Ins and Outs

Now that Ann and Ellie are utilising all new skills we spent last lesson working on developing composition of nooks and crannies and still life.
For their first week's homework they were charged with drawing a corner of their utility room, a section of their garden and a flower in a vase.

 Ellie

Section of Ellie's utility room

 Ellie commented in her email that she didn't think this drawing was particularly good. 'I think that the drawing skill is pretty competent Ellie, but the composition lacks interest. Remember that a good composition involves interaction of objects and negative spaces between and around within the format that you decide. This view you have chosen lacks the interaction so I think that is why you felt disappointed with it'(Sylvia)

Two drawings of flowers in glass container

 Ellie chose to draw wild flowers for this work. Again she wasn't happy with the daisy so did the foxglove. ' I think the daisy would have been more interesting Ellie if you had drawn it from a three-quarter view coming towards you so that more of the head of the flower worked with the glass container. The container and refraction images of this drawing were better proportionally and observed better than the container of the foxglove, but the well observed foxglove gives the still life more interest! So between the two you have done well!'(Sylvia)

'I think this drawing is lovely Ellie and a real challenge. The wheel foreshortening obviously gave you problems but we will deal more with perspective in lesson 6. But I love the composition and the differing strengths of line, shade and the perspective you have worked through. Well done!
(Sylvia)

 Ann

Ann didn't comment on her work this week but this little corner of her garden is really nicely done. 'I love the simplicity of the composition Ann and it has enough negative space and movement to keep interest. I particulalry like the way the leaf at the bottom cuts through the frame of your format.  You have also used minimal shading to help with clarifying the textures and strengthening the format'(Sylvia)

Fence section study

Rose in glass container

 'Roses are a great challenge Ann and give interest to any composition. Well observed refraction and symmetry of the curved glass and water level although the left hand container looks like it wants to tip over! The bottom curve and left hand side are not balanced.However all in all these are lovely drawings. Well done Ann.'
(Sylvia)

Utility room corner

'A nice busy section here Ann with lots of interest and a really good go at perspective, proving that even a mundane little section of a room can still make an interesting composition. Great stuff!' (Sylvia)