Jan. 11: Finishing Spheres & Zuly Sanguino

Hi Class!

Today we are finishing up our spheres, talking about appropriate still life projects, and looking at the artwork of Zuly Sanguino. Why are we looking at her art? Because

“Zuly Sanguino is a talented young artist and motivational speaker. The 24-year-old Colombian creates beautiful, colorful paintings of flowers and landscapes that have been exhibited in various shows. She has also given several motivational lectures at corporate organizations, schools and prisons. Zuly is an exceptional woman, mainly because she’s managed to achieve so much even though she was born without fully formed limbs.

Born with phocomelia, a congenital disorder that affected all four of her limbs, Zuly was destined for a life of disability. The doctors had informed her mother, Guillermina, that Zuly would have to be lying down all the time for the rest of her life. In spite of their poverty and terrible living conditions (they lived in shacks with dirt floors), Guillermina wouldn’t give up on her daughter – she taught young Zuly to sit at first, and then walk on her own without external support.”

[Source: http://www.odditycentral.com/art/woman-born-without-arms-and-legs-overcomes-odds-become-successful-painter.html]

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Things to think about when drawing:

Drawing is like building a house.

(You don’t start with paint or nails or drywall.)

• You start by pouring a concrete foundation. Basically, a big square in the ground.

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• Then you start “framing” the house.

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• Then you close up the framing to make walls and put in electric and plumbing.
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• Then you put in insulation and drywall.
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• Then you make finishing touches like paint and trim.
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Same “process” can be applied in drawing.

• Basic shapes first – “frame” it.
• Slowly add basic shadow areas.
• Add more to shadow and detail slowly.
• “Finish” by blending away your pencil strokes (if you want). Erase away any lines you no longer need or clean up edges.

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