3/29/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we started a new graded project involving the idea of color temperature. I showed a dozen or so slides of historical artwork and we discussed whether we felt the overall temperature of each painting was warm, cool, or balanced. After that we started the project, an example of which from a previous semester can be seen above. I returned the graded woodcut prints from last week and we reserved time at the end of class to look at the text exercise we did last week.

How to make this up- You'll need to mix up to 200 different colors of your choice, which will be arranged into two 10" square boxes on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper, which will represent two seasons of your choosing. All warm colors depicts summer, all cool colors for winter, and a mix of warm and cool for autumn or spring. Full details as to how to complete the assignment, and additional examples can be found here.

Homework- This color temperature graded project is due at the beginning of class on April 12, 2012, however I strongly suggest that you get it done by next week, as the project that we start next week will require far more work than this one.

Those who haven't yet turned in their woodblocks to be printed should complete them as soon as possible.

For next class 4/5/12- More color, this time a graded project involving specific color palettes. You will need your 18" x 24" paper, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints, brushes, palette and palette knife, and water container. The project will be based on a black and white photo, so either bring one (actual person/object/scene, something you feel comfortable drawing, value range from light to dark) or go through my pile of magazines to find one.

3/29/12 Basic Drawing

Today's Class- Today we continued our study of value, but starting a new medium- ink wash. The process involves gradually building values by adding gradually darker washes of ink (ink diluted in water). I showed a few historical and student slides of ink wash drawings, and showed some actual student drawings and a provided an example of three stages of a value drawing. After that, the class did two ink wash value drawings from the still life, and I returned last week's graded charcoal drawings.

How to make this up- Set up a simple still life as in the student examples above, white objects in front of a hanging white cloth. Create a light ink wash with a few drops of ink in water, and use brushes to apply it to the page. For additional student examples and the instructions as to how to make up today's classwork, click here.

These are portfolio exercises, which must be made up by the end of the semester to receive credit.

Homework- Take a white or light colored cloth and attach it to a wall or hang it on something so that it hangs down and onto a table top. Find a white or light colored object to place in front of the backdrop cloth and light the set up to create strong light and shadow patterns. Sketch lightly with pencil, and then use ink wash to draw the set up on a page of your sketchbook, paying attention to shape, space, and value. Replace the object with a different white or light colored object and draw again in your sketchbook. Total of two drawings.

For next class 4/5/12- We will continue with ink wash, doing a graded assignment. Bring your 18" x 24" pad (or optional equivalent sized piece of watercolor paper), pencil and eraser, black waterproof drawing ink, watercolor brushes, and containers for water.

3/22/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we opened with some slides of fine art that made use of text in some way- sometimes to provide information, sometimes as a purely visual element in the composition. We also saw slides with examples of WW II era propaganda and early 1960's advertising, noting specifically the style and use of text in the ads. After that, students did two portfolio exercises, one involving text, the other business logos. While that was going on, those students who had completed their woodblock prints had the blocks printed and had the option to try the process for themselves. Above are tonight's impressive set of student woodcut prints.

How to make this up- The specifics of the two exercises can be found here. These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester to receive credit, but we will likely review the results in an upcoming class, so you may want to get to them sooner.

I won't likely bring the printing stuff back to class, but if you bring in your cut block, I'll collect them and just print them in my own studio before the following week.

Homework- Nothing new, but if you still owe a back homework (including the woodcut block), or need to make up tonight's exercises, I suggest doing them this week. After tonight there will be one homework or another every night until the end of the semester.

For next class 3/29/12- We will go back to working with color. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints, brushes, palette, palette knife, water container, and also scissors and glue.

Basic Drawing- Final Charcoal Drawing

How to make this up- Set a box on a table and drape with both a white cloth and a darkly colored cloth. Select 5 objects of roughly similar size- either 3 white/2 colored or 2 white/3 colored, and arrange on and around the box. Shine a light to create patterns of light and shadow. Draw the still life using charcoal (vine or compressed), filling a whole page of your 18" x 24" paper, paying attention to shapes of objects, sizes, proportion, perspective, and of course matching values as closely as possible. Spend up to 3 hours on it.

3/8/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we started our study of color, which will be a part of almost everything we do the rest of the semester. We looked at slides and talked about the history of color, materials and use, from cave paintings through comic books. After that we did a few exercises involving the mixing of colors.

How to make this up- You will need your acrylic paints and related materials. You will make a color wheel, mixing everything from the three primary colors. Also a complementary color mix, and an exercise in tints and shades. Above is an example from a previous semester. Additional examples and the detailed instructions can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive credit.

Spring Break March 12 to March 18, 2012

******No class meeting next week.******

Homework- Nothing new, but the completed woodblocks for the black and white illustration project are due at the beginning of class on March 22, 2012. Blocks should be fully cut in the design you've created.

For next class 3/22/12- We will print the wood blocks while students work on exercises involving text. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and your black markers. I'll provide the ink and tools for the printing.

3/8/12 Basic Drawing

Today's Class- Today we continued our study of value through charcoal. Unlike last week, the still life included both white and color objects, so students had to convert local colors to values, in addition to showing light and shadow. Above is a student example from an earlier semester.

How to make this up- The assignment requires you to set up a still life in our usual manner- a draped box on the table, but this time use both white and dark cloth, and both white and dark colored objects. You'll do one drawing each with vine and compressed charcoal. Full instructions and an additional example can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise, but portfolios will be graded at our next class meeting, so you should complete it by then to receive full credit, as well as for the practice.

Spring Break March 12 to March 18, 2012.

No class meeting next week.

********1st Half Portfolio Collection********

At our next meeting, March 22nd, I'll grade the first half of the semester portfolio- all the work done in class that wasn't individually graded. If you've been to every class, you're already caught up. If you've missed any time, the list below will help you make up the assignments. Go back through this blog to learn the details.

Contour Line (shoes) February 2

Reductive/Gesture (bamboo) February 9

Negative Space (chair/bottles) February 9

Perspective (boxes) February 16

Perspective (boxes and cans) February 16

Value drawing- white objects (vine/compressed) March 1

Value drawing- mixed value (vine/compressed) March 8

Homework- Place a box on a table and drape with a cloth that has some kind of pattern (stripes, checks, etc). Arrange two white and two solidly colored objects on and around the box. Shine a direct light source on the still life to create strong light and shadow patterns. Draw in your sketchbook with pencil, matching values along with shapes and proportions. Then either move yourself to different position or rearrange the objects, and draw a second time, for a total of two full value drawings.

For next class 3/22/12- We will do our next individually graded drawing, our final charcoal drawing of the semester. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, vine and/or compressed charcoal (not charcoal pencils), erasers, and spray fixative. Portfolios will be graded while you draw and returned by the end of class.

3/1/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we started the design phase of the class, with a project that explores black and white compositions in the form of a book illustration done as a woodcut print. I showed slides of the history of printmaking from the early Renaissance to contemporary art, explaining the process and role that prints served in societies. I also brought in a pile of illustrated books for people to look at. Wood was distributed and safe and effective cutting techniques were demonstrated.

How to make this up- You won't be able to start the print until you get a piece of wood, which I'll make available next week to people who missed tonight. Meanwhile, you can work out your composition on paper. The design will be 8" x 6", and can be horizontal or vertical format. It must be an illustration from a literary source. Above and below are examples from previous semesters. Additional examples and the full details and requirements can be seen here.

Homework- This woodcut graded project is due at the beginning of class on March 22, 2012, at which point they will be printed in class. If you didn't finalize your design by the end of class tonight, I strongly recommend that you bring your idea to class next week for me to look at.

Those who still owe me the stipple drawing and/or the plant drawing should get them turned in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 3/8/12- We will start our study of color, with some basic color theory. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints (black, white, red, yellow, blue), brushes, palette, palette knife, and water container.

3/1/12 Basic Drawing

Today's Class- Today we started our study of value, which will be part of our drawings for the rest of the semester. We began with the traditional medium of charcoal, using both vine and compressed in different ways. After a few dozen slides demonstrating how value has been used historically in two dimensional art to imply form, volume, and space, students did two portfolio exercises.

How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life. Put a box on a table, drape with a white cloth (sheet, towel, etc), and arrange 3 white or very light colored objects of similar size on and around the box. Shine a directional light source to create patterns of light and shadow. You will then do two drawings based on it. Additional examples and full details can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the 1st Portfolio Collection on March 22, 2012.

Homework- Set up a still life as described above in "How to make this up" (box, drape, 3 objects, light). Draw it in your sketchbook using a soft pencil (4B or 6B), matching values in the still life as closely as possible, as well as shapes, proportion, perspective, etc. Without changing the still life, move to a different position and draw it again. Total of two drawings.

For next class 3/8/12- We will continue to work with charcoal. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.