Birdhouse Drawing and Student Work

 

This was the last project my spring drawing class worked on and it was challenging.  I gave the class the option of adding a bird as the photo reference of the birdhouse didn't have one.  Imagination and freedom to add, take away and include expression are important tools for making a work of art your own.  It's funny how allowing ourselves freedom to explore and imagine is hard to learn for a lot of people, me included.  

I love to see how different students handle the same subject matter, as you will see in the butterfly drawings below they are all unique and different in their own way.

Deborah A. Kirkeeide copyright

All work copyrighted by the individual artist 

 

  

Butterfly Drawing

 

My drawing class worked on this butterfly drawing last week.  This was an exercise working on a gray toned paper with white colored pencil.  I decided it might be fun to add some violet and purple pencil along with the white which worked out well for this photo reference.  I like to include at least one drawing on toned paper with white pencil to get students to think outside the box.  Our last drawing will be a birdhouse on gray toned paper with white pencil.  I will be posting that drawing soon along with some student work.

Last week my paints came out due to receiving some beautiful and amazing sunflowers for Mother's Day from my daughter and her husband.  I had an entire bunch of sunflowers to work with, 15 to be exact.  It took me a couple of hours just to set up the still life.  If you have any hope of getting a good painting then you have to start with a good composition.  Anyway I'll be posting that painting soon.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Potted Pansy

 

This is one of the simpler drawings my virtual class worked on last week.   This was an example of working smaller than the reference photo using comparative measuring to capture the correct proportions. Even though this is simpler subject matter, one object with no background, it can still take a bit of time.  Comparative measuring is a tool that takes time and practice to get comfortable with but really important for proportions.

Tomorrow we finish the watering can drawing and move on to a butterfly on toned paper with white colored pencil.  Soon I will post that drawing!  

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright

Window Drawing

 

This is a drawing I debated whether to add to the spring virtual drawing class that I'm currently teaching.  There ended up not being enough time for all the references I wanted to use.  I loved this window but it was very time consuming, so the reference will be added for homework or practice idea.  I draw all my photo references before having the class try them to insure they will work for our class time.  Extra practice for me which is a bonus.

I've been giving the class some challenging pieces and so far they haven't rebelled.  I try to balance the challenging pieces with some simpler ones.  Next week the class will be working on toned paper with an added white colored pencil, one of my favorite drawing techniques.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright 

Watering Can Drawing

 

My spring drawing class started last week and I've been busy drawing again, All Things Spring this time.  I found a bunch of photo references on pixabay.com, the watering can is one of them.  My students will be doing the watering can in our next class.  The watering can reference is a good exercise in negative space, the background is what makes this drawing so interesting, all the space around the can indicating plants.

I'm also busy sewing, it's been years and I needed some summer PJ's.  I looked all over the internet for PJ's and found only one thing which was priced at $100.  No way!  So I put on my sewing hat and got busy, it's been a nice break from painting.

I will post some more drawings soon.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide copyright