The Toybox Drawing Exercise

Graphite Drawing by Della Alwardt

A recent assignment in the drawing class is called the Toy Box.  The directions are to take an object, throw it on the table any side up and draw it as you see it.  Take a second object, do the same, but place it on the paper behind the first object.  Part of it may not show.  Draw a third object.  As you fill the paper the drawing will give the impression of looking down into a jumbled toy box.  I modified the exercise to include thinking about the negative space not filled by objects as part of the design.  The students then did several drawings that adapted the original assignment.

This graphite drawing is by Della Alwardt, one of my Tuesday morning drawing students.  She juxtaposed two objects that would not normally be seen together.  She thought about the negative shapes that were created when the objects intersected the four edges of the design space.  She did a great job!  The abstract positive and negative shapes make a good composition.  It holds the viewer's eye as they discover the giraffe tucked under the leaves.  I am very pleased with the outcome on this project.  

September Syllabus - Tuesday Drawing Class

The September session is a three week mini-session wherein I am combining all levels of my drawing series.  As I have moved into Session 5 and 6 of the series, it has become evident that I do not have enough class hours to teach all of the levels simultaneously.  This means that students wait, and don't start drawing, until the level they need comes around.  I have decided to combine the levels, so that students work at their own level within the class, but are surrounded by students working at different levels.  My painting class has always worked this way ... and it works well.  You see more things, hear more things and are inspired by more things.

So, if you have been waiting to start my drawing classes or waiting for your level to come around ... start now!  The three session mini is also a good way to try my classes out before signing up for a longer session.  For a productive learning experience the teacher and the student have to be a good fit!

In the September session we will be working from life ... still life.

Beginning Students.  You will draw single objects from life with contour and cross-contour, or caging, lines. Learning to draw is about learning to see.  Contour drawing is a very accessible way to learn to draw and one that students enjoy!  This way of drawing is all about "no worries".  Jump in!

Value (formerly Session 2) Students.  You will work on a still life with simple geometric shapes to learn about light, halftone and shadow ... the three values needed to create form or dimension in a drawing. You will be moving from pencil to charcoal and from line to shape.  So, September is about cubes, spheres, cylinders and cones.  It you understand how light creates value on these shapes, you can apply that knowledge to anything you draw.

Exploring Media or Intermediate Students (Session 3 and above).  In September we will continue with value, the gray scale pastels and larger more complicated still lifes.  I will still stress drawing and value ... but you are now looking for ways to express yourself, combine line with tone and combine media.  The still life will have a few large, unusual objects ... a cow skull (thank you Marilyn), an old sewing machine, a tricycle.  If anyone has an unusual object email me.  I would especially like a musical instrument like a clarinet or saxophone.  I am looking for objects you are unfamiliar with so you have to rely on what you see and on your "tool belt" of drawing skills.

This is going to be fun!