Warm Ups for Drawing!

If you google warming-up online, you'll find all sorts of lists to encourage you to do so, but it's all for exercise. I don't find the same for art. Perhaps that's because we seldom do any kind of warm-ups before we draw. The closest I've ever heard of is creating a thumbnail of the subject before you start your work. But I'd like to submit that doing simple warm-ups before you start will help you get loose and help you flex your tactile skills.

Let me suggest the following six warm-ups, along with some drawing examples of how these exercises can help--some can be used interchangeably. By the way, I am placing all my lessons and drawings in journals now. So here's a peak from my warming up page.

Circles and Spiral Lines

For Wassily Kandinsky the circle was supreme: "the circle is the synthesis of the greatest oppositions. It combines the concentric and the eccentric in a single form, and in balance."

Circles in a Circle,  Kandinsky1923

Ovals

Part of Pablo Picasso's (1881-1973) War and Peace series, this preparatory drawing was one of many in the 1950s. Notice his use of the oval and other shapes. 

Head of a Woman

Straight Lines

I love to pour over the drawings of both Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1660) and Edgar Degas (1834-1917). Their lines are so crisp and precise but at the same time freeing.  

Bearded Man Looking Down, Rembrandt

Edmond Duranty, 1879  Degas

Curved Lines

Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) used the curved line a lot! Look at most of his paintings and you will see a perfect example of curve line use.

Starry Night, 1889, Van Gogh

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (1452-1519) used the curved line exquisitely. Notice how he uses the curved line for the braids along with delicate lines for the wispy hair.

Study for the head of Leda 1503-7, da Vinici

Angled lines

Again, another example of angle lines and others that Rembrandt's uses in this drawing. It's one of my favorites.

The Card Player, 1641, Rembrandt

Anything you want!

  Like this!

What's coming up?

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Only two spots left

Watercolor Sketching Cruise
September 14-21 2018

Autumn in Watercolors (watercolors, pen and ink)

New England and Canada
Seven Days only $839*
For more information

*For cruise: PP, DO; rates subject to change

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Classes and Workshops
Glastonbury Studios Classes
Four-Week Session
Begins Week of February 4 - Ends Week of February 25

Pencil to Brush
Drawing and painting
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10 am to 12:30 pm
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Prerequisite: Studio Acrylic Workshop*

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Workshops

All studio workshops are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes most supplies and lunch. The cost is $98. Class size is limited to ten students. Pre-registration is required. Only payment reserves your seat. For full description of all workshops click on graphic to the right or go to 2018 Workshop Catalog (Revision 1)

Saturday, February 17

Visual Journaling

Saturday, March 10
Watercolor Travel Sketching

Saturday, March 24
Drawing Cats