Drapery Drawing: Seeing Light and Shadow

Drawing Without Line

The focus of this drawing activity is to train students to see the nuance of light and shadow.  This is a value study that requires the students to draw “linelessly”.  The final product should have a full range of values (lightest light to the darkest dark , with subtle values between), should fill the entire picture plane effectively, and should be absent of hard lines that might cause the drawing to look flat. These drawings will be evaluated heavily on craftsmanship and the control of the medium.
View a Time Lapse Drawing Example
Seeing Basic Forms in Drapery

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THE RUBRIC

TIME ON TASK  25 points
This category measures the artist's willingness to work outside of the scheduled studio time to get the work ready for critique.  Additionally it measures the artists level of focus during the assignment.

CRAFTSMANSHIP  25 points
Drawings should be free of wrinkles, smudges, or tears, and the artist should demonstrate control over the media.  This category refers to the overall care taken with the work.

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS  25 points
This category measures the artist's subtle use of shading to produce the illusion of three dimensional form.  There should be little evidence of line in the finished product.  These works were to be done on a full sheet of 18”x24” paper with charcoal.

OVERALL DESIGN  25 points
The space should be used in a way that recycles the eye and keeps it in constant motion throughout the space.   There should be enough contrast used so that the drapery is visible on the page.  Most importantly, the space should not have empty voids that the get unnoticed.  The subject should fill the space effectively, and should look as if the artist was in control, rather than the drawing being in control.