Often people come to their first class with no idea of how to begin, and this is a great approach to take, keeping an open mind and beginning with questions. For the more experienced artist, it can be refreshing to get back to basics. Here are a few tips to support you as you start out . . . armed with your sketchbook and pencils, camera or iPhone.
Treasure Hunt: Catch a train, get in the car or take a walk around the block, or go to the city, beach or park. Look at things close-up as well as observing what is in the distance. Collect some found objects such as twigs, pieces of bark, pebbles, pods, or leaves to take home.
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Take some photos of light on different subjects, natural or man-made, or photos of people, and notice the shadows cast upon them or from them. Look for patterns, textures and shapes.
Sit for a while and take time to connect with yourself, how are you feeling, take notes on the weather, how you are feeling. Then when you feel connected and settled begin to make some sketches. Some of these may be developed into a painting, collage or sculpture later. Prop cupboard and pin board: Back in your working space, organise you treasures - display your found objects in boxes or on shelves, print some photos and pin them up on a pin board. How does your space feel now?
Whatever you have come home with, whatever you have responded to will provide some direction for your first pieces which could relate to portraits or nature. |
Tips for sketching en Pleine Air
There are many ways to approach drawing, which means that every time you take yourself out to observe, you can choose a fresh way of observing and rendering your subject. For example:
Composition - observe what is happening in the foreground, the middle ground and the background. You might choose one of these elements as your focus. What is beneath your feet, or right in front of you, what is further away that may be your focus, and what is in the distance, that you might find as a focal point, or leave out of your drawing to simplify it.
Light and Shade - Where is the light hitting your subject? Where are the shadow areas? What happens when you focus on the shadows and shade them in first to establish the structure for your drawing? Enjoy using different grades of pencil - perhaps HB to start the drawing as it is not too soft or dark, and use your 6Bs or 8Bs to accentuate your dark shadows or foreground objects.
Texture and Pattern - A playful way to explore an environment is to use a technique called frottage - place a piece of paper over a hard textured surface and rub your pencil firmly over the paper to pick up the texture of a tree trunk, wooden seat, concrete path, etc. you can cut these up later to make some collages.
Drawing is a beautiful way to explore your environment, at home, out and about, favourite places, on holiday. Have fun observing your world.
Composition - observe what is happening in the foreground, the middle ground and the background. You might choose one of these elements as your focus. What is beneath your feet, or right in front of you, what is further away that may be your focus, and what is in the distance, that you might find as a focal point, or leave out of your drawing to simplify it.
Light and Shade - Where is the light hitting your subject? Where are the shadow areas? What happens when you focus on the shadows and shade them in first to establish the structure for your drawing? Enjoy using different grades of pencil - perhaps HB to start the drawing as it is not too soft or dark, and use your 6Bs or 8Bs to accentuate your dark shadows or foreground objects.
Texture and Pattern - A playful way to explore an environment is to use a technique called frottage - place a piece of paper over a hard textured surface and rub your pencil firmly over the paper to pick up the texture of a tree trunk, wooden seat, concrete path, etc. you can cut these up later to make some collages.
Drawing is a beautiful way to explore your environment, at home, out and about, favourite places, on holiday. Have fun observing your world.
