Foundation 2-Using a Ground
Working off a ground is a time honored way of drawing, but is often not introduced until college if even then. Its a unique way of drawing, and students have to approach it differently. Even though its the same pile of boxes, drapery and cups. Let me take a moment to explain how it differs from other way of drawing.
Most students start off with a white paper and add to it. Typically its lines, as that is the way most people draw by default. If I ask my students to draw in value, they still are adding. Building up shades to get a darker and darker value, but like line its principally an additive process.
Working off a ground means the students took a piece of white paper and rubbed graphite sticks all over it to create a middle grey value on their paper. Now, if they want something white, they have to use an eraser to bring back the white of the paper. If they want to get darker shades they have to add more graphite, but there is as much adding as there is subtracting. There is a pushing and pulling of the values as you work. Its somewhat sculptural in feel as shapes slowly take form and create a sense of depth. Since its a process very different they what they are use too, it tends to make many students do a lot of head scratching while their image emerges from the ground.
Its new to most students, its a different way of thinking, and its one of the best way for a student to look at the large shapes as they draw. In my mind it was a success, even though there was many students struggling with the new concepts, but part of what I aim to do is to open up new ways to see, and create.
One measure of it being successful was that I have seen a couple of students since then working off a ground for their own work! Woo hoo!
Most students start off with a white paper and add to it. Typically its lines, as that is the way most people draw by default. If I ask my students to draw in value, they still are adding. Building up shades to get a darker and darker value, but like line its principally an additive process.
Working off a ground means the students took a piece of white paper and rubbed graphite sticks all over it to create a middle grey value on their paper. Now, if they want something white, they have to use an eraser to bring back the white of the paper. If they want to get darker shades they have to add more graphite, but there is as much adding as there is subtracting. There is a pushing and pulling of the values as you work. Its somewhat sculptural in feel as shapes slowly take form and create a sense of depth. Since its a process very different they what they are use too, it tends to make many students do a lot of head scratching while their image emerges from the ground.
Its new to most students, its a different way of thinking, and its one of the best way for a student to look at the large shapes as they draw. In my mind it was a success, even though there was many students struggling with the new concepts, but part of what I aim to do is to open up new ways to see, and create.
One measure of it being successful was that I have seen a couple of students since then working off a ground for their own work! Woo hoo!