Drawing Nature and Man-Made Objects – SS1 Visual Arts Lesson Note (First Term)

Drawing nature and man-made objects means recording natural things and human-made things by looking at them closely and drawing what you see.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State what nature drawing is and name its four main subject areas.
2. List the mediums used for nature drawing.
3. Define man-made objects and give examples that can be drawn.
4. List the steps for drawing a man-made object from observation.
5. Explain what life drawing (figure drawing) is and state its benefits to an artist.
6. Distinguish between short poses and long poses in a life drawing session.

What is nature drawing?

Nature drawing is the act of creating artwork that depicts the natural world.

What are the subjects of nature drawing?

There are four main subject areas of nature drawing: landscapes, flora, fauna and elements.

1. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, skies and seascapes.
2. Flora: plants, trees, flowers and foliage.
3. Fauna: animals, birds, insects and wildlife.
4. Elements: water, fire, earth and air.

What mediums are used for nature drawing?

A medium is the material an artist uses to make a drawing or painting.

• Pencils: make clear lines and soft shading, good for plants and animals.
• Charcoal: gives dark, smudgy tones, good for skies and landscapes.
• Paints: watercolour, acrylic and oil add colour to the drawing.
• Ink: gives sharp, permanent lines.
• Mixed media: uses two or more materials in one work.

What are man-made objects in drawing?

Man-made objects are things made by people, not by nature, such as chairs, pots, buildings and tools.

What man-made objects can we draw?

• Household objects: chairs, tables, cups, bottles, calabashes and clay pots.
• Tools and equipment: hoes, cutlasses, hammers, scissors and radios.
• Buildings and structures: houses, mosques, churches, bridges and market stalls.
• Vehicles: bicycles, buses, canoes and tricycles (keke).
• Still life groups: several objects arranged on a table and drawn together.

How do we draw a man-made object?

1. Place the object where you can see it clearly, with good light.
2. Look at its overall shape and proportion before you draw.
3. Sketch the basic shapes lightly, such as a cylinder for a bottle or a box for a house.
4. Check the proportions: compare the height with the width.
5. Correct the outline and add details such as handles, windows or patterns.
6. Add shading to show light, shadow and form.
7. Clean up the drawing and darken the final lines.

What is the difference between nature drawing and drawing man-made objects?

Nature drawing shows things that grow or exist without human making, such as trees and animals.

Drawing man-made objects shows things that people have built or manufactured, such as tools and buildings.

What is life drawing?

Life drawing, also called figure drawing, is the act of drawing the human figure from observation, usually from a live model.

• Setting: the model poses in a studio or classroom.
• Focus: artists study proportions, anatomy, gesture and expression.
• Media: pencils, charcoal, ink or paint.

How does life drawing help artists?

1. Develops observational skills: the artist studies the human form in various poses and lighting conditions.
2. Builds understanding of anatomy: the artist studies the structure and proportions of the body.
3. Captures gesture and movement: the artist shows the figure’s pose, balance and energy.
4. Improves drawing skills: the artist practises rendering contours, shapes and textures.
5. Enhances creativity: the artist tries various mediums, styles and interpretations.
6. Builds confidence: regular practice makes drawing the figure easier.

What skills does figure drawing develop?

• Observational skills: accurately drawing the model’s pose, proportions and anatomy.
• Understanding of human anatomy: familiarity with the body’s structure and proportions.
• Rendering techniques: showing texture, tone and volume with various media.
• Gesture and movement: showing energy through expressive lines and marks.
• Proportion and measurement: showing the size relationships between body parts.

What happens in a life drawing session?

A life drawing session has short poses, long poses, varied poses and different lighting effects.

1. Short poses: quick sketches (1 to 5 minutes) to capture gesture and movement.
2. Long poses: more detailed drawings (15 to 60 minutes) to focus on anatomy and proportions.
3. Varied poses: models pose in different positions, such as standing, sitting or reclining.
4. Lighting effects: models are lit from different angles, creating challenging shading and shadowing effects.

What is the difference between a short pose and a long pose?

A short pose is a quick drawing of 1 to 5 minutes that captures the movement of the figure.

A long pose is a detailed drawing of 15 to 60 minutes that studies anatomy, proportion and detail.

Evaluation

1. What is nature drawing?
2. Name the four subject areas of nature drawing and give one example of each.
3. List four mediums used for nature drawing.
4. Give three examples of man-made objects that can be drawn.
5. What is life drawing, and what is another name for it?

Assignment

Answer both parts in your notebook:

1. List five ways in which life drawing helps an artist.
2. Explain why models are lit from different angles in a life drawing session.