Art in Focus

Chapter 2: Developing a Visual Vocabulary

Additional Studio Projects

STILL LIFE USING LINE

Using colored pencils, complete a drawing of a close-up view of a still life. Include all or parts of four or more objects. Draw these objects in outline and overlap the shapes. Use four different types of line:
  • Even weight
  • Light to dark
  • Thick to thin
  • Broken
Two or more “negative shapes” in the composition will be filled in completely with hues that are low in intensity. Identify one “positive shape” as the focal point of your composition, and emphasize it by filling it in with a high intensity hue.

INSPIRATION

Examine the paintings and drawings in Art in Focus, noting the different kinds of lines used in each. Can you find a work in which the lines:
  • Are of an even weight or thickness throughout?
  • Change from light to dark?
  • Change from thick to thin?
  • Appear to be interrupted or broken in places?

The areas representing the figures and other objects in a composition are known as “positive shapes.” The areas that remain after the positive shapes have been created are known as “negative shapes.” Can you point out these negative shapes in the same work?

Concentrating on the paintings in the text, is there one in particular that demonstrates how a contrast of intensities can be used to emphasize an important part of the composition?

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Gather the following tools and materials.
  • Pencils and sketch paper
  • White drawing paper or mat board, 15 × 22 inches
  • Ruler
  • Colored pencils

WHAT YOU WILL DO
  1. Complete several pencil sketches of a still life arrangement consisting of four or more interesting objects. The objects in your drawing should overlap.
  2. Study your drawings carefully and, with a ruler, draw a box around the most interesting sections of each.
  3. On white drawing paper, complete a line drawing of the area represented in the best of your boxed sections. The lines in this drawing should be of four types: even weight; light to dark; thick to thin; and broken.
  4. Select at least two negative shapes in your composition and, with colored pencil, carefully fill these in with hues of low intensity. Identify a single positive shape in your composition that you wish to emphasize. Color this in with a hue of high intensity.

EVALUATING YOUR WORK

Describe Can you point out and name the four or more still life objects in your drawing? Are others able to correctly identify these objects?

Analyze Does your drawing include four different kinds of line? Can you show where each is used? Did you color two or more negative shapes with dull or low intensity hues? Did you also emphasize one positive shape by coloring it with a bright or high intensity hue?

Interpret Do you think you solved the artistic problems pertaining to line, shape, and emphasis called for in this studio exercise? Do you think viewers will be able to recognize these artistic problems by studying your finished composition?

Judge Do you think your composition is successful? What is its most appealing feature? If you were to do it again, what would you change?
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