• 

INSTRUCTORS

Brian Wright & Suzala Zahler

DESCRIPTION

A good painting is one that tells a story, such as, “It was a beautiful spring day,” or “The streets were very wet,” or “It was late afternoon and the shadows were beautiful.”   In defining the focal point, you draw the viewer in, guide them through the painting, and make sure they don’t wander off the page and out of the story.  This workshop explores some simple design techniques to help you tell a story with each sketch.  Composing your sketch effectively can make the difference between a good sketch and one that can transcend the media.  Learning and practicing the art of arranging elements in a sketch will help you achieve a well balanced result and elevate your work to a new level!

LEARNING GOALS:

In this workshop, participants will learn composition techniques including:

• Rule of Thirds:  a great technique that focuses the viewer toward a balanced drawing;
• Golden Proportion:  used for centuries by artists, this technique helps create a more harmonious drawing;
• Leading Lines:  this technique draws the viewer’s eyes towards your focal point;
• Strong Diagonal:  a dynamic view angle can help tell a unique story; and
• Framing:  a dynamic crop can help direct the viewer to what you want them to focus on, your “center of interest”.

SUPPLY LIST

• Sketchbook of your choice
• Sketching tools of your choice