Drawing 101

Today was a big day in the beginning art classes, we had our fist real drawing lessons.  The topic of the day was contour line drawings and observational drawing.  I started by telling the students a few trick of becoming a better drawer.  1.  You need to practice!  It is a skill like anything else.  You don't just show up at the soccer game with out practicing skills and plays, first.  2.  Details make a drawing look more realistic.

I started by asking the class to draw their hands, and that was the only direction I gave.  After about 5 minutes, I took a poll.  1.  Did they trace their hands?  2.  If they traced their hands, did they go back and add details?  3.  Did they just freehand draw a hand? -(Since they have 2, they know what they look like.)  4.  Did they look at their own hand and draw it?  I would say 95% or more traced there hand and about 50% after that added details.

Once we established that was OK to do; I told them I was going to show them some exercises to train their brain, eyes and hand to communicate better.  We looked at some examples of blind contour drawings and modified blind contour drawings.  Then I dropped the bomb and made them do a blind, continuous line, contour drawing of their hands.  I made them draw for about 5 minutes.  After they were done, I had them write 1 sentence about how they felt when they were drawing.  Of course they were all very uncomfortable and were horrified about what they had just drawn.  -(Sure, they could mock me when I demonstrated, but it was a new story when it was their own creation.)-  I then, had them do a gallery walk and realize, they all were struggling and it was OK.

After they experienced the horrors of blind contour, I eased their minds and let them do a modified contour drawing of their hands.  They were all very happy to do this activity. -(Which is funny, because I am sure if I threw this at them first, they would have revolted)- They were given about 10-15 minutes to do a great contour drawing of their hands.  They all did a great job!  I reminded them to go slow and add details.  This time they could pick up their pencil and look at their paper.  My only rule was if their eyes were on their paper, their pencil should not be moving.  They were still to be observing their own hands 90% of the time.  

For the first serious drawing lesson, they were all receptive and willing to work the entire period.  It was one of the best contour lessons I have had in some time.  I hope they continue to be as receptive as we continue in this contour line drawing unit.