Drawing Class – The Finale

I have completed my 6-week charcoal drawing class.  Honestly, I am surprised by what I was able to create.  These final 2 drawings used the kneaded eraser to remove the charcoal from the paper.

Now I need to continue to make time to draw with these tools – both pencils and charcoal.  Practice is what is needed to improve so I must make time to practice! I definitely want to try using these tools on different types of papers, including papers with a painted or collaged background. Only 9,972 hours of practice left to perfect my craft.

- christina

Maker 1

My son’s girlfriend attends the same liberal arts college as my daughter, although they have different majors.  A required class for all art and design majors is Maker 1. “What could that class be about?” you are no doubt asking yourself.  Well, it’s about making stuff.

One assignment involved making 10 pieces: something that hangs from the ceiling, something as long as your arm, something made from found materials, something soft, etc.  Another assignment was to make an object that involved font (interesting that the instructor chose the word “font” rather than “text”).  My son’s girlfriend made some cool letters out of wood that had hinges so the C could also be and S or an O.

For the final project the students were given a word to inspire their creation.  The words were randomly selected and my son’s girlfriend got the word “collage.”  Lucky for her, she was able to trade with another student and obtained the word “line.”  She made a lovely book.  Here are the pages before the book was bound.

And in case you are wondering, there is a Maker 2 class.  I have no idea what those class projects might entail.  What have you made recently?

- christina

Be Present

Recently I visited my son’s high school for parent-teacher conferences. As I walked through the halls greeting parents whom I knew and avoiding collisions with others, I saw a sign hanging above an arch in the main hallway.  The sign read, “Be Present.”

“How amazing,” I thought.  “They are teaching mindfulness to high school students.”  I was very excited to imagine all the lessons on living in the present, rather than focusing on the past or the future.  What good skills these students would gain from the discussions about meditation, relaxation, and enjoying every moment as they experience it.

Then I read the very small line of print below the “Be Present.”  It stated, “Know when to unplug and connect with people.”

So the message was not exactly what I interpreted. Students are being encouraged to look up from their technology, divert their attention away from their virtual friends, in order to connect with the real people around them.  This is a message that will resonate with young people much better than meditation and relaxation.  I hope the students are listening… and connecting with the people around them.

- christina

Drawing Class Part 2 - Charcoal

Although I look forward to my drawing class each week, it’s also something I have a hard time actually getting to on time.  During this second session, I missed the first class (minor emotional crisis related to work), was an hour and a half late to the second class (had to work late due to parent-teacher conferences), and was 15 minutes late to the third class (unanticipated phone call from long lost friend).  The teacher has been very patient with me and I have high hope for the upcoming fourth class.

 

My first drawing was rushed. I finished in about
an hour and had to leave out a few lemons.

In spite of my unreliable attendance record, I have learned a lot about drawing with charcoal so far.  The most surprising thing is that I like it!  Since I am not a person who enjoys getting my fingers dirty, I thought I would dislike charcoal, but the results of my efforts have been so exciting that I don’t mind the mess at all.

For the second class we had to choose from 3 photos.
I'm pretty sure this is Gregory Peck.

I think I made Gregory look a little younger
than he actually was in the photo.
He would probably appreciate that.

Next week we are going to draw a still life by removing the charcoal.  My eraser may not survive the experience.  My son said to me yesterday, “You may have found your medium.”  He may be right!

- christina

Drawing Fundamentals

I recently completed my first drawing class.  It was a 6 week course taught at a local art league headquarters by a very enthusiastic artist named Eileen.  She taught us contour drawing and shading and I completed my first ever still-life drawings.  My favorite activity was drawing on mid-tone paper using both dark and white pencils.

My first still-life

I like using the white pencil

From this course I learned that drawing is not difficult in the way that I thought it was.  Seeing things like an artist is the challenging part.  Looking at a still-life and translating the shadows and colors into shades of grey (values) is what I find difficult.

I have signed up for another session of the course and I will be learning to draw with charcoal.  I’m not sure if I will like getting my hands all messy (as a child I hated having messy hands) but I am determined to try another medium in my continuing search for the area of art at which I am naturally gifted.  Perhaps I will never uncover my natural gift, assuming it exists of course, so I will enjoy the search and the little discoveries that come from it.

- christina

Art as a Vehicle for Change

This morning I was watching the CBS morning show and saw an interesting story about a New York artist who is trying to affect change in a crime-ridden community through art.  London born Killy Kilford has created inspirational street signs with the help of local students to post all around Newark, New Jersey, where the murder rate has been increasing. His goal is to surround people with positivity.

There is a website that describes the positive street sign campaign.  What positive message would you put on a street sign?

- christina

Elmhurst Art Museum

Last weekend I visited the Elmhurst Art Museum and saw an exhibit of Richard Koppe’s work from the 1950’s.  Here is how the museum describes his work.

Combining aspects of cubism and surrealism, Koppe explored line, color, composition and space, producing works that are both playful and intricate.

I really enjoyed his abstract paintings as well as his drawings of fish.  Here are some photos of his works.

- christina

I love the background on this one.

Interesting color choices.
I wonder why he added the circles?

Koppe's fish drawings are great!