Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Another Student's Work

Brittany's drawing
pencil on paper


















It has been quite an experience for me to teach art lessons to children and young adults over the last 8 months. Each person seemed to want to learn how to do something different from the others, and I found myself needing to be an "expert" in almost everything...pencil, paint, printmaking, portraiture, landscape, still life, animals, birds, and more!


This student wants to be a fashion designer when she graduates from high school. To that end, she wanted to learn how to draw fabric. (I bet she now knows more about how to render fabric than she ever imagined!!!) I asked her to bring me several pictures of dresses she loved and would be willing to work on for 8 weeks of lessons. She brought 4 pictures, and when I asked her to choose one, she chose the most difficult - a gown in satin (and some other fabric for the bodice) which shimmered and glowed in the photo.


To learn how to draw fabric, we also had to discuss the shape of the body, and how different fabrics drape the body. And of course, there is the shadow, half shadow, cast shadow, and all of those concepts which create the illusion of form. Brittany is only 14 years old, and this is the first time she has drawn something as complex as this gown. I think she did an amazing drawing, and that she will be a wonderful designer! I gained such satisfaction from seeing her pleasure as this drawing progressed, and as she gained confidence! It was fabulous to be a part of that process!

2 comments:

Janet W said...

Wow! This is gorgeous! Student and teacher are BOTH to be commended!

Unknown said...

Thanks, Janet! As you know, it is a lot of fun to see the progress of these students, and to see them begin to believe in themselves as artists!