drawing points

naturegirl · Sep 20, 2009

I finally got to sit down and try it. I have a new understanding of the drawings. Now I appreciate the importance of studying the flaking, not just the form. Thanks to neanderthal for recommending some books. They don't have photos, they have drawings. I was able to Id a point that I hadn't been able to with the overstreet book. I know flaking is the key to the whole thing, but I haven't been able to watch one being knapped, so I still have a BIIIGGG gap in my understanding. (Wildlife expo this weekend, so I'll get to see it in person).

Thirty7, you said you could recommend some books on drawing the points? I find I really have a lot of questions now. Do you choose a position and not move the point? or pick it up and turn it around so the light shows you all facets? What do you choose to leave out, if anything? I have a "sketchy" style of drawing, but I don't think that is so good for this purpose. I noticed you have a definite style that shows with each of the drawings you shared with us. I know each artist must have, but if one wants to do a very technical, precise illustration, should personal style be put aside for accuracy? I don't want to be a pro here, just do a good job representing what I'm looking at. Besides, it's fun :icon_thumleft:

So here's my first attempt, it's pretty shaky, haven't drawn in a while. The drawing from the book is of a yarbrough also. It seems to have left out a lot of small details that I'm sure were on the point, so I quit trying to put in everything I could see. All criticism is welcome!
ng

theviking · Sep 20, 2009

Nice job ! I also like to use drawings to help I.D points. Keep up the good work.

Viking.

ink-a-alot · Sep 20, 2009

theviking said:
Nice job ! I also like to use drawings to help I.D points. Keep up the good work.

Viking.

Very Nice job

keep it up

The Grim Reaper · Sep 20, 2009

Very nice naturegirl. You did an excellent job of drawing that point. I used to do that to a while back. I once drew a very large picture showing 10 different point types and I had it framed and gave it away as a present.

Th3rty7 · Sep 20, 2009

naturegirl said:
I finally got to sit down and try it. I have a new understanding of the drawings. Now I appreciate the importance of studying the flaking, not just the form. Thanks to neanderthal for recommending some books. They don't have photos, they have drawings. I was able to Id a point that I hadn't been able to with the overstreet book. I know flaking is the key to the whole thing, but I haven't been able to watch one being knapped, so I still have a BIIIGGG gap in my understanding. (Wildlife expo this weekend, so I'll get to see it in person).

Thirty7, you said you could recommend some books on drawing the points? I find I really have a lot of questions now. Do you choose a position and not move the point? or pick it up and turn it around so the light shows you all facets? What do you choose to leave out, if anything? I have a "sketchy" style of drawing, but I don't think that is so good for this purpose. I noticed you have a definite style that shows with each of the drawings you shared with us. I know each artist must have, but if one wants to do a very technical, precise illustration, should personal style be put aside for accuracy? I don't want to be a pro here, just do a good job representing what I'm looking at. Besides, it's fun
So here's my first attempt, it's pretty shaky, haven't drawn in a while. The drawing from the book is of a yarbrough also. It seems to have left out a lot of small details that I'm sure were on the point, so I quit trying to put in everything I could see. All criticism is welcome!
ng

Hey naturegirl, Good job on that drawing. I think it's really a matter of personal preferences. If you're going for technical accuracy, I recommend studying scientific drawings. Most of these are done with a stippling technique, or developing a drawing with dots or small pencil / pen strokes. I usually draw a piece from two angles and hold it one position / light angle to work from. I think your style works well for what you're trying to accomplish. I personally like a more stylized drawing that accurately depicts the subject but also shows the individual style of the artist. Imo scientific drawings look alike and lack personality. I'd recommend the book ' Arrowpoints, Spearheads, and Knives of Prehistoric Times ' as a good source for accurate renderings of points, but also suggest to continue working your own style and developing from there.

uniface · Sep 20, 2009

Super, NG !!!

naturegirl · Sep 21, 2009

Thanks guys, it was fun, and really makes you look at everything about the point. I'll see if I can find that book thirty7, and I used to do quite a bit of stippling, that maybe the ticket for me, if the eyes will co-operate that is.

naturegirl

creek astronaut · Sep 22, 2009

very nice ng. :thumbsup:

docmann · Sep 22, 2009

NG,
Great job with the illustration. You mentioned the outdoor expo, I presume you mean the one in Guthrie. Will they be having flintknapping? I had planned on going with my son, but that would be a real bonus.
Keep up the good work. While I was never an illustrator, I have played around with pencils. If I learned anything, it was that the quality was directly proportional to the amount of time I invested, but then you already knew that.
If indeed they will be knapping at the Lazy E this weekend, perhaps we should get the word out! I, likewise, have never seen it done.
Doc

pickaway · Sep 23, 2009

good job

naturegirl · Sep 24, 2009

Thank you greg, doc and pick, and I believe there will be knappers there at Guthrie. Buckshot went last year and said there was more than one knapper there. He really enjoyed the whole expo and insists that I have to go this year. I saw in the Outdoor Oklahoma magazine you can even try skeet shooting! That's something I always wanted to try. Look out all you skeets!

ng

docmann · Sep 24, 2009

NG,
I checked and indeed, there are flintknappers scheduled. Probably a good opportunity for anybody to see this done. It's my first too.
Doc

docmann · Sep 28, 2009

NG,
Did you make it to Guthrie? I watched the knapper make a couple of points--he did a pretty good job. Man, he had a bucket load of material. He told me that he sometimes takes a canoe ride down the Illinois river and gathers up loads of flint that is readily accessable on the many "gravel bars" along the way.
All-in-all, a fairly nice demonstration.
Hope you had a chance to make it out.
PS: My 8 year-old son won the 10 and under casting contest, and won a new rod and reel. Needless to say, we had a good day!
Doc

naturegirl · Sep 28, 2009

Mornin' tell your son good job! I bet he was excited. No we didn't make it to the Expo, but my husband knows someone and maybe they'll show me. I found a chunk of chert and tried beating around on it, and that's what it amounted to,

just whacking around on a rock!

ng