Directions:This exercise is probably the biggest stepping stone to being able to copy nature. It can be extremely challenging, but once it's under your belt, new worlds are opened up. So hang in there, and follow these instructions as close as humanly possible.
We're going to start by finding a place to work with a little empty wall space and where all extra light can be shut off. Next we are going to hang a plaster cast sculpture (I'm going to try to supply these to each student, but I will need them back, and I'll ask you to reimburse my shipping expenses) right next to a smooth and hefty art paper (I recommend going to the art store and hand-picking a smooth, heavy art paper.) The eyes of the sculpture should be at your eye level. We want to set up a single source light (this can be a simple cheap utility light from any hardware store) that must not be disturbed for weeks--as long as it takes to finish this exercise. The light should shine across the sculpture and create a triangle of light on the shadow side of the face. Also, try to set up the lighting such that there are clearly highlights, mid-tones, core shadows, and subtle reflected light.
If you get stuck, give me a call or email.
801.763.1602
jkirk@jkirkrichards.com
Now step back five or six feet and put a piece of tape on the floor. This is the magic spot from which you are going to make all judgment calls. You will continually come back and stand behind this line to compare the sculpture to your drawing. Hold a string horizontally with your arms straight out in front of you to compare vertical positions of key points. Now step up and place your mark on the paper. Come back to your taped position and double check to see if your mark is in the right place. Tie a weight to the string and hold it out in front of you with your arm straight to compare horizontal positioning of features. You will be back and forth a million times before finishing this exercise--checking and double checking your work.
If you get stuck, give me a call or email.
801.763.1602
jkirk@jkirkrichards.com
Pick a central point of reference. In my example, the large blue X represents the main point of reference, where the shadow under the nose begins. Measure horizontally and vertically from the central point of reference to find secondary points of reference, represented by the smaller blue x's. Then, very lightly start to draw an outline. Separate the shadow from the light. You should use a light pencil and you should not push hard. In the final drawing, there should not be any visible lines--only tonal values of light and dark.
When the basic outline is in place, begin to shade. I recommend that all of your strokes are either strait up and down, at a consistent angle of your choosing, and/or rounding across the form in a sculptural manner. Continue to push the darks darker until they equal the darkness of the plaster cast's shadow. Darken the negative space until it's gray approximates the gray of the plaster cast background. Keep pushing edges until everything is in its perfect location. If something doesn't look right, and you can't determine what's wrong, stand at your magic tape spot, turn around 180 degrees, and look at you drawing through a mirror. New things will pop out at you that you didn't notice before. Fix them. Accentuate the hard edges. Exaggerate the softness of the soft edges, both by drawing them soft and by blurring them with your eraser or smudge stick. When you are done, let it sit for a while and come back later with a fresh eye. Make sure your pencils are sharp so you can finish this exercise off with a smooth, photo finish. Sculpt your kneadable eraser into a sharp point to eliminate small dark spots that shouldn't be there. In the end, you should be able to stand back at your magic taped spot and see a drawing virtually identical to the plaster cast sculpture. The grays may have a slightly different hue, but they should have the exact same value.
Okay, it's finally time to email me a scan or photo of your drawing.
Once I have approved your drawing, you are going to get a fresh piece of paper and draw the exact same thing from memory. It doesn't have to be the exact same size, but it should have the same proportions and details. You should be able to draw in hours from memory what it took you weeks to draw from life. When your memory drawing is done, compare it to your original drawing. Memorize any mistakes, put your original away, and then fix your memory drawing. You will be surprised at what your mind can remember.
Email me a scan or photo of your memory drawing. Congratulations!
