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

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...

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

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

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...

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

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...

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

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...

eXpReSsiOn sEsSiOn: Faces and Proportion

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

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...