Drawing Challenges

2 artists whose work I appreciate

1. Maggi Hambling – “Scallop” Sculpture on the Beach is a tall sculpture that honors composer Benjamin Britten. It invites people to experience the power of nature through sound. Her sea paintings use the ocean to explore topics like time, death, and the ongoing flow of life.

2. Joe Webster – "Painting in Storms" on the Coast was done during a wild storm, capturing the textures that reflect the force of the wind and rain.

Part 1: Drawing on an Object – Challenge #1

Object: A rock
Materials: Paint and vine
Action: I pressed my fingerprints into paint and applied them to the rock’s surface, then tied it with a vine from outside.

Additive or Subtractive: Additive – Added paint and a vine to the rock.
Permanence or Impermanence: Mixed – The paint may stay, but the vine could dry out or fall off.

I used a rock as my canvas. I pressed my fingerprints in paint and added them to the surface, then tied a vine around it. The fingerprints and vine connect me and nature to the object, making it feel personal. My materials were fingerprints (my identity), paint (for color and texture), and a vine (natural and temporary). Since I added paint and the vine, this is an additive process. The paint might stay, but the vine could dry out or fall off, which shows a mix of permanent and temporary. The rock is solid and lasting, but the vine will change. This contrast shows how we leave marks on the world — some that stay, and some that fade.

Part 2: Drawing on an Object – Challenge #2

Object: A beach chair made from sticks

Materials: Sticks and sand

Action: I collected sticks from the beach and arranged them into the shape of a chair directly on the sand.

Additive or Subtractive: Additive – Built the chair.

Permanence or Impermanence: Impermanent - Natural materials will collapse or get washed away by the waves.

I used sticks from the beach to build a chair shape on the sand. The sticks were natural and found on-site, and the sand helped hold the structure together. This made the materials feel connected to the location. The process was additive — I built the chair by placing and balancing the sticks. It’s temporary, as the wind or tide could move or break it, illustrating impermanence. The chair represents rest and nature, and building it by hand made it feel personal. It’s a way of drawing in space using natural materials and the environment itself.

Part 2: Drawing on an Object – Challenge #3

Object: A raised turtle sculpture made from sand, with shells and rocks

Materials: Sand, shells, rocks

Action: I sculpted a turtle out of sand on the beach. I shaped the shell, head, and legs. Then I used shells and rocks I found nearby.

Additive or Subtractive: Additive – Shaped the turtle and added shells and rocks.
Permanence or Impermanence: Impermanent – Sand sculpture will eventually wash away.

I used sand to sculpt a turtle on the beach. I formed the shell, head, and limbs so the turtle looked like it was resting on the sand. To add detail and texture, I placed shells and rocks on the turtle’s back to decorate the shell. This was an additive process, where I built up the form and added natural materials. The sculpture is temporary, since the waves could wash it away, but the materials made it feel connected to the beach. The turtle represents nature, and using found objects made it creative.

Part 2: Drawing on an Object – Challenge #4

Object: Writing “Carlsbad” in the sand

Materials: Stick, sand

Action: I used a stick to write the word “Carlsbad” in the sand during a beach walk. It represents my hometown and a place where I go to clear my mind.

Additive or Subtractive: Subtractive – Removed sand with a stick to form letters.
Permanence or Impermanence: Impermanent – The writing will disappear from the waves.

I used a stick to draw in the sand, writing the word “Carlsbad” — the name of my hometown. This was a personal but straightforward act. The sand was my surface, and the stick was my drawing tool. This was a subtractive and temporary process — the tide could wash away the word. Writing it connected me to a place that brings me peace. I often take walks on the beach when I’m stressed or need to clear my mind. It’s a mark that shows where I’m from and how I use nature to feel grounded.

Part 2: Drawing on an Object – Challenge #5

Object: A brown paper bag turned into a pirate-style map

Materials: Brown paper bag, pencil, paint

Action: I drew a pirate map on a brown paper bag showing the major areas around Santa Barbara. I added landmarks, drew an “X marks the spot,” and added paint for texture and color.

Additive or Subtractive: Additive – Drew and painted the paper bag.
Permanence or Impermanence: Permanent – The paper and paint will last.

I used a brown paper bag as my surface and turned it into a pirate-style map. I added small details in high-level areas around Santa Barbara, marked a special spot with an “X.” Then I added paint to give it more texture and color. This was an additive process, using drawing and painting to transform the object. The map tells a story — it’s about my connection to school and the area around it. Making it look old adds a sense of adventure.