Beginners Drawing Class

I'm enjoying this new "season" of my life where teaching has been woven into my life as an artist. Almost everyone, it seems, wants to learn how to paint and last November I readily agreed to teach an introductory class to painting. One class led to another and it has been fun watching students find joy and satisfaction in the creative process of painting.

But many eager new artists are unaware of the fact that drawing is the foundation of painting. To become a better painter, one must learn how to draw. Rarely do I meet those who are wanting to fine tune their drawing skills. Learning to draw well requires time, concentration and dedication. And bravery. So I was excited to see such an enthusiastic response to a Beginners Drawing Class. Some were there to revive their love for drawing. Others had never taken a drawing class before but had always wanted to give it a try. After three action packed hours of instruction, I was quite pleased with the results. Students drew and drew well!

Photo credit: Annie Stevens

There were about 36 students that gathered on a Saturday morning in June to learn the basics of drawing.

Photo credit: Annie Stevens

Value scales were discussed and created.

Photo credit: Annie Stevens

And then I pulled out my radishes. Yes, radishes.

Photo credit: Annie Stevens

They were drawn quickly at first and then with more time and study.

Photo credit: Annie Stevens

Photo credit: Annie Stevens

And then, before I knew it, there were beautiful drawings of radishes all around me.

Photo credit: Annie Stevens

From radishes we moved on to hats. I placed a hat at the center of each table and using a single light source, everyone drew the hat in front of them. As you can see from this photo, the hat portion of my class was quite successful. Marvelous hat drawings surrounded me when only a short time before there was blank paper. Each person there experienced the challenge and beauty of creating something from nothing.

I am always moved by the power of art. 

Sketch Book Drawings: Hospice

I have a lot of painting to do but clearly, this has not been the time. I have been staying at a hospice center with my mom, waiting for my dad to pass. So, instead of painting, I turned to my sketch book to help break up the hours and record memories as my family waited and took turns holding his hand.

This sketch was drawn as my sister, Barb, gently held his hand. I think she was holding on to more than just his hand. She was holding on to his warmth, his love and sweet memories, 

Joseph was named after his grandpa. He waited too. The hours were long for this patient 8 year old.

Rhyan, also 8 years old, seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. She stood at her great grandfather's bedside and rubbed his arm. Posing for this sketch was a nice break. She sat so still! An ideal model.

The flowers in the room added beauty to a solemn situation. 

More flowers...

With lots of other family members coming throughout the day, I took breaks from my dad's room and wandered around the hospice center looking for other things to draw. This graceful green pitcher caught my eye. With permission, I moved it to a sunny window and sketched it there. I also photographed it with plans to create a painting of it someday.

Visiting the Met: Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

I got in trouble at the Metropolitan Museum of Art the other day. As a rule, I try to avoid trouble, but sometimes it just happens anyway.

Pen and Ink Study, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rita Salazar Dickerson
5/31/14

I planned this visit to the museum with my drawing pen and sketch book in hand, ready to sketch paintings that caught my eye. Drawing works of art from the masters forces me to really look at the painting and study it more closely than I would if I just gazed at it or took a photograph.

Pen and Ink/Pencil study, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rita Salazar Dickerson
5/31/14

 After completing "Head of a Young Woman", I moved to the next room and began "Portrait of a Man". All was going well with this stylish young man who boldly faces the viewer with confidence and determination when a guard appeared out of nowhere and asked me what I was drawing with. I thought he was just trying to strike up a friendly conversation.

"What are you drawing with?", he asked. "A pen", I smiled. "A pen?" "Yes, a pen." "Not a pencil?" "No, a pen." "Its not a pencil?" "No", I replied. "Its a pen. See the nice little tip? Its a drawing pen."(I was so proud of my new pen.) "You cannot use a pen in the museum", he said sternly. "But this is just a nice little drawing pen." I replied. "No pens in the museum. Look." And he proceeded to show me the museum policy written in their brochure which he had hi-lighted in red ink. Red ink. Really?

I was so surprised I just stood there. He walked away and I continued to stand there thinking that maybe my drawing time was over. But no. Wait. It can't be over. I was really enjoying this special time, studying and drawing. Could I really give up so easily? No, I could not. Quickly I sprang into action, asking another guard (someone who didn't know my past) where the nearest exit was out of this incredible art maze. I tried not to run down the long flight of steps to the bookstore on the main level. I quickly purchased this fine drawing pencil, complete with the museum logo. A keepsake that I never knew I wanted.

 And then it was back to the "Portrait of a Man", now a mixed media sketch. Pen and graphite.

Pencil Sketch Study, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rita Salazar Dickerson
5/31/14

My final sketch of the day was this interesting portrait of "Maria Teresa". Her hair was adorned with translucent, crescent shaped ribbons woven into her massive waves. She was so much fun to draw. Velasquez must have had a blast.