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Description

Scouts will explore observational drawing using conkers and other autumn objects. They will learn some simple techniques for creating shape, texture, light and shadow using different grades of pencil and artist charcoal.

After practising the techniques, each Scout will produce their own finished observational drawing of a conker or small arrangement of autumn objects.

Resources

Conkers

Conker cases, including some opened cases

Acorns

Autumn leaves

Pine cones and/or other interesting autumn objects

White paper to place underneath the objects

Good-quality drawing paper

Scrap/practice paper

Soft drawing pencils in three grades

Artist charcoal

Pencil sharpeners

Erasers

Drawing boards/clipboards if needed

Laptop/tablet and screen for YouTube videos

Internet connection

Table coverings, particularly for charcoal

Handwashing facilities/wipes for charcoal

Instructions

1. Introduction – 5 minutes

Explain that this is the first of three Artist Badge sessions and tonight's focus is drawing an object.

Introduce observational drawing: the challenge is to draw what you can actually see, rather than what you think a conker looks like.

Look together at the conkers. Ask Scouts to notice:

Where is the lightest part?

Where is the darkest part?

What makes the conker look shiny?

Where does it cast a shadow?

What textures can they see on the conker case or leaves?

2. Demonstration – 5–10 minutes

Use short extracts from these videos rather than necessarily watching them all the way through.

Drawing a conker in pencil:
https://youtu.be/agrWGW0Ist0?is=tAEdNIUM5kKDvwgZ

Look particularly at how the basic shape is established before gradually adding shading, highlights and detail.

Hatching/cross-hatching with charcoal:
https://youtu.be/km2KXBbSJGs?is=Liz0_WC_PCysrOUX

Use this to introduce hatching and cross-hatching as ways of building up tone and texture.

3. Experiment – 10 minutes

Give each Scout some scrap paper.

Using the three grades of pencil, create a simple tonal scale:

Light → Medium → Dark → Very dark

Experiment with:

Light and heavy pencil pressure

Different grades of pencil

Hatching

Cross-hatching

Charcoal lines

Charcoal shading

Smudging/blending charcoal

Finish by trying to turn a simple circle or oval into a three-dimensional conker using light and shade.

4. Choose and arrange the subject – 5 minutes

Scouts choose their objects.

This could be as simple as one conker, or a small still-life arrangement such as:

2–3 conkers + conker case + autumn leaf + acorn

Encourage them to arrange the objects themselves and look carefully at the composition.

Choose either pencil or charcoal for the main artwork.

5. Main artwork – approximately 25 minutes

Produce a finished observational drawing.

Use the following sequence:

LOOK – Study the objects carefully.

SKETCH – Lightly draw the main shapes.

CHECK – Compare the sizes and positions of the objects.

SHADE – Add the light, medium and dark areas.

SHADOW – Look for shadows underneath and behind the objects.

DETAIL – Add highlights, textures, leaf veins and other details.

Remind Scouts not to colour the entire conker dark. Leaving the lightest areas of the paper showing will help create the shiny surface.

6. Gallery and review – 5 minutes

Put everyone's finished pictures together to create a quick gallery.

Ask Scouts to look at the other artwork and identify a technique or effect that they particularly like.

Put the Scout's name and date on their artwork and retain it for the final Artist Badge session, when the three pieces of work can be displayed together.

Running time

Approximately 60 minutes

Introduction – 5 minutes

Video/demonstration – 5–10 minutes

Technique practice – 10 minutes

Choose/arrange objects – 5 minutes

Main drawing – 25 minutes

Gallery/review – 5 minutes

Attachments

Conker drawing tutorial:
https://youtu.be/agrWGW0Ist0?is=tAEdNIUM5kKDvwgZ

Hatching/cross-hatching with charcoal:
https://youtu.be/km2KXBbSJGs?is=Liz0_WC_PCysrOUX

Tags

• #art
• #Drawing
• Artist
• Artist Activity Badge
• autumn
• charcoal
• conkers
• Conkers and Acorns
• Cross-hatching
• Hatching
• Observational Drawing

Badge Links

• Artist - Close up
• Creative - Activity