Even if your participants aren't interested in comics (and sadly there are such children out there), this could be applicable to composition of other images, and many kids feel they have learned a real practical technique with this one, which is what they like. Saying that, some kids are already fully aware of how to depict depth in their drawings, so I tell them it's a good reminder to reinforce their skills.
So, this exercise is about getting ourselves past this kind of arrangement of elements -
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So how can we make our drawings more realistic, capturing the 3-dimensionality and depth of field of the world around us?
A4 paper handed out, on the board/flipchart I draw their sheet and where I'd like them to roughly and lightly draw 2 dotted pencil lines - one halfway down, and another dividing the bottom half into 2 again (no need to measure or be exact, and don't bother with rulers).
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In pencil, I start to construct my picture on the background line, adding backgroundy things; here a volcano and palm trees, though I encourage everyone to think of their own backdrop, whether it be forest, cityscape or whatever -
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With everyone up to speed, I show how next I add midground elements to my picture. Again, think of your own elements or just copy mine if you are stuck for ideas -
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Now once we are all done, I demonstrate adding my foreground element. As we are making a comic image, what are we likely to have in the front of our picture or panel? Hopefully someone will suggest character or characters -
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Time to hand out the black felt tips, and make some sense out of our spagetti-mess drawings. I ask WHERE on the drawing should we begin inking? WHY the foregound first? What might happen if we start inking the background scenery first? Kids start to get it now. I demonstrate -
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I'll give them no more than 10 minutes on this part, and I go round everyone to give a little guidance. Usually about a third of them will make a bit of a mistake and ink parts that should be hidden, but that's how you learn. Remember these drawings are about learning a technique, not getting it perfect - these will not be going on the wall or anything, so don't worry if you've done a bit wrong, your next drawing will be better.
Having done this exercise once, you'll find that with your next attempt there's no need to draw the initial dotted lines as you'll just know whereabouts to place elements on your picture. And of course, this isn't how you would compose every picture - it's only appropriate in certain instances. What it is though, is something that might prove useful when you are struggling with how to establish a scene or place, acting as a reminder of one way that you could go about it.
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I show a quick optical illusion - two birds flying -
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- the class will usually agree that the bottom one looks closer as the line is thicker, even though they are both about the same size. This is how to use this to our advantage -
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This exercise flows neatly into number 5 - black and white contrast. Next.
1 comment:
This is great stuff. I'll use this in my own drawing as well as in a workshop. Much appreciated.
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