Welcome to Drawing Matters, Firstly apologies for there not being a newsletter in March, preparations for the first course of the year took over things, however we had a great class so thank you to all the participants! I'm afraid all my courses for this year are now full. If you are disappointed do make me sure you contact me to go on a waiting list and to go on my email mailing list who always receive first notification of new dates. In addition in this month's newsletter you will find:

• Information about the content 5-day Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain course, devised by Dr. Betty Edwards. This includes links for viewing a slideshow of participants' work and reading course feedback.


• UK Courses Details of courses in 2012


• The Features Some tips and suggestions about drawing the elements that make up the face. This month the mouth.


• Learning from Other ArtistsThe benefits of visiting and drawing at an exhibition.


• We're on Facebook Learn to Draw Right now has a page on Facebook


• Drawing Matters Facebook Group has now been created so why not join it and keep in touch with fellow artists around the world...

If your computer only allows you to view a text only version of this newsletter you can see the colour version with colour images here

I hope you will find Drawing Matters interesting and I'd love to hear any comments or suggestions from you. Please feel free to forward it to anyone who you think might be interested. There is a link at the bottom of the page where they can subscribe.
You can contact me here

Anna Black
Certified Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain instructor, operating under license from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (www.drawright.com)

Course Dates 2012

Courses take place in central London (Little Venice), which are non-residential, and North Wales, near Bangor, (residential). The course lasts for 5 days and includes 35 hours of teaching and The Drawing Portfolio (RRP over £80).

The contents of the Drawing Portfolio were designed by Dr Betty Edwards and Brian Bomeisler. It includes all the materials you will need for the course, including drawing tools unique to Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. These unique tools were developed by Brian Bomeisler based on those used by the Old Masters. The Portfolio and its contents are yours to take home and keep.

LONDON: Monday 4th June to Friday 8th June 2012
This course is now full please contact me to go on the waiting list.

WHERE? Amadeus Centre, Shirland Road, Little Venice, London W9
HOW MUCH? £495
Course fee includes:

• 35 Hours of teaching
• The Drawing Portfolio (RRP Over £80)
  You can find out more about the contents of the Drawing Portfolio below
  This course is now full. Please contact me if you'd like to go on a waiting list in case a place becomes available
  

• 35 Hours of teaching
• The Drawing Portfolio (RRP Over £80).
  *see note below

THE DRAWING PORTFOLIO
The contents of the Drawing Portfolio were designed by Dr Betty Edwards and Brian Bomeisler. It includes all the materials you will need for the course, including drawing tools unique to Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. These unique tools were developed by Brian Bomeisler based on those used by the Old Masters. The Portfolio and its contents are yours to take home and keep. You can find out more about the contents of the Portfolio

here

UNITED STATES
If you are interested in purchasing the portfolio separately or for courses in the United States with Brian Bomeisler, follow the link at the bottom of the page.

MAILING LIST
If you would like to be among the first to hear about new course dates in the UK as soon as they are announced please contact me to be added to the mailing list.

View a slideshow of student drawings and class photos
If you are interested in booking for next year but you are still sceptical that you will really learn the basic skills of drawing in just five days, why don't you view a slideshow showing some drawings done by participants on the course here (a new window will open)

To find out more about how the course is structured and what you will learn, click here

For further information and a booking form, click here


Read what the media and other people have thought of Betty Edwards' Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain course here ( a new window will open)

DRAWING THE FEATURES: THE MOUTH

• Find out the position of the centre line of the mouth by sighting down the face. You can relate it to the position of the eyeline, the bottom of the nose and the bottom of the chin. I’d recommend you sight using one reference and then doublecheck against the others.
• A common problem is to place the mouth too low. Consider the position of the mouth in relation to the bottom of the earlobes and also to where the neck joins the head. There are so many different ways to find the same information.
• Do lightly draw the middle 'line' of the mouth. This is the only line you should be drawing. However, don't just draw a quick line but really look at your subject and draw what you see - this 'line' will be made up short straight lines going up and down in different directions.
• Mouths are always wider than you think. Check the width of the mouth in relationship to other elements of the face such as the pupil of the eye.
• Don't try and draw the outline of the upper or low lip.
• The lips are just light and shade. The lower lip is usually darker as it is in shadow. Really look at the subject and darken or erase out light and shadow shapes. Focusing on the shape of light and shadow will create the sculptural quality of the lips. If you squint you will find it easier to see the bigger shapes.
• Notice any areas of light or dark around the mouth - for example under the bottom lip and above the upper lip, and around the corner edges of the mouth
• Avoid trying to draw a wide smile showing teeth - this is most commonly done when we are using a reference photograph. No one can hold this pose for long in life and therefore it usually looks stiff and lifeless in a drawing. A mouth at rest or with a hint of expression is more lifelike. However, let any expression just arise from drawing the light/shadow shapes rather than trying to force it out of the drawing.
In general I’d recommend ‘Less is More’ – leave something for the viewer’s imagination to fill in.

Learning from Other Artists

Visit Learn to Draw Right on Facebook

Also, there is now a DRAWING MATTERS FACEBOOK GROUP page you can join. This is interactive and like any group is only as good as its contributors so this is the place you can ask questions, answer other people's questions, share tips etc etc. here

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain USA

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