26 August 2009

Course work: Did another sketchbook page of basic shapes, thinking about how they appear when rotated or tilted. Started work on the part of the “Basic Shapes” section titled “Improving Your Observational Skills,” (p13). Selected a Thermos bottle, a milk carton, a tea canister, an egg, and a small rubber ball: these were drawn in charcoal on A3 paper. Some of the lines are a bit shaky, and the perspective could use work. Repeated the exercise, selecting a lamp with a square base, tapered columnar upright, and trapezoidal shade, a fairly large spherical vase, and a book. I was not really satisfied with either drawing.

Reading:
How to Use Your Eyes James Elkins
Routledge, New York & London (2000)
Chapters 3-15 (pp 20-117)

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Betty Edwards
Penguin-Putnam, New York, 1999
Preface and Introduction (pp x-xxv), Chapters 1-2 (pp2-25)
(Even though contemporary functional-imaging research casts some doubt on the left-brain right-brain hypothesis, this remains a very useful book.)

Personal sketchbook work: Did project 2, p 24, Ian Simpson, The Complete Drawing Course, using three onions in a thin plastic bag, in my A4 sketchbook. I used pencil: I think that line and wash might have produced a more convincing result. Did some of the exercises from The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, (in the companion workbook) beneficial even though I’ve done many of them before, ten or more years ago. Did a couple of hasty pen sketches in A4 sketchbook.

Total time: Over three hours