10/4/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we concluded the basic drawing portion of the semester with an evening of value drawing.  I showed a few dozen slides of art from antiquity to the present, discussing in each case what role the value played (describing surfaces, implying volume and space, focusing attention, etc).  Also a few slides of advanced student charcoal drawings. Then students drew with charcoal from a simple still life, matching the size, shape, location, and value of the objects.

How to make this up-  Everyone was in attendance tonight, so there is no need for making it up.  However, if want to relive the experience, instructions for doing it again can be found here.

This was a portfolio exercise, so it won't be collected for an individual grade, but hold onto it for the end of the semester portfolio.

Homework- Nothing new, but a few people still owe be the stipple drawing or the plant drawing,   They should be turned in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 10/11/12- Next week we enter the design portion of the semester.  We will begin a graded project in the form of a black and white book illustration from a literary source of your choice.  The source can be fiction or non-fiction, novel, short story, poem, etc, however nothing that is already fully illustrated, no fairy tales, children's or young adult books.  The medium will be a wood block print.  Come to class with an idea of what source you wish to use, and a copy of it if possible.  You can think about ideas, but you may find it useful to see the examples I show in class next week before designing your own.  Bring some kind of paper for sketching (a sketchbook will be fine, but you can use your 18" x 24" pad if you prefer), pencil and eraser, black markers, and x-acto knife.  I will provide the wood and demonstrate how to safely and most effectively cut your design into the block.