First Class - Drawing as Description

Drawing as Description

In our first class together in 2016 we jumped right into some drawing exercises and projects. In these exercises we examined the nature of "description". At first Mr. Fox held up an apple and asked students to "describe" it. Many students used the provided pencil and paper and drew a simple apple shape. A few thought more closely about the term "describe" and one drew a tree and another wrote the word red.

Students then chose a small object from a collection of Mr. Fox's and did a quick study drawing of the object. 

We then talked about just what kinds of things an artist might describe about something besides what it looks like. Mr. Fox held up a pencil and students offered descriptive words about the pencil and soon were describing what you can do with a pencil and where you might find it, as well as its appearance.

With this new understanding that an artist might be able to communicate ideas about the object a well as its appearance, students went back to the small object collection and used their imagination in the creation of a drawing that described their object, what it might be used for, where you might find it and even a story about the object. 

We used a variety of pencils with different grades of graphite to create crisp gray lines or darker softer lines. Some students experimented with color pencils as well. 

Not all of these drawings were finished at the end of this class. In our next class we will continue to explore the idea of drawing as a means of communicating ideas.

This drawing began with a small blue glass bottle and
developed into a whole collection of objects.

This drawing began with a metal coat hook.

This drawing began with a small metal bell and this drawing
will be of that bell in a church tower .

This drawing began with an old metal fork and developed into the
scene of someone eating a container of "Cup of Noodles'

This one began with a metal butter knife and grew into a drawing of a
steak and broccoli dinner at a restaurant with music playing in the background. 

This drawing began with a return to the apple but now a cityscape is drawn
in the apple representing N.Y.C. (the big apple). That's going to
be a hand holding the apple when the drawing is finished.

This drawing began with an old shaving brush but became a whole scene of a
make-up table with other objects and a mirror in the background
with a reflection of all the objects. This drawing is a little light because
the main idea has just been sketched in. When its finished it will be
darker and photograph better.