Use Your Tones and Values

Still Life

This assignment was to be done outside of class - one of the two homework assignments, this was our midterm. Our midterm was to produce a 'Narrative Tonal Drawing.'

Working outside of class time, we were to set up our own still life using objects that interact to create an implied narrative or story. The set up of the objects should be placed in a way to show interaction, depth, and communication of an idea or concept to the viewer. We should use a variety of objects that have different local values resting on a surface, while one object should resemble some form of personal significance to you. I decided to go with some of my favorite things: art, skulls, and fossils, while of course emphasizing natural history. Also, we should use a single light source for the still life to create a strong cast shadow or shadows.

Once your still life was complete, we were asked to make a tonal drawing emphasizing the full range of tonal values (from white, grays, and black), an understanding of local values (the lightness or darkness based on the actual color), and a comprehension of the components of direct light and shadow (the lightness or darkness based on a light source). Not only are we supposed to focus on tonal values and local values, but use all of the other techniques that we have been building upon since the first day of class, such as: gestural, fast drawing techniques, starting from a middle tone and adding or subtracting tones, and using expressing and descriptive marks, like hatching.

Attempt One: Starting From a Middle Tone
Adding and Subtracting Values

I worked on this assignment, maybe for two-weeks (about an hour every night or every other night). It was pretty challenging as far as making sure the tones were accurate and were blending in with the background (which may have been the hardest part). Trying to capture fabric is really tough for me.

Attempt Two: Defining More Values

But I think it came out great. During our midterm critique, we will be able to get feedback from our instructor and peers to fix it up and resolve it even more before turning it in to be assessed before spring break. What do you think?

TheChristyBel

Final Product

Last Drawing Before Midterm

Thursday's class was sort of an 'in-class exam'...but not really. There were new still lives set up with an assortment of objects and knick-knacks to choose to draw. I swear, my drawing teacher knows I love animal skulls. There were a bunch to choose to draw from! Of course, I chose one!

Anyways, for the two and a half hour drawing session, it was our time to put EVERYTHING that we had learned within the first half of this semester into a drawing. So using gestural, fast-moving lines, to contour and line measurement with a viewfinder and sighting stick, to determining hues of light to shadows, and enhancing all aspects of tones through a gray scale. It was great!

I have been really pushing myself to see what my hands can do with charcoal. And at first, this drawing course was really challenging: I had not remembered what to do with charcoal, but throughout the past month and a half, my hands and self have gotten really comfortable with the variety of charcoal supplies and materials. 

The above left image is a picture of the still-life I decided to draw - hence the huge skull in the middle of the picture! And the bottom right image is a picture of the drawing I did within the 2.5-hr drawing class session and maybe about another 2-hours on resolving the piece and detailing it with highlights and small additions.

And I swear, my hands are pretty much permanently engraved with charcoal dust in the fine lines of my fingertips! But I am completely okay with it! This drawing class was exactly what I needed for this semester. It is great to stand or sit there in a quiet studio, place some head phones on, and just draw what I observe. It's beyond what I NEED. This class is also enhancing my scientific observational skills. And I thought my skills were pretty efficient. My instructor has pointed out many things I am missing in the still lives he has us draw. It's been a great eye-opener to perfecting my already acquired skills. I feel my art is going to be much better, beautiful, and more detailed! I cannot wait to put this to the test this summer!

But yes, here is the mid-semester update and my last assignment before Spring Break...next week's classes before break are critique and portfolio submission. So there will be no more drawing until after the break...at least for class. Can't guarantee I won't be drawing during break...in fact, I plan to!

Enjoy.

TheChristyBel

Finished Product