Sketching Birds with simple shapes

Just a short tutorial of the type of work I bring into the classroom.   Visiting the K-5 level classes I try to encourage a quick sketch technique based on using simple shapes and line. I always start with a warm up session before we begin.  In these examples I am using Manga Studio and a calligraphy pen tool for thick and think lines. In class I will use a broad tip marker, or a brush pen, on newsprint .  For the under drawing I use a prismacolor blue pencil or any soft lead.  

The hardest concept to convey seems to be the rough experimentation.  I want the kids to fill the page with gestures, eyes or feather studies.  Often this is the hardest part, as they like to darken lines, erase and get detailed a little to soon.  I try to encourage small studies on a single page.  Often I will draw lightly and messy, just to show how I am playing with options before picking what I like and going back to darken the lines.  They really seem surprised to see me scribble over a drawing or draw an "x" over parts.  Then they see how the under drawing really disappears as the marker comes out and the dark lines become dominant. 

Have fun and keep sketching....

Simple studies on details.  

Break down the key elements of the character and practice a variety of options.  

Often your first idea can be improved upon and even simplified for a better effect.  

Just play with shapes and see where is leads. Have fun.

Letter Box

We have been doing "letter boxing" this summer with the kids...Letter boxing is like Geocaching for kids.  Someone hides a notebook and an ink stamp in a secret location and post clues for other to find. If found, you stamp your own notebook with the found stamp and leave your mark in the hidden notepad.  Be discrete and careful not to give out the secret location to onlookers.

I drew a few sketches after our last litter outing. ...will post these over the next few days.....

Art Parent Birds book

pages

 book

Poster for Kids

I drew a number of ideation sketches for a bird poster for the 2nd graders.

We had fun drawing birds.  I thought the simple circular shapes would be easier for the kids to handle. I got mixed results in the class. The kids have trouble experimenting with shapes before adding detail. Still working out systems....having fun...

Swoop and the Mouse

Still adding some characters to my story...went camping for the last few days ...no internet, no cell...got a few sketches done at night.

Swoop, the hawk, meets my main guy...the little mouse.  They will become best of friends, but the first meeting is filled with anxiety for the little guy....as you can imagine.  As Swoop is sizing him up, "mousey" (as Natalie calls him) looks to defend himself with his sewing needle...more to come