{"id":1369,"date":"2020-12-22T10:44:31","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T10:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beaniebopdesigns.com\/Caroline517443OCA_KSI\/?p=1369"},"modified":"2021-09-07T10:48:39","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T09:48:39","slug":"exercise-visual-distortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.beaniebopdesigns.com\/Caroline517443OCA_KSI\/exercise-visual-distortion\/","title":{"rendered":"Exercise: Visual Distortion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brief<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This exercise is designed to push you through a deliberate process of stylisation. Tackle it with an open mind and be prepared to adapt or adopt some of the approaches you discover.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Begin by drawing a cat or dog. Using reference from any source – life, photos or images from internet. Draw the animal in a way that makes it ‘real’. Remember to describe some aspect of its appearance or personality.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do a second drawing using no more than five lines. These lines can join up with each other and overlap or can be less connected; they can be straight or fluid.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now make a collage from bits cut from magazines and printouts. Let the texture of a tree be the fur for example. Have fun introducing surreal elements. Deliberately distort. How far can you bend reality?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Produce a drawn version (not a tracing) of your collage. When drawing, edit and select from the collage being aware of the properties you want to create a strong character. Review the distorted version and decide how you can refine the image.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This image can now be incorporated into a bigger image. Use your imagination and introduce at least one other element that introduces a narrative. Be creative but consistent in the development and rendering of this additional content.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 1: Drawing of a Cat or Dog<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I decided to draw a cat for this exercise. I searched for reference images and, after plenty of deliberation, selected my final choice (see below). I liked the intensity of this cat’s eyes and how it is so neatly tucked into itself. I also like the enigma of cats, whereby you are never completely sure of what they are thinking or their intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chosen Reference Image (click for larger image, opens in new tab). Source: https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/cat-siamese-cat-fur-kitten-2068462\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For research, I looked at Edouard Manet’s pencil drawings of cats<\/a>. Although I did not attempt the same style, I found it fascinating how such lifelike images were created by applying ‘rough’ pencil strokes. I would assume they were done from life and therefore likely that haste would have been needed to capture the position before the cat (knowingly!) moved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started by drawing the outline of the cat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Outline drawing of cat (click on image for larger version, opens in new tab).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I then moved on to building on this outline, with the final version as below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Final pencil drawing of cat (click on image for larger version, opens in new tab).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I was quite pleased with the result as I have been trying to fit in daily drawing practice and I think this is having a positive impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 2: Line Drawing of Cat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For research of this part of the exercise, I looked at Picasso’s line drawings<\/a>, which really demonstrated to me how complicated objects can be simplified down to simple lines (even one single line!) yet still be recognisable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I decided to not think too much about this part of the exercise as I felt that would inhibit the outcome. I managed to use just five lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5-Line drawing of cat (click on image for larger version, opens in new tab).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I was pleasantly surprised with the result, I was expected it to be really quite bad, but I think my drawing has a certain character to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 3: Surreal Collage of Cat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For this part of the exercise, I looked at various artists that have used collage\/photomontage to create surreal artwork. The ones I found to be most relevant to this exercise (in terms of how they had used the materials) were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n