Great Day in Class

Shirley, my sister-in-law, and I started a 3 day class today - Think Big, Draw Bigger.  We had a great time, drawing on paper up to A1 size.  There were 6 in the class, so plenty of group interaction.

The class started by drawing all sorts of objects on the table, on the lining paper covering the tables.  We drew in every type of dry media, and lots of different things, in all different sizes.  Then we identified a piece that inspired us, and cut it out.  I liked two pieces - the first was bright green/yellow necklace beads drawn over graphite stick scribble.  I don't know who in class drew it originally, but it certainly was not me.  I like black or grey combined with a bright colour.  First we had to copy it into our sketchbooks, working out what order different media had been used.  Then we drew it again, enlarged slightly and with a section added via window isolating bars.  Then we scaled up to A1 size on the wall, which makes you much freer when mark making.

My interpretation, A3 size

Enlarged and drawn into using isolating bars

The final exercise used the second inspirational piece.  This had a lot more colour.  My piece was about 8 x 10' and I scaled it up to A1.  Over the past year, I have rather lost my way with colour.  I used to love working in high colour, and while working with cloth, was very free with it.  But since my work has become more conceptual, I have moved much more to black or grey drawing media. Today I was back happily working with colour, but all the colours were already in the sample, which was drawn by others.

Original from group exercise, drawing on the table.
Charcoal and oil pastel. About 8" x 6"

A1 enlargement Drawn in chalk pastels.

Tomorrow I would like to get my head around how to be the initiator in the use of colour.

A3. Drawing without looking at the paper, graphite stick, pencil, pen

Scaled up to A1.  Drawing with charcoal, pencil, graphite on end of long stick

A3.  Drawing of thundery skies, charcoal, paper stump, marker pen

Scaled up to A1. Charcoal and marker pen on end of stick.

I find landscapes/skyscapes very difficult.

Then we moved onto drawing at different scales and with unusual tools.

5' high enlargement of thimble

A1 enlargement of thimble.
Drawn with pastel/graphite stick,  ink and brush on end of stick,  ink on cardboard

A3. Drawing thimble with bubble wrap, and children's bubble blower

A3.   Drawing needle case using paper cup case, pompom and stick with ink

A3 Drawing of lightbulb with ink and drinking straws

Drawing by feel - top of pen box, biscuit and stone.

Drawing with 2 pens - charcoal and graphite stick.
Wet wipe box and pritt stick