TheVirtualInstructor Blog

Draw with Sticks

Why draw with the same old tools?  Ditch those pens, pencils, and brushes for a day and give sticks and stones a try.  Surprisingly, using non traditional drawing tools can produce beautiful results.  Grab a couple sticks (free) and some stones (free) and some ink (not free) and make some interesting marks.  Often times, we can become too rigid with our drawings and paintings which can lead to stale, overworked imagery.  When you allow yourself a bit more freedom to make organic marks, the results can be quite cool.   A stick can make a variety of marks that just can’t be duplicated with pen or pencil.  Give non-traditional drawing tools a chance, you might just find a brand new favorite drawing tool.  To see the full lesson with the video demonstration, click here-> Draw With Sticks

Draw with Repetition

Students at Rutgers University Roger Mason School of Art created machines to create repetitive marks.  The results were pretty cool.  The intent was to create machines to make marks that humans couldn’t normally make.  Another exercise was the creation of guitars made of cardboard.  The instructor of the class, Jeff Thompson, would play “cheesy” metal music at the end of class, and students would strum their guitars with pencils.  The intent was to show students that using deliberate lines is not the only way to draw, and that loose lines are effective as well.   To see the exercises with photos click here> Non Traditional Drawing at Rutgers

Draw with Your Feet

Go ahead and put that pencil between your toes and try to create a drawing from observation with your feet.  Hint: Sit in a chair and tape the paper to the ground.  You may be surprised at the range of lines that you make.  You may be really surprised how much your drawing resembles what you are looking at.  Give a shot.

Draw with Your Non-Dominant Hand

This exercise is related to drawing with your feet.  If you’re right handed, put the pencil in your left hand and draw from observation.  Again, you might be pleasantly surprised at how much you are able to record what you see.

So what not try something new in your drawings?  Don’t be afraid of something that you’ve never tried before.

Watercolor pencils are an interesting medium.  They allow the artist the versatility to draw AND paint.  Watercolor pencils are somewhat like colored pencils.  Instead of a waxy or oily binder like those found in colored pencils, they have a water soluble binder.  When water is added to them, they behave like watercolor paint.  Therefore, all of the watercolor techniques that you may already use, apply to watercolor pencils.  Watercolor pencils should be applied to watercolor paper or a heavier board, like illustration board.  Watercolor pencils are easy to store and transport, making them an ideal choice for color studies or quick preliminary sketches.  Watercolor pencils  are inexpensive and readily available almost anywhere.

To see the video demonstration of watercolor pencils click here-> How to Use Watercolor Pencils

Crayon etching works on the concept of resistance. When a water-based ink or tempera paint is used in tandem with a waxy crayon or oil pastel, a resist happens.  This resist allows for the dried ink to be scraped, scratched or etched from the surface revealing the color of the crayon below.  By scratching patterns into the prepared surface, the artwork is created.  Crayon etching is a process that can be used by amateurs and professionals alike.  A great deal of complexity can be created onto the surface in the creation of patterns.

The process of creating a crayon etching allows the artist to be creative in color and pattern creation. It also can be used to create a scratchboard type surface with a monotone color.

The artist begins by creating a simple line drawing in pencil.The preliminary drawing must be simple and not have any value.  When patterns are created later in the process, the image becomes progressively more complex. A permanent black marker with a thick mark is used to go over the outlines of the drawing. The marker needs to have a relatively thick mark. This will aid in the process of scratching out the patterns. Next, the artist uses either crayons or oil pastels to color the image in completely. Special care should be taken to completely cover all areas of white as these areas will accept ink and prevent it from being scratched off later in the process. Ink is then applied over the colored surface covering the entire drawing completely. Using a foam brush will prevent any brush strokes from being noticed.  After the surface is dry, a sharp tipped tool such as scratch board tool or a nail is used to remove areas of the ink with patterns.  The ink will scratch off easily revealing the color underneath.

To see the video demonstration click here->Crayon Etching

Creating an acrylic transfer is an easy process that can result in amazing artistic results. Creating an acrylic transfer can allow an artist a variety of ways to present an idea in an artistic way. Any image that can be photocopied will work and any surface that will accept acrylic paint will accept an acrylic transfer.

Some supplies are needed in order to create an acrylic transfer. First, you need a surface that will accept acrylic paint to work on.  Watercolor paper, canvas, wood, or illustration board are acceptable surfaces. You will also need acrylic gesso, brushes, acrylic gel medium, a photocopied image, and acrylic paint.

You begin by covering the surface with gesso and let it dry. You can then add some interest to the surface by applying color through acrylic paint or texture with tissue paper.  Allow any paint or glue to dry completely.  Next, you will need to cut or tear your photocopied image to the size of the desired transfer…

To see the rest of this lesson and to see the video demonstration click here-> Acrylic Transfer Demo

Acrylic paint is a young medium.  Acrylic paint has been around for just over 50 years.  It has quickly become a very popular medium, thanks to the fact that it is safer than oils, dries quickly, and uses water as a solvent.  Acrylic paints when dry, can appear similar to oil paints.

All paints are made up of three basic ingredients-pigment, solvent, and binder. Acrylic paint is no exception.  Pigment refers to the color and is usually a naturally occurring substance. The liquid substance that thins the paint is solvent.  Water is typically used as the solvent for acrylic painting.  The material that hold the pigment together and allows it to be spread over the surface is called binder.  Acrylic paint has a binder of acrylic polymer emulsion  and dries quickly to create a waterproof surface.  It can also can be used as a glue or as an image transfer medium.  Acrylic paints are produced in a variety of finishes. Gloss finishes are shiny while matte finishes dry to a dull sheen.

Acrylics can be applied with brushes, palette knives, or really anything at all. In my experience, nylon brushes work best with acrylic paint-although any type of brush will work. It is especially important to keep your brushes clean, as acrylic paints will dry quickly and ruin a brush.

Although acrylics can be applied to almost any surface, most artists prefer canvas, watercolor paper, illustration board, gessoed masonite, or other papers. Any surface is fair game, though.

To see the rest of this lesson and to see the video demonstration click here-> Basic Acrylic Painting Techniques- Apple Demo