Heba Amin

ARTV 200

DRAWING FROM NATURE–EXERCISES IN ABSTRACTION

Abstraction is used in all art and design. A design is, by definition, an abstraction: in
representing something we emphasize certain qualities and leave out others.

PROCEDURE:
1. Choose an organic form.
2. Study the object’s structure and physical surface. Then cut it apart to analyze its internal
makeup. (This observation technique should provide an understanding of the object’s
overall physical characteristics).
3. In your sketchbook, sketch as many analytical and interpretive studies of the object’s
internal and external structure as possible.
4. Choose five sketches and write what was observed and thought about next to the sketch.
5. Using a variety of viewpoints, scales, styles, and techniques, do twelve drawings of your
object using the prompts given to you (choose twelve from the list). Some of these
drawings will be quite realistic interpretations of the form, others will be more abstract.
The image size of each drawing should be a little more than 10cm x 10cm, say 12cm x
12cm, so that you can crop the image down to 10cm x 10cm for the final presentation.
6. For the final presentation of this project you will trim each of your twelve drawings into a
10cm x 10cm format, and mount them on a 38cm x 52cm sheet of black board, using a
strong (non-lumpy!) adhesive.

MATERIALS:
sketchpad, colored paper, pencils, markers, fine liners, pastels, colored pencils, paints, found
materials, chalk, charcoal, ink, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
1. contour drawing.
2. accurately drawn and refined structural drawing.
3. drawing using hatching and crosshatching.
4. use of dots and/or dashes—(best to use fine marker for this).
5. drawing using repetitive scribbling or calligraphic marks.
6. drawing of the object in the style of Cubism.
7. use the object to create a decorative pattern.
8. collage with found materials (paper, cloth, corrugated cardboard, paint, etc.,).
9. drawing of the object in the style of late 20th or early 21st century illustration.
10. abstracting the object to geometric forms.
11. metamorphosis of the object into something else.
12. use range of values to carefully render the texture of the form.
13. reducing figure and ground to flat black and white shapes—figure/ground ambiguity.
14. reducing figure and ground to three values (black, gray, and white).
15. using a dramatic range of values to express a strong sense of light on the object.
16. abstraction, exaggerating the form--creating a "caricature" of the object.
17. drawing of the object in a specific style (your choice of time period or culture).
CONSIDERATIONS:
• The design of each drawing—how each is composed within the 4" x 4" picture
plane. Remember to think about positive and negative shape relationships.
• Create a sense of variety (scale, texture, value, line quality, and so on)
• Try to really consider the qualities of the marks made in the design style you are
imitating, also pay attention to the particular visual mood
• The use of your imagination, and also use of a variety of drawing materials.
• Neat and well executed final presentation of the twelve mounted drawings.

DUE DATES:
Thursday March 4: bring organic object to class;
in class: sketches and reflections
Thursday March 11: #1-4 due
Thursday March 18: #5-8 due
Thursday March 25: #9-12 due