The Snapshot Focus

Today's lesson explored the snap shot perspective. The concept is how a camera has introduced the idea of spontaneity, unplanned moments, and objects cut out of the frame of view. In this case the coffee cup and the dessert plate are both cut out of view, suggesting a casual moment in time.



Also, as I had time, I drew a still life of a bowl of apples:



I am pretty pleased with how the shading, forms, and composition turned out.

Complex Backgrounds and a Gustav Klimt Portrait

Today the lesson in the book demonstrated how complex backgrounds can increase focus to certain areas of the subject at hand. In the simplified Gustav Klimt portrait we see how the blank space attracts attention to the neck and chest of the woman, while the curve behind her head adds an element of flow. This use of complex background is quite typical of Gustav Klimt.

Sharp edges and contrast create tension

Today's exercise depicts how sharp edges and contrast create tension.

Convergence Focus - A Castle

Today's drawing practice is convergence, with all the landscape features pointing to the castle at the top of the mountain.

Symmetrical Focus

Todays drawing uses symmetry to lead the eye to the center of the photo. I drew in a cross like in the book to help guide me where the middle of the picture is. The author suggests that symmetry helps create a feeling of calm, and I would have to agree.

Horizontal Focus

I am beginning a section in the book today that discusses how the focus of the picture leads the mood... In this case a horizontal focus creates a wide landscape, distant focus, and a sense of peace and serenity.

Colour Lawn Mower

Today I drew the lawn mower I drew yesterday but with color added...in fact I drew it with crayons. It was fun, that is all I can say.

Lawn Mower

The lawn mower is an example of a drawing by parts. The object is to first view the wheels and blades as two separate cylinders, then draw the handles and finally the grass box.

A Modern Christmas Scene

My first attempt at modern. It is a Christmas tree lit by the moon with square wind.

The Sail Boat Again

Today I took another try at drawing the sailboat. This time I drew it in a rectangle like the book suggested and also gave the floor of the boat a different shading.



This is the Sailboat I drew last time:

Memories of Fall

Decided to draw the mini-pumpkin which had been sitting on the table since autumn.

A boat

The book had a step by step way to draw a great little sailboat, so I did the only rational thing and ignore it. Here are the results:



Till next time... :D

Teapot again

Not happy with the tea pot yesterday I gave it another shot today. I added in the guiding lines at the top to try get more symmetry.

The one today...


And the one yesterday....

Teapot

This is from the book and surprising difficult to draw. I think I focused too much on the image in the book and not the image on my paper.

A bridge, or viaduct?

Based on the spheres from yesterday I took another try at drawing the bridge. I really like drawing scenes like this, the whole idea of a road on a bridge suggests sweeping planes and vast vistas that just inspires my imagination, and warms my heart.

Cylinders and Axles

Today's lesson revolves around drawing cylinders in all the places they appear. Axles, under bridges, in rectangles? etc etc...

China Bowl

Well, I am taking a day off from the book and decided to draw a live object just for fun. It is a china bowl with a floral pattern on the side.

Tall buildings - 3 vanishing points

Today the exercise was to draw 2 tall buildings. The one on the left represents looking down on the building, while the one on the right, represents looking up at it.

Two of the vanishing points consist of the side of the buildings, and the other vanishing points consists of the top or the bottom. Looking down on the building the top looks larger then vanishes, while looking up, the base looks much larger.

I think I did a better job on the left building and the one on the right turned out to be too wide. Will have to note that for next time.

Buildings and vanishing points

Today's exercise centers around how a buildings shape is defined by vanishing points. That is to say, how small should the back of the building should appear to the front is defined by where our eye follows the building fading to the vanishing point.

A Building and Billboard with a Vanishing Point

The point of this exercise was to practice drawing objects as you would see them down a street. To get a good perspective 4 diagonal lines are drawn to a single point which serves as a vanishing point. The building and billboard are then drawn within them to show how they shrink and fade away with proper perspective to the one single vanishing point.

Two Vanishing Points

When drawing vanishing points you have to decide where to put the horizon. A high horizon suggests that you are viewing the landscape from a height and looking down, while a lower one suggests that you are standing on the plane, and looking up.

In this case we are looking up for the horizon on the left, and looking down for the horizon on the right.

Egg and Tomato Shading

This time the exercise from the book was to draw an egg completely by shading, and not use any straight lines. The only line I drew was for the shadow, I think it turned out pretty good.

The second task was a tomato. I did draw and outline of the tomato which did help, but I don't mind free hand shading. I think overall the shading turned out pretty good, but I was copying from the book and not judging the shading from a live model. I don't know which way would be easier...

Puzzle Shapes and Shading

The lesson in the book today is to try learn how to use shading to show depth in this puzzle shape with many sides and angles.

I found it difficult to draw the shapes out of the book, in general, I think it is easier to draw from a live image than from a photo.

Behind the Wheel

Did about 5 hours of driving today, so I tried to capture what I spent most of the day seeing. It is quite difficult to get that behind the scene perspective, but I tried my best. This will be a drawing I will revisit and try again at a later date.

A Boat in the Water

I decided to try my hand at a boat in the water with two people in it. I used shading to create depth to the bottom of the boat. The drawing is far from perfect but I still like it, and I like the style.

My Computer Monitor

Lets face it, this is a central feature our lives, how many days go by now that you don't stare into one of these? I could have got straighter lines and more symmetry. I will give the monitor another go at a later date, for now, I think this version is not without its charms:

Small Christmas Tree

Was out at a Cafe for an open mic poetry/flash fiction reading, and there was a small Christmas tree out for decoration.

Here is my rendition, I think the tree came out ok, the ornaments were a bit of trouble though.

Cell Phone Sketch

So I seem to be obsessed with drawing all the objects in my everyday life. I have to admit it, it is a lot of fun.

Here is a sketch of my cell phone, kind of so so, the symmetry could be better...

Drawers and shading

Today the book covered the concept of how shading can create the illusion of 3 dimensions. I am not sure if I quite got the essence of it. It was difficult to get the angle of the drawer right, I finally managed to do it by drawing the end piece, the part closest to you, first. The results are the two drawers on the top right.

My Math Book

Did a rendition of my math book for my math blog. I think it came out pretty good, except the letters are not in good perspective, and also the spine doesn't really stay consistent.

The Tea Set

This is my tea set, and other than not appearing to be flat, I think it is quite good actually.

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First Lamp

I have abandoned the book for a while, and looking around I saw a lamp which has been a persistent feature of my living room for several years. I went for it, and well, here is my simple but elegant rendition.

Giant mug

Here is my rendition of my giant mug. In this case, I think symmetry was the most difficult.

My radio

It is thanksgiving and I was going to do a drawing of a turkey, but here is a drawing of my radio instead.

Yeah. Not bad, could have done better on the details, and it was difficult to represent depth at the top.

Apple - Getting Better

I took another try with the apple, this time with a real model. I think with many lines and shading it came out ok, though I had to wait a while and take a step back to appreciate what I had drawn.

A bird with a flower

My 5 year old niece(who really inspired this whole blog) was over today and so we were exchanging drawings. I did this rendition of a bird out of one of her kids books recently given to us by good friends from the Netherlands....then, my niece proceeded to draw over it. ;)

A barn and apples...are still difficult

Took another stab at drawing the apple today. I think more lines and different shades really helps. It still doesn't look like an apple at first glance, but it is better than last time.

Also I drew a barn for fun. =)



(Plz ignore the floating stools on the back of the page. k thnx)

An Onion

The concept with the apple and the onion is to try create a round appearance through shading and where the light falls. This can be achieved by the direction, thickness, or darkness of the lines.

I find with the onion I could have made the threads out of the top thinner, and maybe could have added in more lines for contrast. (Actually I probably really do need a lot more lines in there). I did try to get the different directions, but I think creating shade and the spot where light falls is going to take some time and practice.

Zucchini and different line directions

Next practice is zucchini which I feel is a little easier than the apple. Drawing the lines in different direction for each angle of the zucchini helped to differentiate it.

Apples are Difficult

Apples are difficult. It is difficult to get that kind of round shape. Well, it is going to take practice anyway.

The can of anchovies

Drawing a can of anchovies was another exercise in perspective and relative size. It was difficult to get the dimensions right, and having to include letters in the drawing made it easy to run out of room and brought home the reality that it is good to gauge relative distance.

flowers

Went for drawing the flowers in the vase. It was difficult to get both sides even. Otherwise the rest went alright, it really isn't too difficult to sketch flowers.

Scissors

Today the book had an exercise to draw a pair of scissors. The point, as I understand it, is to figure out which lines define shape, and which lines define depth. More than that, it is to figure out when you even need lines to define depth. In this case, it is mostly at the handles, and I tried to use the shading technique (like yesterday with the mug) to show where there is some depth.

I am taking another break from the book today, and drawing a mug. This one had a scene of trees and hedges which I tried to capture. I also tried to to shade in the bit at the top to show where there is liquid. I think it turned out alright, it is becoming quite fun to just free draw things in a room, especially if I am stuck in a boring chat or something.

Guitar player and stools

Still trying to get the perspective on the stools, stuff is tough. My brother told me to draw the circle at the top more as an ellipse... that is to say, not so round and perfect, it does make it look more flat. Then I drew a guitar player in tribute to the open mic I went to on Friday...guitar players are fun to draw.

First Self-portrait

Feeling brave, and here is my first stab at a self portrait:

Human ninja forms

OK, so I decided to press on with the human forms, because they were new and rewarding to draw. These are martial art type characters with bulky clothing and belts, which makes things a bit more forgiving on the artist to be honest.

There are some perspective problems with the size of the arms and legs. The book I am using suggests drawing triangles and other geometric lines you can measure to get a good idea of relative size. Otherwise, I don't think the figures are that bad, better than what I usually draw anyways.