Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Basics
• Committing to creativity
• Shapes, marks & point of view
• Color & ink
Week 1
Art-solutions
Regardless of what time of year you actually begin, start fresh and get ready for a full year of art-making! As with any new year, it's always fun to set goals and resolutions (notice that "solutions" forms the word "resolutions"). In week one, you'll make your "Art-solutions" for the year.
Assignment
What do you want to improve on this year? Is it your accuracy? Your speed? Or to just make drawing part of your weekly routine? Make a list of your goals; then start doodling!
(1) Using pencil, lightly sketch some doodles and illustrations that symbolize your goals for the year. These can be playful and simple basic line drawings. You can even give your drawings a frame and a fun background.
(2) Once you're satisfied with your sketches, trace over them with a waterproof pen. By using a waterproof pen, you can incorporate splashes of color with a variety of mediums without worrying about your ink bleeding. Markers, watercolors, and colored pencils are all great options, as well.
(3) Take some time to review and contemplate your "Art-solutions" and then commit to making them a priority for the year.
TRY THIS!
If you're breaking in a brand new sketchbook, make it your own by embellishing the cover with your artwork to give it some personality. This will set the tone for your year of creativity.
Week 2
Empowering Words
When battling artist's block, it can be hard finding the inspiration to get started. Select a word or phrase as your theme for the week! It can be a simple word, such as "focus" or "fun" or "prioritize," or it can be a more complex phrase that represents a bigger goal. For example, do you want to focus more on drawing from life or playing with art?
Assignment
(1) Jot the word or phrase down on a sticky note. As the week progresses and you continue to draw, move the note to each new page of your sketchbook. This will remind you of your theme while you work.
(2) Surround the word with drawings or illustrations of other words that will help you accomplish your art goal for the week.
(3) Take a photo of your work and make it your cell phone or tablet screen saver so that you will be reminded daily of your goal.
TRY THIS!
Repeat this exercise any time you start feeling uninspired during the year, choosing new words or phrases that match your goals at that time.
Week 3
Shape-finding
Shape-finding — breaking down complex objects into their simplest forms — is a basic principle of drawing that's often dismissed. Although it seems like a simple exercise, shape-finding keeps your eye sharp and helps refine your skills. The more you practice shape-finding, the more it will become second nature in your drawings.
Assignment
(1) Pick an object to study, and break it down into basic shapes, such as circles, triangles, and squares. Next, try to view it in even more complex shapes, such as trapezoids and parallelograms. Are there shapes within those shapes? Shapes may change with your point of view. For example, the top of a coffee mug will look either oval or round depending on your position when you view it.
(2) Draw a variety of simple objects in their most basic forms. These can include cups, fruit, clothing, and the like.
(3) Throughout the week, sketch your way up to more complicated objects, such as furniture, cars, potted plants, and detailed flower studies.
TRY THIS!
Colors, shadows, and details also form shapes within an object. Try to identify these while you work; then see if you can draw the object from only these "secondary" shapes.
TIP
AS YOU SKETCH YOUR SHAPES, DON'T BE AFRAID TO LET THEM LOOSE! ALLOW THEM TO OVERLAP, WHICH WILL HELP YOU BUILD UP THEIR FORMS.
Week 4
Mark-making
Similar to finding shapes, mark-making is a crucial technique that will help build your drawing skills. Mark-making is useful for drawing, as well as for quick sketches or adding texture and depth to a piece.
Assignment
The most common mark-making techniques are stippling, hatching, and crosshatching. All three are used to show shadow and build form in an object. The darkest shadows and areas with the most marks should be the spots farthest away from your light source. Crosshatch and hatch marks can also be used to show the shape of an object as it curves, recedes, or changes direction in your drawing.
(1) This week, play with these three styles of mark-making using a range of drawing tools. A stipple pattern with graphite pencil will be different from a stipple pattern created with a wide-tip marker.
(2) Use these marks to draw shapes and simple objects or add them to previous drawings.
(3) As the week progresses, start drawing small still lifes using only mark-making techniques.
TIP
SQUINT YOUR EYES WHILE LOOKING AT YOUR OBJECT. WHEN YOU SQUINT, YOUR EYES BLUR OUT THE SMALL DETAILS AND ALLOW YOU TO SEE JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE OBJECT.
Week 5
Ink Wash
Add water to a drawing? Absolutely! One of my favorite ways to create is to combine a drawing with water to make an ink-and-wash piece. Not only is it a fun introduction to watercolor, but it's a unique way to practice monochromatic shading. Make sure you're using a water-soluble pen for this; otherwise, the water won't combine with the ink. Also, use watercolor paper for the best results.
Assignment
(1) Select an object to draw and sketch it in pencil. Next, use ink to outline and build up the shadows with crosshatch marks. When you have the shadows defined and plenty of ink on your page, grab a paintbrush moistened with a little bit of water. (You can also use a water brush — one of my favorite tools for drawing and watercoloring.)
(2) Using your dampened brush, "loosen" up the ink in the denser areas of your drawing; then spread the ink to fill in the areas without color. The more water you mix with your ink, the lighter your washes will be. Less water will make darker washes.
(3) Let your ink wash dry, and go over it again in ink if you need to darken the shadows.
TRY THIS!
After you've experimented with a monochromatic ink wash, try incorporating other colors into your drawings to see what results you get!
Week 6
Points of View
This week we will spend time studying objects in depth. Pick a variety of objects to draw that you can study from multiple angles. Plants, shoes, fruit, and trinkets are all good options. Once you select your object, spend some time studying its form in order to create an accurate, detailed drawing. Learning to draw an object from multiple perspectives is a useful way to enhance your skill.
Assignment
(1) Sketch your subject lightly to get the shape and proportions correct. Then use crosshatch marks to slowly build up the form and shadows. Be mindful of the small details!
(2) Once you have finished drawing at one angle, change your point of view. Rotate the object 90 degrees or look at it from above. Completely change your perspective and draw it again. Do this at least once or twice per subject.
TRY THIS!
Draw the item from a perspective you don't typically see it from. For example, on its side or upside down.
Week 7
Contour Drawing
Contour drawings are done by starting and finishing your drawing using one continuous line. That is, not picking up your tool at all while drawing — not even once! These can make for strange drawings, but they are also useful to make quick studies for more in-depth drawings later.
Assignment
(1) Pick your subject and study it first. Look for the darkest areas where you can layer up your lines to show shadow. Make note of any curves or textures that can be added.
(2) Start toward the center of your drawing and work outward. Don't be afraid to backtrack with your pen or crisscross your lines, if needed.
(3) Create contour drawings of several different types of items throughout the week, such as bottles, plants, clothing, office supplies, and whatever else you see!
TRY THIS!
Try a blind contour drawing, which is completed with the eyes closed or while not looking at the page. These drawings are great for getting your brain in the right creative mindset.
Week 8
Color Theory
Let's talk color! There are many mediums you can use to add color to a drawing. I recommend playing with colored pencils, markers, chalk pastels, and even watercolor pencils to start. Since most of these are dry mediums, you won't have to worry too much about what type of paper you're using.
Assignment
To add color to your drawings, you need to know a bit about color theory. Color theory uses a color wheel to guide you in picking the correct color combinations and shades. On the color wheel, the three primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. These occur naturally and cannot be made using other colors. The secondary colors are made by combining the primary colors: red + blue = purple; yellow + blue = green; and red + yellow = orange. Each medium will create a slightly different shade of secondary color.
(1) Create your own color wheel using your chosen color medium. Start with the primaries and blend them to make the secondary colors. Even if your color set came with green, purple, and orange, challenge yourself to use only the primary colors to make secondary colors.
(2) To create accurate shadows, use the opposite, or complementary, colors in your color wheel. For example, if you're drawing a strawberry, combine red with green to create the shadows directly on the strawberry.
(3) Find as many single-colored items as you can this week, and practice drawing them and then shading them using their opposite color combinations.
TIP
IF YOU START DABBLING IN WATERCOLORS OR ADDING LOTS OF LAYERS WITH WATERCOLOR PENCILS, USE HEAVIER PAPER TO PREVENT WARPING.
CHAPTER 2
Loosening Up
Creative exercises to break the block
Week 9
Mindful Doodles
One common challenge artists face is working on a large scale. Even a blank sketchbook page can be daunting — you might not know where to begin for fear of messing up a clean sheet; moreover, the fear of having to finish a piece (and wanting it to be spectacular) can cripple confidence before a pencil even touches the page. This week's exercise will help you relax into the process.
Assignment
(1) To start, reign in your focus. Gather small pieces of paper, scraps from previous projects, sticky notes, or any ephemera 2" to 3" in size. This gives you a smaller canvas to work on.
(2) Play! Sketch patterns and small doodles. Let your present mind direct your pencil. Listen to some music, changing it up, to see what sort of marks you make with each mood.
(3) Stay in the moment and see what mindful doodles you create when you allow yourself to relax and let the art flow. These painted brushstrokes, pen marks, and scribbles can turn into larger pieces later — or simply allow them to remain small and playful.
TRY THIS!
In my own studio, I have a stack of watercolor paper scraps to test colors on. These random brushstrokes often make for great backgrounds in future doodles when I need a break from working. Create your own paper-scraps scrapbook!
Week 10
Draw Your Tools
Some of my favorite things to draw — odd as it may be — are my art supplies. It's fun to study both the tools you use on a regular basis and those you use less often. They come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors, and types!
Assignment
(1) Gather the tools you'd like to draw and start sketching them in pencil. For the longer straight edges, don't be afraid to use a ruler, or a folded piece of paper if there's no ruler on hand.
(2) Trace over your pencil lines with a waterproof pen; then add watercolor or color each tool in its respective medium!
(3) Draw and color a new tool every day this week. Monday — Pencils; Tuesday — Paints; Wednesday — Pens; you get the idea!
TRY THIS!
Use different color media, such as colored pencil, marker, colored inks, and crayon to re-create your drawing tools!
Week 11
Primary Color Challenge
This week, you'll only use primary colors to create all of your artwork, and you'll create all secondary colors from scratch! Flip back to the color wheels you created during Week 8 or make a new one. Remember: The three primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. When combined, these three colors create the secondary colors: red + blue = purple; yellow + blue = green; and red + yellow = orange.
Assignment
You'll be surprised by the color range you'll be able to make when you limit yourself to the three primary colors!
(1) Using primary colors, draw some simple items, such as leaves, flowers, or fruit; then use your primary color palette to create the subject's secondary color.
(2) For example, on the green leaf, I combined yellow and blue colored pencil to create the base green. To create darker shadows and add more depth, use opposite, or complementary, colors. On my leaf, I added layers of red — the complement of green — to darken the shade. On the yellow sunflower, I combined red and blue watercolor to create purple; then I combined purple with yellow to create the brown shadows on the petals and in the center.
(3) To make shadows pop, incorporate brown into your color scheme. Brown is a tricky color to blend from scratch, but it's better than shading with black. Black is often too severe for shadows, and overusing it will make your drawings appear unrealistic.
TRY THIS!
To create really dark shadows, combine blue and brown. When super concentrated, these two colors will create a shade of gray that appears as a shadow, while still staying realistic. The shadow in the apple painting was created using a mixture of blue and brown watercolors.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Your Year in Art"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc..
Excerpted by permission of The Quarto Group.
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