BHS Landscape Drawing

Project:
Tonal landscape drawing of the Burlington High School grounds

Objectives:

• Organize the observable world into a strong composition
• Distinguish foreground, middle-ground, and background with line
• Indicate the effects of atmospheric perspective
• Improve observational accuracy
• Improve rendering of three-dimensional form
• Improve ability to concentrate on the big picture rather than small details

Materials:

• Graphite (pencil set - Use B, 2B and 4B pencils - or ebony pencil)
• Eraser
• Pencil sharpener
• Sketchbook (11 x 14", 60 lb. paper)

Parameters

• The landscape you select must have "deep space".
• Use the entire picture plane.
• Make this a "portfolio-worthy" drawing.

Grading Criteria:

• Design of the page - Organization of the landscape
• Realism of atmospheric perspective
• Realism of the landscape and its parts - Are they convincing?

To Start:
Lightly block out the basic arrangement of major forms in your view. "See the forest through the trees", in other words. Don't get caught up in detail in the beginning.

Self Critique Questions
As you draw, ask yourself if you are doing the following (You should be!):

• Fill the page.
• Consider the entire page as a composition.
• Consider the aesthetic relationships between the positive and negative shapes.
• Get the lines and shapes right.
• Indicate that some forms have different tonal values than others.
• Indicate the effects of the light source