Drawing

What this unit covers

This page sits in the Studio Practice: Two-Dimensional Media strand of Visual arts. It mixes theory, technique and subject-based drawing guides, all made by GoConqr users.

• Vocabulary: the Drawing Vocabulary flashcards cover terms such as contour, eye level, negative space, linear perspective and viewfinder.
• Materials: one mind map on drawing and painting breaks materials into pigment, binder and dry media such as graphite, charcoal and metal point.
• Space and volume: a large group of mind maps covers proximity and distance between flat forms, overlapping, different sizes and creating depth.
• Subjects and skills: there are maps on Perspective, Gesture, Tone, Close Ups, Viewpoints in Art and What makes a good portrait, plus guides to birds, elephants and a wolf's head.

Where to start

Begin with Drawing Vocabulary. Knowing the terms makes every other resource easier to read. Then open the Drawing Techniques mind map and the one on drawing materials: pencils and paper.

Moving on to space and depth

The space and volume maps are the biggest cluster here. They are written by different people, so they word the same ideas differently. Read two or three side by side. Look for the shared points: bigger figures lower in the picture, smaller ones further away, and overlapping to suggest depth.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then test yourself. The quiz on the proportion of the face suits portrait work, and the Drawing quiz gives a general check. Drawing I - First Nine Weeks Exam Practice Test is another option. Anything you get wrong tells you which map to reopen. The flashcard decks on facial features and anatomy of the torso help with figure work.

Make it your own

Teachers can use these maps and decks as starting points for lessons. Pick one topic today, try a quiz, and see what you remember.