How I Drew an #Elephant

Two images on my Pinterest board inspired this week's craft.  One was an ancient rock engraving in Chad, and the other was a 1920s painting by early, contemporary, Congolese artist Albert Lubaki.  

What these two images have in common is that they are both renderings of an animal - the elephant.  While it may seem cliche to associate Africa with elephants, I was so compelled by these two images that I was moved to do this craft.

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I wondered what it was about the elephant that made an ancient artist indelibly etch its likeness using just a few lines.  Did the same qualities inspire Albert Lubaki to interpret the animal with unmistakeable character and movement?

Understand that today's craft goes beyond superficially associating an elephant with the continent.  It's more about the specific people who saw the animal and were inspired by it.  I am inspired by them.

Confession:  I don't think I am that good at drawing.  It didn't come naturally to me like it did to some kids at school.  It wasn't until very recently that I decided to explore doodling and be okay with trying different techniques.  I've had varying degrees of success.  I didn't turn to a tutorial for this technique.

Here's What I Did

• On a piece of blank, white paper, I drew a 4" by 4" grid.  
• I downloaded my inspiration image (the etching), and doctored it so the lines stood out more.  I also cropped it into a perfect square.
• I layered a 4 x 4 grid over the image.  

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• Focusing on the proportions within each square, and the fluidity of the lines, I drew my best approximation of the main parts of the image in pencil.
• I traced over my drawing in black pen using fluid lines and confident strokes.

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• I took a picture of my drawing and "colored it in" as a digital collage (see first image).

If you would be interested in more drawing how-to's, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me at artlikebread (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always, thanks for reading the blog!  Please leave your thoughts, ideas and questions in the comment section below.  If you liked this post, please share this post with a friend through social media & plan to draw an animal that inspires you!  Like my Facebook page for updates and more crafty sharing!

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Hand-drawn, Digitally Collaged Teacup

I have been enjoying watching and doing simple classes on Creative Bug.  They are video classes that are artistically shot to show the best angles for learning and they are taught by the heavy hitters in the craft industry.  

One class I am taking is called 31 Days of Drawing with Lisa Congdon.  There are 31 short videos (5 minutes or less), and in each one she shows you how to draw three of one thing.  January 1 was a tree.  January 2 was a teacup (but I did it on January 3!)  January 3 was really a chair, but I have chosen not to share my chair here!!!

Above is the raw teacup drawing and below is the digitally collaged version!

I'm pretty excited that I know how to do this.  I have never been confident in drawing but also I never knew how to digitally collage.  Now, after years of tinkering with it, I feel pretty proficient.  It's never too late to learn something new!

What did you create today?

Tiny Beginnings

it's 2016.

This is a hand-drawn tree "colored" with images in my library.  I digitally collaged that piece onto a handwritten note.  The note has a reversed "snow" overlay.

So it seems like a beginning, even though it is just another day.  It was a beautiful day and a restful day.  For me, it was a creative day.  

Every day should be a creative day, don't you think?  I am still forming my goals for 2016, and I'm still making my plans.  I think it is going to be a good year.  

In the short term, I'm starting small.  I'm starting here.  I am promising myself to do something creative every day and also to document that something.  I wish to blog that something, but where and when will certainly vary.

Today I finished crocheting a scarf for my sister & now it's blocking.  I made that digital collage up there with a drawing inspired by a Creative Bug class.  

What tiny thing will you begin today?  Tomorrow?  The next day?  

#30DaysofCreativity in June: Week 2

Week of June 9-15, 2011

What I did:

• Took scissors to an old t-shirt and came up with a wrap thingy.

• Spent WAY TOO MUCH TIME on the Les Paul Google Doodle.  Listen to "Art, Like Bread is creating every day" put to music on the keyboard guitar. :)
• Re-wrote "This Is How We Do It" to apply to Grammar, and performed it for my students.
• Started my second pass at "Short & Sweet" by Angela Best (who is the BEST) in black cashmere.  
•  Edited some karaoke photos in Picasa.  I feel digital scrapbooking coming on.

You should have seen the original.  I didn't keep a copy, but trust me, this is heavily doctored!

• Sang all kinda songs at karaoke (and danced like there was no tomorrow)!!

This one is not heavily doctored.  I'm just rockin' out!

What my students did:

• Folded orgami
• Kept up with the doodling tradition.

They really loved that muffin activity.  Since when do we put candles in muffins?

• Sang "We will rock you" during the last class! HA! :D  (I turned it into a grammar lesson anyway!)
• Practiced ballet.
• Made up a dance to Justin Bieber songs!
• Did some creative photo shoots and digital scrapbook editing.
• Practiced bass guitar.

Note:  This will be my students' last week as they are officially OUT OF SCHOOL! Congratulations, kids!

#30DaysofCreativity in June: Day 1

June 1, 2011

What I did:

I wove in the ends on my fabulous crocheted duster. At this rate, I can wear it tomorrow!

Blog post on this baby coming up!

What my students did:

One of my Language classes tried their hands at rhythmic clapping.  I tried to upload the audio, but I haven't figured it out yet!

One of my uber-talented 7th graders did an AMAZINGLY DETAILED pencil drawing.  I swear sometimes I am completely bowled over by the talent that runs through their fingers. By the way, he did the whole drawing today, and each character has a personality and a story.  This kid is GOOD!

Thanks for joining me this week for #30DaysofCreativity!  TWEET or SHARE this post if you think it's creative!