Tools of the trade.

I'm really glad I'm taking an art course this semester. In many ways, it was exactly what I needed. The lecture aspect is almost always things I already know from reading or instinct. What's really valuable about the classes is that the prof. makes us sit down and draw according to strict guildlines. For example, today we were presented with a table that had different shapes on it; the exercise was to draw all the items on the table, reproducing the proportions accurately. This is the type of exercise that I really have difficulty doing on my own. I prefer to take the easy way out by drawing the image 'generally' and then fixing what doesn't look right (even if it doesn't match what I see). I know that isn't really a way to learn anything (I'm drawing on the knowledge of what the object "should" look like rather than trying to see the image), I just have a hell of a time disciplining myself to do it the hard way. Mostly because it takes me such a freaking long time. Because I took the teacher's edict about proportion seriously, my drawing was the least detailed in the class (everyone else had gotten some shading in; I hadn't even completed sketching all the objects on the table). I felt kind of bad about it, but I know this is the necessary hurtle for me to overcome in order to become an artist. Proportion has always been a problem for me, except when I use photo-reference.

Our assignment for Monday: Draw three full page pictures, starting each one with 3-5 thumbnails. The pictures must be of buildings, and must include three other objects to communicate proportion.