Daily Journal Workshop:

Part 1 JUST WRITE

Part 2 DRAW OUT THE WORDS

Part 3 HEART

Part 4 SPILL OUT COLLAGE

Part 5 NAKED SCREAM

Part 6 INVITE ALTER STRETCH EXTEND

Part 7 ARISE AROSE IN 3’S

Part 8 SELF-PORTRAIT. HUMAN

Part 9 WORD CRAZY QUILT

Part 10 VINTAGE WORKOUT

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TODAY’S LESSON IS ABOUT ABSTRACTION.  [ab-strak-shuhn]

Recall my original tutorial on gesture drawing:

Part 1: INTRODUCTION

Part 2: GEOMETRIC SHAPES

Part 3: ADDING DETAILS

Part 4: ABSTRACTION

We revisit this exercise in today’s journal entry.  We will be finding the image inside a gesture drawing, thereby creating an abstract image.

STEP 1:

Make a gesture drawing.  On a blank piece of paper, doodle random lines.  Random, but with some thought!  Think opposites.  Do hard and soft lines.  Straight, zigzag, curvy.  Staccato, continuous.  Shapes, scribbles.  Just fill the page without thinking about WHAT you are going to do in Step 2.  Change hands.  Left hand.  Right hand. Turn the paper.

STEP 2:

Find the image in the marks you have made.  This goes back to part 2 of the gesture tutorial where you are looking for simple geometric shapes.

We’ll use the vintage photo from yesterday’s exercise.

Can you see similar lines and directions and shapes as in the photo in your gesture drawing?  This is not about realism.  This is about language of line.  Use only the lines you have!  That’s it!  YOU ARE LIMITED!  This will force you to change the way you approach form!  Do you see lines that somewhat liken the eyes?  The mouth?  The cheek? etc.  It’s there.  Believe me.  You’ll see it.

STEP 3:

Start adding details and shading and finalizing the form.  Blacken out areas.  Add lines if you need to, but just minimal.

STEP 4:

Use the words you pulled out of the writing in yesterday’s entry (Part 10).   Add these words onto your image.  This is a delightful way to create an interesting piece of art- works as a book cover, a movie poster etc., or simply a way to present poetry.

You create something quite magical.

Compare the two interpretations of the original photo (Part 10 and 11):

I tried this exercise on my art therapy students this morning:

Here’s the original drawing I demonstrated followed by the abstracted piece and student work.

 

   

HOMEWORK:

Write a secret about yourself on a piece of paper.  We’ll be incorporating into tomorrow’s page.