Sketching

When I'm not working on a 'full-sized' drawing, I am sketching.    Sketching provides the opportunity to

•  explore your subject matter and medium
•  exercise and stretch your skills
•  test out new techniques
•  explore textures, compositions, lighting effects

Sometimes sketches are indeciferable to any one but the artist, nothing more than scribbles.  Other times, they can become a finished artwork.  But most of the time, sketches are just snippets of thoughts or an impression of an idea. 

For an artist, sketching is the most uninhibited and free-est expressive moment possible.  Sketching is an artform in itself and give the viewer insight into the soul of the artist.

 

Two-point Perspective

Step one. Identify the three main vertical lines of the building. I use a t-square ruler to make sure my lines are straight. The line in the center will be the longest. You can also use your pencil to "site" the length and positioning of the vertical lines. 


Step two: The green line through the center is considered the horizon line. This is also your eye level view of the scene.

When you connect the vertical lines, the green line should be in the center of the angled lines. The angled lines will eventually converge in a "X" through the green line. This convergence is usually off the paper as in this example.

As you view the image below, you can see that the windows, door and roof line all follow the same lines. 


Perspective is a principle of design technique that creates depth and realism to a scene.  It gives the illusion of three demension on a two demension surface, the paper.

Recent Article

Here is a recent article posted on Pencils.com about.....me.

(Re)Introducing Pencils.com Teaching Artist Diane Wright

Two weeks ago, we reintroduced our Pencils.com featured teaching artist Mike Theuer and the first of his many tips for artists. Today, Studio 602 is excited to reintroduce Diane Wright and her tips for making the most out of your graphite.

“It has been almost two years since I was first introduced to the Blackwing. In reviewing all the attributes I thought hindered drawing with wooden pencils, I’ve discovered that they are actually positive characteristics. The relationship between my hand, pencil and paper evolves into an unified artistic expression. There is no medium that is as simple or direct as the graphite pencil. There is no doubt that the wooden pencil creates a much more expressive line than using a mechanical pencil. Harnessing and controlling that line can breath life to your drawing.

Here are a couple of tips that I’d like offer.

- Holding your pencil in an underhand position creates a much more fluid line. Using the handwriting grip tends to restrict the pencil and creates a tight mark.

- The shape of the pencil tip makes a big difference on how frequently you have to sharpen and the variety of line created. A chisel point, with one side flat creates a broad stroke and the edge can be used for detail.

- Explore creating a variety of pencil marks to represent different textures. Choosing to use a dull pencil point can offer subtle differences and organic nuisances as well.

I recently have been using a variation of the chisel point. As I draw, I rotate my pencil to create three flat sides that taper to a point. Using the underhand grip, holding the pencil at an angle, and rotating the pencil, I can use the pencil without sharpening until it is almost to the wood. This maximizes the use of the graphite as well as extending the time between sharpenings.

This small sketch was created using these techniques. The Blackwing is perfect to create bold marks and apply the graphite quickly, allowing your ideas to come alive on the paper.”

- Diane Wright

The Blackwing Experience

Charles Berolzheimer invited me to the NYC Blackwing experience. While I had to gracefully decline to attend, I thought "What a cool idea and fun event."

Today, I am retiring my very first Blackwing that I was introduced to almost two years ago. As my pencil is now too short to use anymore, I started to think about my own Blackwing experience.

Looking back at all attributes I thought hindered the use of wooden pencils, over time they now have culminated into positive characteristics. The relationship between the pencil, paper and myself subtly evolves through the artistic expression. Sharpening a wooden pencil is almost a ritual. Using the pencil as it dulls enhances the drawing, offering subtle differences and organic nuisances. Then at a particular point, I stop. Sharpen. And start the process again. It seems to breathe life into the drawing. As the pencil gets smaller, I use a pencil extender to extend its life. Until finally the affair of collaboration ends and the drawing is completed.

Can a simple pencil make such a difference? I think so. I love my Blackwings and Palominos.

Horse - Sketches

Here is the start of a horse series for Royal Brush. 

There's an app for that....the iPad for the fine artist.

Many of you know that I am an IT Manager in my day job. My world involves computers designed for corporate security, programming, stagnant software and conformity. Now imagine introducing an iPad to my other life as a fine artist!

The freedom of the iPad is refreshing, invigorating and inspiring. The flexibility and mobility lends itself well to be my personal assistant to keep track of my ideas, map out projects and explore themes. It can take photos, edit and dissect them to satisfy my creative exploration. I can jot down notes, organize them, write articles, tutorials and ebooks. At it's most inspiring level, I can doodle, sketch or paint to create digital artwork.

There are now millions of apps available (both good and bad). The apps are usually small and focused to specific tasks. Instead of the software dictating what you can do, you determine what you need. This allows you to customize a unique set of apps that will work just for you and your work flow. Whether you are an engineer, writer or an artist....there is an app for that!

I have spent the past month exploring a variety of apps and have discovered a handful of apps that really suite my needs as a fine artist. I'd like to share my "favorites" list for my fellow artists.

No USB Port?

The first thing I had to figure out was how to get my work on and off the iPad. Since there is no USB port, the old fashioned "sneaker net" method is not an option.

DropBox - Using a combination of DropBox on my desktop computer and iPad let's me seamlessly upload and download documents and images.

Google Docs - I have used Google Docs for a number of years, so it also works well.

Email - Some apps do not work with DropBox or Google Docs, so emailing the final product to myself is the third option.

Wireless printer - I love the new technologies! The iPad instantly found my wireless printer. No installation of drivers or additional software.

Writing

Microsoft Office Suites in the corporate world is the extent of my writing software knowledge. Less than ten percent of it's functionality is actually used in the majority of writing, so I'm delighted to find easy, simple software for this function.

Pages - Meets the needs of my writing.....I'm using this software as I type this article. Add an iPad bluetooth keyboard to give the desktop feel to your experience.

Office HD - Great for those MS Word users (like me!)

Note Taking

These are the apps that are at the heart of my love of the iPad. They provide instantaneous recording of fleeting thoughts, ideas, doodles, lists in non-conforming, flexible apps. Here are my favorites:

Penultimate - The simplest of all can be the best. If I have a random thought, it goes here. It's great for doodling too (one my favorite pastimes). No more wasted paper. Handwriting with a stylus in it's free-est form.

Notes Plus - This app is the coolest and definitely my absolute favorite app. To get the fullest appreciation of this one, I recommend watching an uTube video. http://notesplusapp.com/ Turn your handwritten notes to text with the 'convert to text' feature. There is a hand shield if you tend to drag your hand on the screen while writing. Want to record a lecture? No problem. Open a .pdf file, annotate and save. Import images, annotate on them, write notes on composition changes, etc.

Note Taker HD - A bit more complex than I like, but it is also very feature rich.

Novel/Book Writing

The novelist or book writer will love to explore all the different kinds of apps used to organize their chapters, story lines and plots. Here's a few that have caught my attention.

Index Card - I used index cards in college to write research notes, sort and compose term papers. This app has the same "comfortable feel" as physical index cards. Once you have them organized, save it as a text document.

Writer's Studio - I think this app is a great introductory to writing children's books. Music, text and illustrations can be easily blended together.

Photo Editing

Top Camera - Tops my list of photo editing. Take a photo with iPad and instantly edit it, or open one from your camera roll. Lots of the most commonly used editing tools, easy to apply.

PS Express - Photoshop version for the iPad. I'm a bit disappointed in this app. as the features are minimal. I'll stick to using my desktop Photoshop Elements.

Color Effect - This is a fun app. Turn your photo to black and white and bring the original color back to objects you want.

Draw Pad - This app is a great transition tool from photo to outline. Open a photo and use the opague setting to make the photo semi-transparent. Then use the stylus to outline the subject matter. You can study the outline/photo, manipulate it, add more subject matter. A wonderful tool to help you explore and dissect your subject matter before you draw.

Digital Artwork

Up to now, all the apps I have discussed are to assist me in my creative endeavors. This last category includes apps that can actually be the means to the end. Creating digital artwork.

Draw Cast - Multi-layer application that can create very detailed and subtle effects. Good variety of brushes and palette.

Art Studio - Includes how-to lessons on drawing faces, 3-d objects and animals in the digital world.

Wasabi Paint - A painter's dream! I can mix my palette on the screen to create impressionistic or abstract paintings. Pretty cool.

Sketchbook Pro and Brushes are two more apps worth exploring.

Honorable Mention

Walter Foster's app "Learn to Draw" is on my honorable mention list. This app provides just a hint of what the future holds and what ebooks are all about. It is an interactive app that talks as well as displays to the young artist the steps of drawing. I give credit to Walter Foster for stepping into the digital world and creating this app. This is really the reason why I purchased an iPad. I think it is an incredible tool that supports and encourages creating thinking; something our school systems have fallen short of in the past few decades.

At the Zoo Continued....

Here are my final images for the "At the Zoo" series.