Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center Sketchers

Please Visit Our New Website!

2011-06-17T08:15:00.001-07:00

To see the latest student drawings from the Santa Cruz Mountains Sketchers as well as our new Scribbles Institute drawing studio at 303 Potrero #59 Santa Cruz, California 831.421.0774:
Drawing League schools and student work: Click here
Our new website: Click here

What Do You Want to Draw Today?

Level 1: Week 4: Contours, Proportions, and Getting Real with Charcoal

2011-03-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

As we wrapped up the 4-week Draw the Moment course, students dove in and got messy with charcoal! The emphasis throughout the evening was to measure accurate proportions while making 3-tone drawings--dark shadows, mid tones, highlights--with charcoal. Students drew on large-format paper from actual objects. VERY productive session!

Above left, sketchers enjoyed smudging, smearing, and drawing with charcoal. Above right is Liz's accurate charcoal drawing of a shell.

Before launching into drawing with charcoal, students took time to do several pencil studies. Above left are Tod's studies and his charcoal drawing. To the right are Shonti's studies of an apple, pumpkin, and charcoal rendered squash.

Liz's pencil study of a squash, above left, and her charcoal sketch to the right show a keen eye for proportions and ability to adapt her skills to different media.

Experimentation was the focus of the evening and everyone put together a number of superb drawings. Above left is charcoal drawing of an apple by Shonti, and to the right are charcoal sketches of a squash by Tod. This crew is going to be exciting to work with when we continue Level 2 classes this week!

Be sure to check out the wonderful student work in Brenda Berg's Mixed Media class at the Art Center. Here's the link to her blog: Click here

To view more pics of SCM Sketchers in action, click 'Read more' below

Level 1: Weeks 1-3: Lines, Shapes, Proportions, Positive/Negative Space, and Getting Sketchy

2011-02-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

The Level 1 drawing class at SCM Art Center got off to a flying start in learning various skills and techniques including measuring proportions, drawing negative/positive space, basic composition, and sketching like Van Gogh. To view everyone's drawings, scroll down and click 'Read more' at bottom of this post.

Art Center Sketchers, above left and right, get into the Zone and have fun drawing on Wednesday evenings. New classes are forming for March. Join the fun! Info/Registration

Above left and right are Liz's drawings made during an evening of exploring the sketching techniques of Vincent Van Gogh and learning the basics in perspective drawing, without using rulers to draw guidelines.

Shonti's egret drawings show how she learned to see and draw negative space around the contour edges of the bird's body.

Tod did study sketches (above left) to find accurate proportions of the dragonfly's body and wings before doing his finished drawing (above right). The lesson helped students learn to draw realistic proportions and contour edges.

On a large sheet of paper, using lines and shapes from their first lesson, students constructed abstract/surrealist compositions. Starting clockwise above left: Liz, Shonti, Tod

During the first lesson, students learned to draw light guidelines for the shapes of animals while measuring proportions and overlapping shapes; then they finished with darker outlines and tones. Below are warmup exercises students did while learning to hold the pencil sideways and moving the whole arm.

To view everyone's drawings click 'Read more' below...

Tod

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Shonti

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Liz

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Register Now! Beginners Drawing Class (Level 1) at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center

2011-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Our popular Draw the Moment drawing class for beginners starts Wednesday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.

Explore drawing for enjoyment, work, and school. Draw the Moment is a fun and informative series of 4 adult workshop/classes for beginners, especially those who think they can't draw! Students are encouraged to express their own styles as they build confidence in spontaneous doodling, sketching ideas, and drawing realistically.

Wednesdays, February 9, 16, 23, March 2, 7:00-9:15 p.m. Class size is limited

For more info and to register online: Click here

Level 3: Drawing From Life: Exploring Composition, Contours, and Materials

2011-01-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

Our Level 3 group focused on drawing objects from life during the 4-week course at Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center. We started by studying contours and textures of single objects, followed by a few very productive still life sessions. Students learned to map out big shapes and positive/negative space on their compositions; then they explored ways to use different materials in shading and showing textures.

Above left, SCM Art Center Sketchers exchange ideas about sketching objects; above right Helen maps out her still life composition.

Above are Matt's studies of a canine skull. By observing details of specific areas of the skull he was able to create a series of dynamic compositions.

Above left, Kirsten sketches contours on her drapery study; above right, intrepid sketchers "get into the Zone" as they create large-format charcoal and conte crayon compositions.

Matt's surface and drapery study is shown above left and Kirsten's still life sketches are above right.

Clockwise, starting upper left: contours and textures of a shell by Allison; Still life studies by Michele; Still life drawing by Allison; study of antique iron by Michele

Click 'Read more' below to see more pics of Level 3 sketchers in action...

Highlights from Level 3 sketch sessions:

Level 1: Week 4: Contours, Form, Textures, Light & Shadow

2010-10-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Fall is in the air! What better way to learn about drawing contours and form than to sketch pumpkins, Indian corn, and apples. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with the group of sketchers the past four weeks. They swiftly moved through lessons on drawing with lines and shapes (click to view); then positive/negative space and drawing after Van Gogh (click to view). I look forward to drawing with everyone again soon!

For our final lesson we started with sketches showing roundness and contours. We continued through the evening by drawing texture and studied light and shadows. Tonya's pumpkin and squash (upper left) and Susan's studies of a pumpkin (upper right) are superb examples of quickly capturing the form of things. The sketch by Adam (lower left) shows his study of texture and cast shadows.

Click "Read more" below to view everyone's drawings and more pics...

Susan

Wonderful how you worked hard at refining your line work and sketching accurate proportions! Keep exploring positive and negative space and the world of textures. :-)

Adam

Amazing progress through the weeks! You really dropped into the Zone on all your sketches, especially the apple. Keep practicing quick studies while loosening your pencil strokes ala Van Gogh.

Tonya

As I've said before, it has been a pleasure to see the transformation in your skills from the first time you put pencil to paper to these final study sketches. Keep your pencil strokes loose while mapping your composition; then nail down those final contours.

Level 1: Weeks 2 & 3: Form, Contours, Perspective, Sketching Like Van Gogh

2010-09-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

Lots of focused work has really paid off for this stellar group of sketchers! During the past couple of weeks each student has shown tremendous progress in their skills. Last Wednesday we warmed up with lessons in 1 and 2-point perspective; then we launched into studying composition and the energy of Vincent Van Gogh's pencil strokes. Using a sketch by Van Gogh for reference, Tonya (upper left) and Susan (upper right) pulled together brilliant drawings. It was a great session as everyone learned about depth of space and how to suggest different textures.

The intrepid sketchers took on the challenges of drawing the realistic form of a dragonfly. Students made several study sketches to find positioning and angles of the wings and body. The focus of their final drawing was accurate proportions and contour edges. At left is Adam's wonderful final drawing in progress.

Learning about positive and negative space is one of the most important skills in drawing. It's exciting to watch students map out the rough proportions of the egret. During the process they begin to realize the power of seeing positive and negative space while finding the contour edges of form. One of Susan's study sketches (upper left) shows her effort in measuring the 's' curve in the neck. In her final drawing (upper right), she confidently shows the negative space that forms the neck.

Click 'Read more' below to view everyone's work...
Susan
Great progress in sketching out accurate proportions!

Tonya

The confidence in your line work just keeps on improving!

Adam

Even though you missed a class and had to hustle through the make up lessons, your eye for accuracy and line work has improved big-time! Hope you can finish the Van Gogh. :-)

eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn: Faces and Proportion

2010-09-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Recently, a few of our Level 2 students got together for an evening sketch session. With music playing, everyone got into the Zone to produce fantastic portraits. Kirsten (above, left) maps out guidelines for facial features while working from a sketch by Degas. Helen (above, right) lays down guidelines for the proportions of her daughter's face.

Working from a drawing by the painter Corot and one of my How-to-Draw books, Allison (above, left and right) sketches the facial features of the Girl With a Beret.

While I was out of town some of the Level 2 sketchers (Val, Helen, Kirsten, Allison) got together a few times to prep for our upcoming Level 3 session in October. Below are pages from Kirsten's sketchbook showing careful studies of a skull made during those meetings.

After an intense evening of drawing, Allison finally laid down her pencil and breathed a gratifying sigh of relief... the Girl With a Beret (left) was finished at last! Excellent contour lines and proportions.

View more pics from this very productive eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn...

Level 1: Week 1: Lines, Shapes, Patterns, Overlapping

2010-09-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

It's always exciting to start with a new group of sketchers at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center. Welcome to Tonya, Susan, and Adam! Everyone jumped on the fast track in measuring accurate proportions and controlling the pencil. Moving through a series of fast-paced lessons, everyone learned how to hold the pencil on its side, using the whole arm while drawing.

Drawing guidelines for basic shapes and measuring proportions from fun reference lesson pictures was our focus for the evening. Adam's second sketch of the crab (above, right) shows corrections in the size of the body, claws, and eyes (compared to the reference). Great job improving the angled lines for the legs.

It's important to draw on top of your mistakes. Tonya's drawing of the puffer fish (above, left) shows how she kept her pencil to paper, drawing light guidelines for the overall shape of its body. Excellent job in drawing accurate, darker outlines for the final shapes.

Susan's sketch of the lizard (above, right) shows a keen eye for accuracy and details (notice the corrections to guidelines on the tail). Overall, the body and head are drawn accurately compared to the reference. Her wonderful style of sketching shows the texture of the skin and wood.

We also got into overlapping shapes to show depth of space. Tonya's frog (above, left) shows how she overlapped the front legs. Notice her corrections to the left side of the face :-) The last part of the evening we switched from observation to imagination. Working on larger paper, everyone combined shapes shapes and patterns from their sketches to create wonderful compositions.

View everyone's sketches and reference pictures...

Click on image to view larger

Tonya

Susan

Adam

New Drawing Classes in September and October, Plus More Student Work

2010-08-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

Attention: past, present, and future adult students! I'm planning for Fall classes and am excited that so many of you wish to continue exploring ways to Draw the Moment! It's also WAY cool that a lot of people are interested in taking our beginners Level 1 class. A special thanks to Gretchen, Linda, and Rhea at the Art Center for helping with scheduling and providing such an awesome facility for our sessions. I look forward to drawing with everyone soon! --Rob

New! Beginners Class (Level 1) at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center

Explore drawing for enjoyment, work, and school. Draw the Moment is a fun and informative series of 4 adult workshop/classes for beginners, especially those who think they can't draw! Students are encouraged to express their own styles as they build confidence in spontaneous doodling, sketching ideas, and drawing realistically.

•Wednesdays, September 8, 15, 22, 29, 7:00-9:15 p.m.

To register: Click here

New! Advanced Class (Level 3) at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center

By popular request, I'm combining the previous Level 1 and Level 2 groups (Val, Kirsten, Helen, Sharon, Matt, Michele, Penny, Allison) for an advanced Draw the Moment session. We'll further explore techniques and principles including composition, form, and light and shadow.
Here are the schedule options:

• Wednesdays, October 6, 13, 20, 27 7:00-9:15 pm
• Fridays, September 3, 10, 17, 24 7:00-9:15 pm

Wednesdays are probably the preferred evenings to meet, but please let me know what works for you. This session with the Santa Cruz Mountains Sketchers will be a lot of fun! Cost is $100 for members, $125 non-members; $10 material fee

Please let me know asap if you can join us and which schedule works better for everyone: email

Attn: Val, Kirsten, Helen, Sharon
I'm offering 2 special classes to help you prepare for Level 3. We all decided that it would be nice to have a couple of lessons to catch up with the Level 2 group. If you're still interested, here are the evenings available at the Art Center: Wednesday, August 25, 7:00-9:15pm. Wednesday, September 1, 7:00-9:15pm. Cost is $50

Please let me know asap if you can join us: email

Please scroll down (including 'older posts' at bottom of page) to view student work from both Level 1 and Level 2 classes.

Clockwise, starting upper left, drawings by Michele, Val, Matt, Kirsten

Level 1: Week 4: Contour Lines, Form, Roundness

Our study sketches of squash and artichokes from real life was a great way to finish up with our 4-week course. Great to draw with all of you!

Kirsten

This is a great set of study sketches, Kirsten! During our 4-week session I think the strongest aspect of your work has been your willingness to draw on top of mistakes while mapping out construction lines and contour lines. You started these sketches with confident, curved strokes; then added layers of tones and textures showing the roundness of the squash. The contours of the area where the stem attaches are very well drawn. And the contour shading is a nice touch.

Helen

Helen, you've made steady progress during our weeks of drawing together!!! From basic lessons with lines and shapes, to sketching realistic form and contours, you've continued to build confidence in your line work. Your observational skills skyrocketed with the study sketches of the squash and artichoke! The natural looking contour edges and textures show solid skills in depicting realistic, accurate form.

Val

Your observational skills have steadily improved with each new drawing that you made during our classes. I really enjoyed seeing your confident line work emerge in the Van Gogh drawing, followed by the contour sketches of the squash and artichoke. Your final study sketch of the squash was a big step in showing curved surface planes and realistic 3-dimensional space, especially where the stem attaches. Val, your knowledge of the visual arts has been a wonderful addition to this group; hope you'll join us for the new Level 3 session. :-)

Levels 1 & 2: Sketching From Van Gogh and Degas; Learning About Proportions, Realism

2010-06-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

The past four weeks has been filled with excitement as students have been learning to Draw the Moment. Everyone continued to advance their observational skills, sketching techniques, and experimentation with materials.

Level 1 students studied 1 and 2-point perspective, composition, and sketching like Van Gogh.

Level 2 students learned to measure proportions of the face and study the contours of organic forms. (Scroll down, below Level 1 student work to view Level 2 drawings.)

Attention everyone: Classes for Level 2 are finished and this Wednesday will be the last class for Level 1. I'm hoping to combine both groups into one 4-week session and start a new group of beginners in the near future. I'll be in touch with everyone regarding scheduling.

Awesome to draw with all of you! --Rob

Above: Skull by Penny; Profile of Young Woman by Michele; Portrait of a Girl (After Degas) by Matt; Flower Study by Michele (Scroll down for more Level 2 drawings.)

"If nature had a fixed model for the proportions of the face, everyone would look alike and it would be impossible to tell them apart; but she has varied the pattern in such a way that although there is an all but universal standard as to size, one clearly distinguishes one face from another." --Leonardo da Vinci

If you haven't seen it yet: New music video featuring SCMAC students! See it: Click here

Level 1: Week 3: Sketching Like Van Gogh and Perspective

2010-06-24T20:25:00.002-07:00

An amazing night of progress, to say the least! We started with a warm-up exercise in 1-point and 2-point perspective--without using rulers! Then everyone loosened their line work, got sketchy and rose to the challenge of the Van Gogh composition. It was awesome to see the shift from tentative pencil lines to full-throttle exploration of bold, expressive strokes! Confidence levels rose dramatically as the 2D surface of the paper was transformed into the illusion of spacial depth.

We'll continue exploring the world of 3D by drawing from real objects next Wednesday night. See you then! --Rob

Val

Alright, Val!! You've done an excellent job of putting 1-point perspective to work in your Van Gogh composition. The angles of the walls and the road converge toward the building in the distance. By showing lighter buildings and the hill on the horizon and darker pencil strokes in the foreground you've successfully shown depth of space. Great use of energetic lines suggesting the form of the large tree and garden area. Really like the shadow of the grass standing against the wall in the foreground. Nice work on the 1 and 2-point perspective sketches. Check the angle of the guidelines for the floating box in the 2-point lesson. Do all they all angle correctly to the vanishing points?

Kirsten

Your Van Gogh sketch does a wonderful job of depicting the illusion of depth of space, Kirsten! Nice work in pulling together the 1-point perspective used to show the angles of the walls and grassy area of the road. What works really well is spacial depth shown by overlapping buildings and trees, especially to the right side of the composition. Also, the delicate balance between darker line strokes in the foreground and lighter strokes toward the horizon effectively suggests spacial depth. The layering of angled and vertical lines on the wall in the garden area and cast shadow on the ground add a nice 3-dimensional point of interest. Cool 1-point and 2-point perspective studies!

Helen

Your inner artist was unleashed in these sketches, Helen!! The 1-point and 2-point perspective studies gave you the understanding needed to launch into a couple of fantastic compositions. The lighter and darker strokes in your Van Gogh are very successful in depicting spacial depth as well as various textures. The illusion of depth is especially effective where you used lighter strokes for the building behind the large tree and the hill in the background. The layering and cross-hatched strokes in the garden area bring it to the foreground, creating depth and interest. And your sketch investigating the atmospheric perspective of the mountains is awesome! We really get a sense of spacial depth with the delicate shading of the lightest mountains in the distance. Check the floating box in the 2-point perspective drawing. Are the guidelines angled correctly to the vanishing points?

Level 2: Week 4: Faces, Sketching From Life

2010-06-24T20:18:00.003-07:00

For four weeks I kept throwing challenges at this group and all of you kept stepping up to deliver extraordinary work! Upon Penny's suggestion, I brought in a variety of plants and flowers for doing study sketches of contours from real life. Everyone thought that drawing faces would be a good direction, so for our final lesson we studied the proportions of the skull and facial features, all with great success.

It was truly a wonderful experience working for eight weeks with this group. I look forward to continuing our wildly sketchy adventures in the future! --Rob

Matt

You really put your ability for drawing accurate proportions to the test with this set of sketches, Matt. The results are superb!! In your sketch of the Degas girl, you show the realistic form of her face by sketching bold and delicate tonal values. Great work in lifting out highlights with the kneaded eraser, especially the reflective light under the nose. I'm liking your exploration of sketching the texture of skin and structure of facial features. Your studies of the skull are executed with a confident sketching hand and sharp eye for proportion. Nice shift to tighter line work in the contours and textures of the young woman's profile! Check the reference picture of the girl's profile. Is the proportion of the back of the head correct?

Your ability to draw accurate, realistic contours from nature really shows in your study sketches of the flowers! Your distinctive sketching style has really started to emerge in your work, especially when you add spontaneous elements from your imagination. Keep experimenting in your sketchbook.

Michele

The past two lessons have had a BIG impact on your work, Michele! Your observational skills jumped up several notches in your drawing of the young woman's profile!! Doing a quick study of the skull profile helped you in drawing accurate proportions and to position her facial features correctly. The realistic contours of the eye and ear are very well drawn! REAL nice how you loosened up your line work for the sketchy front view of the skull, especially where you drew correct measurements on top of mistakes--without erasing! :-) The contour lines in your studies of the flowers are exquisite. Definitely continue with exploring drawing from nature and taking your studies into larger, stylized compositions. (The primed canvases await you!)

Penny

These drawings show major progress in drawing accurately from observation, Penny!!! In your skull studies, by sketching correct proportional measurements on top of mistakes, we're seeing your observational/thinking process right on the paper--really cool! This helped you to set up correct and realistic proportions on the faces of the man and young woman. The contour edges and positioning of the woman's features are particularly well drawn; the measurements are right on. In watching you sketch the flowers from real life, I noticed how you shifted from drawing what you thought they should look like to seeing the actual contours and organic forms. These were major steps in adding more realism to your artwork. Keep it going by sketching from nature.

Levels 1 & 2 Forge Ahead in Realism

2010-06-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

Drawings (left to right) by Kirsten, Level 1 student and Michele, Level 2 student

Sketchers in Level 1 (shown below) got into using positive and negative space, sketching contour lines, and measuring proportions while producing brilliant drawings. Welcome to new student, Sharon!

Level 2 sketchers (to view scroll down or click here) spent the evening drawing from real-life flowers and plants. While investigating contour edges and realistic form, everyone began to venture into their own drawing styles as they searched for their impressions of nature. Note: I'll post the the flower/plant sketches with this week's lesson about proportions of faces

Check out new pics of students in action: Click here

New music video featuring SCMAC students! See it: Click here

Attention all students: It would be great if we could plan a night when students from both groups can get together for an evening eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn of drawing and snacks! I'll talk with you in class to see if it works for everyone. --Rob

Level 1: Week 2: Positive/Negative Space, Contours, Form

2010-06-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sharon

Welcome to the SC Mountains Sketchers, Sharon! You got right into the groove with a beautifully sketched egret!! Excellent use of negative space to show its form. The proportions of the head and body are spot-on and the delicate contour edges and details, such as the feather highlights, are very well drawn. Your skills really turned on for an awesome dragonfly drawing! The proportions and angles of its wings are very accurately drawn compared to the reference picture. The contour edges of its body look realistic and natural. Keep practicing doing quick study sketches of things, just like you did for the dragonfly, while searching for accurate proportions.

Excellent how you drew corrections right on top of lighter guidelines!

Helen

Using positive/negative space while drawing the egret was a BIG step in learning to draw realistically, Helen!!! The boldly sketched background is a powerful contrast to the delicate shading of its body. The 's' turn in the neck is especially accurately drawn. Excellent work in delicately shading the contours of the feathers and erasing out the highlight areas. Your sharp eye for detail really shows in the rendering of the dragonfly. The proportions of its body and wings are really, REALLY accurately drawn! Great control in drawing the contour edges making for a very natural looking insect. And then you put all the lesson skills together for an amazingly realistic flower!! Excellent work in showing its textures and contours. Nice quick study sketches of the dragonfly, too!

Val

Val, once you got into the zone you cranked out some wonderfully realistic and accurate drawings!!! Your sketching technique captured the delicate contours and form of the egret's feathers and facial features. Great job of using positive and negative space to draw the contour edges of its neck. FAANTASTIC work in showing the wolf's strong muscles and texture of the fur. I know the head was a challenge but you pulled off a very realistic looking face! Your confidence line work really showed in the speed in which you sketched the wolf. And your dragonfly shows the strength of your sketching technique--natural looking contour edges of the body and thin contour lines for transparent wings.

Kirsten

You were a drawing machine Thursday night, Kirsten!!! Your stellar sketching style, combined with the lesson on positive and negative space produced some amazing work. I know you made some big adjustments in proportions during the early stages of the egret; then drew your corrections over the initial guidelines to nail down extremely accurate measurements of the head, neck, and body. Excellent line work and use of the kneaded eraser to show the contours and textures of the feathers. Your quick study sketches of the dragonfly set up a very accurate, tight rendering of its body and wings. Also, the textures and perspective of your 'positive/negative space' chair turned out really cool!

Level 1: Week 1: Lines, Shapes, Proportions

2010-06-06T18:24:00.002-07:00

A big Drawing League welcome to our new SCMAC students! In the first 2-hour session we started seeing tremendous potential in the drawings produced! The first half of class we drew from observation. Then we created a large composition from the imagination by using ideas from the observational sketches. Our focus was on ways to hold the pencil, moving the whole arm while drawing, sketching light guidelines, and looking for accurate proportions. Scroll down to view your work. And be sure to click on your drawing to view it larger.

Pencil warm-ups by Helen (left) and Kirsten

Kirsten

Kirsten, this fantastic set of sketches shows quick progress in gaining control while holding your pencil on its side, especially the longer, sweeping curves of the toucan. Your sketches show fine examples of drawing on top of mistakes while sketching light guidelines for basic shapes; then you found accurate proportions (comparing the size of shapes to other shapes) by drawing darker outlines. The lizard's tail and toucan's head show your thinking process while searching for accurate proportions. A number of things make your large-format composition interesting, such as repeating lines, shapes and patterns as well as varying the sizes of animals. Varying the sizes of things also give depth to your composition. And the long angled lines in the background do a great job of breaking up the page.

Nice job of overlapping the frog's front legs and showing the lizard on top of the wood texture. Cool facial expressions!

Val

Excellent start in drawing with lines and shapes, Val!!! Nice sketching technique that you're developing in this set of drawings--confidently sketched guidelines and bolder strokes for final outlines. Overall, the proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) are very well drawn. Your accuracy and control of holding the pencil on its side improved with each new drawing. You pulled all the skills together in your drawing of the lizard! Excellent use of lighter and darker tones on the toucan. Really cool how you repeated the form of the frog in your large composition, showing rhythm and movement. Also, by lightening the tonal value of the frogs you're showing depth in the picture. The angle of the frogs divides the composition nicely.

Nice job on overlapping the frog's front legs. :-)

Helen

Crisp line work and a keen eye for accurate proportions (sizes of shapes compared to other shapes) are a great start in developing your sketching style, Helen!!! Great job of adding all the details of the toucan and lizard such as the overlapping of the lizard's body on top of the wood and texture of its skin. The light guidelines and darker outlines of the toucan's head show accurate corrections in proportion. And the overlapping legs and position of the frog's feet give 3D depth to your sketch. Awesome mash-up going on in your large composition. Really like how you interlocked shapes t0 break up the page! Lighter and darker tones tie it all together nicely.

Nice job in improving the proportions of the puffer fish, especially its curved belly.

Level 2: Week 6: Color, Proportion

2010-06-06T17:47:00.006-07:00

This group of intrepid sketchers continues to blaze new trails! The previous week found everyone immersed in tonal values of grays. And this week we plunged into mixing it up with Prismacolor pencils. We captured the fun evening in new photos and a new music vid.

Michele

Your drawings show a quick progression in learning to control the layering of colors. The blending of yellow, red, and blue comes together wonderfully for a smooth look in your final apple drawing--VERY cool illustration style, Michele!! Really like how you experimented with various color combos in your awesome impressionistic take on the squash! It's interesting to compare the techniques used for the squash and the apple. You're on the verge of busting open a looser style with energetic, sketchier line work as well as a tighter realistic approach. Go for it!

Penny

You REALLY got into the zone during this lesson, Penny!!! Layer after layer of colors gave way to the brilliant surface textures of the apples. And during your color-blending process you focused on showing realistic curved contours, especially in the areas where the stem is attached. The shadows cast by the stems and the highlight areas are really nice touches. Let's do more exploration in dramatic shading as your drawing style develops. Your skills have progressed beautifully! You're on to something here--grab your sketchbook and draw like the wind!

Matt

Put some Prismacolor pencils in your hands... and... watch out, man! You clicked into the blending process quickly, laid down your base colors, got into the rhythm, and never looked back. Awesome how you loosened your strokes to show a sketchier, more impressionistic style. Because you applied lots of layers, some very wild colors emerged in the mix. REALLY liking how you mashed up the apples and bananas in your composition! Hey, Matt, you've GOT to venture into doing more surrealistic compositions.

Allison

Beautiful! Drawing! Allison! You've gotta add Prismacolor pencils to your sketching tool kit at home. Your study sketches show a quick understanding of the form of the apples and how to blend the pencils. Your final drawing of the apple is wonderfully realistic--in color mixing as well as accurate proportions. The subtle shading and surface textures are nice touches. And your take on the squash broke it wide open for experimentation in a freer, looser style. Definitely beyond very unique. :-)

Week 5: Tonal Values, Proportion, Study Sketches

2010-05-29T10:55:00.001-07:00

As we began exploring tonal values we continued working on contour edges and proportions. Drawing the agave plant was initially challenging, but everyone used contour study sketches to get into the zone; then concentrated on depicting light and dark green leaves with gray tones. As the evening progressed, layer upon layer of shading and line work revealed exquisite compositions! Learning to draw on top of mistakes was a big breakthrough for all of you. Also, everyone got into wonderful detail work while using a kneaded eraser to show textures and highlights.

"From the optical viewpoint, we find that things are not defined by their symbolic names but rather through the action of light... [the eye] sees a collection of colored shapes revealed by the action of light." --Ted Seth Jacobs Drawing with an Open Mind

Drawing by Matt

Your knowledge of tonal values will be quite useful as we jump into learning to blend colored pencils. See you Thursday! --Rob

Allison

2010-05-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

It took awhile for you to drop into the zone with this one. But then you focused your skills and pulled together a brilliant drawing, Allison! Your study sketches show looser, confident contour lines as you searched for the form of the plant and laid down accurate proportions for your finished value drawing. Excellent work in using gray tones to show the values of light and dark greens of the plant's leaves, especially where the highlighted edges of leaves meet the darker background shadows. Depicting these contrasting values is what brings dramatic depth to your composition. I'm really liking the subtle shading of the curved underside of the foreground leaf and where you used the kneaded eraser to lift highlights, blend tones, and add textures. Keep exploring ways to use expressive tones and lines to show your impression of things.

Matt

2010-05-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Your rapid study sketches evolved into a wonderful finished piece, Matt! The contour line studies show the continued emergence of your sketching style--fast, fluid, accurate. The final drawing shows your control of the pencil and eye for subtle tonal values. Great job of using contrasting values to show contours and depth in your composition. You did a superb job of drawing with the kneaded eraser to create very natural looking curved edges on the leaves, surface tonal gradations, and highlights--especially on the cone shape in the center of your composition. Awesome how you used delicate curved lines to show the contours and surface textures of the leaves.

Penny

2010-05-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

This is a fantastic line-up of study sketches, Penny!! Your drawings are an excellent example of breaking free of focusing on what the plant looks like and getting absorbed in the sketching process. Your experiments in line work, using the whole page as a composition, and fluid drawing style is a delight to the eye. You then applied the same energy to your final drawing. The result is a vibrant, impressionistic exploration of lighter and darker tonal values. I really like how you layered lines and darker tones to show receding tones of leaves in the background. Nice job of using the kneaded eraser to lift out highlights and textures. Important to apply this spontaneous sketching style--long, broad strokes and energetic line work--to your sketchbook work. Try drawing trees and plants around your house.

Michele

2010-05-29T09:58:00.001-07:00

You've carried your freer, yet accurate contour line work from the previous week's drawings of the squash into these wonderfully executed sketches. The contour studies show that you're breaking away from tightly rendered drawings and beginning to loosen up with expressive tonal values and long, flowing lines. This will be very helpful in applying your drawing skills to exploring larger compositions for your paintings. Perhaps an impressionistic landscape composition of the view from your studio window? :-) Fantastic job of using gray tones to show the different values of green. Really nice how you used layers of lines and tones to show the contrast between the darker background leaves and the subtle textures of the foreground leaves. Excellent use of the kneaded eraser to show textures and highlights. Explore loosening yor line work and keeping it sketchy, Michele!

Weeks 3 & 4: Perspective and "Getting Squashed!"

2010-05-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

We covered a lot of ground the last couple of weeks. We moved through a full night of 1-point and 2-point perspective and sketching after Vincent Van Gogh. And then we wrapped up the 4-week course with study sketches and drawings from real-life acorn squash, artichokes and apples. We'll explore more drawing from real objects as we start the next 4-week session.

Too much fun exploring perspective drawing--without the use of rulers!

above left: Sketching straight lines by learning to draw through points; warm-up drawing by Allison; above right: 2-point perspective drawing by Allison

We switched gears from the straight-lined perspective work and launched into studying the high-energy pencil strokes of Vincent Van Gogh. For those who were unable to complete your drawing, here's a link to the reference image: Click here (Hope you can complete it sometime.)

above: Allison's drawing of Van Gogh's sketch

Thinking/Seeing With Your Pencil: Sketchiness and Depicting Roundness
We finally started drawing from the 'crate of realism'. Acorn squash and artichokes provided the inspiration for study sketches of realistic form. Keeping the pencil point on the paper while drawing helped you to 'think' on the paper while looking for contours and proportions. So cool how each of you jumped into more expressive sketching techniques.

"Changing your mind is a positive aspect of seeing and thinking. Layers of thought can bring a drawing to life." --Sarah Simblet, Sketchbook for the Artist

left: Study sketch of contours and 'roundness' by Matt

"...all drawing depends, primarily, on your power of representing Roundness. If you can once do that, all the rest is easy and straight forward... For Nature is all made up of roundness; not the roundness of perfect globes, but of variously curved surfaces." --John Ruskin, The Elements of Drawing

It's exciting that everyone wants to continue for another 4 weeks! I look forward to helping you explore new techniques and developing your own drawing styles. --Rob

Michele

2010-05-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Big progressive steps in your adventure in drawing realistically, Michele!!! By drawing looser, yet accurate, contour edges your line work has become much more expressive. Your progression of study sketches shows increasing confidence in your line work and observational skills. I really like how you began studying the textures and contour edges of the squash and apple. Keep pushing yourself to sketch from objects and life forms in your sketchbook You're on the verge of developing an eye for realism, which will be a useful tool in your art-making. If you have time, try to work on the Van Gogh sketch... it will introduce you to more sketching techniques.

Excellent contour lines and studies of different surfaces and planes. It will be interesting to see how your realistic sketching style will impact your collage work.

Cool 2-point perspective drawing. Hmmm... maybe try some Hundertwasseresque building sketches. :-)

Reference image for Van Gogh drawing, if you'd like to finish it: Click here

Penny

2010-05-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

Remarkable progress, Penny!!! The study sketches of the squash and artichoke show a focused, successful effort in drawing realistic form. Definitely seeing your own sketching style starting to emerge through your line work--especially in your wonderful sliced-apple drawing! The squash sketches show how you became comfortable in keeping your pencil on the page while sketching over your mistakes, until you found accurate contours of the form--keep practicing this! :-) Nice detail work on the artichoke leaves and cast shadow underneath it.

Wow!!! Your Van Gogh sketches are absolutely stellar!!! Keep exploring ways to use line work for depicting textures and form. Your work in 1-point (Van Gosh sketch) and 2-point perspective is showing your understanding in 3-dimensional form.

Matt

2010-05-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

Matt, your study sketches are a beautiful example of progressive line work!!! You started with simple contours; then added layers of line work and tones as you searched for accurate contours and form. Really, REALLY like how you show the curved contours where the stem attaches. Excellent effort in depicting the tonal changes and textures of the surface of the squash. Nailing down extremely accurate proportions enabled you to concentrate on exquisite detail in your more complete renderings. And yet, you kept a loose, expressive style throughout your sketches--build on this, man!

Really nice 2-point perspective drawing, Matt. Combining your sharp eye for realism and perspective opens up really cool possibilities for exploration in surrealist compositions.

Reference image for Van Gogh drawing, if you'd like to finish it: Click here

Allison

2010-05-09T15:25:00.006-07:00

Loosening up your line work and getting more expressive was an amazingly BIG step in your drawing, Allison!!! You pulled together some wonderfully spontaneous sketches!! Excellent how you launched into generating lots of study sketches, starting with your simple contour drawings. The contour studies gave you a solid understanding of form on which to build your new, spontaneous sketching style. As the evening progressed, your experimentation with varied line widths and tones showed quick results in your squash sketches--especially where you added shadows. But you really got into the zone and showed something completely new in the artichoke sketches. Excellent how you cut loose with your line work while maintaining accuracy in your final, larger artichoke drawing. Explore this further in your sketchbook! And, if you can finish your Van Gogh sketch you'll discover more ways of using line work to depict form and textures.

Hope you can finish this awesome Van Gogh sketch. Nice 2-point perspective drawing! Are you thinking of starting your new career as an architect? :-)

Reference image for Van Gogh drawing, if you'd like to finish it: Click here

Week 2: Positive/Negative Space, Proportions, Contour Lines, and Study Sketches

2010-04-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Alright, SC Mountains Sketchers! Each of you stepped up to the challenge of sketching realistic form and pulled together stellar drawings last Thursday. We learned how positive/negative space can help you see contour edges and proportions. And as the evening progressed everyone relaxed and began to appreciate the spontaneity and usefulness of sketchy line work. Each of you began to show distinct sketching styles while searching for--and finding--accurate proportions. I noticed a lot more confidence while laying down the lines for your quick studies.

Be sure to check out Michele's abstract drawing in eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn. To view her work: Click here or on her drawing in the column to the right. Remember: If any of you have sketchbook drawings or other drawings you'd like to share, just give them to me at class and I'll post 'em up, too. (Here's the challenge Michele took: Click here)

Practice using positive and negative space while doing quick studies of objects in your sketchbook. Try some sketches while focusing on only the negative space shapes; then try the same object while looking at the positive space (the object).

See you, Thursday. --Rob

Penny

2010-04-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Your practice in drawing with lines and shapes has really paid off!!! It was so cool watching you catch errors in proportions as you sketched fresh, accurate guidelines for corrections. (I didn't get the study sketches from you after class, so they're not posted here.) In your sketchbook, keep practicing sketching light guidelines for things, making quick corrections, then finishing with confident contour lines.

The egret and dragonfly are BIG-time breakthroughs for you in drawing realistically, Penny!!! You did an excellent job of using positive/negative space to sketch the contour edges forming the egret. Great detail work in the subtleties of the feathers and facial features, especially the beak!

I know that drawing the dragonfly was a challenge but your preliminary sketching yielded VERY accurate proportions. Excellent contour lines showing the edges of the legs and detailed, transparent wings. I'm really liking the lines you laid down for the contours of the legs. Nice work in drawing the 3D angle of its body and wings. Superb effort!

Michele

2010-04-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

Awesome line work, Michele!!! Your drawings of the egret are wonderful examples how study sketches can be used to find accurate proportions. I love the 'sketchiness' of your lines as the proportions become more accurate with each drawing. Great use of positive/negative space to nail down the contour edges of the bird's form, especially the 's' curve of the neck. Really nice job of shading its body and legs. The highlights on the top of the head and feathers are a great touch.

You did a FANTASTIC job of drawing accurate proportions of the dragonfly!! Your study sketches helped you to find the angle and position of the wings. The contour lines showing the edges of the body, legs, and wings are superbly drawn. Using the kneaded eraser was a really nice touch for showing the transparency of the wings. Keeping a sketchbook will be very helpful in pushing your sketching techniques to new levels.

Allison

2010-04-18T08:39:00.001-07:00

Exquisite egret, Allison!!! I really like the way you explored positive and negative space in your study sketch--loose, bold strokes indicate the surrounding negative space. Your spontaneous, quick-sketch lines did a great job of suggesting the texture of the feathers near the legs. Keep practicing this sketching technique in your sketchbook!

On your final egret drawing, you did a great job of sketching guidelines; then finishing with concise contour edges for its accurate form. The delicate gradations in the shading are very well drawn!! Wonderful how you carefully worked the pencil to define the subtleties in tones for the curved planes forming the feathers. The highlights on the wings and neck are awesome!

The spontaneity and progressive accuracy of your study sketches of the dragonfly are simply wonderful!! The control of your contour lines in your final drawing are very well drawn. Cool how you used heavier lines for the body and thinner lines for the transparent wings. Great eye for accuracy--you nailed the body and wings perfectly. Fantastic detail work. Keep practicing quick study sketches; I think you'll start to really like the results of of your quick takes as much, or more, than your tight renditions.

Matt

2010-04-18T08:35:00.004-07:00

You're developing a keen eye for proportion and a fluent sketching hand!!! You gained more confidence in your looser lines as the proportions of the egret became more accurate with each new study sketch. I'm really liking the 'sketchiness' in your line work and how you strike a bold line when you find a curve or measurement that you like. Keep a sketchbook and practice capturing the essence of things with your quick line work. Your final egret combined VERY accurate proportions and marvelous textures of the feathers, beak, and legs! Excellent work in defining the areas where the neck and chest merge together, showing the 3D form of the bird.

Again, you made really good use of your study sketches... this dragonfly looks like it's ready to fly of the page, Matt!!! Brilliant line work showing the contour edges of the body and legs. The contours of the wings are especially well drawn. Its proportions are spot-on! And the details are very realistic. Nice drawing, man!

Week One: Lines, Shapes, Proportions, Composition

2010-04-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, Santa Cruz Mountains Sketchers! It was so nice to meet all of you. I couldn't ask for a better group of sketchers! And the Art Center is the perfect facility for our sketch sessions. Everyone is off to a terrific start in drawing from observation and imagination.

All of you jumped in and learned to hold the pencil on its side (overhand grip) while moving your whole arm as you sketch. You focused on drawing with curved and angled lines, overlapping shapes to create depth, and using patterns to indicate texture. The emphasis of the first half of the evening was to get 'sketchy', see the relationships between shapes, and to draw accurate proportions.

Pencil warm-up by Allison

Then we cranked up the music, dropped into the zone and created a large-format abstract/surrealist drawing. Everyone really enjoyed using lines and shapes from the lesson drawings while experimenting with 2B, 4B, 6B pencils and 6B and 8B woodless graphite pencils.

If you have time this week...

Here's a drawing challenge for you to do for Thursday (it's not mandatory): Getting Abstract

Scroll down to see your work, and don't forget to click on the images to enlarge for viewing. Feel free to add your comments to the drawings.

See you Thursday evening. --Rob

Matt

2010-04-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Alright, Matt!!! Holding the pencil on its side was a bit challenging but... Whoa!... once you got the hang of it you put together some excellent sketches. I really like how you sketched light guidelines for the shapes of things; then drew darker outlines to finish--keep practicing this. The proportions in your drawings are VERY accurately drawn; the crab got more accurate with each new sketch that you made.

And your abstract/surrealist composition turned out fantastic!!! You broke up the page wonderfully with a wide variety of lines and shapes. Looks like you really enjoyed the 6B graphite pencil!

Allison

2010-04-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

Wonderful! Drawing! Allison! You're off to a GREAT start in drawing accurate proportions! You've got excellent control of your line work and a sharp eye for detail. I really like how you sketched freely with loose lines until you found accurate shapes; then you finished with darker outlines. The crab and puffer fish are nice examples of getting 'sketchy' with your lines. The gray tones for shading are a really nice touch.

Your abstract/surrealist mashup flowed together wonderfully! You've got a great sense for composition as you did a superb job of tying lines and shapes together.

Penny

2010-04-11T14:27:00.001-07:00

EXCELLENT start in drawing with lines and shapes, Penny!!! So cool how you got into holding the pencil on its side and used your whole arm to sketch the puffer fish! You really started to gain control of your lines for the fish's body while sketching guidelines on top of one another. Sketching like this was a big breakthrough for you. Keep practicing sketching light guidelines; then finishing with darker outlines. The proportions in your sketches are very accurately drawn. And I really like your experimentation in using the side of your pencil point while drawing the lizard. Cool facial expressions. :-)

And you really got into the zone while composing your abstract/surrealist sketch!! Excellent how you drew large, sweeping curved lines and repeated oval shapes for a dynamic composition.

Michele

2010-04-11T14:19:00.006-07:00

Wow! Michele! You jumped in, tilted that pencil on its side, and cranked out a lot of fantastic sketches! Great job of drawing accurate proportions on all your creatures, especially the lizard. I really like how you loosened your lines and drew on top of your mistakes while sketching the frog as you gained control of the sweeping curved lines of its legs. You've got an excellent eye for details.

You REALLY pulled your line work together for an awesome abstract/surrealist composition! I like how you used lighter and darker lines to break up the page. The lighter shapes appear to recede to the background, creating depth in your picture.

Drawing Challenge: Getting Abstract

2010-04-11T14:19:00.005-07:00

If you have time for this challenge, use the techniques you learned last Thursday to create an abstract drawing. An abstract drawing doesn't represent things (people, objects, places, nature, etc.) in the real world. Instead, you'll combine lines, shapes, patterns, tones (shading), and textures to make a picture from your imagination.
Think of it as composing music. Use the repetition of lines and shapes to create rhythm in your composition on paper. Get bold with swirling movements of your arm like a conductor of an orchestra. Express your emotions and feelings through the lines that you draw.

Use all different kinds of lines (thick, thin, curved, angled, squiggly, etc.). Try overlapping shapes. Throw in a bunch of patterns and textures to make designs. The only rule: Don't draw any people, places, or things from the real world.

Ideas for Your Abstract Drawing
These paintings by the modern artists Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) show ideas for your abstract drawing using lines, shapes, and patterns. Enjoy drawing from your imagination.

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.

Santa Cruz Mountains Sketchers in Action!

2010-04-11T14:19:00.003-07:00

Click on images to enlarge for viewing:

eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn

2010-04-11T14:19:00.001-07:00

The names in this student gallery are listed alphabetically (click on drawings to view larger):

Michele:

Welcome Santa Cruz Mountains Sketchers!

2010-03-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

I look forward to drawing with Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center. This is the official blog for all students to view their drawing lessons, along with my comments and suggestions.

Course Syllabus:

Draw the Moment: Learning to Draw from Observation and Imagination
4-Week Course with an Emphasis on "Sketchiness" and Spontaneity

Class Duration: 2 hours including 10 minute break
April 8, 15, 22, 29 7:00-9:00 p.m. Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center 831-336-3513

Week 1: Lines, Shapes, and Reconnecting with the Childhood Thrill of Drawing

• Warm-up: Learning to hold the pencil (overhand and extended grip) and moving the arm and
shoulder while sketching. (5 min.)
• Observation: As students sketch from lesson illustrations they learn to compare shapes,
measure proportions, overlap shapes to create depth, and use lines and patterns to indicate texture.
• Break
• Transition doodle: Random doodling turns into an idea.
• Imagination: Create large-format composition using illustrations from previous lesson.

Week 2: Form, Positive/Negative Space

• Warm-up: More fun sketching with lines, shapes, patterns. (5 min.)
• Observation: Sketching guidelines for basic shapes that form a dragonfly; then sketching contour
lines for accurate proportions of its body and wings.
• Break
• Observation: Drawing an egret with an emphasis on positive/negative space, contour edges,
and realistic form.
• Quick-draw mash-up: 5-10 Min. Large format free-sketch from dragonfly and egret, experimenting with drawing media.

Week 3: Form, Space

• Warm-up: Sketching lines through points. (Getting from point A to point B without a ruler.) (5 min.)
• Imagination: 2-point and 1-point perspective: Sketching 3D cubes. Creating a composition of boxes
or buildings; exploring shading and light source.
• Break
• Drawing from a sketch by Van Gogh, students learn how to depict form, space, and textures by
using angled strokes with the pencil

Week 4: "Sketchiness" in the Real World: 3-Dimensional Objects

• Select object to draw (sea shell, rusty lantern, skull, etc.).
• Warm-up: Make numerous thumbnail sketches of object in different positions.
• Observation: Use skills learned in previous lessons to make a detailed drawing of the object,
starting with lightly sketched guidelines, continuing with contours and textures while exploring
shading and light source. (Includes 10 min. break)

Check out what students from schools in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties are doing: Drawing League

Get ready to have fun drawing! --Rob