A Tropical Plants Contour Drawing Exercise.

Objectives: Draw something from observation and use this as a basis for developing abstractions. Draw tropical plants, flowers and grasses. Use various examples to gather lines and shapes. Have a closer look at the anatomy of plants such as their stems and leaves, margin, buds, shoot, nodes, veins, and mid veins.

Focus on the subject and follow the edges, shapes and lines. Choose areas that have some open spaces around it.

Aims: Learn how to create a basic composition by using your interpretation and observation skills.

Working with complementary/contrasting colours.

Materials:

Charcoals, newsprint, pastels, window aperture

Steps: 1.Take a simple black and white photo to find sections for abstractions. 2. Using photograph in grey scale, cut the photograph apart. 3. Look for sections have clear shapes. Focus on only shapes and lines. 4. Colour the whole a4 size page with any colour of your choice in watercolour. 5. Sketch a square or rectangle on your paper. Draw the main shapes with pastels. 6. Pay extra attention to lights and darks of your composition. 6. You can add one or two colours to this sketches. Try to choose complementary colours.

THE BAOBAB TREE

AFRICA'S ICONIC 'TREE of LIFE'

Interesting facts: Baobab trees grow in 32 African countries. They can live for up to 5,000 years, reach up to 30 metres high and up to an enormous 50 metres in circumference. Baobab trees can provide shelter, food and water for animals and humans. The striking silhouette of a baobab tree at sunset is a familiar site to anyone who has spent time in rural Africa - but it is also well known all across the world thanks to its starring roles in Disney’s Lion King (it is Rafiki the monkey’s tree), Avatar (The Tree of Souls), Madagascar and the famous children's novel, The Little Prince.

While many people know of the baobab tree, not many people know that it has a fruit - and even less know that this fruit is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world.

In fact, every part of the baobab tree is valuable - the bark can be turned into rope and clothing, the seeds can be used to make cosmetic oils, the leaves are edible, the trunks can store water and the fruit is extraordinarily rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Women in Africa have turned to the baobab fruit as a natural source of health and beauty for centuries.

While many people know of the baobab tree, not many people know that it has a fruit - and even less know that this fruit is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world.