line work

I had to show you this drawing that Liam did on Saturday! We were learning different types of line work: hatching, cross-hatching, scribbling, and variety of line darkness and thickness. I had given the kids a photo of an animal and they were to try the four different types of lines in each box. Liam is in second grade and he didn't quite understand to do different lines in each box but he did try different lines within the squares and I was really impressed with the variety of textures this drawing has. It is so exciting to see an awareness of this in a drawing by someone so young. Week after week I am always surprised and delighted by the work that children do. I also am sorry that a majority of kids never get to experience these type of lessons... you just never know what brilliance is waiting to be communicated!

I was also very lucky to get downtown this afternoon to Lancaster's Art Walk and see my friend Matthew Cherry's latest series of paintings. He is extremely talented and photos do not do the colors justice. I got to see some of his drawings too... the contour work, the line variety... all the things I was trying to teach my own drawing students! When I see line work that is raw and immediate and just perfect... it's so beautiful. His paintings are huge... they make me want to take out my paints and go large. I finally feel like I had a Sunday where I could just enjoy the day being inspired. Craig and I are hoping to work with Matthew in the nearer future on something.

Hope you're having a good weekend too!