Category: Project 2

 What drew me to want to sketch my Rose Hair tarantula was the variety of textures on her exoskeleton. I know we were supposed to use a dead bug, but since she barely moves, she was perfect to draw from observation. I was especially drawn to the fluffy texture of her legs and the soft, velvety look of her cephalothorax. I chose the angle I did because it was close-up enough to highlight the different textures I wanted to focus on.

One of the most challenging parts of this project was working with such a large piece of drawing paper. It was tough to get the darker shading right across that much space. But I think a success I had was showing the different textures in her exoskeleton accurately. I had a lot of fun adding in the heart-shaped urticating hairs on her legs and her chelicerae, which are the parts her fangs are attached to

My favorite featured artist was Do Ho Suh, who inspired me to use leaves and moss from my tarantula’s enclosure as materials to create the background. I was really drawn to how he rubbed over different textures in his apartment to reveal the layers of the space, and that gave me the idea to stamp broken leaf textures into my background using ink. I also used the moss to try out his rubbing technique by pressing and rubbing it on the cephalothorax to create a softer, velvety texture. I was also inspired by Cai Guo-Qiang to go beyond using just pencil and ink. So, I used the moss like a sponge to press ink into the background and add more texture. I loved that I didn’t just draw my tarantula and brought in natural parts of her environment to help create the piece.

Honestly, I think adults can learn just as much about drawing from young learners as children can from adults. Kids don’t worry about perfection and focus more on the sensory experience of drawing. Drawing is a form of art, and art isn’t about being perfect. It’s about the process, the creativity behind it, and the expression that comes through it. Especially with young learners, I think it’s important to encourage exploration of textures, shapes, and emotions rather than focusing on drawing something “accurately.” It’s more about discovery and connection than it is about precision.