Reflections on a semsmer of drawings

I believe this is one of my final blog posts for the semester for Design Visualization.  This has been such a challenging and rewarding course for me.  Most of the terminology was new to me.  Most of the instruments, pencils, triangles, drafting boards were items that I knew of and wanted to use.  I think the most important thing that I learned in drafting is patience.  Taking my time, being neat, and clean made my life so much easier;  and my drawings much cleaner when finished.  I also learned that sometimes it's easier to just start over.  I did this a lot.

Paper Rips.
                   Pencils Slip.

                                       Rulers Shift.

                                           [Straight edges aren't always straight]

                               Velum hates being erased

On the non technical drawing side in the world of sketching and shadowing, I gained a lot of experience.  My greatest success story was learning how to create images through shadow rather than line.  I'm still not very good at it and need lots and lots of practice, but I now know that shadows create everything.  I still struggle with people and proportions.  I can draw myself as Vasco De Gamma or some other 15th century figure, proportionally slightly askew and final image somewhat awkward.  I learned that trying and trying and trying are the best ways to  understand what I'm trying to portray.  It's frustrating at times and hugely rewarding even more. 

This is my most successful technical drawing of the semester.  I chose this drawing because it was the most challenging.  I was given an orthographic view with 4 measurements and I had to figure everything else out.  I learned a great deal about how scale drawings work by doing this exercise.  I also learned that from some parts I can assemble additional information to create a whole.

Group Drawing

Here is a sketch that I did of Andrada.  The use of shading is somewhat successful here.  More time spent on details would make the drawing more realistic.  Proportions are off, this is an area that I struggle with.

This is a sketch that I did of Josh.  Shading is good in parts here.  Proportions are off, especially in the forearms and facial features. 

Scale Figure Drawing Exercise

In Class we did an exercise in drawing people in scale.  We were timed and only given 5 minutes for each sketch.  Most of the drawings are supposed to be contour drawings.  We were given a different scale to use for each group of people.  This really challenged me in drawing groups proportionately, especially since most of my figure drawings have looked like muscle men or spaghetti figures.

I chose this example because it captured the energy of the poses the individuals chose.  This was also the first drawing that I did where I was able to capture the individuals at the proper scale and the proper scale within the group. 

I chose this example because it showed depth of the grouping of people without using shadowing.  I feel that there is an energy in the legs of the people.

5 Sketches, Three for Me, and Two from them.

artist, Kate Ewen.  I chose this sketch because it show a very good use of shadow and light.  The accuracy is also very good.  The sketch resembles the object amazingly well. 

My first sketch of strong light through water.  I was super excited that I was able to achieve transparency and depth in a clear object.

One of my later strong light through water sketches.  Here I figured out how to sketch water droplets.

my best self portrait so far.  Somewhat captures me.  I struggle greatly with drawing faces.  My eyes are huge here, maybe it shows that I'm very eager to see the world!

artist, Jordyn Summers.  This is a great example of water in strong light in a clear vessel.  The use of shadowing and proportion are exceptional.  I can definately tell where the light source is and that there is water in the jug.

Drafting Examples

For this assignment we had to pick a household object and draw the top, front, and side views.  I chose this candle vessel because it looks very simple.  Once you start measuring the container and you find many different angles and complex attributes.  My strength in this drawing is the composition and drafting style.  My weakness is the junction points of the curved sides.  Stephanie helped me work on this and suggested  I use a compass rather than a circle template.

This is an example of three different oblique view.  My weakness was trying to show the object with lines that did not really exist.  Some of the angles did not project properly either.

Extra Credit assignment.  This drawing was fun for me.  It gave me a bit of a challenge which strengthened some of my weaknesses.  Line weight and composition is good here.  No major flaws.

Object A and B - Elevation Oblique.  Strengths are line weight and composition.  Weaknesses are projecting circles correctly and lettering.

Objects A and B - Isometric Oblique.  This was chosen as a good example for others to follow.  I did put my circle in the wrong place on object a and I could work on my lettering.

Object A and B - Plan Oblique.  Good line weight and accuracy in corners are strengths.  Circles and Lettering are weaknesses.

Isometric Drawing

The Most Successful Sketch so far

I drew this leaf on September 10th and it took me about 45 minutes.  I drew this leaf from life which is a challenge for me.  I enjoy the way that I was able to capture the depth and shadow of the leaf with darker and lighter values created with the pencil.

Where do you find inspiration?

look around, in your head, all around you in the grass in the yard, up in a tree in the sky.  Look at the floor or the walls, what's in them, what do they tell you.  watch some people, their actions can tell you a lot and inspire you.  dreams are inspiring, wild and crazy and full of grit.