"Pebble" Ritual
© Marvin Bartel, 2000
Instructions
  • From the box, select a pebble without looking at your selection
  • Keep it out of sight as in your pocket until we are ready to draw it
  • Use a blinder card on the pencil so that you are not able to see the pencil point as you draw.
  • Set it on the next desk and create a pencil contour outline line while looking at the stone and not looking at your paper
  • Use a very light continuous line - not a sketchy on-off line.
  • When finished with the blind contour outline, look at both the paper and the stone and add a corrected line if needed so that the outline comes around the stone and the end of the line meets the beginning of the line.
  • Examine the stone and find all the tones created by the light hitting it
  • Find the lightest area of the stone where the light hits it most
  • Using a pencil, draw lightly on your picture of the stone. Map out a light outline of the lightest area. This area should cover less than half of the stone’s surface
  • Using a ballpoint, fill in only the darkest tone areas (no ballpoint outline)
  • Fill in only the medium tone area (no ballpoint outline)
  • Fill in only the medium light areas
  • Fill in only the medium dark areas
  • Look for the cast shadow below the stone and tone it dark with ballpoint
  • Do not draw in the lightest tone
  • Erase the pencil shape
Review questions
  • What visual element was used, but has been erased in the final product?
  • What two visual elements are most significant in the final product?
  • Which other rituals have used the same elements?
  • What part of the brain is this ritual developing?
  • Why were you not allowed to see the stone when we first selected it?
  • What is the relationship between edges, lines, and reality?
  • Do most objects actually have lines at their edges?

  • Why do drawings represent things with lines when in reality their are only tonal changes, texture changes, and color changes at the edges of objects?

All rights reserved.
Goshen College students may print a copy for their own use. Others must have permission to copy or publish. Layout and text © 2000 E-mail Marvin Bartel , instructor