This is simply a list of things said , read or heard that I have found useful as a practitioner and teacher.
Drawing
Squint -half close eyes to assess tone and try to match tones across the image ( find friends for each tone)
A geometricised contour can help when there is a lot of internal modelling
A form always shares a tone with its background.
The first thing to look at is the shape of the support you are working on. Think about the dynamic of the composition – can geometry activate the shape in front of you?
Upside down is useful – for copying and for looking at your work afresh
from The practice and Science of Drawing by Harold Speed
Don’t burden a line drawing with heavy halftones and shadows; keep them light. The beauty that is the particular province of line drawing is the beauty of contours and this is marred by heavy light and shade. Great draughtsmen use only just enough to express the form, but never to attempt the expression of tone. Think of the half tones as part of the lights and not as part of the shadows.
Drawing
Squint -half close eyes to assess tone and try to match tones across the image ( find friends for each tone)
A geometricised contour can help when there is a lot of internal modelling
A form always shares a tone with its background.
The first thing to look at is the shape of the support you are working on. Think about the dynamic of the composition – can geometry activate the shape in front of you?
Upside down is useful – for copying and for looking at your work afresh
from The practice and Science of Drawing by Harold Speed
Don’t burden a line drawing with heavy halftones and shadows; keep them light. The beauty that is the particular province of line drawing is the beauty of contours and this is marred by heavy light and shade. Great draughtsmen use only just enough to express the form, but never to attempt the expression of tone. Think of the half tones as part of the lights and not as part of the shadows.
