Animal Life Drawing Lesson

“I gave my cat a bath the other day, He enjoyed it, it was fun for me. The fur would stick to my tongue, but other than that…”- Steve Martin. “Napolean suffered from ailurophobia (the fear of cats). Rev Earl of Bridgewater used to dine with a dozen dogs (prince of the Roman Empire).
CAREER BREAKOUT: ANIMAL PORTRAITS 1.5$ is spent each year on pet food (more then baby food) 100 million dog and cats in the USA. Every hr 12,500 puppies are born in the USA. According to pet owner surveys 79% of Americans give their dogs holiday and/or birthday presents. America spends $5.4 billon (1983) on pets each year. Drive in New England and you will see a canine passenger in every third vehicle. Considered part of the family, loyal pets may receive a solo portrait or be included in an image with their master. Learning to identify the distinctions between various breeds and hybrids of dogs and cats is helpful. Even portrait artists working on location are requested and commissioned pet sketches. Expect pee on your seats, obsessive movement, and then the dog will suddenly break midcourse to court a fire hydrant. Typically, animal portraits are sketched from photography, unless you can convince the owner to stop by the taxidermist first. There are many artist who specialize in animal portraits. (1) Advertise in pet magazines. (2) Buy a vendor space at pedigree show and show up with a digital camera, lots of brochures, art supplies, and examples of your work. (3) If you do quality work word of mouth will be your best friend.
ANIMAL DRAWING OBJECTIVES: Interdisciplinary studies in the science of zoology Work with gesture line. Working with live animals pushes the students to work faster and stay more focused. Move from flat sketching to building form Wonderful opportunity to bring other people into the studio as people from the community, parents, and special needs students assist and enjoy the animals with the artists. Opportunity to explore the sociological aspects of our enjoyment of animals. Discuss responsible animal ownership.
SKETCH METHOD: When I studied under Disney animator Milt Neil he emphasized the two color method. A lighter color was used to build the basic structure of the animal using simple shapes. The second color was used to add detail. This also helps critique drawing problems. As one works on the picture they should always focus on clarify and/or correcting the drawing. Simplicity to complexity: Effective use of two colored pencils (1) First color to show basic shapes (2) Second color to add detail Observation Skills: Strong focus on drawing the animal (or) did they primarily look down at the paper and make up the drawing Effort: The turned in work shows evidence that the student worked diligently. Gesture: Quality of capture animation of animal
RUBRIC FOR ANIMAL DRAWING: ______Effective use of two colored pencils (Color 1 = Basic shapes. Color 2 = Detail) ______Approaches the sketch with a soft touch, and builds dark tones at appropriate time. ______Sensitivity to the diversity of animals and how they differ in large and small details. ______Keen observation of animal posture and movements. ______Evident diligent energy and effort put into the image.
ANIMAL DRAWING ASSIGNMENTS AND PRJECTS Draw animals from artist drawings and art history Draw animals from photography Draw animal gesture drawings from videos Draw animals from life in the classroom and at homework. Animal theme project: Some Options: Animal anatomy Studies of animal movement Physiognomics Animal hybrids Animal masks Animals inspired fashion design Animal inspired architecture Animal inspired cartooning
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Birch, Linda. How to Draw and Paint Animals: in Pencil, Charcoal, Line and Watercolour. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles, 1997. Print. Hultgren, Ken. The Art of Animal Drawing: Construction, Action Analysis, Caricature. New York: Dover, 1993. Print. Knight, Charles Robert, and Charles Robert Knight. Animal Drawing: Anatomy and Action for Artists. New York: Dover Publications, 1959. Print.
PERIODICALS: Best Friends Cat Fancy Cat World Dog Fancy

“I gave my cat a bath the other day,
He enjoyed it, it was fun for me.
The fur would stick to my tongue, but other than that…”- Steve Martin.

“Napolean suffered from ailurophobia (the fear of cats).

Rev Earl of Bridgewater used to dine with a dozen dogs (prince of the Roman Empire).

CAREER BREAKOUT: ANIMAL PORTRAITS

1.5$ is spent each year on pet food (more then baby food)
100 million dog and cats in the USA. Every hr 12,500 puppies are born in the USA.
According to pet owner surveys 79% of Americans give their dogs holiday and/or birthday presents. America spends $5.4 billon (1983) on pets each year.

Drive in New England and you will see a canine passenger in every third vehicle. Considered part of the family, loyal pets may receive a solo portrait or be included in an image with their master. Learning to identify the distinctions between various breeds and hybrids of dogs and cats is helpful. Even portrait artists working on location are requested and commissioned pet sketches. Expect pee on your seats, obsessive movement, and then the dog will suddenly break midcourse to court a fire hydrant. Typically, animal portraits are sketched from photography, unless you can convince the owner to stop by the taxidermist first. There are many artist who specialize in animal portraits.

(1) Advertise in pet magazines.
(2) Buy a vendor space at pedigree show and show up with a digital camera, lots of brochures, art supplies, and examples of your work.
(3) If you do quality work word of mouth will be your best friend.

ANIMAL DRAWING OBJECTIVES:

Interdisciplinary studies in the science of zoology
Work with gesture line. Working with live animals pushes the students to work faster and stay more focused.
Move from flat sketching to building form
Wonderful opportunity to bring other people into the studio as people from the community, parents, and special needs students assist and enjoy the animals with the artists.
Opportunity to explore the sociological aspects of our enjoyment of animals. Discuss responsible animal ownership.

SKETCH METHOD:

When I studied under Disney animator Milt Neil he emphasized the two color method. A lighter color was used to build the basic structure of the animal using simple shapes. The second color was used to add detail. This also helps critique drawing problems. As one works on the picture they should always focus on clarify and/or correcting the drawing.

Simplicity to complexity:
Effective use of two colored pencils
(1) First color to show basic shapes
(2) Second color to add detail
Observation Skills:
Strong focus on drawing the animal
(or) did they primarily look down at the paper and make up the drawing
Effort: The turned in work shows evidence that the student worked diligently.
Gesture: Quality of capture animation of animal

RUBRIC FOR ANIMAL DRAWING:

______Effective use of two colored pencils (Color 1 = Basic shapes. Color 2 = Detail)
______Approaches the sketch with a soft touch, and builds dark tones at appropriate time.
______Sensitivity to the diversity of animals and how they differ in large and small details.
______Keen observation of animal posture and movements.
______Evident diligent energy and effort put into the image.

ANIMAL DRAWING ASSIGNMENTS AND PRJECTS

Draw animals from artist drawings and art history
Draw animals from photography
Draw animal gesture drawings from videos
Draw animals from life in the classroom and at homework.
Animal theme project: Some Options:
Animal anatomy
Studies of animal movement
Physiognomics
Animal hybrids
Animal masks
Animals inspired fashion design
Animal inspired architecture
Animal inspired cartooning

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Birch, Linda. How to Draw and Paint Animals: in Pencil, Charcoal, Line and Watercolour. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles, 1997. Print.
Hultgren, Ken. The Art of Animal Drawing: Construction, Action Analysis, Caricature. New York: Dover, 1993. Print.
Knight, Charles Robert, and Charles Robert Knight. Animal Drawing: Anatomy and Action for Artists. New York: Dover Publications, 1959. Print.

PERIODICALS:

Best Friends
Cat Fancy
Cat World
Dog Fancy