Surrealism + Grid= Realistic Unrealism!

  Grid design offers 1st level "drawing-challenged" students a method of learning to focus clearly, make good "guesstimates", and eases the threat of immediate accuracy. The guide lines measured keep visual concentration on small squares, one at a time, and watching the drawing grow is very satisfying.

  As an art style we applied some ideas of "surrealism" as the basis for the unusual composition that would result. Students were to look for magazine pictures which interested them, correlation of objects was optional, a sense of humor was invited, and organization was of primary importance.

The grid paper was prepared first by drawing 2" length and width grids on 12"X18" manila paper with ball point pen. This permits erasing work without removing the grid. It is set aside until needed.

Next, we looked for interesting/unusual magazine images and selected 5. These were arranged on 6"X9" newsprint overlapped with good space organization.

To equate proportion between source and destination, these images were overlapped with a 1" grid in both directions. Now, we are ready.

In placing and gluing their images, students were encouraged to think beyond edges, consider shape sizes, direction and balance. Images too large/small were to be replaced. The 1" grid was measured and drawn out directly over the images (left).

Next, to the right, is the finished contour drawing on the larger grid paper. The "one square at a time" approach was emphasized. Rather than drawing directly on to the format, students were shown how to plot "points" on the large grid estimating the position seen from the small grid by establishing a drawing route first, then making the linear connections. Little by little, they saw how the enlargement was born.

Note: Students were to continue "cut off" shapes, change or add parts to the selections. e.g. Only the child's face was retained from the original image as shown below.

After the plotting and drawing was established as accurately as possible, the contour drawing was clarified and darkened with 5b pencils so it would be easily seen through the final paper where it would be transferred. This drawing would be traced lightly on the final drawing format so as not to interfere with color rendering.

Using windows and a light table, the contour was transfered and rendered in tonal contrasts using the shadows and shadings the images provided.

Considerations

This drawing experience had 3 purposes:

• 1. To experience a drawing technique which promoted accuracy for 1st level students with minimal tears. Learning to "plot" a small area sparked some enthusiasm and with time, students soon believed this really would work.
• 2. To learn that a composition can be created with fantasy images, unreason and creative liberty free from concept limitations. Here's where we reviewed some Surrealistic paintings and implemented the idea that themes can be free of time and space as we know it. This thought gave validity to relating the images that had been selected.
• 3. Free contrast interpretation. The final drawing was to be completed in grayscale, invented color, replaced color or as portrayed as selected images depicted. Blended hues, a variety of contrasts, textures and line design were of primary importance in their final rendering.