Lets Draw!

Do you draw? How often do you draw, and how long do you usually spend on each drawing? Do you doodling for fun? What types of drawings do you draw? Do you sketch? Do you draw from life or do you look at something and draw it?

I am interesting to see how many people doodle here, even though not all of us are very good in art or have the mean to post our stuff, but I think most of us can agree that "the act of doodling/drawing/sketching" are a helloto fun.

I am thinking about starting something of a topical/theme based doodling/sketching/drawing thread(?) around here. The type that doesn't require sign up, and everyone can just jump in and participate.

Each week, someone come up with a topic or theme that we can base a drawing or design, or even other forms of art like writing and composing on the theme/topic, and we post it in a thread for all to see.

I want to have something casual, but mainly to get people interested in without having to subscribe to a obligation. If they happened to draw something, they could just jump it with it. I think it would be fun, but I am trying to gauge the turn out for something like this.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Rydia

This seems interesting.

Out of curiosity, how do you suggest weekly themes would be introduced? I assume that once one theme is over, another person would come up with a new one. There should be some sort of method where people take turns. This way, one person’s new theme suggestion won’t be lost in the middle of an already-established theme week.

I'll sticky the thread as soon as more people contribute other ideas and suggestions.

Well, I don't think we have to restrict to one theme. It would be nice if the flow of discussion about the theme/topic is a bit fluid. As in, we can come up with stuff as we go if we want to. It would be nice to actually have a list of theme each time, and people can choose what they like to do. It would be nice to have a brain storming session about stuff that might be fun to draw. The point is make it as flexible and as easy for different people to participate.

The discussion about theme/topic and brain storming sessions are also art exercise, to practice coming up with ideas, self motivation and inspiration through a constructive thought process.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I have been thinking about this for a while. So here are some theme/subject that I come up with, tell me what you think. Most of those are pretty vague descriptions that are categories that can probably be expended upon. I also want to include technicl practice like linear perspective and still life related stuff.


Subject Studies


People

Self Portrait
Celebrity and notaries Portraits
Family Portraits

Places

Your room
Your desk
Back yard
etc

Object/Still life

[i]Go and find something that you feel that have an interesting shape or characteristic, from the following location, and just draw it. It would be good if this object is composing of several different basic geometric shapes.[i]
Kitchen
Your Room
On your Desk

Themes

Technical

Linear Perspective
Shading
Composition
Color
Anatomy
Speed paint

People/Characters

Character Interaction
Character and places
Character and objects
Character and Vehicles
Characters with special costumes
Character sports
Character and Holidays
Characters and Vacations
Character and everyday life moments.
Life Induction practice (as in, trying to create a realistic rendering of a character from a cartoons character)

Others

Draw a Spaceship
Draw a castle
Draw a futuristic car
Draw a unconventional looking flying machine
Draw a Monster
Holiday Related themes

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I am open to it. Although that's getting into somewhat fuzzy areas for those who aren't well practiced. Considering that Abstract arts really shifts the focus from study of subject to study of composition. Because there is not a "gold standard (like specific reference material when you are drawing realism)" in which to base many of the work on, its difficult for most people to critique. Earlier abstract artist studies specific shapes composition starting with realism, but gradually make new studies that makes it just a little more abstract, while the composition remain virtually the same, but in the end they arrived at a completely unrecognizable composition in terms of subject, until you put the beginning and the end product side by side. I think it is quite important for certain process and thought is being shown for the making abstract art, rather then "I am just making it because it looks cool" mentality.

I think each weekly, or monthly sketch thread should be separated and close at the end of the period, so it would be easier to organize. Also, we don't have to have use a thread for each of the themes. For practical considerations, I think how much stuff that is in the thread, or how long the thread has been on rather then the theme or topics.

Also, as we can list the old themes, we can carried it over from month to month, or we can talk it over to see which theme to include and which not to carry over. Maybe between a long list and a shortlist. We can come up with new theme on the fly, but update the first post with the list of themes that are being done.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by guyinrubbersuit

What would the time be for us? When you say sketch I imagine only spending about 10 to 20 minutes, if that, on a piece. Is that what you are intending? That's what I imagine. I like some of the ideas for categories there, and I think a stickied thread that is periodically locked and started a new is fine for this kind of thing.

Not everyone can dedicate 2 hours to make a drawing. So sketches (usually still life is what I am thinking, but theme based is fine too)its probably going to be the stable of the stuff in the thread. Depending on how busy people are, I suppose. I really would like to get 40 minutes out of people at least, when they are making a drawing. Sketch wise, 10 - 20 per piece is fine in my opinion. There isn't a topic yet, if we are going to work on this by consensus.

Although something I would like to note though, about posting images?

It would be nice to keep it relatively small when we posted in the thread. if we crop and scale the drawing at least under 700 pixel on the long side, and compress either in jpeg or gif under 100kb will help the viewing experience a lot.

Quote:

let's get started. I'll doodle on my paint!

Hahahahaha.

Get me a topic? Say, sci-fi robot smashing a human flat?

I was thinking about doing some still life of stuff around the house, but if that's what you want to draw, go for it.:biggrin:

I was speaking idiomatically.

So this is what we end up doing? -_-;; guyinrubbersuit, that thing is huge! O.o

My robot doesn't have arm, so they smash by stomping. Pencil, about 30 minutes


What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Actually, I am waiting to see if anyone else is interested in a topic. Although I think we can move on to other topic if you want to. I am starting a running list on the type of stuff that we have done in here. Would you guys be interested in some sort of drawing from life practice like still life and "draw your room" type of topic?

FELIPE NO

Well, you could just jump in, propose a new topic if you have to, also, "last topic" isn't over yet as long as anyone think it is an interesting idea to draw. So go ahead a draw the idea you think it is interesting. Should I start a list?

How ya doing, buddy?

I have been thinking about writing something in respond to Scotty's image. I really hasn't come up with anything coherent yet. Although I'll have to say it is interesting to see how efficient a simple composition conveys a scene despite the fact that it is done in MSpaint.

I have been doing some quick sketch of some images of photos that I come across on the Internet, individually all of those doesn't take more then 40 minutes.

Here is an idea, find a couple recognized person's photograph on the net, and then do a series of short sketch between 15 minutes to 40 minutes each to get as much detail and likeness as possible. Or you can just find a photo of someone, or something's face that you find interesting and make a drawing of it. The requirement is that it has to be drawn from a photo.



Jam it back in, in the dark.

Wow, now we are getting somewhere.

Is that Bruce Willis? Kick Ass! How come we don't see you post more of this stuff? >_<

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by han89

Oh and my favorite of all is the chinese stuff i do. I always like to draw stuff and fill them with chinese writing. it gives a nice effect.

O RLY?

I would love to see that. I am serious.

Do post them would ya? Don't be all talk.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Well, the main point is to have drawing/doodles base on certain topic that we came up with at the time. Hopefully something that we find interesting to draw. This is mainly one of the way that we came up with to try to overcome artist block.

If you want to post your own art work, you could just go ahead and start your own art thread.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?