Spruce Tree

Brenda Hoddinott D-07 BEGINNER: SQUIRKLING In ten simple steps, you transform a single vertical line on a sheet of paper, into a silhouette drawing of a majestic spruce tree.. You begin

Brenda Hoddinott

D-07 BEGINNER: SQUIRKLING

In ten simple steps, you transform a single vertical line on a

sheet of paper, into a silhouette drawing of a majestic spruce

tree Suggested drawing supplies include good quality white

drawing paper, a kneaded and vinyl eraser, and a 4B (or 6B)

graphite pencil

You begin this project by setting up and drawing the trunk of the tree and the ground and then you complete the tree drawing branches and shrubs and grass on the ground

Squirkling is used to add texture and details to the tree’s branches Squirkling is an easy

method of shading, in which randomly drawn curved lines (called squirkles) combine

squiggles and scribbles with circles to create textured values Texture is the surface detail

of an object, as defined in a drawing with various shading techniques The senses of touch and sight help identify the surface texture of drawing subjects

When you draw a portrait, if your proportions are wrong, your drawing just won’t look right no matter how wonderful your shading is Not so with a tree; if the proportions are off, it really doesn’t matter Proportion is the relationship in size of one component of a drawing to another

or others

7 PAGES – 9 ILLUSTRATIONS

Recommended for artists, aged ten to ninety-nine, who have limited drawing skills, as well as

home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators

You first draw the trunk of a tree and the ground from which it grows and then add branches

growing from the trunk of the tree and some grass on the earth below the tree

ILLUSTRATION 06-01

Find your drawing

supplies and draw along

with me as I take you

step-by-step through this

project

Feel free to draw your

tree any shape you prefer,

such as those in the

drawings below

ILLUSTRATION 06-02

Shape refers to the outward outline of a form

Even though the proportions are different,

they all still look like trees

1) With a 6B pencil, lightly sketch a

line (as the center of the trunk of

the tree) from the bottom of your

drawing space almost to the top

Drawing space (also referred to as the

drawing surface or a drawing format)

refers to the area in which you render a

drawing within a specific perimeter It

can be the shape of your paper or

outlined by any shape you choose,

such as a rectangle or square

2) Add the ground (or base) from

which the tree grows

Fill it in with your 6B pencil You can

make the ground bumpy or fairly level

ILLUSTRATION 06-03

3) Make the base of the tree wider and fill it

in with your 6B pencil

Observe that the trunk of the tree is very

narrow at the top and gradually gets wider

closer to the bottom

You strengthen the trunk of the tree by

drawing it wider and anchor the trunk of the

tree in some earth

4) Before you begin adding branches to

your tree take a few minutes and

practice drawing curved raggedy lines

as in Illustration 06-04

Draw the raggedy edges before you add

darker shading to the inner sections of each

branch Not very much of your paper

(maybe none at all) is visible in the center of

the branches because there are lots and lots

of curvy lines

Drawing with loose raggedy lines, creates

realistic looking branches on a tree

ILLUSTRATION 06-04

5) Add a few tiny branches at the

top of the tree trunk

Keep in mind the old expression

“Less is more”! It is easy to add

more branches later if your tree

looks too sparse, but erasing

branches (or sections of

branches), which are too full or

thick is almost impossible

ILLUSTRATION 06-06

6) Add a few slightly larger branches

in the upper section of the tree trunk, below those at the top

Branches on trees tend to become progressively larger the closer they

ILLUSTRATION 06-07

7) Add larger branches growing from

the center section of the tree trunk

While branches on trees are usually

larger closer to the bottom, you can’t

always tell this by looking at a tree

from one perspective Some

branches may be partially hidden

behind the tree and others may be at

the front of the tree

ILLUSTRATION 06-08

8) Add large branches to the bottom section of the tree

For a more realistic looking tree, I drew some of my lower branches (on the left) smaller than others above it

9) Add some

squiggly and

raggedy lines

extending

from the earth

to look like

shrubs and

grass

10) Sign your

name, put

today’s date

on the back,

give yourself a

big hug, go

hug a tree,

and then find

another

project to

draw!

BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY

As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints

My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the enjoyment aspects while gently introducing the technical and

academic Hence, in creating a passion for the subject matter,

the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable

>Brenda Hoddinott<

Born in St John’s, Newfoundland, Brenda grew up in the small town of Corner Brook She developed strong technical competencies with a personal commitment to self directed learning, and the aid of assorted “Learn to Draw” books During Brenda’s twenty-five year career as a self-educated civilian forensic artist, numerous criminal investigation departments have employed Brenda’s skills, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police departments In 1992, Brenda was honored with a commendation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and in 1994, she was awarded a Certificate of Membership from “Forensic Artists International”

Her home-based art career included graphic design, and teaching recreational drawing and painting classes As supervisor of her community’s recreational art department, Brenda hired and trained teachers, and designed curriculum for several children’s art programs In 1998, Brenda chose to end her eighteen-year career as an art educator in order to devote more time to writing, drawing, painting, and developing her websites

Drawspace http://www.drawspace.com incorporates her unique style and innovative approach to curriculum development This site offers downloadable and printable drawing classes for students of all abilities from the age of eight through adult Students of all ages, levels and abilities have praised the simple step-by-step instructional approach These sites are respected as

a resource for fine art educators, home schooling programs, and educational facilities throughout the world

LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT

Drawing for Dummies (2003): Wiley Publishing, Inc., New, York, NY, this 336 page book is

available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing People (2004): Winner of the Alpha-Penguin Book of

the Year Award 2004, Alpha - Pearson Education – Macmillan, Indianapolis, IN, this 360 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally