The requirements for this project were to find or make an unusual drawing surface to draw on from observation, with invented texture, and experimental mark-making. I made a paper mache mixture with torn-up toilet paper and clumped it onto a cutout piece of cardboard. After drying, I folded newspaper and paper mache over the edges. I sketched out the brachiosaurid skull and initially tried to color it with colored pencils, but the bumpy texture was hard to draw on with such a small and dry medium. Then I tried markers, and they worked much better. I used colored pencils on small areas to add a little texture and detail to the areas where markers wouldn’t be helpful. Because of the texture of my “rock,” the markers had a rough time being used on it. I had to be very careful not to destroy the brush, but they still ended up a little fuzzy, especially when blending repeatedly. I was able to keep the marker tips “fresh” by coloring at a side angle, rather than straight on.

I incorporated experimental lines into my artwork by using the serrated edges of packaging dipped in ink to the rocks inside my invented texture in the corner. Some sedimentary rock has smaller lighter rocks in sections, which is what I was trying to accomplish with my invented texture. I like the idea of it being fossilized Jurassic insects.

I am very proud of the sedimentary rock texture and color I was able to create. The texture looks very life-like, and the gray and reddish colors are accurate to the region where a brachiosaurid would be found, and the time period. If I could do anything differently, I would have made sure I had all the requirements before starting. I completely forgot about the invented texture and experimental mark-making, so I had to glue a separate piece of colored paper to it, as I already colored on it with dark colors. 

My idea with the project is that it is a thinly cut section of rock. This is why there is no depth to the skull or any other sections to it, its just a sliver.

This project was about drawing a person and subject matter in a scene with accurate proportions. I took a photo of me holding my guitar sitting on a stool in front of my shelf. I used the photo while working on the drawing during class and drew my shelf and guitar from observation. I also used the photo to see how I covered the shelf and the guitar while holding it. The story of the artwork is that I’ve only started learning guitar recently, but I have always wanted to learn and play. In the photo I used for my reference specifically, I am learning chords on the fretboard and checking where my fingers are.

I used black and white conte pencils for this project. I was originally going to use charcoal, but the conte was much softer and easier to work with. The only problems I had while working with the conte was that it was very soft, things got dark really fast with very little pressure. I learned I could only color part of the area and fill in the blank spots by blending it all out. I used a kneaded eraser for a lot of lighting. I used the grid method to make sure I had accurate proportions and it looked good. I think the proportions and shading look awesome. It looks very realistic and almost like a photograph. I am very proud of the shading and think it is the most successful part of the drawing. I think I could have refined the hair more, but I don't think it is actually that bad. 

If I did this again I would pick a better view. I was initially going to do a more extreme view, from really high or really low, and with .5x setting. I think it would be more interesting.

This was a quick couple of days project in the library. We had to pick an interesting view to draw in either a 1-point or 2-point linear perspective. As the library is 3-dimensional, I chose 2-point. 

Needing to use a ruler to make sure every line went towards the correct vanishing point was quite a challenge. Sometimes I used to the wrong point or my ruler was off slightly. I did learn, however, how to make objects in a linear perspective. I didn't know I would have to create a box for my objects, the table and chairs, to go into. While that makes a lot of sense, I had never thought about it. I love that this piece has my dinosaur shading grid in it, as I had displayed that project on this wall. 

I could have done better on the table, and I messed up a bit on the placement of the chairs relative to the walls, but otherwise, I think this came out pretty good, even for a quick project.

For this project, I had to incorporate objects or a theme that represents me or has sentimental value to me. After figuring out my idea for this project, my teacher took a photo of me kneeling on the floor with my hand reaching out. I wanted it to look like I was reaching toward an object floating above me, with other objects representing me floating around the paper. 

I started by outlining my body from the photo and thought about which objects I wanted to incorporate into my drawing. I knew I wanted to use conte charcoal pencils for this because I had started to like them from past projects. This was the first time I had used the brown/orange/red conte pencil, but I wished I limited its use to only my hoodie instead of incorporating it into the shading of my skin. It added a lot more work to it and I think it would have stood out more.