Sketchbook ideas. - Find a strongly lit subject that has interesting shadows. Illustrate the subject in your sketchbook using only its shadows.

Transcription

1 Sketchbook ideas - Don t be afraid to use a variety of drawing tools; sometimes-new materials lead to new creativity! Use charcoal, colored pencil, markers, collage, paint, pastels, crayons, or a variety of ink pens. If you think it might bleed through the page, merely put a piece of scrap paper between that page and the others in your sketchbook. If you re afraid of the mess of charcoals or pastels, just spray that page with hair spray (somewhere well-ventilated) when you are finished, let it dry for a few minutes, and it should not rub off on other pages much. - Find your subject, object, or figure and define it using one continuous, unbroken line. Try to keep your drawing tool on the paper for the entire drawing. - Find a strongly lit subject that has interesting shadows. Illustrate the subject in your sketchbook using only its shadows. - Fill an entire page with cartoon-like figures in a specific environment such as a circus, department store, cityscape, nightclub, or restaurant - Take an object and, in a series of drawings, create a metamorphosis into an entirely different type of object (example: banana/airplane, tiger/car, woman/tree) - Using one subject, draw it from several different viewpoints on one page - With pencil, firmly draw a design on a piece of tracing paper on top of a sketchbook page. When colored pencil is used on the sketchbook page, the white lines from the tracing paper drawing will remain visible. - Depict one area of the drawing realistically, while allowing the rest of the composition to be very loosely drawn (abstract or non-objective forms) - Complete a drawing using only one type of line (straight, curved, zigzag, short, etc.) - Create a one-page comic strip using characters of your design - Find a complex subject, such as a hand, person, or animal, and break it down into simple, geometric shapes (cubes, spheres, cones, cylinders, etc.). Add shadows for depth. - Design a logo using your name or nickname. - Draw a editorial cartoon about something that is happening in the nation or community - Draw a caricature of someone famous or someone you know. Be sure to look at an actual photo for reference. Exaggerate their most prominent features. - Look at yourself in a distorted mirror (such as a metal ball) and try to draw what you see - Take your sketchbook with you on trips. Use it to record places, people, and objects you see. - Make a type of indirect self-portrait by drawing five objects you own that are important to you. Arrange them in an interesting way in the drawing.

2 75 WAYS TO DRAW MORE by Michael Nobbs (michaelnobbs.com) 1) Carry a small sketchbook everywhere. 2) Keep a favourite pen in your pocket/bag. 3) Get them both out regularly. 4) Read inspirational books ( Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a good starting place, as are Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory and Frederick Franck s The Zen of Seeing ). 5) Visit inspirational websites (try and for starters). 6) Find some drawing friends and arrange to meet for a drawing session. 7) Take a class (a good way of helping with number 6). 8) Make lots of bad drawings (and learn not to care). 9) Make a bad drawing when you first wake up. 10) Make another before you go to bed. 11) Draw your morning cup of tea (see 9). 12) Draw your toothbrush (see 10). 13) Buy or make a (slim) sketchbook and set yourself a date to fill it by. 14) Treat yourself to a present (a new sketchbook?) if you complete number ) Draw it. 16) Take photos of things you want to draw while you re out and about but are too nervous/haven t time. Draw from them. 17) Go somewhere specifically to draw (a museum, a zoo, a gallery, a library, a bookshop, a café). 18) Draw somewhere you just happen to be (the supermarket, the doctor s waiting room, your desk, in the cinema (even if it s dark). 19) Draw in your car (after you ve parked!) before you get out of it. 20) When meeting a friend, get there ten minutes early and draw something. 21) Hang around after you ve met a friend and draw something else. 22) Hold a drawing party and give everyone a sketchbook and a pen and make drawings of each other s faces without looking at the paper 23) Give up watching one TV programme and draw instead. 24) If you can t give up a programme draw it instead. 25) Draw instead of eating pudding once a week (good for your waistline too). 26) Draw your pudding (that you re not eating). 27) Eat it anyway (and draw the empty plate). 28) Draw your pet. 29) Draw your significant other. 30) Draw your mother. 31) Draw your father. 32) Draw your brother. 33) Draw your sister. 34) Draw your best friend. 35) Draw your worst friend. 36) Draw yourself in a mirror if you haven t got any of 28 to ) Get more people in your life (draw them). 38) Find old photos of yourself and draw them. 39) Make a drawn photo album of your friends and relatives. 40) Draw while you re on the toilet. 41) Draw while you listen to the radio. 42) Draw while you wait for the kettle to boil. 43) Draw while you re on the phone. 44) Draw your phone. 45) Set a timer and draw for fifteen minutes. 46) Draw for fifteen more. 47) Go for a walk and draw three things you see. 48) Draw the contents of your bag. 49) Not feeling well? Draw your medicines. 50) Do you collect anything? Draw your collection. 51) Buy something unusual from ebay. Draw it. 52) Start a collection of unusual objects. Draw them. 53) Sort out things you no longer want. Draw them. 54) Collect together your five favourite things. Draw them. 55) Open a random cupboard. Draw what you see. 56) Draw your favourite food. 57) Draw your least favourite food. 58) Draw the book you re reading. 59) Draw your washing hanging on the line. 60) Draw your shoes. 61) Draw your hand. 62) Draw your foot. 63) Draw your breakfast. 64) Draw your lunch. 65) Draw your dinner. 66) Pick a favourite cafe and work through the menu, drawing everything as you go. 67) Start making tea in a pot (and draw the pot). 68) Start buying loose leaf tea and get a tea caddy to keep it in. Draw it. 69) While you re at it, draw your coffee pot. 70) Draw your dirty dishes. 71) Draw your clean dishes. 72) Draw your washing-up brush. 73) Stay up ten minutes later tonight and draw something. 74) Get up ten minutes earlier tomorrow and draw something. 75) Put down this paper and draw the first thing you see. BY JILLIAN TAMAKI Here are a few thoughts on sketchbooking... -Set out on a page having no clue where you're going or what you're doing. - Try adopting a stream-of-consciousness approach to your sketchbook. The work need not be "finished" or comprehensive. If you find you are stuck, simply draw what is in front of you, faces, or start with random marks on a page and see where they lead. -I am constantly amazed at the timidness of students. As if screwing something up a drawing is the worst thing in the world. Who cares? Better some crappy drawings thrown in once in a while versus you drawing the same thing, the same way, every time. Actually, if you DON'T have an occasional dog in there, you're probably doing it wrong. - Start drawings as if looking through new eyes, or with a new brain. - Start drawings simply by asking yourself "what if...?"

3 BY JILLIAN TAMAKI Here are a few thoughts on sketchbooking, based on one of my handouts. - Your personal work (sketchbook) and jobs (projects) are not separate. Your sketchbook work should be experimental and free and represent what truly interests YOU. Discoveries made in your sketchbook can and should find their way into your paid work. - Make errors. Try new media. Cheesy and obvious-sounding, but true. -Set out on a page having no clue where you're going or what you're doing. - Try adopting a stream-of-consciousness approach to your sketchbook. The work need not be "finished" or comprehensive. If you find you are stuck, simply draw what is in front of you, faces, or start with random marks on a page and see where they lead. -I am constantly amazed at the timidness of students. As if screwing something up a drawing is the worst thing in the world. Who cares? Better some crappy drawings thrown in once in a while versus you drawing the same thing, the same way, every time. Actually, if you DON'T have an occasional dog in there, you're probably doing it wrong. -"But that's the way I DRAW/SEE THINGS!"... there is an intangible difference between a drawing that is "true" and a drawing that is "affected" or "put on". I try to explain this to students and I feel like I'm a New Age hippie or something. I think it (I've mentioned this before) comes down to paying attention, being analytical and "conscious" while you're crafting an image. Or never getting too comfortable with a way of doing things. Or not being lazy/scared to screw up. See point above. -There is a cult of sketchbooks or sketchbook fetishism that I understand but also suspect can be limiting. Some people are lucky and talented enough to create sketchbooks that are works of art unto themselves. A lot of people aspire to that, but in my opinion, that can devolve into more of an aesthetic exercise, a "look", rather than a true extension of creativity. It just isn't the point. If crafting such work is important to you, perhaps keep two sketchbooks: one for that purpose and one for more rigorous exercises. (By the way, I assure you Ted, whose work I linked to above, is not short on creativity! One glimpse at the war-zone that is his studio space is almost enough to confirm that...) -If it helps, work on loose paper. 'Helps get away from the "objectness" of the sketchbook itself. - A good sketchbook page need not necessarily take a long time to complete. -Don't work with a "viewer" in mind. It's unhelpful. - I, personally, rarely make breakthroughs on actual "projects" (paid work). One of the best things I've done for my professional self was take a silkscreen class with David Sandlin, on my own time. - Start drawings as if looking through new eyes, or with a new brain. - Start drawings simply by asking yourself "what if...?"

4 SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENT 3 - D DESIGN Ms. Eagleshield GUIDELINES: -You must have a BOUND SKETCHBOOK to turn in (not just loose papers stapled together), labeled with your name/hour. Previously used sketchbooks must be signed by Ms. Eagleshield before new sketches are completed in them. -10 sketches are due by the final week of EACH QUARTER (5 GUIDED SKETCHES + 5 FREEFORM SKETCHES). -GUIDED SKETCHES must be chosen from the list below. Make sure you LABEL the back of guided sketches with the correct NUMBER. You may repeat a guided sketch, but it will count as a FREEFORM sketch (no number needed). -FREEFORM SKETCHES can be anything you want, except tracing or subject matter that is inappropriate for school. -To get ANY points, ALL sketches must appear to have taken at least 20 minutes of work. NO PARTIAL CREDIT. -Each quality sketch is worth 20 points for a total sketchbook grade of 200 points (each quarter). This is a major grade. -Sketchbooks turned in LATE after the due date will receive HALF CREDIT. -EXTRA CREDIT: Extra sketches (over the 10 required) are worth 5 extra credit points each (up to 100 extra credit points per quarter). Extra sketches can be freeform and should be labeled EXTRA CREDIT on the back. -Sketches can be completed on substitute teacher days, on designated Sketch Days, at home, during your Eagle Time, or whenever you finish early on a project. Keep your sketchbook with you... you never know when you ll have time to sketch! -Don t be afraid to use a variety of drawing tools... sometimes new materials lead to new creativity! Use charcoal, colored pencil, markers, collage, paint, pastels, crayons, or a variety of ink pens. If you think it might bleed through the page, merely put a piece of scrap paper under it. Use hairspray to keep messy materials from smearing (charcoal, pastels, etc.). GUIDED SKETCHES: (complete 5 per quarter. Label sketch # on back of drawing) 2- Find a strongly lit subject that has interesting shadows. Illustrate the subject in your sketchbook using only its shadows. 3- Fill an entire page with cartoon-like figures in a specific environment such as a circus, department store, cityscape, underwater or restaurant. 5- Using one subject, draw it from at least four different viewpoints on one page. 6- Depict one area of a drawing realistically, while allowing the rest of the composition to be very loosely drawn (sketchy or abstract forms) 7- Complete a drawing of an object or scene in which every single line is drawn with a ruler. Draw actual objects, not just patterns. 9- Find a complex subject (hand, person, animal...) and draw it as simple, geometric shapes (cubes, spheres, cylinders...). Add shading for depth. 10- Design a logo using your name or nickname. Look at existing logos for inspiration, but don t copy their designs. Try to show your personality. 14- Take your sketchbook with you outside and draw scenery, buildings, objects, and/or people you see there. Label where you were. 15- Draw the interior of something (a room, a container, a cut-away view of a submarine...) 16- Draw an extreme close-up of a small part of an object. Try to make it hard to tell what the object is, but still include lots of detail and/or shading. 17- Illustrate part of a favorite song lyric or poem (not just the title). Make the lettering and images match the mood of the words. 18- Draw a word in the shape of that object: such as the word "apple" drawn in the shape of an actual apple. The letters must form the shape. 21- Draw at least five different views of your hand. Try a variety of positions or overlapping them. (Tracing your hand doesn't count!) 23- Draw a completely imaginary place... strange people/creatures in a strange environment. Remember to show rich details. 25- Imagine you were looking down from a hot air balloon. Draw what you think you would see. 26- Imagine you were shrunk to the size of an ant. Draw what you think the world around you would look like. 27- Draw or design any kind of vehicle (car, plane, boat, spaceship, etc). Add lots of interesting details. 28- Draw the outside of your home and what's around it... from memory 30- Study the forms, shapes, lines, textures and colors of trees and draw them in detail. 32- Draw a pet animal. It can be one you currently own, used to own, or would like to own. 33- Draw a plant from reference with as much detail as possible, using different line weights (line thickness) and either shading or color. 36- Look at a book/website on any artist of your choosing and duplicate one piece of their artwork. Include a copy of their version for my reference. 37- Create a series of at least four drawings of people in motion- playing sports, doing housework, etc. Try to overlap several views of the action. 38- Draw yourself 50 years from now; including your surroundings, possessions, etc. 43- Cut or tear out part of a picture from a magazine, glue it in your sketchbook, and finish the drawing around it... changing it from what was there. 44- Draw yourself as a new superhero (supervillain). Label the drawing with your superhero name and special abilities. 45- Without drawing a human face, complete a drawing that strongly expresses a certain emotion. Write the emotion on the back of the sketch. 46- Fill a page with random words written in at least six new fonts (typefaces) that you designed. Try to show a great variety of letter forms! 47- Find four small objects that show something about you (keys, cellphone...) and draw them, with shading and as much accuracy as you can. 49- Imagine you are designing a dream house for yourself. Draw a detailed view of what the exterior or interior would look like. 50- Randomly scribble in pencil all over a page. Look at it until you start to see an object. Define that object using a pen and/or color. Add details! FOR TEACHER USE ONLY: QUARTER 1: QUARTER 2: QUARTER 3: ALWAYS KEEP THIS SHEET IN YOUR SKETCHBOOK! QUARTER 4:

5 SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENT 3 - D ART SURVEY Ms. Eagleshield GUIDELINES: -You must have a BOUND SKETCHBOOK to turn in (not just loose papers stapled together), labeled with your name/hour. Previously used sketchbooks must be signed by Ms. Eagleshield before new sketches are completed in them. -10 sketches are due by the final week of EACH QUARTER (5 GUIDED SKETCHES + 5 FREEFORM SKETCHES). -GUIDED SKETCHES must be chosen from the list below. Make sure you LABEL the back of guided sketches with the correct NUMBER. You may repeat a guided sketch, but it will count as a FREEFORM sketch (no number needed). -FREEFORM SKETCHES can be anything you want, except tracing or subject matter that is inappropriate for school. -To get ANY points, ALL sketches must appear to have taken at least 20 minutes of work. NO PARTIAL CREDIT. -Each quality sketch is worth 20 points for a total sketchbook grade of 200 points (each quarter). This is a major grade. -Sketchbooks turned in LATE after the due date will receive HALF CREDIT. -EXTRA CREDIT: Extra sketches (over the 10 required) are worth 5 extra credit points each (up to 100 extra credit points per quarter). Extra sketches can be freeform and should be labeled EXTRA CREDIT on the back. -Sketches can be completed on substitute teacher days, on designated Sketch Days, at home, during your Eagle Time, or whenever you finish early on a project. Keep your sketchbook with you... you never know when you ll have time to sketch! -Don t be afraid to use a variety of drawing tools... sometimes new materials lead to new creativity! Use charcoal, colored pencil, markers, collage, paint, pastels, crayons, or a variety of ink pens. If you think it might bleed through the page, merely put a piece of scrap paper under it. Use hairspray to keep messy materials from smearing (charcoal, pastels, etc.). GUIDED SKETCHES: (complete 5 per quarter. Label sketch # on back of drawing) 2- Find a strongly lit subject that has interesting shadows. Illustrate the subject in your sketchbook using only its shadows. 3- Fill an entire page with cartoon-like figures in a specific environment such as a circus, department store, cityscape, underwater or restaurant. 5- Using one subject, draw it from at least four different viewpoints on one page. 6- Depict one area of a drawing realistically, while allowing the rest of the composition to be very loosely drawn (sketchy or abstract forms) 7- Complete a drawing of an object or scene in which every single line is drawn with a ruler. Draw actual objects, not just patterns. 9- Find a complex subject (hand, person, animal...) and draw it as simple, geometric shapes (cubes, spheres, cylinders...). Add shading for depth. 10- Design a logo using your name or nickname. Look at existing logos for inspiration, but don t copy their designs. Try to show your personality. 14- Take your sketchbook with you outside and draw scenery, buildings, objects, and/or people you see there. Label where you were. 15- Draw the interior of something (a room, a container, a cut-away view of a submarine...) 16- Draw an extreme close-up of a small part of an object. Try to make it hard to tell what the object is, but still include lots of detail and/or shading. 17- Illustrate part of a favorite song lyric or poem (not just the title). Make the lettering and images match the mood of the words. 18- Draw a word in the shape of that object: such as the word "apple" drawn in the shape of an actual apple. The letters must form the shape. 21- Draw at least five different views of your hand. Try a variety of positions or overlapping them. (Tracing your hand doesn't count!) 23- Draw a completely imaginary place... strange people/creatures in a strange environment. Remember to show rich details. 25- Imagine you were looking down from a hot air balloon. Draw what you think you would see. 26- Imagine you were shrunk to the size of an ant. Draw what you think the world around you would look like. 27- Draw or design any kind of vehicle (car, plane, boat, spaceship, etc). Add lots of interesting details. 28- Draw the outside of your home and what's around it... from memory 30- Study the forms, shapes, lines, textures and colors of trees and draw them in detail. 32- Draw a pet animal. It can be one you currently own, used to own, or would like to own. 33- Draw a plant from reference with as much detail as possible, using different line weights (line thickness) and either shading or color. 36- Look at a book/website on any artist of your choosing and duplicate one piece of their artwork. Include a copy of their version for my reference. 37- Create a series of at least four drawings of people in motion- playing sports, doing housework, etc. Try to overlap several views of the action. 38- Draw yourself 50 years from now; including your surroundings, possessions, etc. 43- Cut or tear out part of a picture from a magazine, glue it in your sketchbook, and finish the drawing around it... changing it from what was there. 44- Draw yourself as a new superhero (supervillain). Label the drawing with your superhero name and special abilities. 45- Without drawing a human face, complete a drawing that strongly expresses a certain emotion. Write the emotion on the back of the sketch. 46- Fill a page with random words written in at least six new fonts (typefaces) that you designed. Try to show a great variety of letter forms! 47- Find four small objects that show something about you (keys, cellphone...) and draw them, with shading and as much accuracy as you can. 49- Imagine you are designing a dream house for yourself. Draw a detailed view of what the exterior or interior would look like. 50- Randomly scribble in pencil all over a page. Look at it until you start to see an object. Define that object using a pen and/or color. Add details! FOR TEACHER USE ONLY: QUARTER 1: QUARTER 2: QUARTER 3: ALWAYS KEEP THIS SHEET IN YOUR SKETCHBOOK! QUARTER 4:

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