Sketching over the semester

My drawing has improved significantly since the start of the semester.  I used to consider myself as not being able to "draw" at all, but the practice I've done in my observational sketchbook has shown me than I can make successful drawings with the techniques I have learned.  This semester I learned how to shade and blend effectively to create shadows and dimension and use erasing to show light.  I have also improved on using detail and contrast to make more successful sketches. 

I considered this to be my most successful sketch because the apple appears to be three-dimensional by use of shading and I believe I achieved to effect of light reflecting off of the apple.

Scale Figures

These scale figures were drawn in-class for about 2 minutes each. Both are contour figures.

1/2 inch scale

The gesture of the body in this figure is good, but the lines are a little sketchy.

1 inch scale

The lines in this scale figure are more defined, but some of the body could use work.  I feel like I captured the silhouette of the head well.

Sketches

Our assignment is to choose a sketch from two people in our studio and describe which techniques they used that we want to adopt into our own process of sketching.

A sketch from Paige Hohlt:

I really like this sketch Paige did of her wood system project.  I think what makes this sketch very successful is her skillful use of shading and perspective.  She drew her straight lines very carefully which makes this sketch look very realistic.

A sketch from Pam Vidal:

What I like about Pam's light sketch is the way she captured the water beads on the water bottle. She also paid good attention to the contour of the water bottle itself. The shading under the curves in the bottle make her drawing look more three-dimensional.

My sketches:

This was my shaded twig sketch, I think my shading shows the twig dimension well.

The contour of this twig turned out well and I paid attention to a lot of the detail in the twig.

I think the shadow of this twig that had lichen turned out very interestingly.

Pictorial Views

My circle in Object B was sketchy but I think I had good line weight and good accuracy otherwise.

My line weight could have probably been more consistent in these pictorials, but good accuracy.

There were some overlapping lines in Object B in this pictorial, and some lines in Object A could have been darker.

One of the top circles was a bit sketchy, otherwise I just needed more rounded corners.

Overall, I believe I had good composition in all of these pictorials.

Observational Leaf Drawing

Date: 9/2/10
Time: 5 minutes
Location: Studio

This leaf was the most successful sketch in my sketch journal; I feel it captured the gesture of the leaf more so than my other sketches and the small leaflets give the drawing visual interest and caused me to pay more attention to detail.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in beautiful things that other people have created, whether it be in magazines or in everyday life. This can be buildings, spaces, art, or an environment outside. I tend to feel a sense of awe or peace when observing a thing or environment that inspires me.