Illustration Project, Thoreau
This project will focus on analyzing a passage to be illustrated. In the video, I reflect on this passage from Walden by Henry David Thoreau. This is meant to help you generate your own ideas on how you would illustrate this piece. Please spend some quiet time reflecting. Thoreau spends the greater part of this book, meditating on man’s place in nature and how nature provides the spiritual man with an opportunity to develop his better self. Walden pond is a small space that reflects the greater whole that we all are a part of. Look up what American Transcendentalist means as this may help your illustration.
Assignment:
Materials: 11×14 white sketchbook [Drawing I], pencils.
Please create a sheet of thumbnail sketches for this passage. Place several, at least 4-5 compo’s, on a single sheet. These compositions may reflect what the whole illustrated sheet may look like and /or the individual objects (Table, 2 chairs, books, paper, ink, quill pen, pot, pan, spoon, bed, bed covers etc.) or spaces (trees, clearing in woods, sunlight through the leaves, reflections from the pond, plants/leaves, birds and insects etc.) that may be part of the composition.
I have indicated some of the objects that may be incorporated as I have read the entire book and indicate those objects that reoccur throughout. Reflect on the time period 1845-1854 [Thoreau’s stay at Walden until he published the actual book derived from that stay]. Look at furniture from that time. His father sold pencils, so any furniture that he had was simple and most likely, not ornate [Although, he did attend Harvard, so he was culturally acute]. Remember it is summertime and takes place early in the morning (as he indicates he finishes before most people have breakfast). Remember he is also a writer, so you may use books, paper, inkwell, quill pen.
Photo References of Walden Pond and Thoreau’s Cabin: https://drawingclass.blog/drawing-2/module-3/
Due: Tuesday, March 30 at 11:59 am.
Due: Monday, March 29 before 11:59 AM.
Upload photos to the assignment section.
Secondly, Please watch the video Creating a Design from Sketches and answer the questions in the assignment section. Due: Tuesday, March 30 at 11:59 am; Monday, March 29 before 11:59 AM.
Below, I have examples of thumbnails and studies by Andrew Wyeth for his painting, “Roasted Chestnuts”. This will give you an idea of how to proceed and what to think about.
Drawing Class 