talymitchell

PART 1 P2: Exercise 3 – Creating Shadow using Lines and Marks

Further work on using expressive line and marks to suggest three-dimensionality.

PART 1 P2: Exercise 2 – Observing Shadow using Blocks of Tone

On a 2D surface ‘real’ space is hard to create, especially without focus on tone. Showing light and dark on a surface gives an impression of three-dimensionality.

I started off with conté, as its one of my favourite mediums. Despite that, it is not an easy medium to use as charcoal in terms of building up or lifting tone.

I initially misunderstood the instructions and filled the paper with drawings of the same objects. Rather than getting ‘all tones to work together in a series of total shifts’. I began again with charcoal and my work flowed better, maybe because I had my ‘eye in’ by this point. I cannot find A1 paper easily where I have so have worked on A2.

I know that I could work more on this, especially to lift the highlights and soften the contrast on the right hand vase.

I wasn’t quite satisfied with the first attempts, not so much perfectionism creeping in but more that I don’t think I really followed the method well enough; I went straight into it with out building the picture up. Here is another attempt, focusing on each stage and building up the areas.

PART 1 P2: Exercise 1 – Groups of Objects

Already we see that lines and marks can be more than just that on a piece of paper. Expression and mood can be conveyed through the medium used, pressure, speed, intensity etc. An intention can now be given to a drawing as it takes on the mood of the flowing media. Even basic shapes and forms can take on an expression if the application is considered.

A flat piece of paper with a two-dimensional surface is the ‘picture plane’. When a line is drawn on the paper, it is still 2D. But building up these lines can give the illusion of three-dimension. They also help to show the objects in relation to each other.

A method in the process of learning to draw is to recognise the basic shapes are flat and 2D. A build-up of lines can make these flat shapes appear 3D.

These are my attempts drawing a group of objects. I really enjoy this activity, especially after I relaxed and tried to stop making my drawings realistic.

The first work is stick and ink.

I like looking for the shapes in the negative space, the space that the objects ‘leave behind’:

The second attempt was using compressed white chalk on black sugar paper. I need to work on my placement I think but I enjoy looking at how the shapes link to each other, if we imagined them as 3D and see-through. Although I focussed physically more on this in the first attempt, but still visualised it in the second.

PART 1 P1: Exercise 1 – Experimenting with expressive lines and marks

Experimenting with expressive lines and marks

I haven’t had chance to get the right size paper for the activity yet. But I thought this would be a good opportunity to try out my new Pencil for Paper 53. My first foray into digital drawing.

What follows are all digital drawings using only Paper 53 and its pencil. It is NOT a review of the technology, although I have already realised a massive difference in the techniques used to produce a similar effect. Nothing beats a graphite pencil/ink and nib…in my opinion.

It is a given that the process of art in all forms should, in its purest form, be a means of expression for the artist. Inner feelings, emotions, contemplation, memory, therapeutic…the act of making art can be a release regardless of the emotion.

Drawing is an expression in a simple, accessible form. The emotion at the time of mark-making, could be expressed in some manner to reflect them. Yet, a mark made in joy by one person will appear different to another. This is what I love about the pure expressionism of art; it is truly individual. We may share the same opinion but our narrative is our own. Non-objective objects were created, lines, marks, and abstract shapes. Certain emotions were transformed into such marks.

These are the digital results.

CONFUSION/FRUSTRATION

Temporary drawing

Drawing with a camera.

The subject remained central but I moved the camera to create a drawing of sorts using the light of the subject. In the first photograph, I used the christmas tree lights and in the second to last photograph the subject was a camp fire.

An Accidental on Purpose drawing

Following on from the previous post, I was inspired by the boat’s wear and tear ‘drawing’ to do a little bit of meditative drawing. I had my pen and a blank page in hand and I just felt the movements through the pen. Interesting movements and patterns resulted. And I just added more detail and incorporated the lines of the surface cracks.

Accidental drawings 1

On a summer school class at Glasgow School of Art, we were asked what we thought ‘accidental drawings’ were. I hesitated in answering, I didn’t have a clue how to answer! When the tutor showed us a mark on the wall, it all clicked and I spent the rest of the day looking for these drawings around the city.