Sharpening, Line, & Value Review

    A brief review of drawing fundamentals
    Connect with your tool, quality of line, and understanding of light

    Overview

    • A demonstration on how to sharpen your pencils in order to maximize line quality
    • Information on how to use your arm while drawing
    • Review of ghosting a line and alternating line quality
    • Review of the mechanics of Light
    • Bringing dimensionality to a drawing through the use of value
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    1 - Sharpening your Pencil Properly

    Materials:

    • Utility Knife
    • Sandpaper
    • Paper Towel
    • Patience

    Duration: 20 minutes

    This demonstration and exercise will be about proper grip and practice for pencil sharpening. Sharpening  this way is the first step in achieving the ability to alter line quality.

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    2 - Ghost your Lines

    Materials:

    • Pen or Pencil
    • Paper of any type and size

    Duration: 25 minutes

    After talking about how to prepare your tools and use your arm properly we will begin line ghosting. In Part 2 of this section we will draw a line and go over it eight times.

    We may expand further on basic shapes and perspectives but our purpose is to warm-up and have a quick review. For more of these types of exercises I recommend http://drawabox.com/

     

    1 - Ghost your Lines

    1. Place dots all over your paper
    2. Prepare to connect the dots with a line
    3. Make the motion repeatedly of drawing the line without actually touching the paper
    4. Find the rhythm of the line and without skipping a beat let the pencil touch the paper. 
    5. Connect all the dots.

    2 - Repetition and Percision

    1. Draw a line in one shot
    2. Repeat seven times

    Note:

    • Draw from your shoulder
    • Bring out bold, confident strokes and stray from scribbling back and forth. Once a line is made the message is sent, don't let that message be fear of the line.
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    3 - The Value Scale

    Materials:

    • Pencil or Charcoal Stick
    • Paper of any type and size
    • (optional) Pencils rated HB, 2B, 4B, 6B
    • (optional) Ruler

    Duration: 15 minutes

    A review of the value scale and how to create one. A song has a scale that connects the notes in proportion. This applies to drawing as well.

    1 - Gradient Grid:

    1. Prepare an eight-step grid by drawing a very wide rectangle and dividing it with 7 equidistant vertical Lines
    2. Create a stepping scale of values going from dark to light by varying the pressure of the tool. One value for each box. You may use different pencils as well during this exercise. 

    2 - Smooth Gradient Grid:

    1. Create a smooth and even gradient from dark to light without lifting your tool.

    Submit for Critique

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