Representational Drawing Experience

Description: 

For this assignment you are encouraged to go outside and look closely, to notice details, to see the world with the eyes of an artist and a scientist. (Pelo, 2017).  Take a photo of a subject that is visually engaging (with vivid colour, form, and texture) and structurally interesting (with clean lines and distinct elements). (Pelo, 2017, p.132). At home draw a representation of the photo or a part of the photo using a sharpie or a black fine-tip marker. You may choose to add colour to your drawing using any medium you have on hand; markers, crayons, watercolours etc.  Note: If you can’t venture outside, choose a plant or a natural artifact you have at home. Note: If you wish to participate with family members, they might do their own representational drawing of the same object or you might choose to do a mural together.   

Read p. 150 to 159 of Ann Pelo’s text for the steps to plan the mural before you begin to draw.  You can document their participation as well as yours in your anecdote.  

Implementation of representational drawing experience:  

Step 1:  

Quietly and slowly do a step-by-step examination of your photo from nature. Study the details and make rough notes about what you see. You might describe the subject in the context of the elements of art and in nature. Consider line, colour, texture, shape, volume/mass, pattern, composition, space, balance if applicable.  Write down a description of what you see and what you know about your subject.  Example, the tree is bare since it is fall.  

Step 2:

Begin to draw and take a few moments to document the process as you are engaged in this representational experience by pausing to take photos as you draw.  Take your time to create this 2D representation, taking time to look and then draw, look and then draw. If you are not happy with your drawing you can start again. According to Ann Pelo, such an experience cultivates the disposition that drawing is “as an expression of an idea, rather than as an effort toward representational perfection.” (Pelo,2017, p.131.)

Step 3:   

Tell the story of the process, what discoveries you made, what sort of problems you may have had, any connections to other work you may have done.  In other words, you will record your story as an anecdote.  Include the pre-observation data, such as the date, the time, the context and rationale as you would any anecdote.  You don’t need to include your age or D.O.B. Include enough detail to make your learning visible.

Part 2: Reflection: Answer the following questions.  

What was exciting or surprising to you about the experience?  

In your opinion, did anything detract from your experience: Consider the following: skills you needed, but didn’t have? The set-up or the materials? Distractions at home? These are only possibilities to consider.  

3. What do you feel worked well for you as you did your drawing?  You might consider the following: your state of mind, the time needed to slow down and concentrate, what you learned about your style of participating, way of navigating challenges, or your competencies?  Again, these are only possibilities to consider.  

What skills do you feel you demonstrated?  What skills do you think would be encouraged for a child through such an experience?  Refer to the HDLH document.

What questions or comments do you want to discuss with your classmates about your experience doing representational art? Write three things you learned from this experience, two things you found interesting, and one burning question you would like to ask.