Expressive Drawing – Shape Compositions

Angular and Curvilinear
Expressive Drawing - Chapter 4 - Build 1 - Part 1
Acrylic on Paper
59.4cm x 84.1cm (23.4" x 33.1")

I am continuing to work with Expressive Drawing  by Steven Aimone. Chapter 4 is about Shape. Steven identifies the ability of shapes to act as a metaphor for personality, emotion, psych and spirit as one of their most important attributes. He also observes that the relationships between shapes can act as metaphors for relationships between people, concepts and things.

The chapter explores some of the different characteristics of  shapes in contrasting pairs:

• Geometric v Organic
• Static v Directional
• Simple v Complex
• Angular v Curvilinear

The exercises focus on the same concepts. Shape Compositions is the first "Build" exercise. Part 1 explores angular and curvilinear shapes. Part 2 examines organic and geometric shapes.

Geometric and Organic
Expressive Drawing - Chapter 4 - Build 1 - Part 1
Charcoal and Graphite on Paper
59.4cm x 84.1cm (23.4" x 33.1")

I'm enjoying the book, but my progress has been frustratingly slow. I'm hoping to devote more time to it over the next few weeks.

January 2018 Sketches

Plants From Dr. Sarah
31 January 2018
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

I'm refining a sketching approach to use outdoors when the weather gets better. It is basically Mark Taro Holmes' (Citizen Sketcher) Three-Pass Sketch from The Urban Sketcher with some tweaks based on Liz Steele's SketchingNow courses.

My intention is to model most of the forms with ink, so I can add colour with a single pass of watercolour – which removes the need to wait for multiple layers of paint to dry. I’m also making more use of watercolour pencil to add texture.

Joan's Shell Box
10 January 2018
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

The little shell covered box belonged to Elaine's mother. Julie bought it for her from Mevagissey.

Elephant and Mahout
13 January 2018
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

The little wooden carving is about 12 cm/4.5" high.

Lauhala Sea Turtle
15 January 2018
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
20.3cm x 14.0cm (8.0" x 5.5")

Over the summer, a lady from Hawaii sat by me on a flight from Phoenix to Boston. She spent the 5 hours weaving a variety of ornaments from leaves and pan scouring pads from coloured plastic. We chatted and when we arrived in Boston she gave me this little turtle. Its about 6cm/ 2.5” long.

Alessi Parrot
17 January 2018
Ink and Watercolour
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook
14.0cm x 20.3cm (5.5" x 8.0")

Corkscrews are tricky things. The winged ones are probably the easiest to use, but you usually end up with bits of cork in your wine. This is my tool of choice. It’s called a parrot, but hasn’t got wings.