Assignment #4, due Wednesday 10/2

THE DRAMA OF LIGHT AND SHADOW:

Picking up where we left off in class, in this assignment you will be using continuous tone shading to achieve the full range of values to create convincingly volumetric shapes.

Begin by obtaining a clamp lamp that you can use to shine strong “directional” light onto a tabletop or desk. Next, select an object to draw that creates interesting shadows but that is not too detailed (things with patterned surfaces are not recommended).

For this piece you will be drawing your object twice, dramatically altering the direction of the light source between the two times. Spend some time playing around with the lamp, paying particular attention to the shadows cast by your object. Be sure to move the lamp and not the object, and choose two lighting situations that create shadows that differ considerably from each other.

Using charcoal and/or charcoal pencil, make a single drawing on your regular homework paper that incorporates both sets of light and shadow configurations. The two drawings can sit side by side on your paper, but arrange them so that they relate to each other in an interesting way (don’t divide the picture plane with a line!). Concentrate on drawing the tonal values (highlights, shadows, and mid-tones) as interlocking shapes. Keep the shapes general and simplified.

Materials: Charcoal (vine and compressed), charcoal pencil, eraser.


Below are the images we looked at in class:

Georges Seurat

Pablo Picasso

Seurat

Picasso

Albrecht Durer

Durer

Durer

Durer

Giorgio Morandi (from here to the end)