Drawing with Expression!

Drawing of the White Rabbit from Alice and Wonderland by Ralph Steadman

Did you know that drawing is like handwriting? Each artist has their own way of drawing that is very personalized. That's why if you are drawing in a class of 25 students, your art shouldn't look the same as someone else because we are humans, not robots or computers! That's why I try to remind you guys it's not about drawing perfectly but showing other people your own point of view and the magic that happens between your eyes (looking) your brain (processing) and your hand (making/creating).

Drawing of the White Rabbit from Alice and Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Today I'm showing two different artists who are drawing the same characters. Lewis Carroll is the original artist who wrote and illustrated Alice and Wonderland in 1865. Ralph Steadman is an artist and illustrator who is still alive today. What are some of the differences between these two drawings of the White Rabbit? Which do you prefer and why? See some more comparisons below of the White Rabbit as drawn by Carroll and Steadman. Many of you know the story of Alice and Wonderland, but you can also read or access it here for free. http://www.literatureproject.com/alice/alice_1.htm

Sadly it lacks the illustrations, but you could draw your own of course!

The White Rabbit by Ralph Steadman

The White Rabbit by Lewis Carroll

The White Rabbit loves being on time. In the story he is very stressed out. Following rules and procedures is very important to him. He prefers to be organized at all times and is generally anxious and uncomfortable. He is also well dressed and carries a pocket watch.

How is the rabbit dressed in each drawing? While the story is the same in both books, does it look like these versions of the rabbit would have different personalities? What kind of adventure would you expect to have with Lewis Carroll's rabbit or Ralph Steadman's rabbit?

Activity

1. Practice drawing the White Rabbit in the style of Lewis Carroll. Black pen/marker or pencil work great for this.

2. Practice drawing the White Rabbit in the style of Ralph Steadman.

3. Think about how it feels as an artist to draw in either style and which way you enjoy drawing.

4. Now draw the White Rabbit in your own style!

Continuation

The March Hare is very different from the White Rabbit. He likes to have fun and make jokes. He is the life of the party and not in a hurry to get anywhere. He is dressed properly, but somewhat more disheveled in appearance.

The March Hare is also never without his best friend, The Mad Hatter. Would you rather spend time with the March Hare or the White Rabbit? How are they different?

Bonus Drawings

1. Draw the White Rabbit meeting the March Hare. Do you think they would be friendly or dislike each other? Why? (You can add text or speech bubbles)

2. Draw a picture of yourself attending a tea party with the March Hare and the Mad Hatter. What would you talk about? Do you have any good riddles or jokes you could share? What would you eat and drink at the party? How would you dress?

3. If you enjoy these characters, continue drawing and making your own story. You can include yourself, family or friends in the book. You can add new animals!

REMEMBER! The way that you draw is your way and unique to you, just like your handwriting. You can learn from copying other artists like we do in this exercise but I'm always most interested in seeing your personality show up in your drawings. Drawing isn't about being the most accurate but showing someone a new way of looking!

Mrs. Thaden, age 3

When I was little, I always looked at Alice and Wonderland by Ralph Steadman. Admittedly, I was scared of Ralph's drawings, but I also couldn't stop looking at them. They were scary, wild and funny. When I was in High School I did a drawing of Alice in Wonderland with charcoal. It was my first A+ on one of my drawings. My High School art teachers were always very hard on me and not always impressed with my work.

They loved this drawing because it is expressive. They weren't disappointed it wasn't accurate in terms of proportion or detail. I think it took me about 15 minutes to draw and usually my teachers hated when I finished things so quickly! Normally we would spend 3-4 months on a single pencil drawing and I felt bored to tears. This time they told me there was nothing I should do to revise or edit. Even if I was sick of working on a drawing, I still did my best to complete the assignments I didn't like because I wanted to succeed in the class.

Draw in YOUR OWN WAY. EMBRACE how your work is different than others. EXPRESS your own point of view and be proud of your work. It takes courage to put something on paper because once it's there, everyone can see a piece of the inner workings of your heart and brain! Speaking of which, please share your work with me if you can. Email images to my address below! Love, Mrs. Thaden