Objective: 

To practice medium control in creating the illusion of lighting transitioning from highlight to shadows using graphite. 

We will create a graphite drawing of a sculpture we created using white paper. 

Value

The transition of light to dark. This is one of the 6 art elements. 

Medium Control

The artist's ability to be in control of their art media (the tools and mediums they are using to create their artwork). 

Additive Drawing

Adding to or layering your drawing media.

Subtractive Drawing

Using your eraser to draw, to take away from your drawing media. 

Highlight

Where light hits the object or form, this is generally the only place where white paper shows through in naturalistic drawings and paintings.

Mid-Tones

Lighter grays close to the highlight

Shadow's Edge

Slightly darker greys along the edges of the shadow that's on the shadow or form.

Core Shadow

This is the darkest part of the shadow on the form or object. That does not mean that it's solid black or a 10 on the value scale, it just means it's the darkest grey on the object or form. 

Reflected Light

This is a light grey highlight at the base edge of your object or form. Light waves travel in straight lines and bounce off of surfaces, so this highlight is light bouncing off of the table or surface the object or form is sitting on and onto the base of the object. It's not usually bright white, but I tend to emphasize it by making it lighter than it really is. 

Cast Shadow

This is the shadow cast by the object or form you are drawing. It usually begins dark, but there is variety in the values that make it up, though it's rare for any of them to be super light. 

When you take the photo of your sculpture, use only one main light (see above video at time code 7:20-8:20 for example). I would arrange your sculptures in a pleasing way and try to use an artificial light source you can move around your sculpture. Then take a good photo of your sculpture, consider arrangement and camera angle aka: camera POV. If you are photographing your origami sculptures please move your camera around to try out different compositions so you can capture a good one. Also try and have them on a white background of some sort. And experiment with turning out the lights or some of the lights to create higher contrast and drama. 

And then, as always please crop your image using the editor on your phone, and I would suggest a black and white filter, and then intensifying the contrast and or brightness. Since we are drawing from a photo, the better your photo is, the better your drawing will be. 

Student Photo Examples

**I do want to see a minimum of 3 sculptures interacting, or one that's fairly complex like the dragon. But, these are good photo references. 

Now it's time to apply your medium control to create your graphite drawing. 

Important Critical Thinking Questions to ask yourself as you work:

1: What shape does this value create?

2: How dark or how light is this value? If I were to assign it a value scale number, what would it be?

3: Am I really getting my darkest darks and lightest lights to be present?

4: Do I need to use layering to create smooth transitions?

1: Commitment to Quality (20pts)

Are all directions being followed? Are you using the videos to create the best work you can?

2: Medium Control (20pts)

Are you using critical thinking, pressure, and layering to create your value transitions?

3: Shapes to Create Value (20pts)

Are the shapes that your values make up wrapping around your egg form, or lying on top of it?

4: Value Transitions (20pts)

Are your highlights and shadows transitioning into one another smoothly? Do your shadows look like shadows and highlights look like highlights?

5: Contrast (20pts)

Do your highlights and shadows have enough difference to really be able to see them clearly from further away or is your drawing resting in the middle grays of the value scale? How is contrast creating emphasis in your drawing?