Week Two: Lines, Shapes, Overlapping, Proportion

Last Friday everyone got into overlapping shapes (placing things in front of other things) to create depth of space in your drawing. Each of you made excellent progress in drawing accurate proportions. Keep working on comparing the shapes you draw to the reference picture or object you're looking at. Scroll down to view your work. Remember to click on your drawings to view them larger. :-)


Sketches showing how overlapped shapes create depth in a picture. Shown above, left to right, are drawings by Demetri, Nick, and Manny.

eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn
If any of you would like to post drawings that you create during your free time at school there's now a special place for your cool creations (drawings must be approved by Ms. Smith). Lizzy's drawing will get it all started. Add yours to the Expression Session.


Expression Session Drawing by Lizzy
View the Expression Session

Okay! Ready for a drawing challenge?...


Drawing Challenge: Get Abstract!
For those of you who have time, here's a little challenge for you to do this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract artwork doesn't show people, places, or things. Use the whole sheet of paper--draw big! Have fun! Use your imagination!

Examples of artwork by big-time abstract artists to give you ideas for getting started: Click here

C ya Friday! --Rob

Haley

Your focused effort in observational drawing is showing great results, Haley!! You're gaining more control in your line work as you practice holding your pencil on its side. This is giving you long, smooth curved lines. Great job of overlapping the legs of the frog and the truck tires over the engine. This gives depth to your drawing. The proportions of the frog are well drawn. View the reference picture for the monster truck. Are the proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) of the truck body and tires accurate?



Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Raquel

Right on, Raquel! Your drawings show steady improvement in line control and accuracy of proportions! Your observational drawing skills just keep on improving. I can see smoother curved lines emerging from your practice of holding the pencil on its side and moving your whole arm when you draw. I really like how you drew big and kept accurate overall proportions of the frog and monster truck. Keep comparing what you're drawing to reference pictures you're looking at. View the reference picture of the truck. Are the proportions of the tires and truck body accurate? The gray tones that show the values of colors on the frog are a nice touch!

Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Nick

Welcome to Star Sketchers, Nick!! You're off to a GREAT start! You got right into holding the pencil on its side and moving your whole arm when drawing--a bit of a challenge at first. But you got the hang of it and your curved and angled lines got more and more confident. The proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) became more accurate as you kept sketching. You've got a good eye for looking at things; then drawing them. View the reference picture of the truck. Are the proportions of the tires compared to the truck body accurately drawn?

Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Alec

Great job of drawing accurate proportions of the monster truck and frog!! Excellent how you included details from the reference picture you were drawing from. When sketching light guidelines for your shapes, keep practicing using your pencil on its side and moving your arm while drawing. This will help you to draw long, smooth, accurate lines when working larger. Use your normal grip to finish with tighter, darker outlines. View the reference picture of the truck. Are the proportions of the tires compared to the truck body accurate? I really like how you added gray tones to show the different values of color.

Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Manny

Welcome to Star Sketchers, Manny!! You're off to an excellent start in drawing accurate proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes)! Great job of overlapping the frog's front legs and the tires of the truck over the engine. This creates depth in your drawing. I know it's a challenge to sketch with your pencil on its side and moving your arm while drawing. But keep practicing, it gets easier; and it will help you draw long, smooth lines when drawing at a large scale. View the reference picture of the monster truck. Are the proportions of the tires compared to the truck body accurate? Cool flames on the truck! :-)



Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Hannah

The Banana draws again! Fantastic job of overlapping the frog's front legs and the truck tires over the engine! Lots of control of your line work. Keep sketching light guidelines while holding your pencil on its side; then finish with darker outlines. Great job of drawing accurate proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes)! View the reference picture of the monster truck. Are the proportions of the truck's tires and body drawn accurately?

Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Lizzy

Excellent! Lizzy! You got an early start on this Friday's lesson by drawing the jaguar. And you created a nice composition by combining your drawings! Great job of including details of the jaguar, frog, and monster truck, and drawing accurate proportions. View the reference picture of the truck. Compare the size (proportions) of the tires to the truck's body . Are they drawn accurately? Be sure to check out your drawing in the Expression Session. It's the place to post any future drawings you make in your free time.

Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Brianna

Okay, Brianna!! Major breakthrough for you on the frog drawing! You keep practicing holding your pencil on its side. Your efforts paid of with large, accurate sketches. Moving your whole arm while drawing BIG helped you create long, smooth lines. Great job overlapping the frog's front legs. Great line work on the truck. ;)



Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Freddy C.

Welcome to Star Sketchers, Freddy!! Fantastic start in drawing with lines and shapes! Holding your pencil on its side got easier with each sketch you made. The proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) of the the frog and monster truck also got more accurate with each sketch. Keep practicing sketching big. Loosen up a bit. Sketch light guidelines before drawing darker outlines. View the reference picture of the truck. Are the proportions of the tires compared to the truck body drawn accurately? Keep up the great drawing!

Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Demetri

You got some great drawing going on last Friday! Excellent job of overlapping the frog's legs and the truck's tires over the engine. You also did a great job of drawing accurate proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes). You're gaining more control of your line work, too. View the reference picture of the truck. Are the proportions of the tires compared to the truck body drawn accurately? Keep practicing drawing big, using your pencil on its side and moving your arm while drawing. :-)

Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

Freddy S.

EXCELLENT job of drawing big with lines and shapes, Freddy!! You practice moving your whole arm while drawing and created a bunch of long, smooth lines. Keep working on this--accurate drawing will get easier and easier. Great job of drawing accurate proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes). View the reference picture of the truck. Are the proportions of the tires, compared to the truck's body drawn accurately? Nice job of overlapping the frog's front legs and the truck's tires over the engine. This shows depth in your picture.



Ready for a drawing challenge? If you have time this week: Use lines, shapes, and tones (black and grays) to create an abstract drawing. Abstract means there aren't any people, places, or recognizable objects in your composition... just lines and shapes and tones. Draw big! Use the entire sheet of paper. Have fun using your imagination. Here are examples of abstract artwork for ideas to get you started: Click here

FYI: Here's a some info about outlines from a book I wrote: Click here
Up for another drawing with lines and shapes?: Click here
More drawing ideas: Click here

eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn

Alec

Brianna



Lizzy


Nichole

Challenge Reference: Kandinsky and Miro

Ideas for Your Abstract Drawing
Paintings by the modern artists Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) and Joan Miro (1893-1983) show ideas for your abstract drawing using lines, shapes, and patterns. Click on pictures to enlarge. Scroll down for examples of other Santa Cruz students' abstract drawings.

Kandinsky was a very influential artist in Europe during the early 1900s and 20s. He believed that painting should let artists express their own inner lives in abstract, non-material ways. Just as musicians do not depend on the material world for their music, so artists should not depend on the material world for their art. His expressions with line, shapes, and color became the foundation of abstract art.



Miro's artwork was influenced by poetry in France, in the early 1920s. His goal was to to create pictorial poems using lines, shapes, colors, symbols, and words. His dream-like images were important influences on the art movement called Surrealism. Both Kandinsky and Miro were inspired by drawings by children and primitive art. As revolutionaries, both were determined to break the traditions of realism in art.





Student Abstract Drawings:

Week One: Lines and Shapes

It was great meeting all of you Friday! You all jumped in and got busy with a lot of cool drawing!

Drawing while holding your pencil on its side (overhand grip) was a big challenge, but all of you got the hang of it. Moving your whole arm and shoulder while drawing also became easier as you drew more. Keep practicing!

Left: Raquel's pencil warm-up

If you find yourself doodling on a piece of paper this week-- hopefully between class assignments :-) -- do some warm-up sketches of angled, curved, and vertical lines, just like last Friday. See what kind of patterns you make--maybe you'll create a cool abstract design! Keep practicing the overhand grip; it will get easier and will help make drawing easier in future lessons. Also practice moving your whole arm and shoulder when drawing. This will help you to draw larger, longer, smoother lines.

All of you also got an excellent start in sketching light lines (guidelines) then drawing darker outlines to finish. You got into comparing the size (proportions) of shapes you drew to the reference picture you were looking at. This Friday, we'll be drawing with lines, shapes, and proportions again and we'll get into overlapping.

Your lessons are shown below. Be sure to click on your drawing to view it larger. --Rob

Raquel

EXCELLENT start, Raquel!!! Your confident line work shows lots of control. Great job of looking at the shapes of the crab and puffer fish and then drawing them. Measuring the size of shapes compared to other shapes (like the size of the crab's claws compared to its body) is called measuring the proportions. You did a fantastic job of drawing accurate proportions of the crab and fish! I really like how you used clear, smooth lines to add the details of your characters. Great facial expressions. You may want to explore making comic books or design cartoon characters in the future. The gray tones showing the form of the fish is a nice touch.

Alec

Alright, Alec!! Great start in drawing with lines and shapes! You've done an excellent job of drawing the proportions (measuring the size of shapes compared to other shapes) of the crab and puffer fish. The proportions of your characters are very accurately drawn. Keep looking for accurate proportions of the shapes of things you're drawing: then sketching light guidelines and then finishing with darker outlines to show accurate edges. You've got a nice drawing style going!