Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Senior Secondary 3
Drawing and painting from life
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Drawing and painting from life
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Subject: Visual Art
Class: Senior Secondary 3
Term: 1st Term
Week: 11
Theme: 2 Dimensional Art
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Representhuman figure in drawing and painting. Represent the arranged stilllife objects in drawing and painting. Draw and paint a Landscape or Seascapescenery.
Understanding Proportions: Head Count Method: For an average adult, the total height is approximately 7 to 8 heads tall. This is a crucial starting point for establishing overall proportions. 1st Head: From crown to chin. 2nd Head: From chin to nipples. 3rd Head: From nipples to navel. 4th Head: From navel to pubic bone. 5th Head: From pubic bone to mid-thigh. 6th Head: From mid-thigh to below the knee. 7th Head: From below the knee to mid-calf. 8th Head: From mid-calf to sole of the foot.
Key Landmarks: Shoulders are generally 2 heads wide. Elbows align with the navel, wrists with the crotch. These are general guidelines, variations exist.
Gesture Drawing: Quick, energetic sketches (30 seconds to 5 minutes) to capture the action, movement, and overall "feel" of the pose, rather than precise details. Focus on the core energy and flow.
Constructive Drawing (Simplification): Breaking down the complex human form into basic geometric shapes (cylinders for limbs, spheres for joints, ovoids for torso/head) before adding anatomical details.
Anatomy (Simplified): Understanding major muscle groups and skeletal structures only as they affect surface forms (e.g., how the deltoid muscles shape the shoulder, or the biceps/triceps shape the upper arm).
Foreshortening: The visual effect that causes an object or distance to appear shorter than it actually is because it is angled toward the viewer. (e.g., an arm pointing directly at the viewer will appear much shorter than its actual length).
Capturing Expression: Observing subtle shifts in facial muscles for emotions, body language for attitude.
Subject Selection: Choose everyday objects with varied textures, forms, and colours. Nigerian
Examples: Clay pots (amu), calabashes (igba), woven baskets, fruits (mangoes, plantains, oranges), vegetables (garden eggs, peppers), traditional musical instruments (gangan, talking drum), bottles, fabric (Ankara, Adire), mortar and pestle.
Arrangement (Composition): Narrative: Objects can tell a story (e.g., items for preparing a local meal).
Variety: Combine different shapes (round, angular), sizes, and textures.
Overlap: Create depth by placing objects slightly in front of or behind others.
Negative Space: The space around and between objects is as important as the objects themselves in defining shapes and composition.
Light Source: Arrange objects with a clear, consistent light source (natural window light or a single lamp) to create distinct highlights and shadows. Avoid multiple conflicting light sources.
Rendering Texture: Using appropriate drawing/painting techniques to depict the tactile quality of surfaces (e.g., smooth glass, rough clay, shiny metal, soft fabric).
Establishing Values: Accurately translating the range of lights and darks observed on the objects into the chosen medium. This section provides in-depth explanations of the core concepts for drawing and painting from life, applicable to human figures, still life, and landscapes, with a focus on practical application in a Nigerian context.
Site Selection: Choose a location within the school compound or a nearby area that offers a clear view of distinct foreground, middle ground, and background elements. (e.g., school buildings, trees, distant hills, a football field, a section of a market, or a local stream/river if accessible).
Establishing Horizon Line: The apparent line that separates earth from sky. Its position determines the viewer's perspective (high horizon = looking down, low horizon = looking up).
Elements of Landscape: Foreground: Objects closest to the viewer, highly detailed, vivid colours.
Middle Ground: Transitional area, less detailed than foreground.
Background: Farthest elements, less distinct, desaturated colours (atmospheric perspective).
Depicting Skies: Observing cloud formations, time of day, and weather patterns. Using washes for broad sky areas, subtle blending for cloud forms.
Depicting Trees and Vegetation: Observing their overall shape, leaf density, texture of bark. Avoid drawing individual leaves; focus on masses and clusters.
Depicting Water (Seascape/Riverscape): Observing reflections, ripples, and the way light interacts with the surface. Water often reflects the sky and surrounding land.
Perspective (Revisited): Applying both linear and atmospheric perspective to create a convincing sense of depth.
Cultural Documentation and Preservation: Application: Visual artists in Nigeria can use their skills in drawing and painting from life to document traditional festivals (e.g., Eyo Festival in Lagos, Argungu Fishing Festival), ceremonies (weddings, naming ceremonies), and daily life scenes (bustling markets, rural farming communities, traditional architecture). These artworks serve as invaluable visual archives, preserving cultural heritage for future generations and sharing it with the world. For example, a student could paint a local market scene, capturing the vibrant colours of fabrics, the diverse produce, and the energy of traders, thereby documenting a significant aspect of Nigerian commerce and culture.
Integration: Students can be encouraged to research Nigerian artists who specialize in depicting cultural themes and local scenes (e.g., Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ben Enwonwu's works that depict Nigerian life).
Environmental Awareness and Conservation: Application: Artists can use their landscape and seascape drawing skills to highlight the beauty of Nigeria's diverse ecosystems – from the rainforests of the South to the arid lands of the North, the Niger Delta's wetlands, or the stunning beaches. By creating evocative artworks from life, they can raise awareness about environmental issues such as deforestation, pollution (e.g., plastic waste on beaches or in rivers), and climate change, inspiring viewers to engage in conservation efforts. A painting of a serene Nigerian coastline, juxtaposed with subtle elements of plastic debris, could be a powerful statement.
Integration: Collaboration with environmental clubs or science departments within the school to create artworks that support their advocacy campaigns. Local Entrepreneurship and Creative Industries: Application: The skills acquired in drawing and painting from life directly translate into viable entrepreneurial ventures within Nigeria's burgeoning creative economy. Students can become freelance portrait artists, commissioned to paint individuals or families for special occasions. They can illustrate children's books or educational materials with characters and settings reflective of Nigerian contexts. Their landscape and still life skills can lead to creating artworks for interior decoration, art galleries, or tourist souvenirs, featuring iconic Nigerian landmarks or culturally significant objects.
Integration: Inviting local Nigerian artists or entrepreneurs (e.g., a portrait artist, an illustrator) to speak to the class about their career paths and how drawing from life is essential to their work.