Pattern Background
​Exercise

This exercise helps you draw a random pattern background. You will create two different patterns shaded in two different ways, for a total of four options. Once your portrait person is drawn, you can hold up this exercise to determine which background will contrast with your drawing best.
   You'll need:
  • Plain white drawing paper (8.5"x11")
  • Drawing Pencil 
  • Ruler
  • Colored Pencils (Purple, Blue, Orange, Yellow) - OR - Tortillon​

Borders

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION OF BORDERS
  •  1/4" BORDERS ON FOUR SIDES
  • MEASURE 2" FROM BOTTOM OF PAPER ON LONG SIDE
  • MEASURE 2 1/4" FROM BOTTOM OF PAPER ON LONG SIDE
  • MEASURE 5 3/8" AND 5 5/8"  FROM SHORT SIDE
    • THAT IS THE SAME AS FINDING 5 1/2" AND COUNTING 2 TICK MARKS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT
  • YOUR NAME IS IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER BORDER AREA

Drawing a Random Pattern

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION OF RANDOM PATTERN
DRAW 3 LARGE SHAPES AND 1 SMALL SHAPE
YES
Picture
RANDOM PATTERN
NO
NO
Picture
REGULAR PATTERN
Picture
TOO MUCH NEGATIVE SPACE
  • CUT OUT THE FOUR SHAPES
  • TRACE AROUND THE SHAPES TO MAKE A RANDOM PATTERN
    • RANDOM PATTERNS REPEAT UNPREDICTABLY
    • MAKE SURE THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE SPACE BETWEEN EACH SHAPE, BUT THE SHAPES DO NOT TOUCH

Blending in the Pattern

CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER: GRAPHITE OR COLORED PENCILS FOR YOUR PORTRAIT

VIDEO DEMO OF  COLOR PENCIL BLENDING

COLORED PENCIL BLENDING
  • CHOOSE TWO PENCILS (OF THE FOUR YOU WILL USE FOR YOUR PORTRAIT) FOR THE BACKGROUND 
  • ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BOX, BLEND THOSE TWO PENCILS IN THE BACKGROUND AREA
  • USE THE OTHER TWO FOR THE SHAPES
- OR -

VIDEO DEMO OF GRAPHITE PENCIL BLENDING

​GRAPHITE PENCIL BLENDING
  • SHADE IN THE BACKGROUND ON THE LEFT OF THE BOX
  • USE THE TORTILLON TO BLEND THE PENCIL SO NO LINES ARE LEFT VISIBLE

Blending in the Rest of the Pattern with an Alternate Value

VIDEO DEMO OF 2ND COLORED PENCIL BLENDING

COLORED PENCIL BLENDING​​
  • ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOX, USE A DIFFERENT PAIR OF PENCILS FOR THE BACKGROUND
  • USE THE OTHER TWO FOR THE SHAPES
​GRAPHITE PENCIL BLENDING​
  • SHADE IN THE SHAPES ON THE RIGHT OF THE BOX
  • USE THE TORTILLON TO BLEND THE PENCIL SO NO LINES ARE LEFT VISIBLE

Second Pattern

​VIDEO DEMO OF 2ND PATTERN

USE A NEW SET OF SHAPES (3 LARGE, 1 SMALL) TO CREATE A NEW RANDOM PATTERN IN THE RIGHT BOX. 
​
  • CONSIDER WANTING THE PATTERNS TO APPEAR TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER.

  • AVOID SYMBOLS LIKE LETTERS OR DOLLAR SIGNS. 

  • YOU CAN USE INTRICATE SHAPES WITH MULTIPLE PARTS AS LONG AS THE ONE SHAPE STAYS CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT.