have fun with the drawing and just let your imagination run wild. It tried to focus more on shading to improve my drawings. Overall, this was a fun drawing assignment. deciding on which texture to put on your image was probably the hardest thing to do.

Crosshatching Seated Boy Assignment

MEDIA:CROSSHATCHING,PENCIL

Crosshatching was very new to me and coming into this drawing assignment, I didn't know what it was or how to do it so I was a little worried at first. The seated boy assignment was actually a simple drawing image and a great way to practice our crosshatching skills. I started this assignment by making a contour line drawing of the seated boy. Again, I focused more on lines, line changes and different angles in order to accomplish the drawing. The surface contour helped me personally see the image of the seated boy as I use the the crosshatching technique to fill in the dark and light areas. The surface contour acted like a guide for me through out this assignment. Having a grid on the image made me proportion the seated boy onto my paper which was very important if I wanted to draw the image perfectly. After completing the seated boy, I began thinking about dark and light values. Using the crosshatching technique helps me emphasize which parts of the image is darker and lighter. As I crosshatched my way through the seated boy image, I begin to see what I am actually drawing. Thinking of value changes and the transitions from light to dark and using crosshatching helped bring out the seated boy and its details. I begin to see all the shaded areas as well as the boys shadow which was really surprising for me. After the seated boy assignment, I realized that crosshatching was actually very simple. It is a quick way to emphasize the shadow, light and dark values of the seated boy or any image.

Positive/Negative Still Life Assignment

 MEDIA: POSITIVE/NEGATIVE DRAWING,PENCILS


The purpose of this drawing was to turn a three dimensional still life to a flat two dimension image on paper.  By doing so, we had to focus on our subjects negative spaces and actually not draw the whole still life itself.  Similar to the bird drawing, we had to outline our subject into our paper and then later fill in all the negative spaces.  During this assignment, we made great use of the view finder we created earlier and put it to the test into this still life assignment.  Using the view finder will help set up or subject and composition.  Especially in this assignment, drawing a still life figure is very different from drawing an image that is shown on the board or the overhead projector.  A big difference is that we are dealing with a three dimensional still life drawing and have to be aware of everything around it such as certain bulks of the chair, where the electrical wires are placed and the vase that is shown.  Using the grid with your view finder will also help out with proportion.  One thing to keep in mind is to try and visualize your subject and let it appear on your paper the exact way you see it.  The grid also helps you focus on certain areas of your subject so it is easier to see the subject in parts instead of a whole.  We were also taught how to measure and estimate by using our pencils.  Like all the great artist in the world, sticking out your pencil and using your thumb to measure your subject is also a great alternative to measuring and proportion.  With my drawing, I decided to play with different shapes and light value to cover up the negative spaces.  I focused my subject on almost all the objects in the still life and drew the outlines the best I could.  I took different shapes and shaded them and experimented with light and dark values to bring out my still life subject itself.  It was another challenge for me while doing this assignment but really worth all the work. 

Positive/Negative "Do Not Draw The Bird"

MEDIA: PENCILS, POSITIVE/NEGATIVE DRAWING

The purpose of this drawing assignment was basically to not draw the bird but most importantly teach us and distinguish the difference between the positive and negative spaces by creating an abstract image of the subject.  Our goal was to focus our composition on not drawing the subject as a whole but putting our attention more into the negative shapes of the bird.  In other words, drawing the bird from the outside instead of the inside or just drawing the outline of the bird.  With the concepts of types of lines, the bird had different waves such as the curvilinear lines that connect to each other making the whole bird itself.  Trying to not draw the bird was a little difficult for me but blocking out the positive shapes made it a different assignment in my point of view.  Another purpose of the assignment was to focus on proportion as well.  Drawing a gird along the paper really helped me draw the bird exactly as it is by focusing on different areas of the image and try to block out from drawing the bird and be a little more mindful with the lines and patterns.  With the background, I tried to focus more on value change to compliment the image of the subject.  I went from drawing patterns of lines along the paper and shading them with different values of shade.  Doing this I was able to explore changes in value that help pull out the image.  I could say with this drawing, I played it safe and held back with my creativity.