This project was picked especially for my “Art 2” students! “Ballet and Converse” is going to be rendered using graphite pencils, erasers, stumps, and brushes. When I drew the example, used in class, my students (who wear Converse) immediatly noticed a critical error on my sample! I drew the Converse shoe with 5 eyelits, not the 6 eyelits clearly depicted in this photo! Oops! I also didn’t stop and take the usual amount of photos required, in an instructional post. Again… Opps! I will be using the pictures I took from the example and then switch to the step by step example, I used to teach in class. In order for my students to see each step clearly, I had to draw substancially darker than I normally draw. For this reason, please pay close attention to the pencil, I suggest using for each step. You will see any mistakes or adjustments I made during the class were impossible to erase because of the darker pencil I used to teach. With that being said, the picture below is the incorrect example I brought to class.
I did take “Creative License” and made adjustments to the original photogragh. I raised the Baseboard up a little to give more space to the Focal Point’s position on the floor, as well as, extending the floor in front to highlight the reflection from the shoes on the floor. By making these choices, I opened up the picture by providing more Negative Space to highlight the Positive Space in a complementary fashion. In addition, I lightened the Baseboard, Floor, and Skintone to establish a softer rendering, focusing on unique photograph of a Ballet and Converse Shoe in “Point Position.”
Step 1- Using a HB, B, or F pencil, draw a Contour Sketch of the shoes. *This will be altered as you fine tune different areas. Tip: When drawing Positive Space or your Focal Point, look at the shapes the Negative Space makes to accurately draw the Focal Point or Positive Space in your drawing.
Step 2- Begin drawing the interior of the Converse shoe. Adjust the shape of the sole of the shoe. Next, draw the shape of the white tip that is an identifying part of a Converse shoe. Draw the details inside of the shoe. *Don’t forget to include the seams. Use the “Check Back Method” (looking more at the photograph 3 seconds out of 4) to correctly render the curve and line of the shoe. Draw 6 eyelits, not the 5 depicted in this drawing. It’s easier if you draw the top eyelit first, then the bottom eyelit. This will enable you to adjust the spacing of the eyelits, inside, much easier. Draw the shoelaces next. Pay close attention to the photograph to get the angles correct and which shoelace overlaps and which does not. Hold up your drawing to compare it to the photograph. Make sure you are drawing all the angles and shapes correctly.
Step 3- The first drawing illustrates the way to approach the shoelaces. The second drawing is the one I used to teach the lesson in class. Because it was being used to teach, as I stated earlier, the lines are much darker in order for my students to clearly see the steps during class. You will be using a HB, B, or F for most of the drawing. For the darker areas, use a 3B or 4B. For the lighter areas, use a 2H or 3H and a 4H in the lightest areas. Pay attention to which shoelace overlaps and what and where to erase.
Step 4-The following “close up” pictures highlight the details to help you render the Converse shoe. The top (left, if your using an IPad or PC) photo is a close up view of the shoelaces. Notice the shoelaces are not outlined, but created using value with a 2H pencil, eraser, and stump. The left side of the shoelaces have tiny, darker trianglular shadows. The next photo shows the cross hatching and hatching used on the heal. Begin the texture by shading, using a light cross hatching technique to simulate canvas. The lines are softened by a brush and a stump. Notice the last picture, illustates the correct curve the stitching makes, at the bottom, to meet at the corner.
Step 5- Create the silky texture on the the Ballet shoe by shading with a 3B pencil and drawing with a kneaded eraser by pulling out thin feathery lines. When you add the value creating form around the ballet shoe you will shape your kneaded eraser to a very narrow edge. Use a feathering stroke with your pencil and pull out highlights with a kneaded eraser using the same technique. Soften the value, carefully, with a stump and brush. Ground the shoes with the “arc like” shadow that reflects off the floor.
Step 6- Draw the bows on both shoes.
Step 7- Soften the laces using your eraser and stump. Touch up values around the floor and baseboard. Shade the skintones using a 2B pencil on the outside edges and a 2H pencil on the inside. The shape resembles a cylinder, except for the anklebone. Again, hold up your drawing, to compare it to the photograph, to make sure you are rendering it correctly.
Step 8- Adjust the values and textures until your drawing compares, correctly, to the photograph. Make sure you continually step back and look at your drawing, from a distance, to do any final touch ups.
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