OBSERVATION

6. Blindfolded Drawing

5/16/2015

You need:
A small object that will fit in your hand; Pencils; paper (A4)

Description:
Drawing mostly relies on what we see but often we end up drawing what we 'think' we see rather than what is actually there. This exercise is about drawing what you feel and it helps us to trust other senses to create interesting marks.

Task:
Hold your object in your hand so you can't see it. As you run your fingers over the surface of your object try to draw the marks that you feel. Use different marks, press harder to draw 'hard' textures and try to create form by judging the shape of your object.

Something to ponder:
Knowing and seeing are intertwined, but by separating them we are forced to consider their relationship. What is the difference between knowing and seeing?

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5. One Line Panoramic Drawing

5/13/2015

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This is an exercise in hand-eye coordination. It is important to develop this synchronicity (hand-eye) to improve your observational skills.

Process:

Stick 3 pieces of A4 paper together length ways so you have a long, narrow piece of paper.
Position yourself in a room or outside with enough space to move around.
Beginning at one end of the paper place your pencil (or pen) on the paper and draw (with 1 line) the things you see.
Try to record as much as you can without taking your pencil off the paper.
Move across the page until you get to the otherside

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4. One Line Portrait

4/3/2015

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You need:
biro (or other pen), paper, mirror (or photo)

Description:
This is a lesson in hand-eye coordination. During this exercise you are not allowed to take your pen away from the paper, once you start, you can't stop till the end! This will force you to look at your face with deep focus and find things you might otherwise miss.

Task:
Find a comfortable place to sit so you can see your face clearly. Find a starting point on your page and start to draw your face. Use different kinds of lines to describe different parts of your face eg wiggle lines for hair and remember that lines closer together creates darker tone!

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3. Negative Space

4/3/2015

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You need:
paper, Pencils, selection of household objects eg cup, spoon, bottle, lamp etc.

Description:
When we draw we always focus on the 'thing' we are drawing but it is equally important to consider the space around the objects too, after all, using space effectively makes good compositions! In this task you will draw the areas around your objects and begin to 'see' in a different way.

Task:
Arrange your objects on a table in front of you. It is good to overlap your objects. Now draw the shapes between your objects. You could add tone to the enhance the 'negative' effect.

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2. Distance

3/26/2015

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You need:
Pencil (A4), pencils (HB, 2B, 4B), 2 sticks (one 30cm and one 60cm), 1-3 objects eg pepper cut in half, old boot/shoe)

Description:
We are so used to using our hands to write but why do we need to draw in the same way? This exercise challenges you to use your pencil in different ways and ultimately create different marks.

Task:
Using masking tape, attach your pencil to the end of the long stick. With outstretched arms, draw your object(s) with a variety of descriptive marks (10-15 mins).
Ext:

Attach a softer pencil (2B) and repeat the process on a new piece of paper creating new tone and different textures.
Repeat with 4B pencil.
For a 4th drawing, repeat all of the above on one piece of paper so all 3 drawings are overlapped.

Now compare all your drawings thinking about the quality of line.

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1. Blind Contour

3/11/2015

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You need:
Pencil, paper, object

Description:
This exercise is about developing your artistic eye. When drawing from observation you should focus on your subject 99% of the time. So this is all about discipline! By doing this type of drawing you will improve your accuracy.

Task:
Find an object like bottle. Place your pencil on the page and from this point you can only look at your object. Try to draw as much detail as you can and don't worry about how it's going look!! Spend at least 10 minutes drawing.

As you draw, think about using thin and thick lines, different marks and tone.

The more you do this exercise, the more you develop your drawing skills.

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