Sketchbook Drawings

Here are some Grade 10 sketchbook drawings- the assignment was to 'draw something sticky'. 

The drawings also had to be done from direct observation- the best way, in my opinion, 

to improve one's drawing technique. 

I love looking at my students' sketches- there is something so pure and classic 

about a well done drawing.

Sliced Fruit Drawings

Here's a sketchbook assignment from a Grade 10 class- they had to draw, from direct observation, any type of fruit which had been sliced in some manner. They could use any medium to draw with but most chose either coloured pencils or pencil. Oranges and apples were the most popular fruits to draw. 

Fruit still life's are such a classic subject matter to draw.

Shiny Ornament Drawing

This was a Grade 10 sketchbook assignment for the month of December. Students were asked to either draw a Christmas ornament or, alternatively (for those that don't celebrate Xmas), any shiny object. Students had to draw from life and try to capture the 3-D quality of the form as well as show

the shiny surface through accurate shading.

Essential tools, in my opinion, for realistic drawings are a 3B or 4B pencil, a blending stump (tortillon) and kneadable eraser. At the beginning of the year I demonstrate how to use all these tools and students are generally surprised and impressed by the results they can achieve.

Illustrated Recipe

This was a sketchbook assignment I gave to my Grade 10 students.  They were to choose a recipe (preferably a favourite recipe they've made before) and illustrate it in whichever medium and method they wanted. I was surprised with this assignment how many students don't have favourite recipes. I'm a huge fan of the artist Wayne Thiebaud and love any art that's related to food.

Here are some of the results:



This Kulfi recipe is very delicious and easy! I've tried it!
Add  a can of mango pulp and you've got amazing mango ice cream, no ice cream maker required!



While we're on the topic of food, here's a gorgeous video I found on the Tiger in a Jar website that shows how (in a very artistic way) to make beet cake.

Watch the video below:

"There is something beautiful about the baking process. The way flour feels in your hands or the sound of eggs cracking on the edge of a bowl. Baking is a gathering of interesting materials, a mixed medium art piece of sorts, that ends in a cake instead of a canvas."

beet cake from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

Foot Drawings

This was a sketchbook assignment I had in art school and I've passed it along to my lucky students! ha!  "Draw your foot holding an object"

Love the results!

What I've Always Wanted

This was a sketchbook assignment: students had to draw something they've always wanted. Most kids drew some sort of material object (flat screen TV, Ipod, etc) so it was refreshing to see this super charming drawing!

detail

Sketchbook Assignments

My kids have monthly sketchbook assignments. Here's some samples from "draw a hand in three interesting poses" and "draw something sticky".  Lovely drawings, grade 10's!