Shell Wash

So this was an interesting assignment. This is my second shell drawing, with the second larger shell. It was nice to switch because I was having a difficult time seeing the detail in my initial shell. Either way, I felt this was an improvement from my first attempt. During class we began using ink washes and I struggled somewhat. I eventually began to control the ink and water somewhat, but not completely successfully. I do enjoy the blending of the charcoal and the wash, but it would not really be my first choice for rendering a shell. I do think the wash makes sense in that it is relative to the shell environment. We will be doing more shell inkings so hopefully I will improve with the watery inks.

Midterm Reflection

So at the midterm, I feel that I've made some definite improvements. For one, I am experiencing drawing again. It has been over a year since drawing two and since then I've been mostly doing design sketching as a part of Industrial Design. I also feel that I am much more sensitive in my line placement and weight. This was initially one of the goals I had in mind upon beginning Life Drawing. So I am happy with that. I am beginning to understand form and contour much better through drawing the models during class. I didn't really understand what a valuable experience it may be. I am incorporating the things I've been learning in Life Drawing in my Industrial Design work. I've a much better understanding of how to properly utilize contour lines in my sketches, even on organic surfaces. I've always struggled with this, ever since Presentation Techniques.

I am finding that drawing the models is the most beneficial learning experience from the class so far. I also am beginning to just overall enjoy drawing, which has been a challenge in semesters past. Using ink is a crazy experience in this class, but I do find it enjoyable when going well. I've learned a lot so far this semester. I've improved my technique quite a bit and found a freedom or looseness in drawing which is helping overall in drawing and sketching. I plan to keep working on the lines that I put down on the page and the understanding of reading surfaces and structures.

Here is a link to my flickr page

Here are some images of a project I recently completed in ID Art & Science of Production.

My it's been some time since I've visited my Life Drawing blog.

So now that spring is really beginning to set in, I am beginning to notice my natural surroundings much more. I feel that the looming sense of winter has faded and I am paying much more attention to all the life coming back to the surface.

I've been looking at the ant hills accumulating outside of my apartment lately. Ants, I feel, are in a constant state of highly organized rebuilding. They are constantly adapting to the changes around them. In a way, we too are constantly adapting to our surroundings. In the context of Life Drawing, I feel that I've taken much from the things going on around me. In the design world, we become very comfortable with the visual language surrounding us and begin to see more clearly what it is we're dealing with. Like ants, we are rebuilding or at least building upon a framework that will help us succeed in accomplishing our goals. So, I suppose let's all keep up the good work!

OMG Sketches!

These are a couple of fairly quick sketches I did earlier this semester for an ID project. I like to show a variety of work relative to drawing and Life Drawing as I find our style of drawing in class much different from my ID work. I have been thinking all of this semester that it has been strange bouncing back and forth between design sketching and gesture/ contour drawing. This is not to say that I am enjoying either style of drawing any less than the other. In fact, I feel it really beneficial to be working on line and essential drawing skills again! I am beginning to understand that my enjoyment of drawing brought me into the Industrial Design program here at Stout, but then within ID I somewhat lost interest in basic drawing... HOWEVER, I am very happy to be in Life Drawing because I am beginning to once again ENJOY drawing! I hate to say it but, ID kind of killed my enthusiasm for drawing for a little bit... OH NO! Either way, I'm back on track, love drawing, and love ID!