Drawing Lesson 3 :: Advanced-Level Spheres

We are continuing our weekly drawing class. We are using Mark Kistler’s book, You Can Draw in 30 Days. Instead of completing the book in 30 days, we plan to take 30 weeks, doing a new lesson each week and then spending time during the week practicing what we have learned. Although I am teaching the class, I am also student and learning every bit as much as the wee ones. Michelle has a degree in fine arts and she adds tons of helpful hints. It is a very exciting time for us all. If you would like to join us, simply pick up the book You Can Draw in 30 Days, and start at Drawing Lesson 1 :: The Sphere, and following along at your own pace. Each Lesson will be linked to the first Lesson, the previous lesson and the next lesson. Happy Drawing!

Lesson 1 :: The Sphere

Lesson 2 :: Overlapping Spheres

Lesson 4 :: The Cube

Last week in Lesson 2 :: Overlapping Spheres, we used placement, overlapping, shading and shadowing. We also learned that the primary spot on an object that receives the most light from your primary light source is called an “hot spot”. Our homework was to practice the concepts on various spheroid shapes. Below is everyone’s favorite drawing from the week.

Pixie’s Overlapping Spheres

Fairy’s Overlapping Spheres

Bug’s Overlapping Spheres

Kimara’s Overlapping oranges

This week we discussed how using the elements of drawing overlapping spheres could be used to create any number of overlapping spheres. We practiced by drawing 3 rows of spheres. Again, we used placement, size, overlapping, shading, shadowing, horizon line and shading.

The Nine Fundamental Laws of Drawing – from Mark Kistler’s book :: You Can Draw in 30 Days

1. Foreshortening: Distort an object to create the illusion that one part of it is closer to your eye.
2. Placement: Place an object lower on the surface of a picture to make it appear closer to your eye.
3. Size: Draw an object larger to make it appear closer to your eye.
4. Overlapping: Draw an object in front of another object to create the visual illusion that it is closer to your eye.
5. Shading: Draw darkness on an object opposite the positioned light source to create the illusion of depth.
6. Shadow: Draw darkness on the ground next to the object, opposite the positioned light source, to create the illusion of depth.
7. Contour lines: Draw curving lines wrapping around the shape of a round object to give it volume and depth.
8. Horizon line: Draw a horizontal reference line to create the illusion that objects in the picture are varying distances from your eye.
9. Density: Create the illusion of distance by drawing objects lighter and with less detail.

Here are the drawings we worked on in class. Pixie (8 years old) had a little trouble lining up her spheres, so Michelle helped her quite a bit today.