Bruce Langton Workshop Outline

Back Home Again in Indiana

35-40 minute presentation. Objectives:

  • Students will create a sketch of an Indiana subject

  • Students will draw a simple background with explanation of why it’s important to put backgrounds in first when painting

  • Students will identify sources of inspiration for drawings such as text, photographs, memories, friends and family

  • Students will add shadowing with explanation of why light source is so important in their sketch

1. Introduction of self, family, pets, studio & artwork using PowerPoint slide show with explanations of how a book is put together and show a step by step on how a painting is done (10 minutes).

2. Introduce book “H is for Hoosier” and find out what you know about Indiana?
• What is the state bird? cardinal
• What is the state tree? Tulip tree (yellow poplar)
• What is the capital? Indianapolis

a. What if you had to draw picture for the letter “C”? (Read copy from book) What would you draw on this page for the state bird? Get suggestions from kids
b. In the book “H is for Hoosier” I drew the Cardinal in winter pines. Explain why.
c. Show illustration from book
d. How many of you have seen a Cardinal in your back yard? How did I do? Why is the female Cardinal brown?

3. Guide student thru drawing of a cardinal (10 to 15 minutes)
a. Show how I gather reference material thru photos.
b. Show class a photo of Cardinal
c. Walk them through the illustration process step by step
d. Discuss how to illustrate a page while they are drawing

It takes a lot of time to illustrate a book. First I read the text 5-10 times (“Cardinal starts with the letter C.”). Make notes, do pencil drawings and sketches. Make little book – show a sample sketch book to class. Talk about duck competition and entering many times before winning, trying again and again. Sketch of dog, didn’t like it the first time, drew it 3 times. Use family or children in the neighborhood as models

4. Guide student thru drawing of ladybug (10 to 15 minutes)

  • Walk students through the steps

  • Discuss shading and optical illusions in how to make something look round & three dimensional.

  • Have students hold up their pictures, share with each others

5. Questions and Answer session

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