People usually don't pay much attention to the things they see everyday. A key to being a good artist, however, is noticing things that other people often miss.
Take shadows. Most people don't bother to look at shadows. But, once you start looking for shadows, you'll discover them all around you. Looking at shadows might seem strange at first. Yet, it's a good way to focus your vision and reacquaint yourself with your surroundings. It's also fun!
Materials: a flashlight, a camera and a roll of film.
What To Do: Begin by studying the shadows of things in your room. Take a strong flashlight and shine it on an object. Notice how the position of the light source determines the size and shape of the shadow.
Go outside on a sunny day and concentrate on shadows. Watch the shadows of things moving around you. Notice how much detail you can see in shadows. If it's late afternoon, notice how the shadows stretch out on the ground. For fun, play with your own shadow for awhile.
Want To Do More? Take a digital camera and shoot pictures of the shadows you see in your surroundings. Look for both familiar shadows and unusual shadows to record. Select your “best“ shadow picture to frame and hang in your room.
(New 11.08) Check out the street art of Ellis Gallagher (aka Ellis G.) who creates chalk etchings of shadows of everyday, urban street objects. Then, on a sunny day outdoors, try using colored chalk to create a shadow picture on the sidewalk of your bicycle or some other familar object. <Watch another Gallagher Video on Vimeo>
