Landscape & Nature Drawing 8 class meetings • 3 hours each

Students will explore traditional drawing tools and approaches to create landscapes and drawings from nature on site at Tookany Creek Park as well as in the classroom. This course will result in the creation of nature studies, inventive images based on natural elements and drawings developed in the studio using drawings from the field as references and collage elements. A variety of drawing media will be demonstrated by the instructor and utilized by the students.

Subjects

• Timed Drawing
• Texture
• Shape & Form
• Light & Shadow
• Line & Contour
• Mark Making
• Studio Drawing

Student Activities:

• brainstorm scape & nature subject list
• draw (3) 5 min. landscapes.
• use a small index card picture viewer & repeat the above exercise.
• set up a page for thumbnails
• create gesture drawings of movement of the water & other elements in the environment.
• draw the negative spaces of trees. • collect actual textures from the environment by making rubbings
• draw to render simulated & invented textures.
• print images with found natural objects.
• compose a collage using the above. • create a simple grid viewer.
• compose the picture plane on gridded drawing paper.
• compare and contrast the shapes in the natural environment.
• create a value scale with several different drawing materials.
• coat paper with a middle value using charcoal and draw with eraser and black to render light and darks of the landscape.
• participate in class critique. • explore blind contour drawing.
• use line weight and variation to depict foreground & background.
• create linear gestures of complex views.
• use natural objects to explore cross contour of forms and create drawings of blown up views.
• create and use drawing tools from natural objects.
• select a number of views, create thumbnails & develop large scale drawings synthesizing elements explored during the course.
• participate in class critique.
• exhibit their work.

• Tools & Materials:

  Bring these each week:

  • backpack or bag that will hold 14" x 17" drawing tablets & all drawing materials and can be carried “hands free”
  • collapsible stool or chair that can be carried “hands free”
  • 14" x 17" newsprint tablet
  • 14" x 17" spiral drawing tablet
  • 14" x 17" charcoal pad, assorted colors including white grey and black
  • pencils, assorted 6b, 4b, hb, 2h, ebony
  • charcoal pencils
  • vine & willow charcoal
  • conte crayon, including black & white
  • drawing ink & drawing pen
  • kneaded eraser
  • gum eraser
  • white plastic eraser
  • chamois
  • fixative (aerosol must be used outside) or
  • fixative alternative (spray bottle and matte medium diluted with water)
  • portfolio
  • case or pouch for materials
  • thin layers that can be shed as the air warms
  • thin gloves for chilly morningsbug spray (optional)
    
  • Other Tools & Materials:
    • Meeting 2: picture viewer (index card with rectangle cut in it) acrylic matte medium
    • Meeting 3: 8”x10” cardboard, thread, metal edge rulers, tape, x-acto knife