MCA's Rust Hall

Designed by Roy Harrover

http://www.memphisflyer.com/TheDailyBuzz/archives/2009/02/05/mcas-rust-hall-turns-50

Free-hand Perspective & Urban Sketching Phenomenon

www.urbansketchers.org

From the website -

Mission:
Urban Sketchers started online as a flickr group in 2007 and later became a nonprofit organization. Our mission as a nonprofit is to raise the artistic, storytelling and educational value of location drawing, promoting its practice and connecting people around the world who draw on location where they live and travel. We aim to show the world, one drawing at a time.

This is the manifesto we follow:

1. We draw on location, indoors or out, capturing what we see from direct observation.
2. Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
3. Our drawings are a record of time and place.
4. We are truthful to the scenes we witness.
5. We use any kind of media and cherish our individual styles.
6. We support each other and draw together.
7. We share our drawings online.
8. We show the world, one drawing at a time.

Some work showcased from the site:

Free-Hand Perspective - Architecture / Exteriors

No Class Meeting Thursday, 10/25

Instead, you will have an outside assignment that will introduce you (or remind you) to how beautiful Memphis is and how much wonderful architecture lives here.

The Assignment:

• You will be urban sketchers this week.
• You will use the same techniques we have used today in class. This includes working in free-hand perspective, blocking in, line quality, loosening up, loose to tight
• Line only!
• You will fill the whole page. 
• you must find a vantage point that shows the architecture at hand as well as all the surrounding elements in your view like landscaping, pedestrians,  surrounding buildings, etc.

For each drawing, write a paragraph (about 100 words) describing the building and it’s significance. Tell us how you were trying to capture this in your drawing as well as other learnings you may have had while you were on location.  

Snap a photo of your view point - print in color and bring with you to class next week. 

Materials include: black conte or charcoal pencil, rubber eraser, bond paper (18’’x24’’)

1. Christian: The Peabody Hotel & Memphis College of Art Graduate Building 
2. Kelsey: The Fedex Forum & Christ Community Broad Street
3. Sam: MIFA & Cannon Center for Performing Arts
4. D'Von: Sutherland Cardiology & Exchange Building
5. Monique: Park it Here & Central Station
6. Ashley: C & I Bank Buiding & The Bridge
7. Tony: AutoZone Park & Pyramid Arena
8. Amanda: WKNO Disgital Media Center & Skskind Susser Bland Immigration Law Office

Below is some student work showing loose to tight techniques with exterior scenes: 

Sequential Line Exercise

Homework Assignment: 

1. Cut out a strip of drawing paper approximately 2'' x 24''

2. Attach the strip to a clean wall and light it

3. Draw the paper strip four times from different angles using line only. 

4. Use line variation to heighten the illusion of three dimension

Materials: 

White bond, graphite pencil only

Loops & Curls

 

Cylinders

Belts

Free-hand Perspective - Working from Loose to Tight

For the next few weeks, we will work with free-hand perspective, blocking in, line quality, loosening up, loose to tight. 

For our first assignment, we will work with complex objects of a class still-life. You will complete one final still-life before moving on to the next exercise. 

This drawing should be completed using conte, charcoal pencil, rubber eraser, bond paper (18''x24'')

These are examples from students at MCA.

Artists that work from loose to tight

Edgar Degas




Alberto Giacometti

Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres