30 Day DRAWING Plan...DRAWING ESSENTIALS with Phil Davies 30 Day DRAWING Plan Overview Your challenge, should you accept it, is to commit to a small sketch every day for the next 30

DRAWING ESSENTIALS with Phil Davies

30 Day DRAWING Plan

Overview

Your challenge, should you accept it, is to commit to a small sketch every day for the next 30 days.

Each sketch should take no longer than 15-20 minutes.

It’s not about how good your sketches look (you can’t create highly refined masterpieces in 15 minutes anyway!) - it’s about observing and rehearsing the techniques you’ve learnt throughout the course so they become second nature.

Each day has a suggested subject matter, which is either a reference photo or a suggestion for an object to draw from life.

Some of the subject matter will inspire you more than others. Don’t skip those that you find less appealing. The purpose of this plan is to expose you to a much wider variety of stuff to draw than you’d pick on your own. Left to our own devices, we’d make predictable and comfortable choices that leads to a longer learning curve.

The plan has been split into 4 phases:

Phase 1: Line (Day 1 - Day 10)Only draw the basic outline for each object. No (or very minimal) shading. Spend all of your 15-20 minutes getting the proportions and shape right.

Phase 2: Form (Day 11 - Day 20)Shade the line drawings from Phase 1 (one per day).

Phase 3: Life Drawing (Day 21 - Day 23)Like Phase 1 but you you’ll draw a simple object from around the house. No shading, just line.

Phase 4: Final Project (Day 24 - Day 30)This is your opportunity to draw a more detailed piece in 15-20 minute intervals over a week. Choose from one of three reference photos.


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Phase 1 Rules

• For each of the photos below, create an accurate line drawing using the techniques throughout the course.

• Stick to a maximum of 20 minutes.

• Each image has a size instruction alongside it i.e. same size, larger size or smaller size. This means your drawing should be the same size as the reference (hint: use sight size measuring) or it needs to be larger or smaller.

• Rulers and other measuring devices are not allowed other than to draw an initial frame. • Grids are not allowed but you can use cross hares, centre lines and plumb lines.

• Absolutely no tracing!

• Erase as much as you need to.

• Use the techniques throughout the course to create your drawings. They include:

- Creating a frame/border- Boxing in and enveloping- Centre lines- Finding angles- Sight-size and comparative measuring- Basic shapes- Using the vanishing point(s)- Thinking about foreshortening


Day 1 - Draw Same Size


Day 2 - Draw Smaller




Day 4 - Draw Larger




Day 6 - Draw Larger




Day 8 - Draw Larger


Day 9 - Draw Larger


Day 10 - Draw Larger


Phase 2 Rules

Option 1:

• Shade each of the line drawings you created in the previous section, i.e on Day 11, shade the drawing from Day 1, on Day 12 shade the drawing from Day 2 and so on up to Day 20.

• Stick to a maximum of 20 minutes per day. You’ll need to keep the shading quite loose and rough, especially for some of the larger drawings, so focus on the major shadow shapes, highlights and mid-tones.

Option 2:

• Choose five of the drawings you created in the previous section and spend two days on each of them.

• Stick to a maximum of 20 minutes per day. You’ll still need to keep the shading quite loose but you’ll have more time to render subtler shadows and textures.

For either option:

• Use a soft pencil (6B upwards) or a charcoal pencil to keep things quick and loose.

• Use the techniques throughout the course to create your drawings. They include:

- Splitting up values to those in the light and those in shadow- Starting with local value first- Using a value scale- Using contour lines for very loose shading- Making sure your darkest dark are dark enough- Thinking about value transitions (where are they share and stark and where are

they subtle?)


Phase 3 Rules

• For each of the suggestions below, create an accurate line drawing by drawing the object(s), or something similar, from life.

• Stick to a maximum of 20 minutes.

• Each image has a size instruction alongside it i.e. same size, larger size or smaller size. This means your drawing should be the same size as the reference (hint: use sight size measuring) or it needs to be larger or smaller.

• Rulers and other measuring devices are not allowed other than to draw an initial frame.

• Erase as much as you need to.

• Think about lighting your subject, even if it’s just using a table light to create a definite light source from one side and slightly above.

• Where appropriate, place your object(s) on a plain background - a plain towel, pillow case or bed sheet will do.

• Use the techniques from Phase 1 and in particular make use of measuring by holding your arm our straight and closing one eye.


A simple, classic still life consisting of three objects. For example, a bottle or jug, fruit, vegetables, cheese, crusty bread, a knife. Be sure to place the objects on to a cloth and incorporate any folds into the composition if you want.


A still life of two or three DIY or garden tools/items. For example, a hammer, spanner, wood plane, trowel, plant pot, garden gloves etc.

Day 23 - Draw Same Size or Smaller

A figure drawing of a friend or family member sat down. It could be while they’re watching TV or reading a book.


Phase 4 Rules

• Choose one of the three reference photos below and complete a drawing over seven days.

• Stick to 15-20 minutes per session.

• Draw the same size as the reference photo you choose.

• Draw the initial outline by eye (i.e. using observational methods like in Phase 1 - no grids or tracing).

• Aim to complete the outline in one or two sessions.

• Spend the next four or five sessions on shading. This should give you a more refined drawing than you’ve completed up to now, and while this might not be your style moving forward, it’s definitely a good process to go through.


Photo 1


Photo 2


Photo 3

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30 Day DRAWING Plan...DRAWING ESSENTIALS with Phil Davies 30 Day DRAWING Plan Overview Your challenge, should you accept it, is to commit to a small sketch every day for the next 30