Sons drawing! (warning, not very nice ) :)

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/03/2005 08:08:20 PM · #1

Sorry if this offends anyone.
Any comments on this?? He would love some feedback. He absolutely loves drawing and would love it if some people commented.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

07/03/2005 08:08:55 PM · #2

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/03/2005 08:12:09 PM · #3

anything other than hhmmmmm ;p

rblanton

Canon EOS-10D

07/03/2005 08:17:51 PM · #4

It appears he has talent and is willing to adventure into areas of intense emotion. That will hold him in good stead. The finger is overdone for me. The face is almost sad. I would rather the face and eyes tell me what the finger is telling me, because that is where you see what the finger is trying to deliver. My 2c.

HBunch

HP PhotoSmart 315

07/03/2005 08:21:48 PM · #5

It's interesting. It's hard to tell from a photo of the drawing, but the pants/crotch area looks odd. Maybe need some detail in the pants or something. Not THAT kind of detail..but some shadowing or something. Also, his shading is odd. Seems to be no 'light source'. The tops of his shoulders are shaded which would indicate that there was a light source underneath, but other shaded areas don't indicate that. Also, he has no forhead and his left (our right) wrist doesn't seem to exist. His forarm is short and goes directly into his hand.
It IS a nice drawing, better than just a sketch, but there are some proportion and shading issues.
I hope this is the type of feedback he's looking for and hope he doesn't take this negatively. ~Heather~

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

07/03/2005 08:23:48 PM · #6

How old is your son?

HBunch

HP PhotoSmart 315

07/03/2005 08:24:22 PM · #7

Also, may I suggest that you have him try artsig.com it's the art equivalant of photosig. they may be harsh, but if he's good about it, he may get some really good advice/hints there. Make sure he states his age and intent.

Message edited by author 2005-07-04 00:24:47.

BigR

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

07/03/2005 08:31:33 PM · #8

tell your son to start with pencil it more forgiving than pen. Also try self portraits,and keep trying.

pixieland

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

07/03/2005 09:19:33 PM · #9

Your son appears to have talent, this should be encouraged, some classes to improve would be great. Also, I don't know how old he is, but it may be helpful to tell him the story about Will Smith's grandmother finding his notebook where he wrote his rap songs and seeing all the profanity he used , she wrote him a note in it that said something like, a true man does not have to use that language to express himself. If you know Will Smith's music, he doesn't use profaniity but has made his rap as popular as anyone elses if not more so and is a very big star.
Tell your son to draw from his heart and his illustrations will be unique and priceless.

07/03/2005 09:33:53 PM · #10

thank you all so much

toocool - he is 14

hbunch - i will let him know about artsig. Thanks for that.

pixieland - i do know will smiths songs and i can see where you are coming from. This is a picture that he just copied from a cd cover. He is taking art at school and they are learning all about shading and lighting so i am sure with practise he will improve. :)

KaDi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/03/2005 10:02:51 PM · #11

Have him check out Betty Edwards' books "Drawing on the Right side of the Brain" and "Drawing on the Artist Within." (Local library should be able to get them for him.)

Pencil is a great way to start in drawing, as "BigR" says. Not because you can erase it, but because you can build it up.

Beyond that Edwards' theory of drawing will instantly show your son that he's drawing what he thinks he sees...charaterizations of reality...and not what he actually sees, lines, tones, shapes. He has the two necessary ingredients for drawing and should pursue it: 1. The desire to draw. 2. The willingness to draw.

Edit to say: I guess he also has pencil (pen) and paper...those are usually 'necessary' as well.

Message edited by author 2005-07-04 02:05:05.

07/03/2005 10:31:12 PM · #12

Originally posted by lentil:

toocool - he is 14

I think that maybe you need to keep an eye on him. It seems to me that he may have some issues that need to be dealt with. At 14, I hardly had noticed that girls existed, let alone that the world sucked. Damn kids grow up to fast now a days...

07/03/2005 10:33:58 PM · #13

Originally posted by pixieland:

If you know Will Smith's music, he doesn't use profaniity is a very big star.

I wouldn't go so far as to call the fresh prince a big star, but I do give him credit for being civil in his art when rap doesn't see to much of that...

07/03/2005 10:35:31 PM · #14

Originally posted by TooCool:

Originally posted by lentil:
toocool - he is 14

I think that maybe you need to keep an eye on him. It seems to me that he may have some issues that need to be dealt with. At 14, I hardly had noticed that girls existed, let alone that the world sucked. Damn kids grow up to fast now a days...

thanks toocool, he is a great kid. :) We have a great relationship. I really dont think there is any issues, he was simply copying from a pic he saw. I do keep a very keen eye on my kids and I am very proud of them. Robert is actually a very mature 14 yr old, and if he ever has issues he is sure to tell me. I have a very open honest relationship with both boys. I never had that growing up so i am damn sure they have it and i think it shows if you knew them :)

07/03/2005 10:43:02 PM · #15

Originally posted by lentil:

But his choice of outlet seems to me to be a bit anti-social. He may be a good kid on the outside, but it seems to me that something may be bothering him. I wouldn't bring it up but it does seem to be an issue. You did after all say in your subject header that the topic is 'not very nice'. Doesn't seem real normal to me for a 14 y.o...

datcat

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/03/2005 10:43:02 PM · #16

Lisa,
I think drawing is a strong form of self expression that teenagers use a lot, is the drawing good? I'm not really that qualified to answer, I have drawn a bit and know that practice is important, training the hand to copy what it sees takes practise and copying album covers is something I did as a teenager. Drawing things like this seems a normal way of interpreting and making sense of the world. All kids "play" is doing just that. If he is serious about art he will want to learn, love of a subject is the best teacher. Just be his facilitator.

07/03/2005 10:45:04 PM · #17

Originally posted by datcat:

Just be his facilitator.

I'm confused that I'm the only one who seems to see a negative message in his artform. I'm all for promoting the arts to the younger crowd, but look at the message that he's showing...

datcat

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/03/2005 10:49:46 PM · #18

My understanding is he copied it from an album cover.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/03/2005 10:51:37 PM · #19

Originally posted by TooCool:

Originally posted by datcat:
Just be his facilitator.

I'm confused that I'm the only one who seems to see a negative message in his artform. I'm all for promoting the arts to the younger crowd, but look at the message that he's showing...

I agree with you as a parent, but I couldn't even post the drawings I made at that age, but then again I was disturbed and had quite a few "issues" - stuff they would likely medicate for nowadays - so I says as long as you encourage him to draw positive things or just keep close communications and a relationship with him, you'll both probably do alright.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/03/2005 11:03:13 PM · #20

Originally posted by datcat:

My understanding is he copied it from an album cover.

I missed that part, but since you mentioned it, my son asked me if he could get a certain CD and I said I would have to check out the lyrics first. I forgot and he quit bugging me, then he mentioned his friend's dad (our neighbor) got it for him, so I went online and checked it out and nearly blew a gasket. I called my neighbor (he and I are pretty good friends) and asked him if he read or heard the lyrics to that CD - he said he asked the kid at the record store if it was ok for a 13 year old and the guy told him "yeah, lots of young kids listen to it" - I sent him that link to the lyrics and he took the album back and I talked with my son (almost 13) about it.

I'll throw this out there and take anything anyone wants to throw at me to defend it, but that crap is clearly destroying kids minds and spirits - no question. I can tell you from experience the anger and violence that stirs up in kids.

Ok sorry to derail, hijack, misdirect, etc.

Pine Red

Nikon Coolpix 4800

07/03/2005 11:06:26 PM · #21

I'm new but felt compelled to reg. (would have anyway for the photos) to respond to too cool.

I don't see anything wrong with the content. The finger is a healthy expression sometimes and pretty standard fare for teenagers. The sad eyes, too. Lisa seems like a pretty cool and open mom. She is probably talking to her kids about sex, the war, drugs, etc. I worked with runaways for a few years and learned a lot! My son is not that old but I can honestly say, if he drew that, I wouldn't have warning bells. If he has no friends, sits in his room all day and plays with guns...then maybe. I think people are a little too puritanical sometimes and that the repression is MUCH worse than the expression.

not qualified on the drawing technique, but liked the difference in the eyes and the finger. I agree that it's better to learn to express without all the dang profanity, but it depends on intent!

cheers,
LN

07/03/2005 11:32:08 PM · #22

Originally posted by Pine Red:

Your right, i am very open with both the boys. If this is the worst thing he is doing as a 14 yr old boy then i have no problem with it. He is in no way disrespectful to anyone. His grades are good, the teachers love him ( i had a teacher say to me that she wished all the kids were like him). I can totally understand your worries toocool but i have to say i am not worried. I know him and i know his personality. When i put the topic in the forum message i knew there would be an issue with what the pic is about that is why i put a warning. He is merely copying off a cd cover. If you see his other drawings this is the only one that has this sort of "thing" in it. He actually wanted to practise drawing people, and thought that this one had a good look. NOT because of the finger but because he could try copying the body/tattoos etc.
the funny thing is not many people are actually talking about what i asked and that is whether he is any good or not.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/03/2005 11:38:27 PM · #23

Originally posted by lentil:

the funny thing is not many people are actually talking about what i asked and that is whether he is any good or not.

You posted it on the wrong site. :)

datcat

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/04/2005 12:04:26 AM · #24

I'll throw this out there and take anything anyone wants to throw at me to defend it, but that crap is clearly destroying kids minds and spirits - no question. I can tell you from experience the anger and violence that stirs up in kids.

I AGREE! But I'm not everyone's mum. I homeschool my two younger kids and have two grown up, I began when my youngest was not progressing and was unhappy at school, it wasn't an ideolgical choice, however since I began it has become one. When I said be a facilitator, I mean be actively involved, get the art books (Drawing On the Rightside of the Brain is very good), go to extracurricular classes etc. what better way to keep the commuication lines open than being interested. In anycase being a parent is a B##*@Y hard job especially when you are competing with kids' video-games, peers, music, self destruct button....

About the drawing, the shading seems OK, the proportions are not. There is another book, something about how kids draw that an art teacher told me to get,which I have looked for but can't find in my library, that outlines the progression that children go through in drawing the human form, starting with the stick figures etc. that might give you an idea of what to expect. Learning the basics of proportion is essential, but probably not exciting for a 14 year old and they should cover that in class. My 13 year old has done a lot of art class, can recognise techniques, explicate drawings but will rarely use what he's learnt in his own work, go figure?