Free Art Lesson
Learning from Nature
Nature is the best art teacher you can have. There are art lessons all around you.
Painting and drawing are basically the portrayal of light versus dark. Without those two basics, we would not have a starting place. The addition of color goes a step farther to enhance our artwork and make it more interesting.
When you come upon something that catches your eye, stop for a minute and ask yourself just what you like or dislike about what you're seeing. Usually, our eye is drawn to good composition and dramatic lighting, as well as pleasing color combinations. There is usually a mood that is created in a pleasing or disturbing vista. Sometimes we feel nostalgia when looking at beautiful scenery. We feel our emotions as they connect to our memories, good or bad. At other times we may feel a great sense of perspective, that we are part of something much bigger. This can also be called "awe". Take time to recognize the things you are feeling as you look around in your world. Art awakens our feelings.
Train your eye to notice shadows in all settings. Indoor and outdoors, when there is light there is also shadow. Watch the shadows as they move during the day, and notice how soft lighting makes the shadows more diffused. In bright light, see how the shadows are sharp and bold, and the way the lighter colors are almost blinding in contrast to dark colors and shadows. Notice also that all the shadows work together in the same direction. Look at how shadows react when there is more than one light source. There can be dominant and passive shadows affecting the same object at the same time!
What happens when the darkest shadows meet the lightest light? Is that area more or less sharp? Is there a gradual transition from dark to light, or is it an abrupt difference? When you finish reading this lesson, look around you and answer that question for yourself.
When you find yourself with a few spare seconds, look at the things that are around you. If you are indoors, look at the doorways, the windows, the place where the wall meets the floor or ceiling. Look at the furniture. Then close one eye and trace those shapes with the tip of your finger as if it is a pencil. Notice the angles as you draw in the air. Notice everything. If you are outdoors, trace the horizon and tree lines, the clouds or the fence lines. Notice the way that objects disappear in the distance and that there is a certain angle that straight lines follow as they go into the horizon. This is a basic lesson in one kind of perspective called "linear perspective". Here is a helpful hint: Be sure to do this either in private or among friends who understand what you're doing. (<:
When you are outdoors and can observe things in the distance, notice how the things that are close to you are in sharp detail and have bright warm colors. Look at the distant objects such as mountains, and see that they take on a blue tinge. There is a very complicated reason that this happens, but for now we will just notice it. You are experiencing another kind of perspective that's called "color perspective".
Practice this: Get out your paper and a pencil and sit down at a table or other flat drawing surface. Take your pencil and use the lead tip to trace around the edges of a nearby object IN THE AIR as you look at it. Do this several times. Get used to the angles or curves of the object. When you have done several "air tracings", keep your eyes on the same object, and WITHOUT LOOKING at your paper, try to draw a picture of the object. Don't cheat! You will be surprised at first by how different your drawing looks from the way you thought it would look! Keep practicing in this way because it is a very good way to get your eye and hand coordination working together harmoniously.
I will end the lesson at this point. Remember, observe, observe, observe. Those are the three basic rules of learning about art, no matter what medium you want to use. It might be helpful to keep a notebook with you to record your thoughts and discoveries as you look around you. A sketchbook should always be nearby, also. Sketch at all times. Drawing is the core of all other forms of art. If you are going to paint or sculpt successfully, you must first learn to draw.
Have fun!