Monday, December 26, 2016

Observational Drawing Challenge

2016 has been a great year. Back in 2015, I started blogging for my classroom, and by spring of 2016 was doing great with it, and having quite a few views. I really enjoyed it, and felt that it helped me grow as a teacher. The other thing that spilled over into 2016 and started taking off in the spring, continuing to gain momentum even now, is my own artwork. With the start of a new teaching position, I stepped back from the blogging, but have really continued to get better about practicing my craft as an artist. Perhaps in another post I will recap the art I created this year. For now, I want to stay on topic. The topic of growth.

As an artist, and as an educator, I feel that growth is essential. I spend a lot of time learning not only through creating, but through studying the creations of others. As I have begun to do more of this over the internet, in an effort to know more about what is going on in the now, I have noticed that many people take on challenges. Perhaps because the new year is upon us I have been thinking about this a great deal. Asking, how will I challenge myself to grow this year. I have tried a few online art challenges, that I just didn't get behind, usually because I was not totally bought in, or unmotivated. One such challenge was Inktober. I think I only did it for 4 out of the 31 days.

I like the idea of challenges, and love seeing the results of others who have stuck with it. One friend of mine has been doing a daily photo challenge for several years now. One blog I followed for a while was from an artist who created a painting everyday of the year. Unable to find an art challenge that I feel I could really get into, I have decided to create my own. One that embodies something that I feel will truly benefit me as an artist. I have decided to spend a small amount of time drawing from observation each day for at least 365 days.

Over the past year I have read many articles, excerpts from books, quotes, and studies about the benefit of observational drawing. They made us do a ton of it in college, and I feel that kind of learning, or practicing, is something I need to get back to. I look at my students all of the time and think that they could really benefit from more observational drawing. If I want this for them, then I need to practice what I preach. Therefore, I am going to practice everyday.

I would love it if it caught on, and others wanted to join me. I make no promises, or even intentions of posting my drawings daily. However, at the end of the year I think I will do a sketchbook tour video of the journey. Maybe even some progress videos along the way. I know that I do not have the time to keep up with a social media angle of this. Other people who do things like instagram and so forth, attach hashtags to their challenges. I do not plan to do that either. I would rather prioritize that time with making the art. If this is something others want to do, I would love for them to share it with me. I will probably even try and coerce a friend or two into doing it.

My rules for my challenge for myself are these:
1. One drawing a day in a specified sketchbook. I am sure I will fill more than a couple.
2. A minimum of 5 minutes of drawing.
3. Observational drawing. A.K.A. drawing something that I am looking at, the way I see it.
4. Practice a variety of exercises such as, sketching, contour drawing, continuous line, blind contour, value, gestural, value drawing, negative space drawing, etc.
5.Continuously strive to get better, and perhaps faster.
6. Share the practice with others.

I bought a cheap, small sketchbook today to get started. I did not want to spend a lot of money, because I want this to be about practice, not about the finished drawings. Finished drawings have their own place, and I want this sketchbook to be about sustained practice. Also, I kept the book rather small so that the drawings will not take as much time. In a way, these drawings are intended as a daily workout, so to speak, and are not meant to take up a ton of time, though I am sure that occasionally they will. I do work in other books to plan for larger works, experiment with techniques, and occasionally create something finished, and will continue to do so. This new book is something outside of, or on top of what I currently am doing as an artist. I believe that this new adventure will strengthen what I currently do as an artist, not replace it.

If you read this and are interested in joining me, or even have something to share for motivation, feel free. I would love to hear other's thoughts on this, or their own experiences with following along. I believe if you are going to challenge yourself then you need to do it in a way that works for you. I believe this will work for me.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Is it sad that I am already making art plans for the summer?

Last summer I began work on this piece while school was out. I did not finish it before school started back and did not get an opportunity to return to it and finish until Thanksgiving break. We did have our third child last summer, and I took on a few summer jobs/projects. I had hopes of creating a great series out of this, and still do. The school year yet again was a period in which I did not make much time for my own work. I plan to return to this series this summer. The goal is to spend 4 hours each weekday morning (early) working on my own art, not commissions, or projects for others. It is a selfish goal in a way, but I am okay with that. Keep in mind, with scout camp and a family reunion, I probably wont get to this plan till the first of July. At least I have a plan. Who knows, maybe I will post daily pictures from the studio.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Update after about three years.

It seems that I have not even visited my blog in three years. After finding more interest in art educator's blogs than in Facebook, I have a rekindled interest in my blog. Most likely it will be to follow other blogs, but as an educator myself it would be nice to share what I have going on. Likewise, I yearn for a better forum to share what I am doing with my own art. Not making any promises, but at the moment I am of the mind to make more use of my blog.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Update

Maternal Site 18x24

"Stan"18x24
Here are two of my latest portraits.  I have not updated my blog in awhile.  A lot has happened since the last time I added anything to it.  We are now in Flagstaff AZ.  I know have my website up for the charcoal portraits.  The address is www.drawingsbyjack.com .  To look at more of my works, visit my site.  I have a gallery on the website with pictures of some of my paintings and other non portrait art.  With luck I will start getting commissions soon.  I have four more portraits to start, but will not be able to post them until after Christmas as they were commissioned to be a surprise for someone. 

Saturday, July 16, 2011

DJ Micaiah 18x24 Charcoal
Day 3 on the DJ Micaiah drawing.  I believe I am finished with this one.  I may look at it tomorrow and change my mind.  I am so glad to have projects to keep my fingers black with charcoal each day.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Portrait for DJ Micaiah of Boston MA


Day 2


Day 1
Curently I am working on a portrait for an up and coming DJ, and long time friend in the Boston MA area.  Mostly layed things out the first day.  Woking on the values the second day.  I should be adding details in tomorrow.  Since getting back into portraits this is the first that I have done working from photography in over a year.  It is hard to have some one sit for you to draw them when they live on the other side of the country.

Friday, July 8, 2011

First post.

Day1

Day2
Day 3

Day4
Here goes my first post on this blog.  I am hoping to use this as a way for people to see what I am currently working on.  This week I set a goal to do one selfportrait each day spending at least an hour.  The first four days were very successful.  However, day 5 was not.  I just had a hard time getting into it that day.  Today is day 6 and I am about to get to work on #6.  Here are the results of the first four days.