Lesson 1: Elements of Art: Line
Part II: Art Projects
Doing Online Research for Techniques: Sites like YouTube and others have a wide array of demonstration and ‘how-to’ video tutorials on each of these techniques. Browse around and watch a few, and use them to your advantage to help improve your technique. Always take great care, however, to never copy someone else’s work.
On your choice of 8 1/2 × 11 in., 9 × 12 in., or 12 × 18 in. drawing paper, complete the following four activities in the order presented here.
In the “Technique Tips” section of your textbook, read “Making Contour Drawings” on page 428. Next, on page 81, read “Activity: Contour Line Drawings” (first activity only). Do this contour drawing exercise using shoes, as described in the textbook. You may use pencil instead of a marker, if you choose.
In the “Technique Tips” section, read “Making Gesture Drawings” on page 428. A gesture drawing is a very quick, rough drawing done to capture movement and to describe the shape or attitude of a subject. They almost look like scribbly stick figures, but with the body’s form added on. Look at the examples of gesture drawings below done by some previous students.
Student work, used by permissionStudent work, used by permission
Then look through magazines for examples of people in action. The whole body should be visible in the picture. Working from these magazine pictures, fill a sheet of drawing paper with four or five gesture drawings. Work quickly—force yourself to capture the movement, shape, and idea of the image. Time yourself and allow only thirty seconds for each drawing.
For this project you will draw a still life and add shading to make the objects appear to have depth. First, set up four or five ordinary objects of your choice in an interesting arrangement. Use the techniques you practiced in project A to make a contour drawing of your still life. Next, read “Using Shading Techniques” on textbook page 429. Use the cross-hatching techniques to add light and dark values to your drawing. Look at the drawings below to see examples of the way crosshatch marks are made. Notice how the pencil strokes follow the form and contour of the objects. Use either pencils or a fine-tipped black marker. Study the way light and shadows fall on the objects in your image. Try to depict the shadows appropriately.
Student work, used by permissionStudent work, used by permission-
Use calligraphic lines to make gesture drawings like the student examples, and the one done by Japanese artist Sengai Gibon, shown here. Find some objects or subjects that you could use as models: for example, a flower in a bud vase, a stack of books, or a dog asleep in a corner. Read “Drawing Calligraphic Lines with a Brush” on page 428 of the “Technique Tips” section of your textbook. Follow the instructions for doing gesture drawings with paint and a paintbrush. Fill your page with the drawings.
Sengai Gibon (Japanese, 1751–1837). Jittoku. Late 18th to early 19th century. Hanging scroll, ink on paper. 34 1/2 × 12 1/8 in. M.68.18.1, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Vicci Sperry. Photograph © 2006 Museum Associates/ LACMA.Student work, used by permissionStudent work, used by permission