Click on the image above for a very basic step-by step of a figure we drew in Drop In Drawing Class on Tuesday. Drawing the figure is very difficult, and we are taking on a rudimentary introduction for now. Friday’s class will feature quick drawings of the figure using various methods. Please join us.
Railroad Park, Birmingham
We are happy to report that Red Dot is now re-opened in a limited capacity. In the interested of safety, all students must wear a mask, disinfectant protocols are observed, and students are stationed at least 6 feet apart. There is a Zoom option for oil painters who’ve completed their first three paintings, attending concurrent with live classes.
We are grateful to all the devoted students who put up with Zoom glitches and hung in there with us the past few months. We also thank the friends who chipped in for “classes” that they’ll probably never take. And many thanks to all the folks who drop in to our new Zoom Drawing Classes. And to all the people who spread the word about our new spur-of-the-moment offerings.
Our little community is still intact, and it has taken a village.
Today’s Drop-In Drawing filled another fun hour with portraiture. For students who want to complete their work in class, the subjects for today are here. If you want to see the promotions chart (with the almond shapes) see the last blog post, “Facial Recognition.”
We learned about the importance of shadows in making a face look realistic. We saw lots of improvement when features were ignored in favor of more contrast on the facial planes. We all agreed that drawing people is a good time, whether we are experts or not.
Join next Tuesday’s Drop-In drawing for a shift in focus to some fun exercises that make unusual but crowd-pleasing drawings.
Today’s online drawing class offered students a first try at portraiture. The girl about was our first reference, and the dude below was the other sitter. The weird chart below shows proportions, especially the distances (in eye lengths) between features.
We will focus on portraiture again in Friday’s class, this time with an emphasis on details in the features. Although portraiture is difficult in the beginning, it is a very satisfying subject matter. I think most of us had a good time today.
Join us on Friday. You will not need to have had other lessons to hop in.
Weird Chart
In last Friday’s Drop-In Drawing Class we had a mini-art history lesson, all focused on composition in 2D artwork. Then we took another stab at drawing our own compositions from objects at home, focusing on stretching our idea of all the ways one can place objects on the picture plane.
We viewed a slide show of great painters of the the 19th and 20th centuries. Whistler’s painting above, although commonly known as “Whistler’s Mother” was titled, “Arrangement in Grey and Black.” It’s one of my favorite paintings.
This week we’ll focus for the first time on portraiture, hopefully not scaring off the feint of heart from what is generally known as the most difficult of subjects to render well. Remember, drawing one thing will improve your ability to draw all things. Sign up here for Drop-In-Drawing, only $10 per class.
This week we are learning about composition in Online Drawing class. Composition is how your images are placed on your picture plane. Here is a link to our webpage that gives a recap of Tuesday’s lesson. On Friday we’ll have a mini art history lesson showing good composition and little more practice at composing again. To join our fun class, click here.
Today’s drawing class was all about texture. The images posted here were used as subjects to practice different textures with pencil. The class was a continuation of our exploration in how make marks with our implements.
Join us next week, and have 3 objects of your own ready to draw. Ideally, have a good light source that you can direct from one side, too. No worries if you’re not all prepared.
On Tuesday we practiced various ways of shading, otherwise known as mark making. Students worked from this picture (and still can) as well as other images that leant themselves to variety in marks. The image below shows some examples of ways to move your pencil around to make shadows.
Join our next class(es) for more fun and learning. Friday’s class will focus on texture, a close cousin of mark-making.
Near the Elk River in Steamboat Springs, CO
In Drop-In Drawing on Friday we practiced with another finished drawing, this time a landscape. The reference photo is above for those of who want to try it. I’ve posted a few of the step-by-step photos below for some extra help.
Please hop in and have some drawing fun with us next week. Tuesday and Friday at 3:00 pm CENTRAL, Only $10.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE PROGRESSION OF IMAGES
Yesterday’s online drawing class welcomed the surprise appearance of the famous Mr. Potato head. We drew him, our first drawing from start to finish in this class. Students can finish their drawings from this image. We will do another finished drawing on Friday in class, but don’t expect another superstar to show up. We will drawing a landscape.
Join us anytime. All classes are $10.
In Tuesday’s class I gave what I call the mother of all classes. We had “the talk” about seeing. The most important thing we are learning when improving our rendering skills is to really look at what we are depicting. After the explanation, we did very quick drawings from images I offered on my screen. This speed work helps get rid of perfectionism, and loosens up the students by the end of a session. We’ll continue in the next class with new, interesting exercises with a similar theme in mind. Come have fun with us!
Our lesson for Friday’s class was on perspective using the cylinder. The reference photos are above. It seemed most students were catching on well. A few students demonstrated very well on the Red Dot Student Connection how a little practice can bring marked improvement!
We will be talking about supplies next week, but mostly, we’ll focus on the most important aspect of drawing: SEEING. Please join us.
This Tuesday’s drawing class focused on a technique called Linear Perspective. I’ve posted some of the drawings people sent in for correction. I used my finger on an app on my iPhone to correct with a red line, so please excuse the messiness of the marks. It should give a general idea.
The most common issue with these still life drawings was tipping up the objects, which we discussed. It’s obviously a common problem, and practice and practice will help with this.
On Friday we will work on another perspective project, especially using the cylinder. For the non-analytical minded, we will be focusing on more lose and free drawing projects next week. See you then!
Our subject matter for class
To my Zoom class on Friday, April 10: Thank you for attending! I’m loving our new adventure. Here are some reminders and new information for going forward.
I will soon have the supply links on the webpage in order. Please check back, and read the instructions on the webpage before you buy. I’ll have different options for different budgets.
I’m going to start offering critiques in another way than just the Red Dot Student Connection on Facebook. (Please continue to use Facebook if you’re comfortable. You’ll get the most personal critique.) Starting now, you can get feedback by sending a photo of your image to dori@reddotgallery.com with the subject heading of: Friday Drawing Critique or Tuesday Drawing Critique. If you take both classes, either will do. If you don’t enter the correct heading, you might get missed. I’ll post images on this blog with suggestions. I’ll keep it anonymous if you like.
Your homework was to look at things and intently observe them. Please post in the comments anything you noticed or any insights you had doing the assignment.
I hope to see some of you next Tuesday! Our next two classes will focus on Perspective. I’ve been getting lots of requests for this subject.
Thank you to the terrific folks who attended Dori’s first online beginning drawing class! We had an excellent turn-out, and—from what I could tell from the little screens—some noticeable learning going on. Here are some reminders and homework suggestions.
You can use the photos on this page to help finish the drawings we did in class. Your homework was to draw white objects lit from the side, and specifically a roll of toilet paper. You never have to do homework if you don’t want to.
If you’d like to post your work for feedback or just to share with the community, the Red Dot Student Connection is your place to be. You can also ask questions in the comments below.
The next class will be held Friday April 10 at 3:00 pm. You can sign up here. You’ll get your Zoom meeting number in the confirmation email after you’ve paid. We’ll be expanding on the first class by doing a sill-life with a little color.
We are grateful for this chance to connect and make art in this crazy time, and we hope to see more new friends in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for more developments in the way this class is offered. Our current protocols are based on moving quickly, so we realize we have kinks to work out. Your suggestions about other class times are welcome.
Best advice for students: Keep on drawing!
Red Dot Gallery is closed due to the pandemic, but we now have new offerings to keep you busy during your time at home. Pottery classes are not being held due to the nature of the medium, but oil painting classes are proceeding as usual online. Last week was our first week together in virtual class, and we all enjoyed seeing each other and getting our weekly dose of creativity and fellowship.
Our big news is that Dori is now offering online, live beginner drop-in drawing classes for kids and adults. Click here for all the information. You’ll finally get your chance to take that art class you’ve always wanted to try. We hope to see you on the screen.
After you peruse the class page remember, you can only purchase the upcoming class. Don’t try to purchase ahead or you’ll receive the wrong Zoom code.
Like many small businesses, we have had to completely reinvent ourselves in the past week. The good news is, we have now have options that will provide an opportunity for more people to take classes. Our limited capacities at the gallery meant long waiting lists for students (not complaining…a good problem to have) but our new expansion into virtual classes solves that problem. The bad new is that making art with clay is not so easy to do at home, so our pottery classes will have to wait until we reopen.
Regular Painting Classes
Starting this week, we will resume regular painting classes at their usual times. Students are setting up makeshift or real studios in their homes and we will connect through Zoom meetings. I’ll still be able to critique their paintings and we’ll get to connect as a group through this isolating crisis. Many of my students have been coming every week for many years, some even over a decade. I know I’ll be in need of our togetherness just as much as my students will.
Drop In Drawing Classes
Next week (or thereabouts) we will begin drop-in drawing classes for adults and kids. These beginner lessons will focus on fundamental drawing skills and offer the whole family a chance to learn something new and enjoy a soothing break at at time when it’s much needed. I am a big believer that ANYONE can draw, and I love to see people realize they can.
Without a Net Cards
I’m also very excited to start sharing my Without a Net Card Deck in my online Creativity and Awareness Workshop. The cards are a tool for creativity, introspection, and play that can help us access inner resources we could really use at this time. Coming soon are live meetings to work and play together with them.
More Classes
Other offerings are in the works. Stay tuned for beginning painting classes and our usual photography and portrait workshops.
Red Dot Gallery is ever so grateful to the many people who’ve offered encouragement and support since the pandemic started. We hope to be able to open our doors one day soon, but until then, we’re working to connect and thrive within our community and the broader world in all the ways we can.
I’m sad to say that because of the outbreak we are closing the doors at Red Dot 🔴 Gallery until further notice. In the meantime we’ll soon be announcing some online class offerings so you can wait out your isolation with a little creativity and camaraderie. Stay tuned and cross your fingers for us small business owners.
Starting later in March Dori’s paintings will be a part of the regular stable at the Grand Bohemian Gallery in Mountain Brook, AL. A solo exhibit of her work will open June 25, 2020. Save the date!
Expand your creative voice in this one day workshop with instructor Dori DeCamillis. It will awaken your curiosity, stretch your imagination, and open doors to self-honesty.
Details
Cost: $120, includes lunch
When: Saturday, March 14, 10:00 - 3.00
Where: Forstall Art Center
Who: Adults 19 and over
Supplies: All supplies are provided
In the spirit of Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” and Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic,” Without a Net Creativity and Awareness Workshop will offer participants creative exercises in various artistic media that explore personal mind states and perspectives in a judgment-free setting.
Exercises will include explorations in visual arts, written word, photography, and other mediums. We will also use the Without a Net Card Deck as prompts for creativity and self-study. No experience, talent, or skill necessary.