It’s a right-brain kinda thing.
February 27, 2008 at 9:30 am
· Filed under Art, Blogroll, Books, Education and tagged: Art, Art Education, Betty Edwards, drawing, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Education, teaching
This past week I started walking my students through Betty Edwards‘ Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain material using the DRSB video. I was excited to try out this course since learning to draw is top of the list for nearly all of my students and had hoped Dr. Edwards’ credentials would have added some credence to the material. Sadly, this hasn’t been the case.
We’ve only just begun, however I’ve been a little disappointed in my students:
- At the top of the list is the fact that the first couple of exercises (vase-faces and upside-down drawing) weren’t taken seriously. Many talked through the exercise instead of being silent and concentrating.
- Their complaints that they couldn’t draw and how hard the exercises were droned on during most of my three Studio classes.
- On top of that, a few spent more time trying to find ways to trace the second project than simply doing it as instructed.
- Although I think they made too much of it, most complained about Dr. Edwards’ voice during the video. I tried to explain that her professorial voice is pretty common in colleges and they should get used to it. Of course, she could have hired someone but perhaps it wouldn’t have made the presentation as credible. Who knows. Either way, most of the students weren’t buying it.
Monday and Tuesday of this week, I had the students create the small viewfinder (there are two sizes). I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was disappointed when many of my students couldn’t do the measuring using the ruler. I’m hoping tomorrow I’ll be able to get started on the exercises using the viewfinder. I’ll keep you all posted.
Has anyone used the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain material? What was your student response to it? I’d really like to hear your thoughts. Also, does anyone have any other recommended drawing courses they have successfully used for high school students?
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lynn wrote @ March 31, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Use the First edition book. I found the new edition with all the viewfinder and things to make verry confusing and hard to hold onto and draw. Be patient Anyone can learn to draw just got to get them to believe.
karen wrote @ June 22, 2008 at 5:39 am
Hi,
I’ve just bought the book and am really enjoying it. But…I can’t work out how to make the viewfinder? Can anyone explain it to me in simple terms?
karen wrote @ June 22, 2008 at 5:41 am
Hi,
I’ve just bought the book and am really enjoying it. But…I can’t work out how to make the viewfinder? Can anyone explain it to me in simple terms?
JWP wrote @ June 22, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I’m glad you are enjoying the book, Karen!
Regarding the viewfinder used for the drawing exercises, you can do one of two things:
1. Purchase a corresponding number of them from Dr. Edwards’ website
2. Look up similar products via Google. Here is a site that has one for sale that looks promising (it has a value-finder too!): http://www.artworkessentials.com
3. Make your own (see below)
HOW I MADE MY VIEWFINDERS
I used cardstock and cut it to the size listed in Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. I also cut the “window” opening as prescribed in Dr. Edwards’ book.
Once the cardstock was cut properly, I took a piece of overhead transparency (I bought a box of 200 from OfficeDepot) and marked it at the half-way point both vertically and horizontally to form crosshairs that would fit in the center of the “window” of the cardstock. You must use a permanent marker to write on the transparency so it doesn’t wipe off.
The overhead transparency will need to be cut to the same size (or slightly smaller) as the outside dimensions of the cardstock. Once cut, I center it in the “window” and then tape the cardstock and transparency together.
That’s it. My kids did much of this and here were the problems I ran into with them doing the work:
1. My students — yes, my HIGH SCHOOLERS — had a hard time measuring out the cardstock dimensions (outside and the “window”)
2. They also had a very hard time using the Xacto blades I gave them; they often cut their cardstock crooked.
3. Centering the transparency within the window also proved a challenge for many of them; I had them mark the center of the “window” vertically and horizontally as well so they could line up the transparency more easily (but ran into problem #1 again).
4. Many of the kids had a hard time using the viewfinder for marking their basic units because it lacked rigidity when held upright.
THINGS I WOULD TRY DIFFERENTLY:
1. I am going to buy one of the viewfinders from http://www.artworkessentials.com over the summer and see the quality and how easily it works.
2. I may also try mounting another piece of cardstock behind the first one so the transparency is sandwiched between the two. This will help with the flimsiness when working with the viewfinder during the exercises.
I hope this helps. If I remember more, I’ll make another post.
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