Drawing with Enthusiasm III (1:30pm - 4:30pm)
Wed. 4/1 - 6//3/ 2015
© Francis Sprout
[email protected]
Enthusiastic assurance of your ability to draw continues during this course. Unit 1, is structured to review basic
drawing techniques while introducing new methods for depicting the relationships, between the foliage, sculpture
and architectural elements present in and the Vero Beach Museum of Art sculpture gardens. Unit 2, is devoted to
methods for depicting facial features in portraiture. Though not apparent, these seemingly dissimilar subjects are
both concerned with understanding the superstructure of plants, animals and the environment.
Tools/Materials:
Purchase locally: Lighthouse Art & Framing ; 1875 14th Ave; Craft & Stuff 658 21 St. Miracle Mile Plaza;
Michaels Arts & Crafts 6140 20 St. Indian River Mall
Purchased Online: jerrysartarama.com; cheapjoes.com; utrechtart.com; dickblick.com
Suggested merchants and prices will vary and some items will be out of stock so be prepared to shop around.
Drawing board: Sax Carry-All Portable Drawing Board - 19 x 19 inches
(amazon.com $10.59).
Sketch book: Strathmore Bristol, series 300, 14ʺ x 17ʺ (utrectart.com, $11.09)
Portfolio: Star Products 20 x 26 Inch Dura Poly Portfolio (amazon.com $11.99)
Pencils: Loew Cornell 1021077 Simply Art Sketching Set (amazon.com $5.26)
Pencil Sharpener: (not battery operated)
Conte' Crayons: Conte Crayon Black 2B, pkg of 2 (amazon.com $6.66)
Erasers: Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser
Toolbox: suitable container for transporting tools
Liquid Media:
India ink: Higgins Waterproof Black Ink 1 oz. (dickblick.com $2.84)
Re-sealable containers for ink-wash technique ca. 2 oz (containerstore.com $1.29 ea)
Paint brushes: Martha Stewart Basic Brush Set 5/Pkg-(amazon.com $10.95)
Sakura 30062 6-Piece Pigma Micron Ink Pen Set (Amazon.com, $10.16)
or
Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen Set (Utrectart.com, set of 8, $12.99)
(These are the suggested tools and materials. You may substitute similar materials that you may already have)
Unit 1: Landscape Drawing
In drawing subjective impressions can affect our ability to see and re-present subject matter accurately. Various
artists since Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) have evolved systems such as sight-measuring or mapping to overcome
the natural tendency to misrepresent.
The Diagrammatic Method is a sequence of five elements that establishs a more truthful observation of the
relationships between the three dimensional elements in the landscape, so that we can confidently transpose (represent) them on the two dimensional plane.
(1) Frame within frame; (claim the space)
(2) Directional thrust or axis; a line through the center of object
(3) Unit of measure; a method for designating the height, width & proportions of objects
(4) Vectors; imaginary lines designating the comparative location of objects in space
(5) Transparent; (x-ray) depiction of volumes
(References: Betty Edwards Workbook 2002:70-72; Clint Brown & Cheryl Mclean 1997: 42-45; Kenneth
Auvil 1990:6-9; Daniel Mendelowitz 1967:16-19)
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Demonstrate how the diagrammatic method can be used in the depiction of branches and leaf clusters (foliage
details-left) and the depiction of broader vistas (right).
Sprout. Philodendron Study 2012,
graphite 17x13
Norman Kent (1903-1972, study, felt pen
Assignment 1: A cluster of leaves
Procedure:. (1) Gather the basic drawing material, sun screen, sun hat, folding chair and move to the
selected landscape area. Plein air studies will be limited to less than one hour. (2) Use 2B pencil to
make a diagrammatic drawing of a single cluster of leaves (3) As the composition progresses use 6B
pencil to hatch in the value pattern and establish the textures of the foliage. (4) This sketch will be
brought back to the studio discussion and fine-tuning during the next class.
Sprout, Henry Moore @ Kykuit 2002,
pen-ink 22x18
Sprout, VBMA Sculpture Garden 2010, conte,
18x24
Assignment 2: Sculpture and architectural elements in the Landscape
Procedure: (1) Select a landscape vista that includes a sculptural object or an architectural element. (2)
Within a 30 minute period, make a diagrammatic sketch of with 2B pencil (3) Bring the sketch back to
the studio to be re-drawn with the technical pen and ink wash.
Assignment 3: Portraiture (physiognomy):
The skull is the superstructure (foundation) for the appearence of the face. Compare the (left facing)
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sculptural portrait of David and the (left facing) skull drawing with the (right facing) skull darwing and the
right facing drawing of David in the illustrations above.
(1) Procedure for structuring the face will be illustrated on the chalkboard. (2) Make a light pencil drawing
of the sculptural replication of David (depicted larger than life size). (3) Then hatch mark with the conte’
crayon to depict the shadows and isolate the highlights.
Assignment 4: Black and white portrait (photocopy) / 4B & 6B pencils
(1) Find the close-up portrait of a face at least 8ʺ x 10ʺ (from mass media or the family archive). If the
picture is too small or in color - photocopy to enlarge and/or make black and white.
(2) Pencil in a 1ʺ grid over the ʺ8 x 10ʺ image to prepare for enlargement of the portrait. (3) Then on a
blank 14ʺ x 17ʺ page - pencil in a 1ʺ 4. (4) Now in the 14ʺ x 17ʺ grid use hatching and cross-hatching
techniques to replicate the value pattern in each square in the grid segments of the photocopy. (5) Invert the
photocopy and the blank grid (turn upside down) –to achieve a more objective approach to rendering the
value pattern of the individual grid segments. (Edwards 17-26)
Assignment 5: Self-portrait / pencils
(1) Review the formula for structuring the facial features. (2) Render your face from the mirror image
(larger than life size) on 14ʺ x 17ʺ sketch book page.
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