As well as encouraging us to continue drawing from our collections to inspire our technical block work, the drawing weeks have all had something else in common: they challenge conventional ideas about drawing in a fun, and sometimes simply silly way! A breath of fresh air between the intensity of the 2 week assessments, it seems almost a bit sad that this week was our last one.
On the first day, our first exercise was to 'draw' someone else's shoe from newspaper. I actually really enjoyed modelling this. Thinking about the object in 3 dimensions to be able to recreate it was a good reminder that when you draw with pen and paper the concept is still the same- objects aren't (normally!) just FLAT, they have textures and surfaces and insides....
 |
| my paper version of Jess' shoe |
Then, in an 'art-attack'-esque fashion (I used to LOVE that show when I was younger), we had to quickly create an image of an animal out of random items of clothing we had with us. It's a good challenge just working with whatever materials you have to hand. Although you are constrained by their physical properties, you are equally liberated, in that you can use them however you want to! This translates to materials for textiles work too. At some point soon I can't wait to get into the wood and metal workshops and create a textile piece that doesn't just involve fabric and thread!
 |
| Our lion! |
Then we had to combine paper and clothing, using the garment as a landscape for some kind of scene. I turned this hat into a jacuzzi. Everybody made pretty wacky, imaginative things....
 |
| some very 'serious' work...! |
 |
| my jacuzzi hat |
John's drawing day was also based around boundaries intended to give freedom. We had to draw our partner next to us using only cube shapes, then circles. It was quite hard to draw them whilst they were simultaneously trying to draw you...let alone the fact that we were drawing by layering up shapes! I found it really enjoyable though, and like exercise from the day before, it pushed me to think more in terms of 3D
 |
| My 'cube' drawing of Zehra |
 |
| Zehra made from circles! |
We then had a truly bizarre task. Writing a list of 10 things we'd change about ourself/super powers we'd like to have, our partner had to translate the information into a medieval-style portrait of us. I told Zehera that I wanted parrot wings, hands that could grow flowers, pogo sticks in my feet and boom-box knees amongst several other crazy things, so she had quite a laugh making my portrait!
 |
| Zehra's interpretation of me |
On the final day we were working from our Box Clever collection. Claire was continually timing each drawing we did of our objects- mostly we were working between 10 and 30 to 50 seconds...so not all that long at all really! It meant there was no time to consider what we were doing- you just had to work instinctively and keep up with the clock!
 |
| series of speedy 30 second sketches |
Towards the end, we drew one of our objects, then left paper ontop of our work, hid the object, and went round as a group writing down what each person's drawing reminded us of. My yo-yo drawing got some fairly interesting comments...
 |
| yo yo |
 |
| ...or is it jelly...or a bottle top?! |
It made me realise though how beneficial it can be to ask people their opinions about your work. Everyone sees things differently, and a fresh perspective can highlight ideas you might not have ever thought of yourself...or can make you realise that what you thought you were conveying isn't coming across!
These drawing weeks have been great- a chance to loosen up, have time to reflect and be re-inspired for each new block. And also to just have a good giggle- which we all need, don't we?!
