(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook
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001-144_41057.indd 81 4/24/14 7:26 PM80 The Drawing Club(Text)
Chapter 6: Materials
Cheap Materials
Have you ever bought really nice, expensive drawing paper,
and it made you so nervous that you might ruin it with bad
drawings that you inevitably did a bunch of bad drawings? Don’t
worry. You’re not alone.
Cheap materials can be very freeing. They take the pressure
off by relieving you of the expectation that each drawing has to
be a masterpiece.Cheap materials can be very freeing. They take the pressure off by relieving you of the
expectation that each drawing has to be a masterpiece.
For newcomers, I always suggest basic pencils, pens, and
paper to start. There is no need to spend any extra money on
anything fancy. If possible, use something you might already
have. Can you use the pen in your glove compartment? Yes,
great! That pad of paper some real estate salesperson left at
your front door? Yes! And when you are at The Drawing Club,
I always recommend that when the model takes a break to walk
around, you go check out what everyone else is doing. You can
do the same when you flip through this book. You will see all
kinds of different media being used in a variety of different
ways. Don’t be afraid to try something new!
This advice applies to beginners as well as to experienced
artists. An artist might have gotten used to drawing with a
particular brand of pencils for last twenty years, but he or she
might be inspired by a great drawing to try something totallyUnlike a class, The Drawing Club is a workshop. There is no
specific supply list. You can use any materials you want. It’s
like America, freedom of choice.
different. I once looked over and saw what an artist was doing
during his second session with us as he enthusiastically said
back to me, “Hey Bob! Look! I’m drawing with crayons!” This
is what I love about our workshop.
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, many artists
are now drawing on their laptop computer, iPad, or tablet PC.
They cost a lot more than a pencil and a stack of paper, but
because the experience is software based, the possibilities are
much broader. Various programs and apps simulate traditional
media and do a pretty good job of introducing some tricks of
their own. For example, it is really easy to erase mistakes or
just delete whole drawings you don’t like. When I work in the
computer, I can really appreciate this. However, learning to
deal with mistakes and work with them or having the guts to
possibly ruin a drawing at any given time while trying to make
it better are an important part of an artist’s development. You
learn to be more decisive. It’s a lot like being the tightrope
walker who works without a net. You really have to know what
you are doing. The computer is just another tool. You just have
to remember to keep taking risks and try to make bold choices
when using one.
Whatever materials you choose that motivate you to draw are
a good choice. If grabbing whatever is right in front of you moti-
vates you because you didn’t have to buy anything special, then
great! On the other hand, if you get motivated by nice materials
when you browse the isles at the local art store, then that’s great,
too! If you are a gadget person and the idea of experimenting
with technology keeps you motivated to draw, then grab your
device and get going! In this chapter, we will explore a range of
materials and perspectives. As you will see, any and all of them
Tom Breeden Catwoman, marker on paper can work exceptionally well.(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook
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81(Text)
Fashion, ink and watercolor on corrugated cardboard, Bob KatoCheap Materials
Have you ever bought really nice, expensive drawing paper,
and it made you so nervous that you might ruin it with bad
drawings that you inevitably did a bunch of bad drawings? Don’t
worry. You’re not alone.
Cheap materials can be very freeing. They take the pressure
off by relieving you of the expectation that each drawing has to
be a masterpiece.When I made this drawing, I intentionally picked materials
I was going to throw away. I found a cardboard box out by the
trash. I cut it into random-size pieces and painted them with
white acrylic gesso. I decided to draw with pencil, ink, and
watercolor. I was totally relaxed because if I didn’t like the
drawing, I would just take it back out to the trash.Cheap materials can be very freeing. They take the pressure off by relieving you of the
expectation that each drawing has to be a masterpiece.
Unlike a class, The Drawing Club is a workshop. There is no
specific supply list. You can use any materials you want. It’s
like America, freedom of choice.
different. I once looked over and saw what an artist was doing
during his second session with us as he enthusiastically said
back to me, “Hey Bob! Look! I’m drawing with crayons!” This
is what I love about our workshop.
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, many artists
are now drawing on their laptop computer, iPad, or tablet PC.
They cost a lot more than a pencil and a stack of paper, but
because the experience is software based, the possibilities are
much broader. Various programs and apps simulate traditional
media and do a pretty good job of introducing some tricks of
their own. For example, it is really easy to erase mistakes or
just delete whole drawings you don’t like. When I work in the
computer, I can really appreciate this. However, learning to
deal with mistakes and work with them or having the guts to
possibly ruin a drawing at any given time while trying to make
it better are an important part of an artist’s development. You
learn to be more decisive. It’s a lot like being the tightrope
walker who works without a net. You really have to know what
you are doing. The computer is just another tool. You just have
to remember to keep taking risks and try to make bold choices
when using one.
Whatever materials you choose that motivate you to draw are
a good choice. If grabbing whatever is right in front of you moti-
vates you because you didn’t have to buy anything special, then
great! On the other hand, if you get motivated by nice materials
when you browse the isles at the local art store, then that’s great,
too! If you are a gadget person and the idea of experimenting
with technology keeps you motivated to draw, then grab your
device and get going! In this chapter, we will explore a range of
materials and perspectives. As you will see, any and all of them
can work exceptionally well.(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook
#175 Dtp:204 Page:81001-144_41057 2.indd 81 24/4/14 7:30 pm