Prompt
Complete 6 hours of 2-10 min. drawings, any subject, all drawn from life.
If you cheat and use photos, you might cackle that you’re “getting away with it, ” but actually, you’re digging your own grave, completely missing the point of this prompt, and you won’t learn much. So go ahead and waste your time on that if you feel like it.
Ideas for drawing from life
- Friends & family playing video games, watching a movie, at breakfast, having a snack, reading, hanging out, napping.
- Draw your pets (example)
- When you’re stuck somewhere: a rehearsal, boring school event, at a restaurant, ice skating rink, in a boring class.
- Draw your feet and your non drawing hand. Set up a mirror to get a greater variety of angles.
- Draw in a public space: an outdoor park, on a street, a cafe, waiting in a parking lot.
Recommended media
Any dry black and white drawing media: pencil, charcoal, conté crayon
Artists for inspiration
Gesture Drawing: Cats
This video shows how you can draw in real life! See a demo of how to do gesture drawings from life of Using Faber-Castell colored pencils and Pitt pens. Discussed in the video are the many advantages of drawing from life, as well as the challenges. See how to draw from cats who simply won’t sit still! Demo led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Lauryn Welch, featuring Lauryn’s cats, Tor and Spicy.
Drawing Guinea Pigs
See how to draw guinea pigs using soft pastel gesture drawing techniques. Drawing a moving guinea pig IS possible, get some tips and tricks for how to achieve that. This video also explains how to capture each guinea pig’s personality by using soft pastel techniques like layering and smudging. Demo by Art Prof Clara Lieu, starring her guinea pigs Jub Jub, Wheat, and Fluffy.
Share Your Progress
Post your ongoing progress in the #bfa-track channel in our Discord, you\’ll get support and feedback from out staff and the community!
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