Composition

What makes an interesting drawing ?

Section of 2D exercise

It doesn't matter how simple or complex something is in appearance. What matters is how the objects
you want to draw are arranged in a pre-determined space and how they touch or intersect.

The composition appears on your paper when you record the resulting lines and contours, showing how they interact with the negative spaces and the format of your frame.

Foreshortening Upside Down 2D exercise

One of this week's exercises was an introduction to foreshortening which will be followed up in a few weeks time. It shows how perspective drawing can be achieved through observation of interacting negative spaces and positive shapes.

Gallery 3

This gallery shows the how the students have begun to address composition. Some absolutely stunning work done this week. Well done everyone

Catherine 
'Really enjoyed the hand drawing.
 

Catherine

Catherine

Found the table and lamp more difficult and ran out of space !!

Noticing an improvement in my drawing already.  Taking an hour and a half for each one though !!!'

Catherine

Peter

Peter

Peter

 Lyn

Lyn

'The bottle at the front being an odd shape, especially the top, and being glass caused me a real headache. I could not get it to look right'

'I nearly gave up on this as my hand kept moving position Pleased I didn't as I was ' really chuffed ' with the result !!'

Lyn

Lyn

'This was my first large object ie not on the table and I had no idea how to approach it.  I started with a frame on my pad, then hand - held my viewer but it kept moving. I then decided to just draw it which reduced the time enormously. Finished result - not too bad.'

Marian

'The concept of negative spaces is a real revelation, it has helped me greatly in making the leap from copying from 2D to drawing from life.

The drawing of my hand is so superior to the one of just 4 weeks ago, it is hard to believe it was done by the same person.'

Marian

Marian

'Using the viewer helped me greatly to see the perspective in the drawing of the chair, I am finding the viewer much easier to use now that I am using an easel and not having to move my head between subject/viewer and paper.

I enjoyed choosing my still life, but soon realised that getting so many curved objects right was not going to be easy. 

Marian

I had particular problems with the bevel on the dial, and getting it to 'sit' on the front surface of the scales.'

Marianne

Marianne

'Took many hours re-drawing negative spaces to portray the objects turned at an angle. Learnt a lot about looking'

Marianne

'This took several hours. Had to grid it. Perspective I found very difficult. Don't want to draw a chair for a long time.'

Marianne

Judy

Judy

Judy

Phil

Phil

'For this drawing I must say that I was very happy doing it and after finishing it I was fairly satisfied.

Maybe you are right saying that you can teach me drawing! Never suspected that I could draw a hand like this.'


Elaine

Elaine

'I found this difficult. Elongated fingers. 

Elaine

Elaine

  This was easier. I tried shading but should have left it alone!'

Gallery 2

Hollyhocks by Marian

So here we are two weeks after our lesson on negative space where numerous non-existing stools were created from the spaces around them.
The groups have been working independently now for those two weeks. The follow-up homework was set in two batches.
This time is for them to really direct themselves to put into practice what they have covered over the previous 3 weeks.

There were  2D exercises where negative spaces were lifted from flat images and some set 3D pieces...and here is some of the work produced from the first week focusing on how negative spaces relate to the subjects drawn within their formats.

Once again everyone has excelled themselves and I can see progress in each student.
Many found the whole concept of negative space really challenging and found it difficult not to focus on the positive shapes but they all succeeded in producing some confident negative space images.
Some of them even decided to do more than was asked which was very encouraging!

Gallery 2 Negative Space

Judy

'Bighorn Sheep.  
My favourite task so far. The third part of the triple frame allowed me to see how it might be possible to be even more creative with your own art work.

The foreshortening of the figure was easily overcome by looking at the negative spaces. 

I have found this technique to be really helpful in seeing how to transform things into 2D.

Judy

I'm not sure I could have drawn this corkscrew without looking at the negative shapes. 

Couldn't resist filling in some internal detail afterwards though.'

 Marian

'I found using the viewfinder without a stand very difficult; without a constant outer frame it was much harder to 'stick with' the negative spaces and ignore the object. 

I placed the lamp so that it touched the frame on three sides and I think it works better as a composition,but it does not have such interesting negative spaces.

Marian

I liked the negative spaces made by the crossing leaves of the plant, but wish I had placed the bent leaf at the top of the frame.'

Marian

Peter

Peter

 Lyn

' Still having a problem with proportions, negative space disappeared as it was drawn smaller - not a good choice- Lots of erasing !'

Lyn

Lyn

'Decided to have another go at a stool using my ' viewer ' Still found it hard  to do but at least it looked like a stool ! 

When I looked back at the last one HEY HO it was a LOT BETTER - maybe I am making some progress.'

Lyn

Marianne

Marianne

 Phil

Phil

Phil

'It's so hard to see just the negative space and to keep my head in the same place.'

Elaine

Catherine

Catherine

Catherine

I found the homework really hard wiith no one to check with that I was doing what I should. 

Negative space drawings I find very difficult. I understand the reasoning but  I find it very difficult.

Gallery 1

This week's lesson was working with negative space - a tough task to be able to create an image of something without drawing it.

Starting with a few exercises to hone visual dexterity.
Then on to the use of viewers to assist in drawing negative spaces to reveal a 3D object.

THERE IS NO STOOL

Both groups did incredibly well and despite frustration just did not give up. Brilliant!
The two groups have now been working to improve their drawing for 3 weeks with absolutely amazing results compared to their initial pre-instruction drawings
All down to their persistence and hard work. Well Done all of you. I am really proud of you so here is your first gallery.

Drawing Diaries - 3rd week Gallery of Modified Contour Drawings

 Complex Flowers

 

 

Feet and Shoes

 
 
 Complex Vegetables

Now they have a two week period to complete 10 tasks for homework using all their skills so far. Their results will be posted here over the next two weeks.