Sight Measuring

I’d had a busy week prior, and a busy Monday. I was dragging Tuesday. So I was nervous about class, because I was tired.

But all of the students showed up and they were all excited to be there. Their energy was able to lift me up and we had a great time.

I brought my laptop and debated about setting up the smart TV. Decided not to, since that's just extra work. But then later, it was useful to look something up, so I set up the computer and we crowded around it. With just the 5 of us, though, it wasn't a problem. In their handout, I had included, like, step 6 of a tutorial and they were curious about the rest. So I pulled it up and walked them through all of the steps. 

This is the tutorial: John Muir Laws, How to Draw a Bear 

I use Laws's work a lot. He's great.

Last week, a student had asked about more effective tracing techniques. I mentioned my light board, and I brought it in this week. It's a very awkward size, so it took awhile to find a bag to bring it in. :) (Finally settled on my Timbuk2 messenger bag.) But I showed it to them at the start of class and said they could try it. (It's an older version of this one: https://www.amazon.com/HSK-B4-Centimeter-Millimeter-light)

I have some nice Schleich and Safari LTD animal figures. I bring appropriate animals every time and invite students to draw them. They rarely take me up on that. The same this time. Ah well.

We started with our warmups. Then we talked about mammals. While they started drawing, I set up the laptop so we could look at the tutorial together. They drew for 10 minutes, then the next lesson: sight measuring.

It's not a technique I use very much, but for some people it just clicks, so I always teach it. I still feel embarrassed about my first class, because I taught it very badly (because I don't use it). But I think my teaching has improved a lot. After I teach them, I ask them to do it for 5 minutes, and then they can go back to drawing whatever they wish. So it's always interesting who sticks with it. 

Someone asked for a ruler. Here's the thing, I always set out rulers and they never get used. Last night, I had already taped up the rabbit poster when I realized I'd completely covered the ruler drawer. So I said no, and the student found an alternative (she just needed a straight edge). 

They all worked through their break again.

Then we talked about birds, and we finished about 7:05, so I said they could draw what they wanted. Two continued working on their rabbits, two worked on other animals. 

I grabbed an easel and set up my newspring pad and charcoal, and drew the rabbit too. Without sight measuring, ha. 

One student was being particularly hard on themself, so I said, "Okay, let's stop a minute. We are our own worst critics. I challenge you to redirect the negative self-talk. You are not trying to draw, you are drawing. Think about other things you are good at, and how long it took to get good. The same is true here."

My husband called it "drawing and therapy hour." Everyone's been a little on edge lately.

They kept drawing even after class ended (I invite them to finish up while I clean). I appreciate their enthusiasm!