This morning Scott was interviewed on “Talk of Alabama” about Red Dot Gallery. We enjoyed our 4 minutes of fame! Click below for the show.
Toulouse Lautrec “Corner of the Moulin de la Galette”
Post Impressions
Our Drop-In Drawing project for today was inspired by some of the Post-Impressionist painters. (Look it up!) We practiced our skill at capturing general forms by rendering some of their paintings. Here are the paintings we worked from so students can continue their drawings if they like. Join us next time!
Van Gogh, Landscape
Paul Gaugin, “Breton Girls Dancing”
Maurice Prendergast, “In the Park”
Photo by Aaron Burden. All photos from unsplash.com
Drawing on the Holidays
Today in Drop-in Drawing we sketched holiday images while focusing on a particular drawing skill. From value scales to perspective and texture, we practiced our basic principles while getting into the spirit with jolly subjects and joyful conversation. Join the fun next time!
Photo by Nathan Wolfe
Photo by Karsten Winegeart
David Everett
Gratitude
Drawing student Nick Fargo was assigned a theme for a few drawings. He was asked to look around his home and depict what made him grateful. These two visionary drawings were created, and his explanations of their meanings are wonderful.
His commentary for the above drawing:
“This is a picture of a light fixture in my house I chose this image because I am grateful to be in a light place in my life especially with all the darkness and negativity in the world right now.”
And for the image below:
“This is a drawing of my living room I chose this location in my house because it makes me feel grateful to have a home to live in these tough times and also to have loving family to share it with.”
I’m grateful for Nick, and for all my students. They remind me of the joy of creativity and togetherness every week.
Photo by Jonatan Pie. All images from unsplash.com
The Elements
Today we talked about the seven elements of of art: line, shape, form, value, space, color, and texture. We looked at the drawings of famous artists to inspire our lesson. Here are the images we worked from. Join us anytime!
Photo by Daniel Morton
Photo by Joshua Hibbert
Photo by Diego Sanchez
Photo by xps
Photo by Cade. All photos from unsplash.com
Scary Famous Art
Students were introduced to some famous artists who drew or painted spooky imagery in our Drop-in Drawing Class today. Then we drew from the images posted here, inspired by their style. Join us next time for more clever assignments.
Troy Nikolic
Above and below were choices for drawings in the style of Gustav Dore.
Nenad Melosevic
JR Korpa
The above image was a choice (along with the clown at the top) for a drawing in the style of Edvard Munch.
Belluva G
Above and below were choice for a drawing in the style of Fransisco Goya.
Daniel Jensen
Erik Mclean
Odilon Redon was the artist whose style inspired the drawings from the above and below images.
Amanda Dalbjorn
Lastly, we took inspiration from Frida Kahlo to complete the last drawings from the image below.
Jingxi Lau
Photo by Douglas Fehr. All photos from Unsplash.
Late October Darks and Lights
Today we drew spooky images focused on strong dark and lights, taking turns emphasizing silhouettes and backgrounds. As usual we had kids under 10, people over retirement age, and something in between all drawing and laughing together. See some of the results of a 15 minute assignment of the above photo. I’ll add more if I receive them.
Keep scrolling for the other images we drew so you can finish your drawings.
by Caroline
by Dori
Photo by David Menidrey
Photo by Agape
Photo by Jakob Owens
Photo by Jonelle Yankovich. All photos from unspash.com
Baby Talk
For the first time we attempted children’s faces in our Drop In Drawing class yesterday. Their proportions are different from an adults, and it can be tricky to represent a persons age without getting the proper head structure and feature placement. Everyone did well and we had a few laughs over funny looking outcomes.
Here are images worked from so students can finish their work. Join us soon!
Photo by Aaron Burden. All photos are from Unsplash.com
Fall Tales
In our regular Monday online drawing class we focused on various subject matter with an autumn theme. We covered basics like contrast, perspective, and texture. I included black and white versions of some of the images to show how color can be deceiving and distracting. Here are the images we worked from. Join us next time!
Photo by Meghan Griffin
Photo by Kat Van Wood
Photo by Aaron Burden
Photo by George Bakos. All images from Unsplash.com
Delightful Diversity
We drew people, places, and things today in our Drop-In Drawing class. We had visitors from around the country, from ages 11 to 77. Our sketching focus was proportion, and on the basics of rendering values (darks and lights.) These images are for participants to finish the terrific pieces they started in class. Please join us next Monday, 6-7pm Central.
Photo by Laura Chouette
Photo by Abib Hussain
Photo by Fakurian Design
Image by Sigmund on Unsplash
Straight Forward
Today in Drop-In Drawing we sketched simple images involving minimal lines and shadows. We reviewed concepts of perspective and value changes, and especially the practice of completing the general shapes before tackling details. As usual, it lifted our spirits to be drawing together. Join us next time!
Photo by Oriol Portell on Unsplash
Photo by Tekton on Unsplash
Drawing in Haiti
Years ago I was asked to teach a drawing class to a young man from Haiti as a part of a program by the Creative Exchanges Initiative. (The CEI helps Haitians build infrastructure, expand their economy, and grow creativity.)
I taught one class to Fedler Descobet, an enthusiastic self-taught artist who’d never taken a real art class before. In our one lesson, at his request, we worked on portraiture, and he showed much potential. I gave lots of suggestions for his future training, not realizing that his home country offered no options to follow up on my great ideas. They have no internet, no computers, and barely any pencils or paper. I was a bit embarrassed.
When we parted I encouraged him to keep at it, and gave him a sketch book and some pencils, not realizing that this was the first drawing pad he’d ever owned. He lit up like it was a hundred Christmases at once.
Today, Fedler teaches art to kids in a CEI-created program in Haiti. If you feel like helping the CEI with their programs, here’s where you go.
photo by Thomas Morse
Land Ho
In yesterday’s Drop In Drawing class we sketched landscapes. Here are the reference photos for students who want to continue their masterpieces to completion. If you want to join us, you’re welcome!
photo by German Rodriguez
photo by Bailey Zindel
Getting a Head
Here are the reference images we practiced with in Drop-In Drawing. Finish your sketches if you started this in class, or, if you haven’t signed up yet, join us Mondays at 6:00 pm central.
Proportions using eye-length as the unit of measure.
Image by Ouael Ben Salah
Mixed Bag
Today in Drop-In Drawing class we drew various subject matter, focusing the most basic instruction, “Look at your subject, not your paper.” Students did incredibly well with it today. Join our class, Monday at 6:00 pm.
Image by Matteo Ferrero
Image by Jeff King
Image by Fakurian Design
Image by Fakurian Design
Texture Buffet
Tuesday’s Drop in Drawing class played with textures of different kinds. My intellectual instruction is to “fiddle around with it,” and everyone easily caught on. These are the images we worked from. You can join our friendly, casual, and easy-to-follow class.
Photo by Visuals of Dana
An Upside Down World
Today in Drop-In Drawing Class we drew from upside-down subjects. Here are the reference photos for students who want to try their hand at the task, or finish what they’ve started. Join us next time!
Photo by Jonathan Petit
Photo by Samuel Regan Asante
The Dark Continues
Our Tuesday Drop-In Drawing class continued with our exploration of darks and negative space, as explained in my last post. Here are the images we worked from.
Image by Tom Lowen Morales
Dark Matter
In our Drop-In Drawing class today we focused on drawing general shapes, especially emphazing the darks. These are the images we worked from. Everyone improved dramatically a we progressed through the images, as quick sketches help one loosen up and render with more accuracy. Join us, please. No experience necessary.
All images gathered from Unsplash.com
Image by Roman Ten
Image by Jez Timms
Image by Annie Spratt
Special Workshop Event
I’ve always wanted to visit or host a workshop at St. Mary’s Sewanee, a gorgeous retreat center in Tennessee. I’m honored to invite you to join me for The Creative Spirit Workshop, a special three hour Zoom creativity gathering. We’ll convene for an uplifting experience of art and fellowship. Held March 27, 10am to 1pm.