It's been a while since I posted anything - so here's today's drawing.

[Ms. Toad]

We're working on more abstract images created using a still-life setup and then changing perspective. This one combined moving from one vantage point to another plus rotating our paper.

I started sitting on the floor looking up at the collection of objects with the paper in the orientation here.

Then the professor called time (30 minutes later) and we moved counter-clockwise around the collection of objects - AND - rotated our paper 90 degrees clockwise. The pitcher near the top is right side up in this perspective, as well as a pear and apple in the upper right corner (and other less identifiable things).

Time again (another 30 minutes), another counter-clockwise move around the collection of objects - AND - another 90 degree rotation of our paper (so what started as the top of the picture was now the bottom).

Final time - we were free to stay where we were, move, or just touch up what we had (which is what I did).

The thing that surprises me most is the house in the upper left corner. It's actually upside down from the way it was drawn. What appears to be a roof is actually the base of the house. I'm also surprised that it looks interesting in all 4 paper positions - even though I only drew in 3 of them.

We're supposed to use this (or related) techniques in our final project. I'm not sure I can make myself do that. It's kind of fun when there is no grade attached to it, but the final project is a substantial part of our grade - which makes it less fun to just play and see what comes up.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. What an interesting assignment!

Your drawing is fabulous! Lots to see! Nicely done!

[Ms. Toad]

2. Thanks.

Last edited Sat Apr 20, 2024, 12:27 AM - Edit history (1)

It's the third in a series.

The first was a single gourd. The professor put a gourd on the table, had us draw for about 10 minutes, then he moved it. He kept that up for a while, then tagged a student to replace it with a different gourd- every 10 minutes. We kept that up for the rest of the period.

The second was similar to this one, but only moving around the table (no paper rotation) and a much smaller collection of objects.

In all 3 exercises, it is amazing how different everyone's drawings turned out - I doubt anyone would look at two drawings and guess they were of the same object.



ETA: It's been a long time since I've been around teenage males much . . . during the first exercise there was one particularly phallic gourd. Of course one of the teenage males went for that one, posed it in an erect position, then giggled for most of the 10 minutes we were drawing . . . and then made a similarly giggly remark about the life drawing class next door (nude models). I had been thinking of taking that course as another of the 30 studio hours I have to complete - but I'm not sure I want to put up with teenage male behavior around nude models for a semester.

[2naSalit]

7. I know, right?

Been a long time since any art classes... I wonder.

[Ms. Toad]

10. This is the first drawing class I've taken since Jr. High.

So more than 5 decades.

The school I retired from allows me to take up to 6 credits/2 classes per semester, so I'm pursuing a BFA in photography. It's gonna take me about a decade, since I not only have to complete the courses for the major, I have to complete about 60 hours of BFA-specific courses (history and studio, mostly). Ohio lets anyone over 60 audit any class with open seats at any public university - I'm surprised how few people take advantage of the opportunity. (Many states have similar programs.)

[Arne]

3. Like an Escher

[Ms. Toad]

4. The professor didn't identify it as Escher-like,

But he commented that it felt like he was inside it and everywhere he turned something new popped up, or changed form.

[calimary]

5. Really compelling!

One of those pieces you could gaze into for hours.

[Ms. Toad]

6. Thank you! n/t

[2naSalit]

8. That's pretty cool.

Last edited Sat Apr 20, 2024, 06:20 AM - Edit history (1)

I wasn't sure what to make of it until I read your text. That sounds like a fun class, I like the way it sort of spirals upward.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Definitely a fun class.

Very well designed to teach us the basics of drawing. A lot of the class is kind of doing its own thing, but I'm focusing on learning all of the processes and compositional standards - even when I don't necessarily envision ultimately using them in my own art. I figure if I don't learn them, I won't have the option of choosing to use them (or not).