Hey everyone!

I've been out of the loop for a LONG time, but I missed drawspace and you wonderful artists so I couldn't stay away. I'm back in college (after 10 years away)...and I'm an ART major!

Okay...question. I'm in Art 101 (beginning drawing, line, form...etc) and there are a few artists in my class who can bang out a sketch in like 15 minutes or less...and they've captured an image but not a likeness...The professor was having us sketch a star lily and she kept shortening the time allotted. Well, there's a guy next to me who can bang out these sketches but he's capturing a flower...it looks good, but it only remotely resembles the flower we were trying to draw. Now I'm in favor of the 'sight-size' school of thought when it comes to drawing. But maybe my drawings are just more illustrative and his are more painterly? I'm confused because he keeps getting great compliments when the professor comes by us, but she's not giving me direction. My drawings look like the flower (they'd look better if I had more time to finish)...whereas his are finished but aren't really a 'life-drawing'.

Advice?
Am I making a molehill into Mt. Everest?

Thanks!
Adam

Hi Adam, great that you're dropping by again and wonderful that you're studying art.

Each person has their own style of drawing and their own way of looking at the world and that is reflected by what goes on paper. Also shortening the length of time is a classic teaching method to force you away from detail and into observing just the simple lines and overall light and shade that make the eye 'see' a flower, but it may not necessarily be a realistic rendering of a flower. Practice helps a lot to get you to see the pure form and I'd imagine that is what the prof is looking for.

My suggestion would be to speak to her, drawing in hand, and ask her if what you are doing is what she hopes to see and if not, could she explain it more clearly to you.

Best of luck with it!

thanks for that....it's good to know it's a technique and not to worry too much. I kept drawing
less and less as the time was shortened. (>_<) I'm going to try it myself over the weekend
and see if I can capture more of a flower in less of the time...
I appreciate the advice.
and I'll definitely show her my drawings and ask her at the next class.
Cross-contour is up next and that makes more sense to me. ^_~