Lesson 1, Spark.Hello! My name is Carla Sonheim, and WELCOME to the first lesson for “2015: Year of the Spark!”

If you’ve taken either “2013: Year of the Giraffe,” or “2014: Year of the Fairy Tale,” you will find this years’ PDFs to be a little different… I want them to read more like a letter to you (with images), so... just a head’s up!

Also, each month’s PDF might look different. And Lynn’s PDFs will be different still…. :) All in an effort to keep it fun for us and fun for you — and that’s what this class is about!

Welcome!!

^

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Today’s Videos...... are in two parts and go like this:

PART 1

* A few thoughts on creativity, fun

* A writing/sketchbook exercise

PART 2

* The “Lesson” (Gestures! Exploring Line Quality) - 25 one-line drawings (They are quick! Don’t be intimidated) - 10 more of one design with different writing tools - 10 more, combining media and line quality.

Lots of drawings, lots of fun.

Out of all these you might only get 1 or 2 that you love. You might like about 10 of them… And the rest… eh.

* Finally, FRAME one of your pieces!

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But First, Line Quality.What do we mean by “Line Quality”?

For me, a line that has “line quality” is a line that feels human, alive.

I think a line with “line quality” is both confident and frail at the same time. Just like we are as humans!

Lines are like people!

It just feels good to be around a person who is comfortable in her skin, despite frailities and imperfections.

And a line that is both confident and imperfect is a line that feels beautiful, too!

So, embrace yourself and the you-ness of your line, and it will have line “quality!”

In this lesson, we will also . . .

Make Lots of Drawings.Why?

Because when you embrace imperfections in your line, you end up with a lot of drawings that sort of spin out of control.

That’s okay!

Think of these drawings as little pronunciation mistakes you make when trying to say new words when learning a foreign language. It’s all part of the process. . . and kind of cute!

(Don’t worry, you don’t need to show your “mispronunciations!”)

So . . . get ready for Lesson #1 . . .

Gestures:ExploringLine Quality

Where we’ll makelots of drawings, most of them “eh!” . . .

. . . to get the one or two that are

“Ah, yes!”

Let’s get started!

Why Line?I wanted to start out this year with line, because to me it is so exciting!!

One of my favorite drawings I’ve ever done is this one:

It was so satisfying to create something with just one media: It was just me and the charcoal pencil.

You might not be as interested in drawing like this, but no matter what our prefered media, we can benefit from getting comfortable with line as anything we do — paint, collage, or any mixed-media project — will most likely involve line at some point!

But most important. . .

Making Lines is Fun.It is! To prove it, watch this video of my grandson Liam drawing for the first time (copy and paste link below):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWpo3EnsYT8&list=UUYdTRbX1u8W1KGneitBB0xA

We’ll start by doing a bunch of warm-up drawings called

“One-Liners.”

(Those who have taken my classes are familiar with these!)

1. One-Liners.

Start by doing 25 one-line drawings (five each of the following topics):

Elephants

Cats

Birds

Houses

Vases of Flowers

IMPORTANT! If you don’t like elephants, cats, flowers, houses or birds, do sets of 5 one-line drawings of the subjects of your choice!

Your drawings might look something like this:

Elephants!

Cats!

Birds!

Houses!

Flowers!

These one-liners should take about 5 minutes... if it’s taking lon-ger, try speeding up!

:D

Here are some things to think about with ONE-LINERS:

- Do them quickly. Don’t think too much!

- Keep your pen on the paper at all times.

- Breathe!

- Think loops! (It should look like a one-line drawing.)

- Let your subconscious “drive.”

- Prepare yourself for many disasters ----->

- If you’re still unsure how to do these, you can copy and paste the link below for a short video tutorial:

https://vimeo.com/27131460

Once you have 25 small drawings, it’s time to . . .

2. Play with Your Pens.

This lesson is also about playing with line using different media.. let the media drive your line... and finding out how YOU respond to the different media.

How is charcoal different experience than a thin felt-tip pen?

Why do we want to press hard with crayons?

So pick ONE DESIGN from your one-liners, gather 10 writing utensils, and . . .

Draw the same design 10 times.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Etc. (Do 10total . . . same design, 10 different pens or media)

(And a parenthetical note about COLOR! Please feel free to use as many colors as you wish for this assignment! I stuck to mostly blacks and greys for filming purposes, and also because sometimes thinking about color TOO can distract me. But I don’t want to keep you for using as much color as you want.[I will NOT be that person!] )

Here are some things to think about when playing with your pens and line quality:

- Don’t feel the need to connect all the lines — your mind will fill in (and will make your drawing more interesting)!

- Let your hand “shake” while drawing.

- Vary pressure! Thick and thin, hard and soft

- Vary shape! Straight and curly

- Hold your pen at the top for less control.

- Switch to your non-dominant hand.

- Breathe!

- Twist your wrist around!

- If you have a “silly” idea, DO IT!

- Remember that this is all practice.

- Have fun with your supplies!

Once you have drawn your chosen design 10 times, it’s time to...

2. Mix Media.Now it’s time to go bigger. Using one sheet per drawing, draw your chosen design, one per page, using two or three different kinds of media and/or line mark-making techniques. At this point you can switch over to your “good” paper if you like!

We will do five of these. Here are some of mine:

(Felt-tip pen and charcoal pencil)

(Acrylic paint applied with stick and electric toothbrush)

(Brush pen and charcoal pencil)

(Brush pen and conte crayon)

(Mechanical pencil and charcoal pencil)

Once you have done five drawings,

4. Do 5 More!You can keep drawing your same design, or, if you are getting bored, pick another design to draw multiple times:

Remember, mix up your media! Mix up your mark-making! Vary your pressure! Have fun!

You will now have 10 drawings. Hopefully, you will love one of them. Then you can go to #5. . .

5. Frame Your Favorite!Find or purchase an inexpensive frame. Frame it, and put it up in your studio!

And that’s it, your first lesson of 2015: Year of the Spark!

But, wait. . .

I have a feeling youare asking this question:

What am I supposed to dowith all of these drawings?Q

Well. . .

Here are4 ideas for the Drawings You Love:

1. Scan and share on your blog!

2. Frame them and hang, give away, or sell! (Though it’s always hard to sell the ones you love.)

3. Package them in a plastic sleeve with a matte board backing and sell or give as gifts.(Go to www.clearbags.com for supplies... )

4. Put them in a drawer.

Here are4 ideas for the Drawings You Like:

1. Keep them in a drawer for now and revisit.

2. Keep working on them.

(If you don’t love it, keep working on it until you do... or you wreck it.)

3. Package them and sell or give as gifts.

4. Use as “underpaintings”:

Original:

Painted:

(Be sure to retain some of your original line work! This one painted with acylics, glossmedium, and Nupastel. I used a 1/2” filbert brush.)

And here are4 ideas for the Drawings You DON’T Like That Much:

1. Keep working on them, pushing it further and further. (What do you have to lose?)

2. Keep them in a drawer. You might be interested in them later on.

3. Recycle (collage, paint over, trash).

4. Show your students:

;)

Thank you again for being here, and I look forward to seeing your drawings online!

And get ready for Lynn Whipple’s Lesson on January 22:

Brain Surprise: Making Shapes!

xoxoxoCarla

© 2015 Carla Sonheim, Year of the Spark

bye!