Contour Drawing - Raleigh Sketch-In

Henry Spencer Moore
Large Standing Figure: Knife Edge

Last Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the North Carolina Museum of Art for the Raleigh Sketch-In. 

The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the museum has beautiful grounds and a wonderful collection.

We began the day with a contour drawing exercise. It's one of my favorite ways to LOOK at something. It's not about the drawing at all.

I've been reading "The Natural Way to Draw" by Kimon Nicolaides and here is what he has to say about the exercise. Even though I have been doing contour drawings for a while now, what he said was a revelation to me.

1 - The Sense of Touch

"Imagine that your pencil point is touching the model instead of the paper. Without taking your eyes off the model, wait until you are convinced that the pencil is touching that point on the model upon which your eyes are fastened. Be guided more by the sense of touch than of sight."

Blind Contour Drawing

2 - An Experience, not a Product

".. a contour study is not a thing that can be 'finished.' It is having a particular type of experience, which can continues as long as you have the patience to look."

3 - Contour ≠ Outline

"Do not be misled by shadows. When you touch the figure, it will feel the same to your hand whether the part you touch happens at the moment to be light or in shadow. Your pencil moves, not on the edge of a shadow, but on the edge of the actual form." He shows two apples and explains that an outline including both apples is a visual illusion. In a contour drawing your finger/pencil would have to leave one apple (lift from the paper) to get to the other apple. "A contour can never be an illusion because it touches the actual thing."

It was a whole different experience to actually imagine my pencil touching the subject and to realize that I have looked at shadow or though of outline

Raleigh Sketch-In 

NCMA grounds ..... as you walk past this boulder there is a surprise

Collapse I by Ladelle Moe

It's huge. I find the combination of the feelings of nature and fallen monument to be intriguing. I think a good time was had by all. We intended to meet back together for another sketch exercise at the 

beginning of the second hour but all were late as time just seemed to stand still/fly by as we lost ourselves in the meditation of drawing and seeing and experiencing the art. I think I am learning that my experience of the world is richer when I have a drawing tool in hand.

Our littlest Sketcher

Faces on Friday and Sketch-In Reminder

I could only see the right half of her face

He turned away after one minute or so

I didn't do any of the 3x5 quick faces this week - but I did do the work. It's good to be flexible in your methods and goal keeping. As long as you are still keeping the goal!

At the Chrysler Museum of Art

At church, and a contour drawing.

A speaker at church

I had a lovely time with a friend - talking and sketching at a coffee shop. It's a good "incognito" place to draw as people sit and stay for a bit. 

At the Chrysler Museum of Art

Tomorrow morning you are invited to a SKETCH-IN at the North Carolina Museum of Art. 10-12!

Museums are a wonderful place to draw. Statues don't move.

Raleigh Sketch-In April 30th

Saturday April 30th

10:00 am -12:00pm

Meet  near the front door to the new wing - at those tables under the trees.

We'll do a couple of drawing exercises at 10:15 while everyone fills out their sketch pass.

(no tripods or easels inside, dry media and sketchbook only)

You can sketch in the permanent collections.

Or in the Museum Park.

http://www.ncartmuseum.org/

for directions to the museum

2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh, NC | (919) 839-NCMA

NC Sketch-In and Spilling Over

 Last week we had a fabulous time at the Cary, NC Sketch-In.

What we lacked in numbers we made up for in laughter!

 And in some hard work!

We did blind contour drawings of our hands.

The post just previous to this one explains the process.

Remember - it's about seeing - not about the drawing!

Hannah showed off some delicious fabric she had painted and Mary toiled away at some portraiture.

 I worked a bit on throwing paint at paper. 

Random marks with guache and a sort of stiff brush.

It wasn't saying "spilling" to me

so I pulled out a white pencil and doodled oodles of happy flowers.

Hannah worked on some very bright colors

inspired by a picture she took of her child's toy.

Next Raleigh, NC Sketch-In

Saturday April 30, 2011

NC Museum of Art

10am - 12pm

A Sketch-In in NC!

http://www.lyrickinard.com/publications.html

I gave a presentation at my local library last week - can I just say how much I love libraries?! I think most of my new directions in life have begun with large stacks of books checked out from the library. Most of my book was written there. I can make art with five kids at home and being interrupted every two minutes - but I can't write that way. This was just a little way to give something back to my favorite community place.

I love sharing my philosophy of ART with everyone. This is it. YOU are creative! YOU can learn to draw if you are willing to spend the time doing the work and if you are willing to give yourself permission not to be perfect. It takes us years to learn to read and write - why do we think that we should be able to draw the first time we pick up a pencil?

I enjoyed talking with so many people after the lecture. Especially Hannah! She was a delight to meet and mentioned that she follows the sketchbook challenge. She was a brave soul and brought her little one along - love that! She had something bright in her hand that drew my eye right away and (magpie that I am) I practically grabbed it out of her hand to examine this sweet little hand made sketchbook. Then she gave it to me. I still can't believe she gave it to me - I'm so honored. Pop over and take a peek at her pantry sketchbook  tutorial so you can make your own.

SO - the upshot is... we're going to start our own sketch-in and YOU are invited!!! No "talent" required. Just come and have fun and play. Bring a sketchbook and whatever you like to use in it. I'll lead a warm-up exercise at half past each hour but mostly we'll just play. Come when you can, leave when you must.

NC SKETCH-IN

Friday March 18th

10am- 2pm

Bring food to share for lunch if you'd like, kids are welcome

Lyric's studio in Cary, NC 102 Kilmorack DR.

RSVP lyric@pobox.com