Sketch Class

I took a sketch class on Saturday.  I have to say, it has been one of my favorite art classes so far that I have taken.  Not so much because I learned anything extra ordinary but the combination of getting to go to a special class, be outside, sketch "alone" but with a group and as an assignment (so I was focused), and I felt successful. 

We had 4 different exercises in class, sketching things around the classroom (at the Art Department) before we went outside on location.

 I found the first series of assignments enlightening and quite funny!

Exercise 1, put your water bottle under the table and draw it from memory.  Well, I sort of knew the shape and that it had a spout LOL.  Clearly I have no artistic memory.  This was really eye opening for me.  I think this is why I can't just sit down and draw something.  I need to have something specific that I am looking at.

Exercise 2, blind contour drawing of the waterbottle.  This is basically where you look at the waterbottle and draw it without looking.  You aren't suppose to pick up your pencil but I did which is why the waterbottle top has been severed.

Exercise 3, draw the water bottle.  Sketch out the general shape and then add the details.

So again, first picture drawn from memory.  Second picture from close observation.  I learned something about myself.  I already know that I struggle with detail and visualization.  I have learned that from oil pastels, felting, even rearranging furniture.  I know that I don't have a good working memory because of my experience with learning in general.  I have to work off of something like a photograph, another piece of art work, a still life, etc..  I like oil pastels because I can't work in detail.  I like felting because nothing stays the same as the original lay out anyway.  I struggle most in felting at the very end knowing where to sew or embroider to give detail.  I learned through this exercise that my brain just doesn't see things that my eyes do.  I can frame a composition in my camera because I can see it.  I can sketch something (though I am not naturally a "good" drawer but I can be competent with practice) if I am looking at it.  So, the lesson in all this is that I really need to work off of something and not expect my brain to have memory because clearly it does not. 

 The teacher had a basket with strips of paper that read "I spy with my little eye something....?"  The question mark was something different on each paper.  We pulled out 6 different I spies each.  Mine were dark, yellow, dotted, used everyday, sharp, and large.  Dark was my first one and I did a quick sketch in the store of the doorframe leading into a dark room.  We then took our remaining 5 I spies and walked down to Riverfront park.  We had about an hour and a half so people were to spread out within a certain boundary and try and sketch something that fit their word.  

I chose the pavilion for "sharp" because of the sharp angles of the beam.

This took me about an hour LOL.  I did the layout in pencil, went over it in pen, and then watercolored.  I can look at it here and see all kinds of critique but I was happy in general to have captured the moment...which is really what "urban sketching" or "quick sketching" is all about.  Loose, quick, the illusion of detail with simple line and watercolor.

This bridge going into West Salem was a good match to the word large.  I get lost in recreating with perfectionism which I neither have the skill or time for so the teacher challenged me to watercolor the bridge first and then come back through and do the pen mark. 

I didn't get finished with my bridge picture but here it is being held down by the monster book.

At the end of our sketch time, we laid out our sketch books and talked about our pieces and saw other people's work.

I picked up greens and eggs and visited with my parents for a few minutes and then got home in time to help with dinner, clean the laundry off the floor of our bedroom, and go to sleep.  I really really really enjoy quick sketching.  I think because it can feel like a destination adventure.  Yes, I can and should do quick sketch here at home but I like to go someplace, sit down with minimal supplies, and just get lost in observation and detail and capturing a moment.  And unlike felting and to some extent oil pastels, it is a fast way to get a creative fix.

Late afternoon and evening...