Drawing with Kat – Eye from Anna T Fabulous on Vimeo.
Drawing the human eye using charcoal and an eraser.
Drawing an eye using charcoal and an eraser (video)
drawing tutorial
Simple OWL drawing lesson using kid-grade felt pens
[Film by Anna Thorsen]
I teach OWL drawing for most, if not all, of my creative engagement workshops. I use the OWL image as it is easy to break it down into simple geometric shapes on which to build form.
I usually use china marker.
But we don’t always have the “right” material.
We have to work with what we have. Below are OWL drawings by SFU Restorative Justice students using just dollar store felt pens.
Working with what you have. Freedom within limits. That’s when magic happens.
See also:
Mindmap Tutorial Week Part 3: Stream of consciousness mapping
I am diving into a much-needed new mindmap this week, so I thought I’d create a tutorial during my process!
Tutorial so far:
Introductory blog post- mindmap tutorial week
TODAY:
PART 3 OF 7: Stream of consciousness mapping
In your journal start writing out categories, to-do’s, items, whatever comes to mind that you are grappling with right now. Or if you are focusing on a specific project, business idea, story – whatever- write down all that comes to mind regarding the project. Should other items pop up, write those down too, even if unrelated. You are just spewing it all out onto paper. This is chaos-onto-paper time. Just keep the pen moving. Trivial things can turn out to be important.
Now transfer these bubbles onto a large sheet. Don’t worry too much where they are placed, though you can somewhat place them in related groups if you wish.
We are not making connections today. We are just spewing it all out!
Sometimes this process is really easy. Sometimes, like for me tonight, it’s very hard. It’s a shitty evening. That’s OK. I forced the process anyway in order to get the buzz out of the mind. I need to sort my next steps and this process always helps!
TOMORROW:
Part 4: Prioritizing/consolidating/connecting
Draw-a-sugarskull tutorial!
Pull out some supplies and enjoy this old drawing tutorial to celebrate the release of our by post street iPhone case featuring Calavera (sugarskull) Karl!
Anna T Fabulous of by post street and Jenn Mickey of 1181 Lounge at by post street launch party, April 2013. Photo by Viranlly Aix Liemena
I love to draw! I want to show you how I do it! Coming soon: pay-per-view drawing tutorials!
Kat’s Drawing Tutorial: Gesture Drawing PART 4 of 4- abstraction. #artschool
In this 4 part tutorial, we move through analysis of form, to drawing details to abstraction through gesture drawing.
See Part 1: INTRODUCTION
See Part 2: GEOMETRIC SHAPES
See Part 3: ADDING DETAILS
Now we move to finding the image and abstract it through gestures. What I mean by that is- you find the form in marks you have made. You are limiting your decisions.
STEP 1:
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 this tutorial where you are looking for simple shapes.
We’ll start with a photo. (Let’s use the same one we used in Parts 1-3).
Now look for geometrics that emulate the actual form. 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.
See how I am allowing the existing line to shape the form. E.G. I’m thinking eye but it’s an UNUSUAL eye!
STEP 3:
Start adding details and shading and finalizing the form. Blacken out areas. Add lines if you need to, but just minimal. Use the eraser to draw out light. You will end up with a Picasso-esque image!
—
Feel free to email questions and share your work!!!
CONTACT ME AT Email
This tutorial was originally taught to me by artist, Martin Guderna.
See also:
Kat’s Drawing Tutorial: Gesture Drawing PART 3 of 4- adding detail. #artschool
In this 4 part tutorial, we move through analysis of form, to drawing details to abstraction through gesture drawing.
See Part 1: INTRODUCTION
See Part 2: GEOMETRIC SHAPES
Now I want you to build on the simple forms you saw in your subject in Part 2 by drawing details. Enjoy, relax, have fun! There is no right or wrong!
In part 4- we move to the glory of abstraction through gesture drawing! Can’t wait!
See also:
Kat’s Drawing Tutorial: Gesture Drawing PART 2- geometric shapes #artschool
See Part 1: INTRODUCTION
In this tutorial, we move through analysis of form, to drawing details to abstraction through gesture drawing. In part 2 I want you to build on the intro where you drew on top of a photo, and draw the simplest form you see in a subject.
Let’s use my latest favorite face, John:
Draw simple shapes you see- ovals, circles, triangles etc. These shapes build the form.
—
as the
spirit
wanes
the
form
appears.
– Charles Bukowski
Kat’s Drawing Tutorial: Gesture Drawing PART 1- INTRODUCTION #artschool
My favorite drawing technique: GESTURE DRAWING– finding the image in random marks. Don’t worry if you don’t know what I mean. In this drawing tutorial, I’ll slowly take you from this:
through to finding the form, then enhancing the form and finally decontructing/reconstructing the form.
In this introduction, I simply want you to look at images and see what the SIMPLEST shapes are.
Drawing tips: the principals of drapery #artschool
Kat’s portrait tutorial PART 3 of 8: Draw with your eyes closed #braingym
Recall: PART 1: DOODLE WITH RED OR ORANGE
Recall: PART 2: DRAW WITH YOUR NON-DOMINANT HAND
Still using simple newsprint and a china marker, close your eyes and draw a face as you see it in your mind’s eye. NO PEEKING! Draw for 2-5 minutes, eyes closed, running your china marker along the imagined face.
The result is always fun, surprising, Picasso-esque. Great for turning off the inner-critic.
You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. – Mark Twain
Kat’s portrait tutorial PART 2 of 8: Draw with your non-dominant hand #braingym
Recall: PART 1: DOODLE WITH RED OR ORANGE
Part 2:
Draw a face (from life or from photo) using your non-dominant hand. Do not cheat! This is great brain-gym and forces you to let go of preconceptions and fears. Relax and have fun!
I’m using my left hand in this exercise. The drawing style alters quite significantly:
I drew my student using my left-hand. There is an honesty that I like when using your non-dominant hand:
Kat’s portrait tutorial PART 1 of 8: Doodle with red or orange. Celebrate @drawingday!
In celebration of WORLD DRAWING DAY, I’m posting my portrait tutorial! Let’s start with PART 1!
You’ll need paper (I’m using newsprint today), any light colored drawing medium– e.g. pencil, crayon, pastel (I’m using red and brown china marker– my favorite medium), a subject– live model or several photos (e.g. from a magazine etc).
When I start a portrait, I tend to sketch it out with a light color first. See an example in yesterday’s post. Then I finalize it with a darker color. But first things first. Deep breath.
Our first step to getting used to making marks on paper and OBSERVING simple shapes you see in your subjects. This is NOT a finished drawing that you’re working on. It’s a simple exercise to relax your brain. Use the entire sheet and simple sketch the simple shapes that you see in the photo, or on the subject’s face or even objects around the room.
Just relax and enjoy! It’s just an exercise and ANYONE can do this! Turn off that inner critic!
