Drawing from Nature

Class Description

Join Riverworks Teaching Artist, Jack Burbridge, for Drawing from Nature. Drawing is about learning to look. Through experiments that help us shift to our spatial minds and build trust in our own hand-eye coordination, we’ll slow down to learn the wordless language of looking. In this course, we’ll draw upon still life, early autumn light, and our farmhouse environment to create drawings inspired by our response to natural beauty – both around us and within. We’ll explore line, positive and negative shape, proportion, value, and perspectival space using a range of dry (and some wet) media. You’ll come away with new skills for seeing and some unexpectedly cool drawings! This class is ideal for both beginners and those with experience in drawing. Supplies: Required and Suggested Student Supply List: https://tinyurl.com/DrawingNature26 Course Curriculum: Each session builds on concepts explored in the previous. Session 1 – Drawing the Line: Line / shape . Seeing natural forms, such as pears, apples, and other seasonal fruits and plants. We’ll learn to see contour edges, overlapped and clustered shapes; we’ll explore color as value. Session 2 – Seeing in Black and White (a Good Thing): Line / shape / value. Seeing natural forms such as flowers and other seasonal plant forms on a table. We’ll learn to see positive and negative shapes, organically compose pictures in black and white two color (and possibly gray) value. Session 3 – Putting Everything on the Table: Line / shape / value / perspective. Seeing objects on a table and the table itself. We’ll learn how to see objects in perspective, sight size, and measure. Session 4 – Reading the Room: Line / shape / value / perspective / light. Seeing interior spaces and the effects of light on form. We’ll learn how to see the room in perspective and to compose with light. See Jack Burbridge's bio on our Teaching Artists page.