Odds & Ends

Below are two more "traditional" pen & ink projects.
Remember to click on images to enlarge them and to see the artists' names. Here is an experiment that Steffanie discovered somewhere on the internet. First, a layer of shaving cream was placed in a tin. Next, ink was sprinkled on the shaving cream. Then, a toothpick or similar tool was used to push the ink around. Lastly, a clean paper was pushed into the ink and shaving cream making the "mono print" seen below. Next follow a few pages from sketchbooks which we review every Monday at the beginning of class. Dale Witherow, a professor in the art department many, many years ago, told his drawing students that they would need at least 100 sketches in their sketchbooks at the end of the sememster in order to have a chance at an A! Our sketchbooks are filling up and we are now at the halfway point of the semester.

Andy Wales talks to us and shows a stunning powerpoint!

We were fascinated by Andy's story of his strong desire to draw (at an early age!) - of his need to make art - of his quirky sense of humor that shines forth from his stories in his comic books. Andy has self-published three comics to date. He has created many three page comic stories that are published in a children's magazine. He has created four educational comics which involve much theory about how we learn and the different ways in which we are intelligent. He recently spent a weekend at a gathering (and showing) of many artists involved in small press comics.
Andy shared some of the small press comics that he has traded for over the years. Andy's passion to excell at drawing is seen in the many, many sketchbooks that he has filled through the years. He generously shared some of those with us, too. Andy asked us to look for the kind of art that appeals to us and to MAKE IT.
Thanks for the great talk - and energizing us to work more on our drawing skills!

A few sketchbook pages No. 1

One of the course requirements is that each student must spend at least 20 minutes a day working in his/her sketchbook. (Actually six days a week - everyone needs a day off!) I've encouraged working from life - drawing things around them. I've promised to work along with them because I would like to again develop my skills in "fine art drawing."
Above is a finished page in Steffanie Bowes' sketchbook - note that there are three glasses repeated across the page. Also note that there are mid-tones and black & white. Below anna's drawing reminds us that powerful images can be made with faces.

Above Dick Feil shows us one of the comforts of home. And below Justine Aiya rendered some well planned 3D "entertainment." Note the reflections on the iPod.

Two Days of Class

Below K. Foster works on some opening exercises the first day of class. (Remember to click on images to enlarge them.)

The second day of class, I had the good fortune of a small tree being blown over in my backyard. It was quite dead and full of textures and tones of gray. After a short half hour of sawing, we had some nice pieces to draw in our sketchbooks. Below Lindsay S. is getting started.

Jonathan Stager used Mt. Dew power to help his effort.

Justine Aiya had her own supply of different weight pencils. Brandy fit her piece of wood at the bottom of a page.

I was impressed by the overall effort and large amounts of patience spent by the students while they worked in their sketchbooks. They are assigned to work a minumum of 20 minutes each day in these sketchbooks. The next class should be interesting!