Expressive Drawing – Conversations Between Orientations

Diagonal
Expressive Drawing - Chapter 3 - Build 2
Charcoal and Graphite on Paper
42.0cm x 59.4cm (16.5" x 23.4")

Conversations Between Orientation is the second “Build” exercise in Chapter 3 of Expressive Drawing by Steven Aimone. The objective of the exercise is to explore our responses to different line orientations.

The directions are:

• Start 3 drawings using a mixture of horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines.
• After drawing the initial lines, choose one of the drawings to emphasise horizontal orientation, a second to have a mainly vertical orientation and the third to focus on diagonals.
• Develop the three drawings at the same time using the assert and obliterate approach from chapter 2 (see Expressive Drawing - The Drawing Process).

Horizontal
Expressive Drawing - Chapter 3 - Build 2
Charcoal, Graphite & Acrylic Paint on Paper
42.0cm x 59.4cm (16.5" x 23.4")

The Horizontal drawing is the only one in which I felt inclined to obliterate and reassert.

Vertical
Expressive Drawing - Chapter 3 - Build 2
Charcoal and Graphite on Paper
42.0cm x 59.4cm (16.5" x 23.4")

I probably strayed from a strict interpretation of the exercise because the chapter is all about lines and part of my focus was on suggesting shapes.

Expressive Drawing – Conversations Between Line Weight

Elaine and I are settling in to our new home. Now the moving frenzy has died down I have more time for drawing and painting – I even have a studio.

I’ve returned to Expressive Drawing by Steven Aimone (see Expressive Drawing - The Drawing Process). Chapter 3 is about Line and Mark. There are some initial “Play” exercises involving the creation of samplers using different tools on different surfaces.

“Build” exercise 1 is Conversations Between Line Weight. The steps are:

• Draw a simple line drawing using a ballpoint pen
• Create 6 photocopies and stick them to the wall
• Use a charcoal pencil and different line weights to create 6 variations of the original drawing (in my case scribble)

These are the results:

I enjoyed the exercise and am becoming a big fan of standing up to work. I’ve started tracing the drawings in ink (particularly the long flowing curves) as a technique for improving the quality of my lines. The results aren’t great, but they are improving.