LINE: The Class Projects
The class project or projects in this course aim to give you new skills in drawing with lines and range from gaining physical confidence tuning in the hand and eye to playful and investigative study sheets. Please check the resources section for the handouts. They will provide comprehensive guidance on what to submit to the project gallery to share with the Skillshare community and get feedback. I have ensured that all the projects have ease of initiation and promote independent and creative thinking - so try to make the projects your own and don't feel that you need to copy exactly what I am doing. Simply follow the approach step-by-step from the handout and change the medium to something that you have at hand.
Within each activity box on the handouts, you will find a checkbox to mark to confirm task completion.
Assignment 1: Lines, Arcs, and Ellipses Exercise
Instructions: Please use cost-effective paper for this exercise; expensive paper is unnecessary and may hinder creativity.
Eight straight lines: Draw these long and short horizontally and keep the distance between them equal. Feel the straightness in your arm by locking your elbow.
Eight smooth arcs: Use your natural body compasses of the wrist and elbow to help you create smooth shapes.
Eight widening ellipses: Go through the motion first and air draw before your pencil touches the paper, feel the smoothness and symmetry of the oval. Sketch the first line lightly and then true-up the ellipse. Make sure that the shapes have round corners that are not spiky. Start with a narrow ellipse and then move to opening the ellipse till it becomes a circle.
Present these as a double-page spread of your sketchbook or on scrap paper. Photograph and upload to the gallery.

Lesson Learning Objectives:

Develop proficiency in drawing lines, arcs, and ellipses with varying lengths and smoothness.
Enhance physical confidence and coordination by practising controlled arm movements while drawing.
Cultivate an understanding of symmetry and proportion by creating smooth shapes and ellipses.
Explore the concept of depth and space in drawing through overlapping lines in landscape doodles.
Foster observational skills and hand-eye coordination through blind contour drawing techniques.
Encourage creative experimentation and expression by drawing without looking at the paper.
Develop patience and attention to detail by closely following the contours of a subject’s form.
Promote independent thinking and adaptation by encouraging students to personalise their approach and medium in completing assignments.
Facilitate peer learning and feedback exchange by participating in the project gallery to share work and receive critiques from the community.
Cultivate an appreciation for the process of drawing and the iterative nature of skill development in visual art.

Assignment 2: Blind Contour Drawing of a Plant

Instructions:

Create a landscape doodle
Draw a landscape doodle where you should experiment with creating the illusion of depth through overlapping lines alone.
Blind Contour Drawing of a Plant
Embrace the process by drawing without looking at the paper.
Find a starting point and place the tip of your pencil on the paper in a suitable location, allowing the entire subject to fit on the page.
Place the tip of your pencil on the paper and draw the subject's outline by walking a line around the form like a little bug walking around the silhouette. Your pencil should move continuously, only occasionally lifting off the paper, as you follow the subject's shape as closely as possible.
Imagine that the tip of your pencil is touching the form instead of the paper. Follow the contours of the form with your eye as you move your hand in coordination. Take your time and avoid rushing.
Present these as a double-page spread of your sketchbook. Photograph and upload to the gallery.

Lesson Learning Objectives:

Develop spatial perception skills to create the illusion of depth in drawings.
Practice creating three-dimensional representations on a two-dimensional surface.
Explore techniques for conveying depth through overlapping lines in landscape doodles.
Cultivate observational skills by drawing subjects without looking at the paper.
Enhance hand-eye coordination and proprioception through blind contour drawing exercises.
Foster patience and attention to detail in capturing the contours of a subject’s form.
Promote the understanding of the relationship between line and form in visual representation.
Encourage experimentation with different drawing techniques to convey spatial relationships effectively.
Facilitate reflection on the process of drawing and the development of artistic skills.
Encourage sharing and peer feedback through the project gallery to enrich learning experiences.

Assignment 3: Descriptive Line Drawing of a Shell

Instructions: If you don't have a dip pen and ink, explore alternative mediums like graphite or a fine liner.

A silhouette line separates the shape from its surroundings.
Overlapping lines create the impression that one form is in front of the other.
Inner contours wrap around the shell, creating the impression of a three-dimensional form.
Present these as a double-page spread of your sketchbook. Photograph and upload to the gallery.

Lesson Learning Objectives:

Familiarise students with dip pen and ink as tools for creating detailed line drawings.
Explore the concept of "bug line drawings" as a playful and imaginative approach to sketching subjects.
Encourage students to envision and explore the terrain of their subjects, such as viewing a conch shell as a rocky mountain slope.
Foster creativity and imagination by imagining miniature scenarios within the subject, such as a tiny mountaineer bug climbing the shell.
Develop observational skills by physically interacting with the subject to understand its physicality and texture.
Practice capturing the contrast between outer jaggedness and inner smoothness in the subject through line work.
Emphasise the importance of tactile exploration and sensory perception in informing artistic interpretations.
Encourage experimentation with different techniques to represent texture, form, and movement in drawings.
Promote mindfulness and sensory awareness in the artistic process by closing your eyes to feel the subject's physical characteristics.
Facilitate reflection on the relationship between perception, imagination, and artistic expression in creating visual representations.

Final Major Project - Insect Study Sheet

Instructions:

Study sheets are an excellent method to enhance your observational skills and hand-eye coordination. They can encompass various aspects, such as gestural studies and detailed work, and focus on anything, from rocks and plants to animals.
Your study sheet should reflect your subject's personality and may incorporate written notes and colour swatches. Consider including investigations into specific parts of the subject, such as a leg study or a close-up of an insect's head.
To accommodate ample space and avoid constraints, I usually work with a large sheet of paper, such as an A2 bulldog attached to a drawing board or an open double page of a portrait A3 sketchbook.
Have fun and make this project your own, and add a dash of colour with either colouring pencil or watercolour!
Present these as a double-page spread of your sketchbook. Photograph and upload to the gallery.

Lesson Learning Objectives:

Understand the concept of the insect archetype and its relevance in entomology.
Recognise the fundamental body plan all insects share and its implications for artistic representation.
Learn techniques for breaking down insect bodies into segments to facilitate drawing accuracy and ease.
Develop proficiency using construction lines as a foundational framework for drawing complex subjects like beetles.
Explore insect drawings' importance of maintaining symmetry, perspective, and overall form.
Enhance observational skills and hand-eye coordination through the creation of insect study sheets.
Experiment with different drawing techniques to capture the personality and details of insect subjects.
Practice incorporating written notes and colour swatches into study sheets to enhance understanding and visual appeal.
For detailed observational studies, understand the benefits of working on a larger scale, such as with A2 paper or double-page spreads.
Encourage creativity and individual expression in approaching insect study projects while emphasising accuracy and attention to detail.

John Tollefsen

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