Draw A Sheep - Part One

Most of you probably already know Lori Skoog of The Skoog Farm Journal, but if not, you are in for a treat. I've enjoyed reading her blog for a few years now and thoroughly enjoy watching the weekly art classes she teaches at her farm. I wish I could join in.

Two winters ago I was completely snafued by trying to paint the Wool House window on the 2010 Christmas card. I decided I'd email Lori and see if she'd be willing to give me some advice. I'm not super great at approaching people, so really had to work up my nerve. No worries. She was every bit as nice and helpful in real life as she came across via her blog. I have valued her friendship ever since.

When I told her I was thinking about doing a drawing challenge this month, she immediately jumped on board. I figured we all needed a basic place to start and knew Lori would be that and more. I was right :-).

Enjoy!

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Recently I was approached by "thecrazysheeplady" at Punkin's Patch. She is doing something very exciting on her blog, encouraging people to take on a task that they might not have made time for. We all have things we would like to do, but just don't make it part of our day.

This month Sara is challenging us to draw a sheep. If you think you can't draw, I would like to get you started. I'm a retired art teacher and have been teaching at our farm for the past 10 years. Most of my students had little or no experience, and have found out that they are all very capable of producing beautiful pieces. We meet on Tuesdays and I post their work after each class. Here are a few examples.

Back in the day when I was teaching at the High School, all students were required to take 1 course of art or music. This usually happened in the 9th grade. Those who selected art were all started out in the same way and I continue to do that today. If you have never heard of it, there is a book out there by Betty Edwards that is called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain." It offers the best foundation for beginning artists that I have ever found and IT WORKS.

The key to drawing is being able to see, so the first thing I would have you do is contour line drawing. I want you to get into the right side of your brain (the creative side).

CONTOUR - the outline of a figure or body; the edge or line that defines or bounds a shape or object.

Use a black marker if you have one. There are two methods...

Blind - one continuous line (you may not take your pen off the paper). Look at what you are drawing and DO NOT LOOK DOWN AT YOUR PAPER. This is very frustrating at first, but will make you look very carefully at what you are drawing. I usually start with a hand.

Take your time.

The second option is a modified contour line drawing. This time, one continuous line, look at your hand and now, YOU CAN ALSO LOOK DOWN AT YOUR PAPER. Do not lift your pen. If you forgot something, trace back over the lines that are already there, and add it.

You can apply these two methods to other things.
Like a simple still life.

Once that is done you can turn it into a mixed media project if you want to.

She added colored pencil (in progress)

Have someone model for you.

You will find that drawing from a photograph or real life is much easier than doing something from your head. So how are you going to get a sheep to model for you? Go to Punkin's Patch or google some sheep pictures and see if you can do a contour line drawing.

This was done by one of my students. Can you turn it into a contour drawing?

If you have never drawn before, using a grid can be a confidence builder. Just remember, only look at one square at a time.

(in progress)

I could go on and on, but this should be enough to get you started.
Please hook up with Punkin's Patch and participate in this challenge.
What I have shown you is just the beginning...get creative, all of you can do this.
Great idea Sara!

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To kick off a month of fun drawing, let's have a different kind of drawing. I just ordered two copies of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - one for me and one for a lucky participant in the Draw a Sheep Challenge :-D.

If you are going to give this a try (and you should!), leave a comment here and we'll draw a Random.org winner - say Wednesday evening? Eh, let's make it Thursday. I used Amazon's free Super Saver shipping, so it might take an extra day or so ;-).

Thanks Lori for helping us all get started on the right foot!