Anna’s Amazing “Discovery” or How to Draw a Toad

    Anna rushed into the house, shouting for joy. She had discovered a nature specimen in the same spot where she found one last week. It was under a large coil of plastic drainage pipe lying near the garage. The older kids and I hurried outside to observe her treasure. Resting in the cool shadow of the pipe was an American toad. I gingerly picked up the little guy with two fingers and carried him into the house.     
    Anna’s enthusiasm prompted the older kids and I to gather around the living room table to draw. I got out a new set of Derwent watercolor pencils that I had recently purchased off EBay (Anna misplaced most of my other set). We had all the right colors: olive green, golden brown, brown ochre, copper beech, and terracotta. Derwent watercolor pencils are very soft to work with and we often use them dry. I held the toad extended in the middle of the table, and we began sketching. For the most part it stayed still enough for us to try some decent quick sketches, although Eric kept getting the rear view. When Anna came into the living room and saw what we were doing, she exclaimed, "Oh, you're drawing the toad." Promptly, she pulled up a chair to join us and the comments began to fly.

   Anna's Toad,  age 8

     "I think I'm drawing a fish," Anna said.
     "I can't get the shape right," Elizabeth said.
     "There is no shape, it's a blob," Eric replied.   
     "I like bulgy toads," Anna said. "It's greenish, brownish, and bumpish." I chuckled to myself. Only an eight-year-old would think of saying something like that.   

Elizabeth's Toad, age 12

     We traded holding the toad and drawing it for a while, but everyone was struggling with its shape. I suggested that we try doing some blind contour drawing. Blind contour drawing is an exercise where you look only at your subject instead of your paper, while drawing a continuous line without lifting your pencil. This exercise trains your eyes to follow the contour or line of an object so that you can really see what you are attempting to draw. Children usually enjoy this exercise after they get used to it and helps them to process drawing in a different way. Except for a few distinctive characteristics, the finished drawing often looks nothing like the object they are trying to re-create–and that’s okay. The purpose of this exercise is to train your eye to see what is really there instead of what you think is there.

Elizabeth's Blind Contour Drawing   

Jill's Toad

      I started the blind contour drawing, but my paper kept slipping because I was trying to draw and hold the toad at the same time. Elizabeth reached behind her and picked some packing tape from the shelf. She tore some pieces off the roll and taped my card stock right to the table. Everyone else taped their paper down except Eric who was using a clipboard.  

Eric's Toad Parts, age 16

      By this time there was a lot of lively banter going on around the table (a little too much for my taste). I really like to draw in a relaxed atmosphere, and let me tell you, this wasn't it. By this time Eric had finished drawing and commented, "Anyone got a toad lollipop?”
     Anna replied, "Eric, touch only with your eyes."

Anna's Christmas Tree  

Suddenly, Anna began to draw a Christmas tree and we all cracked up. “It’s just like you said on your nature journaling interview with Richard Bell,  Mom.” Eric said. He was referring to the example I always use about how children in the symbolic stage of art (generally ages 5-8) usually draw a green triangle to represent Christmas tree, and how completely happy they are doing that. Anna’s spiky triangular tree was somewhere between the symbolic and realistic stages (9-12), but it definitely wasn’t a toad.

     "Nice toad," Eric said.
     "Everyone's complimenting me," Anna said.   
      Then Eric said, "We should make a DVD called "How to Kick Start Your Toad Drawing."

      “Mmmmm, not a bad idea,” I said.   

       Now lest you think our attempts at drawing the toad were all in vain, they weren’t. Quick sketching a live specimen can be very difficult, but it can also be a lot of fun for kids. Remind them that the goal is not to have a perfect drawing, but to enjoy the process of sketching. This can be very frustrating for more detailed-oriented children and adults, as well, but it’s important to try all kinds of drawing – all different ways – because in doing so you train your eye to see. Whether the end result looks exactly like your specimen is not important, especially if it hops away...  

After the kids finished drawing I took pictures of the toad, and downloaded them to the computer, and then I let him go. A few minutes later my sister called and said that she needed a break and was coming over for a while. I told her to tell my niece Rachel (a talented nature artist) that I had a great amphibian specimen over here for her to draw. When she arrived, I let her choose a picture and she got right to work. As my sister and I chatted, Rachel rendered a highly colorful and stylized picture of the toad from the computer screen. Joan and I were amazed when we saw it. One thing I know is that the toad never looked this good in real life. I’m really glad we took the time yesterday to sketch from life. Not only did we experience many different ways to observe a toad, but we made lots of family memories, too, by drawing  Anna’s amazing “discovery.”        

4:10 PM - Jun. 11, 2007 - post comment

Wow!

That looks like a lot of fun! All different prespectives of the toad... in each age group! I posted a little blurb about the con. we listened to with Mr Bell! It was very interesting! Thank you!

Eric is quite the character!

Jocelyn

Jocelyndixon - 5:42 PM - Jun. 11, 2007

I am completely impressed!

What wonderful life lessons you had over there today! I loved each of the drawings. I guess I mistakenly called my drawings "sketches" last week, they weren't sketches at all since they took a lot of time. I need to practice those quick ones, and the blind contour drawings with my kids. We have lots of neat things to draw!

Your girls did great! And your neice did a great toad! Lovely, if you can call a toad that! And maybe Eric should just stick to writing about braunsweiger, or however you spell that. LOL! Just kidding, Eric did a fine job of toad parts. Just don't tell him I 'toad' you that.

It's late, obviously.
Love,
Nancy

p.s. keep an eye on the USPS truck.....they might be up to something!

ByHisGraceInColorado - 8:44 PM - Jun. 11, 2007

WOW!!

Here we sit all amazed. You can hardly tell... is it live or is it Memorex?
( ;
What a wonderful fun family time of sharing.
I can't wait to get started. I think we
ll draw something other than a toad, though!

blessings!
-Jacque

JacqueDixonSoulRestES - 10:31 PM - Jun. 11, 2007

Awwwwww....

You are too sweet, Jill.
I really enjoyed getting to "meet you" over the phone. It will be fun to meet in person!
I would *love* to have (all of) your books, cd's, etc... I am making a list! Thank you for your gracious offer!

I just made a list of things we can sit and sketch on our own property. It will be quite the learning experience! I may get a good lesson in patience the first several times!

I look forward to many more interesting and inspiring posts to push us on as we learn to enjoy God's creation in a brand new way!
Many Blessings My Friend!
-Jacque

JacqueDixonSoulRestES - 3:24 PM - Jun. 12, 2007

This made me smile!

I had a smile on my face for all of your entry. My son isn't up to drawing anything that looks remotely lifelike yet, but I can see where he would get a thrill out of trying...he likes bugs, and we have plenty of specimens around to work with. Thanks for sharing with us!

inchargemom - 7:48 AM - Jun. 13, 2007

Anna's Discovery

How totally fun was that day! I felt like I was right there listening in! Thanks for all the examples- it is so fun to see what you are up to. Tell Erik he might be onto something with the DVD idea ;o) , Heather W

The Patchwork Heart Co. - 9:03 AM - Jun. 13, 2007

Awesome!

Jill,

This is the kind of blog entry I especially appreciate - one that gives me a glimpse of your home and lets me laugh too. Plus, you are absolutely right about drawing.

Man...I need to go find my sketchpad and some pencils....

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

TammyC - 12:21 PM - Jun. 13, 2007

great entry.

I came here today based on your update email. We really have to do more in our nature notebooks this summer, before the summer is gone. This inspires me.
And I was also inspired by the FAther's day post. I hope to get all 3 of my older dc to write their dad a letter this week and give it to him on Sunday.

REInvestor - 1:24 PM - Jun. 13, 2007

Untitled Comment

RYC: Thank you for inspiring me! I think I will start on sketches for my novel - though they probably won't turn out anything like I hoped. I am glad you put the pictures of the toads on - those really neat! Eric's was, um, well, different. ; ) jk!

Elizabeth: The goat you saw is actually our lightest goat. Her momma is blond and she is a mixed between tan and white. She is really pretty... I want to see some pictures of yours! Your brother told me you went to look/get a cart for it? I would like to do that for our two bucks. That would be fun, wouldn't it?

I guess I should go leave on a comment on your actual blog though... I love the title of it! It's so poetic and artsy.

Love,

Jocelyn/The Hobbit-Girl

Check out my most recent post: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jocelyndixon/342477/

And join the SSA (Super-Secret-Angels)
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SuperAngel/342042/

Jocelyndixon - 7:53 PM - Jun. 14, 2007

This is great!

I had a wonderful time reading this sketching episode! I could just picture it all happening.
This encourages me to get our children to get out the sketch books and start drawing. Even the younger ones enjoy this.

Your niece is quite an artist!

Chris

ChristineRead - 2:47 PM - Jun. 15, 2007

Hey Mrs. Novak...

That was funny. You are all so talented!! Those are great drawings!!
Mom *MADE* me draw today. I don't think it was really good, in fact I really don't like it. It looks bad. Mom *thinks* she is blogging my picture!! uhhh...I am not so sure if I want her to do that. If she does that might scare more people away from my blog and Eric is already passed me on HSG!! =0( JK!!
Did you get alot of planting done yesterday??
Am glad you started blogging again. Will try to remember to stop by more often now.
Can't wait to meet you!! It was really nice talking on the phone with you!!
Love...
!!SUPERANGEL!! !!Amanda!!

SuperAngel - 2:03 PM - Jun. 16, 2007

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