If this isn't the first time you've read The Drawing Zoo's blog, Facebook or website, you've probably read that we "reinforce traditional arts practices." But for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of us in your class, you may ask "what does that mean?"
Traditional- drawing from life, starting with general shapes and working up to details, draw what you see and not what you think.
*To meet Next Generation Art Standards, we also use contemporary styles of teaching.
Contemporary- multi sensory learning. We convey information by letting the artists experience touch, movement (tactile and kinesthetic elements) on top the traditional sight and hearing.
We love to reference the works and strategies of Beatrix Potter. She is an influential artist who did not get to Google search photos of rabbits when creating her works.
The earliest, rudimentary cameras capture a still image between 1800-1820. It was nearly the 1990's before artists began relying of reference photos in place of a live subject for their drawings, paintings, studies etc.
She started with scientific illustration, anatomical studies, microscopic drawings and then began incorporating her imagination.
How do we tie our practices to those of Beatrix potter?
The Drawing Zoo encourages artists to work broad and loose. Many artists, students and teachers alike, have preconceived expectations or assumptions about animal anatomy and demeanor. The beginning of our exercises allow artists to express those ideas on the paper. Then with further observation they start to notice the similarities and differences between their original ideas and the real thing. They either adapt and correct their work to be accurate, or some start a new study.
We show artists how to commit the general shapes to the paper before jumping into details.
For example, we would draw a bunny with big round shapes, change/correct the inaccuracies and then focus on texture.
Sources:
http://www.peterrabbit.com/en/beatrix_potter/beatrixs_life
https://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/case-studies/beatrix-potter.html
https://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/9598651e44.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment