BASIC DRAWING SKILLS

The following is a list of basic drawing skills that will be helpful in creating a quality art portfolio:

1. Knowledge of one point-perspective (ability to draw a room or a box * facing a flat side - so that it looks realistic). Guidelines all recede to one point.

2. Knowledge of two-point perspective (ability to draw a room or a box * facing a corner * so that it looks realistic). Guidelines all recede to two points.

3. Ability to hold a pencil at arms length - looking at it with one eye closed - to gauge angles and proportions of the subject being drawn. This will help you draw two or more objects accurately in relation to each other. It will also help you draw people or objects in a foreshortened position such as an arm coming straight out at you.

4. Ability to draw an ellipse form (such as a glass) accurately. The top of a glass seen at eye level looks like a flat line. As you move the glass down from your point of vision, an ellipse form begins to appear. As it gets lower and lower, the ellipse form goes from a narrow oval shape to a circle. Guidelines should be used to make the ellipse shapes and glass form symmetrical.

5. Ability to cut an accurate viewfinder and knowledge of how to use it. A viewfinder is like looking through a camera lens, deciding what to frame. The window size should be in the same proportions as the paper or canvas you will be using. You look through the window to ascertain what you will include in your drawing, and it will help you place objects accurately on the paper.

6. Knowledge of how to accurately LOOK and draw what you see. This is often the weakest link for students. We tend to draw from our imagination, yet our "remembered" symbols are far more simple and mundane than real life. You should practice, practice, practice, being able to develop visual/eye and hand coordination. Work from life and draw what you see. Look at the subject matter as much as you do your drawing. Your eyes should flash up and down between your drawing and your subject matter. To draw well from your imagination you must first study your subject matter so thoroughly that you increase your visual/mental file cabinet, and even then * life drawing is better!

7. Learn to shade accurately. Look for "areas" of light and dark value to render. AVOID outlining unless it's a line drawing. All colors have a light/dark value. Visualize how a black and white printer, or an old black and white TV set register color. Learn to do the same.

8. Learn to develop a "center of focus" in all artworks. That's where your eye wants to go. It should be at one of the four 1/3 cross points. Example: Draw the lines for tic, tac, toe. There are four places where the lines cross. Chose one of those four points as the area to develop your center of focus. That is where you should have the most complexity, detail or contrast. Make the surrounding area lighter, less detailed, less complex. Also called the Golden Section.

9. Drawing is about what you chose NOT to draw, as much as what you chose TO draw. Select a landscape or a thematic group of objects to draw and practice developing a "center of focus". Learn to develop a way for the eye to come into the picture through the bottom of the page. That is done through the use of contrast, complexity, line quality and use of the elements of art.

10. Practice using negative space as a tool to draw accurately. Negative space (background) is as important as positive space (the foreground or object you are drawing). Beginning students almost always see ONLY the positive space. Challenge: practice developing a "center of focus" by developing the negative space (the background) and abstract or minimize the foreground/object you are drawing.

11.Avoid using illustrations and drawings from computers or books. Work from life as much as possible. The computer is often a great crutch; and overuse can hinder the development of good drawing skills. It is plagiarism to use someone else's artwork, and it's illegal to copy and submit another person's artwork in a portfolio or competition. In ANY submitted portfolio piece or competition piece, I (as your teacher) am required to sign a form stating that your work is not copied. So don't. You may use your own photography, and you may use photos that you change substantially in content.

12. Learn to use a camera. You use photos to create artwork and you use photography to document artwork for competition, for college entrance and for the AP exam.

13. Practice creating and drawing still life arrangements. Select thematic objects to group together. Arrange and rearrange until it looks just "right". Don't settle for the first arrangement. The initial preparation of what you group and how you group the objects can make or break a drawing. Don't be in such a hurry to jump in and get started. All professionals honor the "prep", in any discipline.

(from J. Genone, AP art instructor)