BUILDING BACKGROUNDS

Instructor: Brian Ajhar

Website: www.brianajhar.com
Email: b.ajhar@gmail.com

Class assignments:
This class is about growing your drawing and thought process while keeping it fun. I’ll be introducing you to a few meth-
ods of working with perspective while building your storytelling skills with the interaction of characters.

There will be 3 class assignments for the Building Backgrounds class:

1. One Vertical interior
2. One Horizontal interior
3. One Horizontal Outside Landscape

For this class I am expecting working, searching drawings such as what I was attempting on the demos. Think of it as
an exploration that is searching for an idea. The only thing is that you are considering perspective and trying to make it
believable. The level of finish can vary from refined pencil or digital pencil to looser sketches such as the ones I did in
the videos. I am more interested in you understanding the principals discussed in the demos than handing in a refined
finish that doesn’t understand. For those of you using traditional media I am ok with you working on tracing paper and
using the grids under as a guide. If you are working digital you can use the grids as layers.

Using your choice of the grid templates supplied as a guide you will design 2 different compositions. Each assignment
will include 3 to 5 characters. You will reference the 6 lessons from the class videos and bring into your work some of
the thought process that was discussed. Think of story telling when you make choices of how to place characters in a
composition. Think of the importance of each character based on the size and actions. Make the viewer look at your
drawing and see exactly what you want them to see and feel. Use props and patterns that will help you describe room
and outdoor settings.

You can draw any interior or landscape that is interesting and exciting to you. In the class demos I used as examples a
bar, a restaurant & a living room. You can do your version of these three or choose a different interior. It’s important to
me that you are I excited about your choice. Think about and find the eye level and where the viewer is in relationship
to the characters and scene. Is it a down shot an upshot or a straight on view shot? Explore, experiment, and have fun
while you are searching new approaches to drawing.

You can design and use more characters than three if you feel it works with your composition. The characters can be
any type of character you want to do. ex: humans, animals, monsters, baseball players, warriors, businessmen, aliens,
etc.. I am interested is seeing what choices you make and what you are interested in drawing. If it doesn’t excite you it
wont excite me. If you want to stick with drawing people that is fine. If you choose to do a person, a dog, and a cat. That
is fine. A minimum of 3 characters. Be inventive! Explore and have fun!

The grid is there for you to used as a perspective guide only. When you add objects (furniture, wall or floor shapes,
characters) I do want to see your thought process. It’s ok to show the grid on working drawings.

Bullet points to think about:

* Why is perspective important in your drawing?
* Do you understand your character in perspective?
* Did you find the horizon line and understand how it affects your character?
* Are all the characters and props consistent with the grid lines?
* Do you know the eye level in your drawing and how characters relate to it?
* Does your room have 1 point perspective?
* Does the furniture and props fit the grid lines in your room?
 * Are your characters interacting and engaging?
* Is your perspective believable?
* Is your landscape feeling a sense of perspective and distance?
* Are you using perspective to add to your story?
* Do your characters feel like they live in their environment?*
* Are you inventing stories while building a background in perspective?
* Are your characters interacting and telling a story?
* Is your composition bringing the viewers attention to your idea?
* Why or Why not?
* Are you inventing a story line as your drawing grows?
* Are you inventing in the early stages and growing your ideas?
* The ultimate goal is to make you grow as an artist every day and have fun doing it!
* Are you having fun knowing that you are in the process growing your art?

Any questions feel free to contact me.

Thanks for taking the class and I Iook forward to seeing what you do!

Best,

Brian