Observational Drawing

Project Goals:

• Learn about artists who work to use mark-making to show volume in their drawings

• Learn and refine observational drawing skills, including contour drawing, perspective, value, measuring, proportion, and placement of objects 

Artists Studied: 

• Henry Moore, 

• Giorgio Morandi

• Vincent van Gogh

• Winslow Homer

• John Whalley

I would say that my work most relates to the sketches of Henry Moore, because of the scribbly, slightly messy look that both of our drawings share. The technique that I used, which was inspired by Henry Moore, involved using messy crosshatching to create shadows and contrast brighter values. I notice a lot of difference in my technique of shading; I captured the values of the drawing a lot better in my post-instructional drawing. I also really improved in how I approached drawing a still life, and how I measured proportions. When approaching a drawing, it is necessary to know how to measure proportions, so that different objects are the correct size in relation to each other. You must know how to draw 3-dimensional shapes correctly, because otherwise they could appear distorted and not proportional. It’s also crucial to be experienced in shading, in order to make objects stand out and appear lifelike.