Dragon Fruit
May 26, 2016 § Leave a comment
I discovered dragon fruit at a co-op some years ago and was taken by their exotic colors, tail like growth, and their resemblance to fish. I decided to depict them in a pastel swirling through space with their tails flowing after.
Two Dimensional Design Form
December 28, 2014 § Leave a comment
From the writings of Wucius Wong, I would construct my two dimensional design courses around the construct of a unit form. The students were asked to create a form; either white on black or black on white, that would interact and activate the surrounding space. They would then be asked to repeat the form creating a sense of rhythm and repetition. This would provide the basis for more complex compositions.
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Tree Root Tendrils
August 18, 2014 § 1 Comment
I am posting a simple pen and ink of a tree root. Notice how the tendrils of the root reach out and make contact with the border of the composition creating a drawing with a lot of movement.
Swirling Dragon Fruit
November 15, 2013 § Leave a comment
I came upon an unusual food item in an organic grocery called dragon fruit. I was struck at the similarity they bore to fish with the brilliant pinks and tail like fronds. I imagined different colors and sizes of them swirling and chasing each other. The result was a pastel activated with spiraling forms throughout the composition conveying a sense of motion and speed among a world of lush hues.
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!!
Letting the Contour do the Work for You!!!
September 19, 2013 § Leave a comment
Here is the contour and finished gradation of a floral. Notice how the line drawing does most of the work for you. It reveals the light source, which comes from the right. It tells a story of flowers nestling into their stems as they bend and reach upward. The composition gives a great sense of rhythm and repetition and shows an area of focus which is the flower on the right. Most importantly, it lets your personality shine through. The gradation should not require as much effort as the preplanning, expression, and the hard work have already been done!
Dr. Mary McNaughton and Drawing 
