Eyes Have It
After a break for health reasons, I am back working on and enjoying drawing. The next chapter of my Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book course is portraits. The first section deals with proportions and precisely where the eyes fall o the skull.
Interestingly the eyes fall equidistant from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin. So even though our eyes (left brain) challenge this thought, it is accurate.
Today’s sketch is a basic shell with the axis and horizon drawn in on both the front and profile views of the head. I was getting comfortable with the placement of the eyes.
Dining Room Chair
This sketch was focused on negative spaces and developing the skills to see negative spaces. I picked what Betty Edwards in Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain calls a basic unit. I used the square on the bottom of the chair as my basic unit.
Using my picture plane, I framed the chair and drew the basic unit square on the plane. Then, I could transfer the basic unit’s location to my page using the grid lines. Finally, correctly placing the basic unit on the paper, I completed the rest of the chair.
I’m happy with the drawing and, more importantly, pleased with the progress I am making. Again, small steps focused on incremental improvement.
Enjoy!
Backyard Flowers
This backyard flowers sketch was the first drawing I have done from a picture. I enjoyed the experience knowing it was from an image I captured in my backyard. A bit of farm to table. I enjoyed taking a bit of creative license with the vision and not focusing on recreating the image.
Also, my most crucial fan and critic could easily recognize the sketch as flowers. For some reason, that matters!
Fun in the Kitchen
Sunday’s sketches were from the book How to Draw and Write in Fountain Pen. I captured a bunch of kitchen-themed images with my fountain pen—an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon doodling and practicing.
I hope you enjoy it!
University of Tennessee
A quick sketch just outside the University of Tennessee Student Union looking towards Neyland Stadium. Sad after dropping off my son and driving home. This is a quick post. Here is the picture and the sketch.
Knoxville
We were dropping our son off at UTK this weekend. Today’s image was the morning view from the Hotel’s coffee shop window.
I was trying to get the signs, the trees, the buildings in the background, and the road. I have some work to do to get the road to fall into the background.
Good fun image to sketch.
The Office Printer
Today I was working on straight lines and the depth of my subject and trying to get consistent lines to show the three dimensions of my printer.
This is harder than it looks. I’m generally happy with my progress, but something I will continue to work on.
The Pencil Sharpener
Today’s subject has nice lines and a bit of 3d to it. The pencil sharpener on my desk was filled a bit with shavings. I tried to show the transparent section. I’m also going to start including review notes. After I finish the sketch, I review it and note anything for future improvement.
I hope you enjoy it.
Self Portrait
So I have some work to do on my realistic sketching skills. Interesting how this benchmark sketch, along with my hand and person from memory, indicates where my drawing skills currently are.
This self-portrait is a data point, not a criticism of where my skills are currently. I am only concerned with improving against myself, not comparing myself to others.
I’m the only one on my journey.