Frederick Whitney

“ Whether teaching drawing or some other study in the curriculum, the teacher aims to make his work effective, and if he should once try blackboard illustration, he will find it an invaluable aid towards making clear or emphasizing important points. ”

“ The children told of the woodman who took his axe and started in search of a tree for his baby at home; of the delight of the little tree at being chosen, and of the joy of the little daughter when she saw it arrayed and holding her Christmas gifts. The accompanying drawing will serve as an illustration for this story or as a sketch of the forest in winter. ”

“ The blackboard drawing should be governed by the same spirit, the need of the hour, just as surely as the child’s work at his desk, and when the teacher realizes this fact, he will never lack a subject for illustration. For instance, in the fall the class may be studying trees, and drawing will be found indispensable. ”

“ Draw the upper leaf on Plate 4 by the use of stroke No. 6, hardly touching the board for the gray tones, then adding the white tones with a stronger pressure upon the chalk.
Are we sure that we have not tried to make drawing an end rather than a means? Let us remember that there must be a motive prompting the work, an interest or experience back of the drawing which demands expression. ”

“ See with how few touches an effect can be obtained. A variety of illustrations may be attempted, all of which have been suggested by grade teachers as useful in many lines of school work.
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[Pg 20]
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An outline drawing upon the blackboard expresses much, and is often better than any attempt at light and shade or variety in tone, yet there are frequent occasions when the representation of solidity or of surface is better obtained in illustrative work by the use of the side of the chalk and charcoal. ”

“ The teacher who in a few moments can take advantage of this graphic language finds the lessons a delight to himself and to the class.
Animal drawing is an extremely interesting lesson for the children, at the same time a rather difficult one for many teachers. On Plate 14 will be found a few drawings suggesting how few lines will indicate the general outline and how few strokes of the side of the chalk will suggest the surface.
There are special days, seasons, or occasions when blackboard drawings may be used to advantage for illustration. ”

“ The object needed in the schoolroom or for the individual use of the pupil is the object designed and made. With this new motive, there comes a growing appreciation and interest on the part of the child. ”

“ The details may be added with chalk or charcoal. A single horizontal stroke curving a bit at either end gives the general form of the canoe. If a few minor markings are given, the children will have no doubt of your intent in the sketch. For the tree trunks [Pg 22] use the stroke suggested by No. 9, and for the water consult No. 17 and No. 18, Plate 7.
No. 22. The woodland appeals to all children and is frequently the topic in history, geography, botany, literature, and nature study as well as drawing. A few broad, gray strokes will give the sky. ”

“ There are other days of local interest which are celebrated in various localities and the grade teacher will find that the use of illustrations will appeal to the children, hold their interest and impress upon them a central thought in the lesson. ”

“ Try the poplar tree. Again the vertical line is characteristic. Indicate this. Mass the foliage as before, using a vertical rather than a horizontal stroke. Do not remove the chalk from the board until the mass of foliage is represented and remember to give a light pressure for the grays and a strong one for the whites.
It is not the greatest quantity of chalk which gives the best drawing any more than the greatest quantity of pigment in our [Pg 14] color work which gives the best painting. Represent trunk and branches as in No. 13.
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No. ”

“ A similar stroke in a graded scale letting the pressure become less and less toward the lower end of the stroke.
No. 3. Reverse No. 2 hardly touching the board at first and increasing the pressure toward the lower end.
If charcoal is used for the lower tones, a very satisfactory scale may be produced as in the last illustration on Plate 1.
No. 4. Combine No. 2 and No. 3 in a single stroke. Try all these strokes again and again in a vertical, horizontal, oblique, and curving direction until each can be made in a second or two.
[Pg 9]
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No. ”