The Art of Atmosphere: Backgrounds That Elevate Your Drawings

Praxisnahes Kursprojekt

Assignment:

Your project is to use the various different tools to create 3 very different types of backgrounds.  Even if you are a complete beginner still have a go at the more challenging ones as this is purely down to practice and you might be surprised at what you can achieve.  Most of these backgrounds are based on imagination but I have provided a couple of images for the more blurred, out of focus ones but you could use your own images or choose to create these from your imagination - it's entirely up to you!  The main objective of these types of backgrounds are  to complement the main subject of a picture and not to detract from it.  

Materials:

• Drawing Paper -  Although, I will be using St Cuthbert's Saunders Waterford 300g Hot Press watercolour paper you could use something else but ideally it wants to have a relatively smooth surface 
• 2 Pencils - ‘2B’, '9B' or similar grades
• 9B graphite block but this is not essential
• Blending Stump
• Kneadable Eraser
• Unusual tools i.e. Make-up Sponge, Pad and Brush
• Graphite Powder

Getting Started:

I would advise watching each part through first to gain an understanding of the process before starting your drawing.

Sharing Your Artwork:

When you have completed your project, please upload it to 'your class project' where you will also be able to see what other students have posted.

I look forward to seeing your progress as you gain confidence using the techniques shown in this class.  Like every new skill the more you practice the more confidence you gain.  Please remember that I am always happy to answer any questions that you may have at any time.

Getting positive feedback or words of encouragement can go a long way in helping us appreciate our accomplishments. This can happen when another student asks you a question about your art, or when someone else acknowledges your progress.