We've been looking at illustration and asking ourselves 'What is illustration?' and 'Where might we find illustrations?' Last week we practiced how to draw an animal illustration using simple line techniques to render fur, and show changes in value and tone.
Illustrations tell a story, and can often be found in children's book. Fort his project we continued our study of line and pen techniques, exercised our drawing from observation skills, and with the addition of a household or everyday object, we told a unique story.
First, on scratch paper we practiced drawing several objects that we might add to our drawing. Teacups, coffee pots, scooters, glasses, bikes, lemon squeezers, etc.... whatever we though might tell a sweet, ironic, funny, or moving story when placed together with our animal.
Each student then chose a simple animal illustration and let herself be inspired by it. With careful observation skills, we drew our animal as we saw it, mapping out its features and shapes for an accurate copy. We then used pen to add lines, dots and dashes to create fur and show changes in tone. Thicker and denser dashes result in a darker tone. Wider spaced and thinner lines or dots create a lighter area.
Next, we added our everyday object to the picture. Lastly, we colored only this object, leaving the animal black and white for that graphic quality and for emphasis.
 |
| Kids 7-12 |
 |
| Kids 7-12 |