Drawing: Light & Shade - Graphite (3-Day Workshop)

Adding light and shade to your drawings can be a powerful way to make them look real. In this three-day workshop we will introduce an effective, step-by-step approach to making realistic drawings with light and shade using a range of soft to medium hardness graphite art pencils and related tools.

In this workshop we will start with a review, or an introduction for those who are new to the process, of basic mark making techniques and construction line drawing. Construction line drawing is a classically based drawing language introduced in the Beginning Drawing class offered through the Center for Lifelong Learning, and in some traditional drawing or illustration programs. Construction line drawing considers the essence of form by drawing lines, in a way that can be corrected or revised relatively easily.

After this discussion and practice of line drawing we will move on to considering light and shade in a systematic way, learning a step-by-step process for building drawings that gradually and effectively capture the degrees of light and shade in what we see. Our work will be done from direct observation of a simple still life that will be set up in the classroom, with discussion of how to continue the learning process outside of class and after the workshop is over.

This class may be useful for students who are exploring making art for fun or recreation, or for those with potential professional aspirations.

Prerequisite: In order to get the most out of the class students should have experience taking a beginning drawing class and have some familiarity with the practices of proportional measuring and construction line drawing.

SUPPLIES: The following supplies or their equivalent are recommended for this class. If you have questions or concerns about purchasing supplies, please let us know prior to the class start.

NOTE: Bloomington Fine Art Supply, a local, independent art store located at 207 S. Rogers Street near the corner of 4^th and Rogers Streets, has a copy of this list and will put together a kit of all the class supplies for you to pick up in their store. They are offering a 15% discount on your purchase of supplies on this list. Bloomington Fine Art Supply’s website is bfasupply.com, their phone number is 812-369-4013, and their email is bfa.supply@gmail.com.

Required
- Graphite art pencils: 8B, 6B, 4B, 2B, HB – brands other than Faber Castell preferred (Faber Castell pencils are of good quality but are relatively harder than other brands)
- 18”x24” Strathmore 400 Series drawing pad, or other drawing pad (not sketch or newsprint)
- Kneaded eraser
- Pink eraser 
- Snap blade cutter (if you already have a sharp box cutter or utility knife that will work)
- Workable fixative 

Optional
- Mechanical pencil style eraser – Tombow Mono round or rectangular recommended
- Drawing board with clips and large rubber band approx. 20”x26” (This is useful for drawing at home. Drawing boards and clips will be available for use in class.)
- Sketchbook - 9”x12” suggested.
- Vinyl Eraser