Changing Palette; Flowers for Valentines Day
February 11, 2014 § Leave a comment
By keeping the compositions the same and altering the palette, we are better able to see how changes in color affect our work. In this exercise, we see the contour drawings which provides the framework for the gradations. Making the drawings constant in similarity allows the differences in the color scheme to become more apparent.
Telling a Story With Serial Imagery
September 19, 2013 § Leave a comment
Through a series of drawings, we are able to examine the complexities within each composition and how they relate to each other. Each represents a different look at the same grouping of flowers. When we take the time to examine our subjects more closely and make our own decisions about what we want to say, the storyline becomes more complex. Each piece represents a unique dissection of the space around the forms and each has a prominent area of focus. By looking at the drawings together, we can see the similar nature of the flowers repeating and reaching toward the light. Take the time to explore the possibilities within your subject material. We don’t always have to draw what we see!!
Discovering the Joy of Drawing through the Contour
August 12, 2013 § Leave a comment
Too often aspiring artists are met with cold elitist teaching methods that leave them feeling as if art is relegated only to a talented few. If taught properly, drawing can be learned just as one would a musical instrument. Not everyone will be a virtuoso, but if given the proper time, dedication, and appreciation of the power of the contour line as an emotive tool, each of us can learn to draw proficiently, invoke a personal style, and master the medium. My insight developed while teaching drawing for over twenty years will help provide a basis for sharing thoughts and discovering various methods. This forum is meant to be a free exchange of ideas, the various snags we run into, and support for one another while we draw. I look forward to hearing from you!
Dr. Mary McNaughton and Drawing 