Three-Shape Composition

In this exercise you will draw three simple geometric shapes using an automatic approach

Gather Materials:

  • an artist’s journal, unlined notebook, or piece of paper
  • charcoal pencil

Today’s Exercise

Three Simple Geometric Shapes: a circle, a square, and a triangle

  • Sit comfortably and without thinking or planning draw a simple geometric shape on your page: a square a circle or a triangle. 
  • Pause very, very briefly if you like, and take it in. Then in the manner of automatic drawing, follow your first instinct and place the second shape of the three shapes in response to the first
  • Again, pause very briefly to take in the new state of the drawing. Experience how your two-shape pairing feels; sense how the shapes relate to one another and to the space they inhabit.
  • Finally, in response, trust your first instinct once again and add the third and final element to the drawing.
  • In the Expressive Drawing book, you do this 3 times using paint and you are instructed to do so vertically with your paper taped to the wall. 
simple three shape composition of a triangle, a circle, and a square

Reflections on the Exercise

  • I was pressed for time today so I only did one drawing and I kept it simple using my sketchbook and a charcoal pencil
  • It is interesting that I connected my shapes. There was no instruction to do so.
  • In the book there are some questions for taking stock of the drawing(s):
    • My triangle is dominant as it is larger. It was the first shape I drew.
    • The square is subordinate, it inherits a side from triangle
    • The overlap of the circle and triangle corner form a new shape
    • The square feels like it is part of the triangle and has been folded out behind the triangle to make the two shapes

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