12/19/13 2D Design 12/20/13 Basic Drawing

Thursday's Class-  Tonight was our final meeting of the semester.  We looked at a few late arriving collages, and then everyone presented their Board Game Final Projects.  Everyone left so I could grade those and the semester portfolios.  A few came back tonight to pick things up, and the rest of the work was placed on our shelf, top horizontal shelf in the set closest to the hallway door, with my name on it.  Inside your pad or clipped to loose projects is a slip with your name, absence record for the semester, and grades for the Final and Portfolio.  Final semester grades will be calculated over the next week or so and submitted to the school, which will post them online whenever it is they do that.

Friday's Class- Today was our final meeting of the semester. We held a group critique of last week's final drawing, and everyone was dismissed temporarily while I graded those, the 2nd half portfolios, and the sketchbooks.  Everyone returned to pick up their stuff and learn the grades for those items.  Final semester grades will be posted by the school online.

Enjoy the break.

Course Evaluation Forms

I have been asked to remind everybody that OCC has switched to an online system for doing course evaluations, rather than have you take part of class and fill in circles with a #2 pencil.  I'm told that it is accessible from your OceanCruiser page.  I haven't been given any more information, but I would think the deadline for doing this would be the end of classes.  So if you haven't done this yet, and little numbers on my Cruiser page say only one student in each class has done so, please take a few minutes to log in and give your opinions about the class, and save your pencils for important things like drawing.

12/13/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class- In honor of today being Friday the 13th, the college decided to send us on a cross campus expedition.  When our adventure came to an end, we had a new classroom for the day in the Gateway building.  Objects for the still life travelled with us and before long we rearranged the room, set up our subject, and everyone was drawing.  I collected the drawings which will be returned graded next week.

How to make this up- Set up a still life.  Place a box on a table and drape with a cloth that has a printed pattern.  Arrange on and around the box the following items- a glass bottle, a hand tool, a piece of sports equipment, and a shoe.  Shine a direct light on it to create patterns of light and shadow.  Draw the still life on a full page in your 18" x 24" pad using either charcoal, ink wash, or conte crayon.  Pay attention to shapes, proportions, relative scale, negative spaces, perspective, and value.  Spend up to 3 hours on it.

Homework- Nothing new tonight, but considering how few homework sketches I've seen in recent weeks, I'd bet most of you have at least a few to make up.  Unless you're sure that you kept up with all of them, I'd suggest going back through this blog and make sure you have everything done.

2nd Half Portfolio-
Next week I will be grading the 2nd half portfolio, all the work from the second half of the semester except the individually graded drawings.  Here' what I'm expecting and the days we did it if you need to figure out how to make it up:

11/1/13 Ink Wash  two drawings, white object and drape
11/15/13  Monotype prints, your two best prints
11/22/13  Conte crayon two still life drawings, one black, one red
12/6/13 Conte crayon two mannequin drawings, red and black combined

For next class 12/20/13- Our final meeting of the semester, which I hope will be back in our usual classroom.  We will open with a group critique of today's drawings, then I'll dismiss everyone temporarily while I grade the 2nd half semester portfolio and the sketchbooks.  I'll designate a time when you can return to pick up all your work and learn your grades for all those things.

12/12/13 2D Design

Today's Class-  Today was a general work day for the class.  We looked at a few late arriving season and mixed media collages, and projects turned in last week were returned graded, but mostly it was people working on the game board final project.

How to make this up-  Instructions for the Final Project and student examples from previous semesters can be found on last week's blog post for the 2D class.  That same post also includes the list of in class exercises that are part of the semester portfolio to be graded next week.

Homework-  The only new thing due next week, December 19, 2013, is the board game final project, but I'm still missing season collages, mixed media collages, and limited palettes color studies from several students.  All can be turned in next week for partial credit.  Nothing will be accepted after the end of class next week.

For next class 12/19/13-  Our final meeting.  We will open with a critique of the final projects, and look at other late arriving graded projects.  Then I will temporarily dismiss everyone while I grade those items and the semester portfolios.  Students who return later at the designated time will learn the grades for all those items.  Bring all the semester portfolio exercises, the Final Project, and any back projects that you owe.  Be on time- the sooner we start class, the sooner we will finish.

12/6/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we continued using conte crayons, but instead of monochromatic drawings, we used the red and black crayons together.  This is based on the idea of chiaroscuro drawing and prints, an artistic process that dates back to the Renaissance.  In traditional chiaroscuro drawing, the artist starts with paper made with a medium value tone (color or neutral) and draws with both white (such as conte, chalk) to create highlights, and black (such as conte, ink, charcoal) to build shadows.  Rather than have you spend money on colored paper, we can simulate some the same effect with your white paper and the combination of red and black crayons.  I showed historical examples of the process, slides of student drawings in this style, and even a few actual drawings on paper left behind by students from previous semesters.

How to make this up-  This week we broke away from our usual still life objects and broke out the mannequins, a little more complex but forms that relate in some ways to the bottles and shoes that we are more familiar with.  I set up several of them around the room, as well as making some of the plaster body parts available.  Students did two value drawings, each for about half the class period.  They could do both in a traditional carefully blended style (as in the student drawing above), or had the option to do one in more hard edged three tone graphic style as demonstrated in slides.  Additional examples of both styles, and the specific instructions for the assignment, can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the last week of the semester to receive credit.

Homework- Find a shoe and shine a direct light on it to create patterns of light and shadow.  Do a full value drawing of the shoe on a page in your sketchbook using the red and black crayons together as we did in class.  Then find a second, different shoe, light the same way, and do a second full value drawing using both red and black crayon together.  Total of two drawings.

For next class 12/13/13- We will be doing the final still life drawing of the semester.  I'll have something set up by 2:00 and you'll have the full class to make your drawing.  You have the option of using charcoal (vine or compressed), ink wash, or conte crayon (red, black, or both).  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, your medium of choice, and any materials or tools related to your chosen process (such as brushes, blending tools, spray fixative, etc).  

12/5/13- 2D Design

Painted Dreams 

Vincent Van Gogh

Today's Class-  Tonight we began the final project of the semester.  I showed a few slides of ancient artworks and of 20th century board games, noting the evolution of the design and its relationship to fine art.   I also brought in an example I created myself to help explain the idea.  Then students began the process of designing a board game based on the art of a specific 2D fine artist.  We also looked at some late arriving limited palette projects and the mixed media collages that were due tonight.

How to make this up-  Start by selecting a well known fine artist (included in major museum collections and art history textbooks) from the 20th century or earlier, who works in two dimensions (paintings, drawings, prints), representationally (no full abstraction), and uses full color.  You'll need to select elements (figures, objects, landscapes, interiors, shapes, etc) from two or more pieces from that artist and build an original composition from them.  As you reproduce these bits of the artist's vocabulary, try to match shapes, colors, and textures as closely as possible.

Because the format is a board game, you must include some kind of game path for players to follow.  It can be repeated circuit (like Monopoly), a single start to finish path (like Candyland), or something where players can move in multiple directions across a grid.  The game should have a theme, some kind of goal for the players to achieve in order to win the game and the images should have at least some relation to the theme.  The game must have a name, included somewhere on the board.  As you are creating the composition, take into account balance, color, value, text design, and everything else we have dealt with this semester.  The final piece should be considered as a painting, not just a collection of images.  Like classic board games, the board should fold in half.    Above and below are student examples from previous semesters.  An example I created based on the work of Hieronymus Bosch, and further details about the assignment, can be seen here.

Love Story

Roy Lichtenstein

Rene Magritte, the Game

Rene Magritte

Homework-  This board game final project is due at the beginning of class on December 19, 2013, which is our last meeting of the semester.  No work for the class will be accepted after this date.

Those who still owe previous graded projects (such as the mixed media collages, or the limited palettes projects) should turn them in as soon as possible for partial credit.

Semester Portfolio-

At our final class meeting in two weeks, I'll be grading the semester portfolio, which is everything done in class this semester that wasn't individually graded.  If you've never missed a class, you probably have it all done, or at least started.  You can use the following list to verify that you have everything or to see what you need to make up.  Included dates are where they can be found on this blog.

9/12/13  Wallpaper dots

9/19/13  Contour Line shoes

10/3/13  Charcoal value drawing

10/17/13  Color Wheel and color mixing

10/24/13  Text (Russian) and Logo

11/21/13  Color Still Life painting

For next class 12/12/13- The class meeting will be a general work day for the class.  Most will use it to work on the final game board project, but you can use it for any back graded project or portfolio exercise from the class.  We will also look at any late arriving graded projects.  Bring with you whatever you need to work on whatever projects you will be working on.

11/22/13- Basic Drawing

Today's Class- Today we explored our last new medium of the semester.  Conte crayons are a bit harder than familiar wax crayons (the base is clay), to they are less likely to smear than charcoal, which means they take a little more effort to blend.  Today the class did portfolio exercises, drawing from familiar still life set ups while getting a feel for the medium.

How to make this up-  Set up a still life in our typical fashion- draped box, a variety of medium sized objects of varying value on and around, light to create patterns of light and shadow.  You will do two drawings from the still life.  First use the black crayon by itself.  The black marks are not unlike compressed charcoal, though the feel will be different and it will take a little more effort to blend.  (fingers probably won't be abrasive enough- try paper blending stumps or a bit of paper towel)  Then rearrange the objects and draw the new set up using just the red crayon.  The value range won't extend as far as the black crayon, so you may have to adjust how you depict relative areas of light and dark.  Above are student examples from previous semesters.  An additional example and specific directions can be found here.

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

Homework- Put together a typical place setting of utensils- fork, spoon and knife.  Place on a table in front of you so that none are parallel to each other, and light so that shadows and possible reflections on the surface will be seen.  Draw the whole grouping on a page in your sketchbook, first with the black crayon, then on a second page with just the red.  Rearrange the three utensils and again draw the set on one page with black, and the other page with red.  Total of four drawings.

For next class 12/6/13-  We will continue with conte crayons, but this time combining the red and black together in chiaroscuro style drawings.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both red and black crayons, erasers, and anything you think may help you blend.

11/21/13 2D Design

Today's Class-  Today the class did the last portfolio exercise of the semester, a color still life painting.  I opened by showing a few slides of historical art and discussing different roles that still life could serve- practice, developing a experimental style, vanitas paintings, etc, as well as a few student examples.  Then I set up a still life of solidly colored objects and a colored drape for students to paint during the class.  We also reserved time at the end to critique the limited palettes projects, and to look at some late arriving season projects.  A few students who were absent last week picked subject words for their collage project.

How to make this up-  Set up a still life.  Place a box on a table and drape with a multicolored cloth.  Arrange 3 solidly colored objects that are different colors from each other and the drape on and around the box.  You may sketch it first with pencil or paint directly from observation.  More specific directions  and additional student examples can be found here.

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

***Thanksgiving Break  Nov 28-29.  No class next week.***

Homework-  The mixed media collage graded project is due at the beginning of class on December 5, 2013.  

Those who still owe the temperature collage or limited palettes projects should turn them in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 12/5/13-  We will begin our final project of the semester, which will be partly based on the work of an artist from the history of fine art (someone found in major museums, art history texts, etc).  This artist must work in color in a two dimensional medium, such as painting or printmaking.  Bring examples of this artist's work, such as a book about them.  If you don't have a particular artist in mind, bring a book about a favorite period in art history, or favorite particular culture, or if you can't make up your mind, just a general art history text.  You will also need a piece of mat board to paint on (color doesn't matter- we'll be using the white side), at least 15" x 20".  Also bring pencil and eraser and all your painting related materials.  

11/15/13- Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we devoted the class to exploring a specific type of printmaking that has a lot in common with drawing, the monotype or monoprint.  Unlike most forms of printmaking, monotypes are not based on a fixed matrix that produces multiple identical images, but rather the images are created using a flat surface, and the ink is manipulated by the artist until the image is as desired.  Only then is the plate printed, the drawing completed before it ever touches the paper.  I started with a slide overview of the history of printmaking, which was interrupted by a fire drill that went on way too long, and then after a quick demonstration of the process, everyone got going, using random still life objects as subjects.

How to make this up-  Find yourself a flat surface (most people today used either plexiglass or glass, but anything that won't absorb water or oil will suffice) and you'll need either black oil based printing ink or oil paint.  We started off with value reduction prints, similar to the first vine charcoal drawings we did, where the whole page was filled in with charcoal and an eraser was used to draw the lights.  In this case, a piece of mat card could be used to spread some of the paint over most of the surface, and then items like corners of mat cards, cotton swabs, cotton balls, bits of paper towels, paint brushes, etc were used to draw lines in the black, or to wipe away larger areas and create shapes of white.  A little vegetable oil made it easier to wipe broad areas of paint.  More paint can be added if too much is removed.  To print, carefully place a piece of paper a little larger than the image on top of the inked drawing and lightly rub your hand over the back of the paper to pick up the ink.  Lift the paper by the edge and see the results of the process.    Above and below are examples of student monotypes made in previous semesters.  Additional examples and the specific assignments can be found here.

This is a class exercise that will be part of your 2nd half portfolio, and must be made up by the last day of the semester to receive credit.  If after reading the above you are not sure of the process, wait and ask me the next time you are in class and make it up after that.

Homework- Although it is not unusual for some students to enjoy this process so much that they go home and make more on their own, it can be very messy and it's very difficult to print in your sketchbook, so no new homework this week.  However, considering how few homework sketches I've seen lately, I'm guessing most of you are behind on homework and I suggest you go back through this blog, look up what you've missed, and use the time this week to make some of them up.

For next class 11/22/13-  Next class we start our study of the last new medium of the semester, conte crayon.  Unlike the wax crayons you are familiar with, in these the pigment is mixed with a clay base, so they are harder than wax crayons and can be used to draw harder edges.  Don't smear as much as charcoal, but they can be blended.  They come in a variety of colors suitable for figure and landscape drawing, but what you need for our class is black and red (usually called sanguine- blood color).  Both colors were stocked in the college bookstore when I last checked, and most art and craft stores should have them in their drawing section. Also bring your 18" x 24" pad, and erasers.

11/14/13- 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we started a new graded project, a mixed media collage partly inspired by the Dada movement.  We also looked at the related text design projects (Russian words) from a few weeks ago, and critiqued a few late arriving projects.

How to make this up-  Two things associated with the Dada art movement were the use of the collage and random chance.  Our project started with students choosing random words from two bags to form a phrase.  That phrase is the theme of your collage.  Once you have a theme, come up with a visual adaptation of the concept, using a combination of collaged images (magazines, etc), painted elements, and drawn elements, in addition to the drawn words that inspired it.  The example above is called "City of Zoo", and the one below is "Everything Turns to Thinking."  This should not just be a collection of stuff glued to the paper, but think of it as a two dimensional work of art, and make use of everything we've dealt with in the class- shape, composition, color, texture, balance, value, etc. 

The first step is to get your theme.  You may either e-mail me to request it, and I'll pick the words for you and send you the result, or wait until next week's class and pick them yourself.  Further instructions and several additional student examples can be found here.

This graded mixed media collage is due at the beginning of class on December 5, 2013.

Homework-  The limited palettes project begun last week is due at the beginning of class on November 21, 2013.

Those who still owe the color temperature project (which is almost everybody) should turn them in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 11/21/13-  We'll be doing a semester portfolio exercise involving still life painting.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and all your painting materials.

11/8/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we finished our study of value drawing using ink wash as a medium.  I set up the subject, a leafy potted plant with long vines, hanging within a wooden tripod, and the students had the entire class period to draw it.  The drawings were collected to be graded.

How to make this up-  Find yourself a potted plant and place it on the seat of a wooden kitchen or desk chair.  The room should be well lit.  Use light pencil to sketch the plant at 100% scale, so that the leaves and the pot are about the same size on the paper as they are in real life.  Include the pot and any part of the chair seat, back, and legs that fit within your 18" x 24" page.  Then use the ink wash to match the value of the leaves, stems, pot, chair parts, and anything else in your drawing.  Above are a few examples of the class assignment from previous semesters.  Further instructions and additional student examples can be found here.

This is a graded project and should be made up as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

Homework-  Go outside and find three intact leaves from three different species of trees (maple, oak, birch, etc).  Lay them out flat on a table, sketch the shapes in pencil and then use ink wash to match the values of the leaves.  Arrange the leaves in a different order and do a second sketch in the same way.  Total of two ink wash sketches.

For next class 11/15/13-  We're going to try a new medium, monotype.  It's a form of printmaking that has a lot in common with drawing. Prints are made by using an oil based medium applied to a smooth non porous surface (such as glass, plastic, or metal) and manipulated with hands, tools, etc to create the value drawing.  Once the drawing is where you want it, paper is placed on top and light hand pressure is used to print the drawing on paper.  You will need some kind of printing plate (the glass from an inexpensive 8"x 10" frame may be the easiest solution, but any similar sized piece of metal, or plexiglass will do well), a small tube of black oil paint or oil based relief ink, your 18" x 24" pad, paint brushes.  Cotton balls, q-tips, and other things that can be used to move the paint around on the glass are recommended.  

11/7/13 2D Design

Today's Class-  Today we started a new graded project about specific color combinations, which can also be called palettes.  Sometimes painters will do their best to imitate the exact colors of their subjects, but other times they will choose a color scheme that does not copy the subject yet still follows a type of logic.  The class looked at slides of historical paintings as I pointed out examples of monochromatic, complementary, split complementary, analogous, and triad color palettes, and then began tonight's project.  We reserved time at the end of class to finally have the critique of the woodcut projects from a few weeks ago.

How to make this up- As with the stipple project, you will need a black and white photo of something real (person, landscape, object, etc), something you feel comfortable drawing and with a wide range of value.  Take a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper and use your pencil to divide it into 4 equal boxes of 9" x 12".  Do a basic composition sketch of your photo in all four boxes (horizontal or vertical, based on the nature of your photo) in pencil.  You will then use your acrylic paints to adapt the value structure of the photo to four different specific color schemes, from the six options for this project.  Above are two student examples from previous semesters.  Additional student examples and all the specific instructions and color scheme options can be found here.

Homework-  This limited color palettes graded project is due at the beginning of class on November 21, 2013.

The color temperature collage projects begun last week are due at the beginning of class on November 14, 2013.

Anyone who still hasn't printed their woodcut yet should bring in the completed block as soon as possible to get partial credit.

For next class 11/14/13-  We will start a new graded project, a mixed media collage that will have to include collaged printed material, painted elements, and drawn elements.  The subjects of the collages will be determined that evening.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil, black markers, paints and paint related materials, scissors, and glue.  I'll have my usual bag of magazines to cut up, but if you wish to bring in additional ones, feel free to do so.

11/1/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we continued our study of value drawing, but with a new medium- ink wash.  This process uses drawing ink, the kind used in refillable pens, and dilutes it with water to achieve various levels of value.  A watercolor brush is used to apply it to the page, gradually building up the values.  I showed a few slides of historical and student ink drawings, as well as some actual student drawings and a demonstration piece I made.  We did two portfolio exercises with the ink, then closed out the day with a critique of last week's charcoal drawings, which were returned graded.

How to make this up-  We kept things simple today, all white drapery and objects, with all the value based on light and shadow.  Get yourself a white or very light colored cloth and attach it to something so it hangs down and onto a table or box.  Find simple white or light colored objects to place at the base of the cloth and shine a direct light to create light and shadow patterns.   You may sketch the basic contours first with light pencil on a sheet of your 18" x 24" pad, then mix washes of ink and water to gradually build the value.  Above are two examples of student ink drawings.  Full instructions for the exercises, and additional examples of student ink drawings from previous semesters, can be found here.

These ink wash drawings are portfolio exercises and must be made up by the last day of class to receive full credit, but I strongly recommend you complete them before next Friday, especially if you have no experience with the medium.  Next class we'll be doing the graded ink wash drawing and practice could be helpful.

Homework-  Set up a still life like the one mentioned above- a white drape hanging down and onto a flat horizontal surface, with a white or light colored object placed so it rests on the cloth, with cloth also becoming a backdrop.  Light the set up to create patterns of light and shadow.  Do an ink wash drawing of the set up, paying attention to all our usual concerns.  Then switch the object for a different white object, and draw the still life again on a new page.  Total of two ink sketches.

For next class 11/8/13- We will continue with the ink wash, doing a graded ink wash project.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad (a piece of watercolor paper of the same dimensions is optional), black waterproof drawing ink, watercolor brushes, pencil and eraser, and two water containers.  

10/31/13 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we got back to color, the idea of color temperature, which we had discussed briefly when making the color wheels.  I showed a few dozen slides of art from the Renaissance to the present, and the class decided if the overall perceived temperature of the colors in the paintings was warm, cool, or a balance/neutral.  After that the students started work on the next graded project, which is devoted to color temperature.  I had planned to hold a critique of the prints from last week, but since only FOUR students showed up to class, I'm going to save that for next week.  

How to make this up-  This project requires you to use your acrylic paints to mix 200 different colors, which will be organized into two blocks of 100, each block representing one of the seasons of the year based on the overall temperature of the colors within.  The colors are done on separate paper and then cut out and arranged in the boxes.  Above is a student example from a previous semester.  The full instructions and additional student examples can be found here.

Homework- This graded color temperature project is due at the beginning of class on November 14, 2013, but I strongly suggest you get it done by next week, as our next project will be much more complex and you may want the extra time to work on it.

Those who have not had their wood blocks printed yet should bring them in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.  

For next class 11/7/13-  We will start another graded project, this time about specific color palettes or combinations.  You will complete multiple variations of the same composition using very specific color combinations.  Once again the starting point will be a black and white photo, and as with the stipple drawing it should be a photo of something real (landscape, object, figure, etc), with a range of values from light to dark, and something you feel comfortable drawing.  I will bring in my bag of magazines to pick through, but you can save a lot of time and be more likely to find something you want to draw if you bring your own to class.  You will also need your 18"x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and all your painting related materials.

10/25/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today the class completed the final charcoal still life drawing of the semester, spending the whole class period on it.  While they were doing that, I graded the first half portfolios, which is all the drawings done in class except for the two individually graded drawings.  The charcoal drawings were collected and will be graded and returned next week.

How to make this up-  To make up today's graded assignment, you will need to set up a still life of your own and draw it with your choice of charcoal (vine or compressed), as in the above student example from a previous semester.  Additional student examples, along with the specific directions, can be found here.

This is a graded assignment and must be made up as soon as possible to receive partial credit.  The longer the delay, the fewer points it will be worth.  The portfolio grading is also time sensitive, so if you missed that, bring it to class as soon as possible to earn the maximum points.  (if you have documentation of a legitimate excuse for missing class today, bring that as well)

Homework-  Find a pumpkin, readily available this time of year.  It can be whole or one that has been cut as a jack-o'lantern.  Shine a light on it to create patterns of light and shadow, highlighting the texture.  Draw a value drawing of the pumpkin on a full page of your sketchbook using a soft pencil.  Pay attention to shape, contours, proportions, and the different values of the skin, stem, and cut outs applicable, as well as the cast shadow.  Rotate the pumpkin and do a second value drawing in the same way.  Total of two pages of pumpkin drawings.

For next class 11/1/13- We will continue with value drawing, but switching to a new medium, ink wash.  You will need a small bottle of waterproof black drawing ink (india ink), brushes suitable for watercolor, two small containers to hold water (cups or cans will do), pencil and eraser, and your 18" x 24" pad.  

10/24/13 2D Design

Today's Class- We opened with a slide presentation about the use of text (letters, numbers) as a visual element, looking at examples through art history, along with examples of propaganda and advertising.  Students then worked on two portfolio exercises related to this topic.  Meanwhile, I helped each student pull a print of their completed woodcut black and white composition assignment, all of which can be seen above. (click photo to enlarge)

How to make this up-  We looked at text and ways it has been used in fine art, including directly telling narrative, being part of the detail of a scene, and functioning just as shapes of value and color, among other things.  In the 1940's to 1960's propaganda and advertising images, the focus was more on how fonts, colors, and locations of text in the images influence the message.  Both exercises, using pencils and markers, had connections to the slides.  Specific directions, along with some student examples from previous semesters, can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit, but I recommend doing them before next week for two reasons.  One, this is the last week of the semester that there isn't one graded project assigned and/or due.  Two, text will play a factor in two projects coming up this semester, so it's good to get some practice and thought on the subject now.

Homework-  Nothing new this week, but some people still owe be stipple and plant drawings.  I won't be bringing in all the printing materials again, so when completed wood blocks arrive I'll just take them, print them in my studio, and return them the following week.

For next class 10/31/13-  Back to color, with a graded project about color temperature.  Bring all your paints and painting materials, 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, scissors or x-acto knife, and either white glue or rubber cement. 

10/18/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we continued our study of value with charcoal, but added the challenge of not only dealing with the value created by light and shadow, but also the values related to the local colors of objects in the still life.  Again, drawings were done with both vine and compressed charcoal.  The class was reminded that next week is the first half portfolio collection, the requirements of which are shown below.

How to make this up-  You will need to set up a still life in the style of those done in this class- box on a table, and drape with cloth, but this time both white and a colored cloth.  Select four simple objects of similar size, two white or light colored, two dark colored, and shine light on it to create patterns of light and shadow.  You'll do one drawing with vine and one with compressed, each on a sheet of your 18" x 24" pad, paying attention to shape, size, spacing, perspective, and value, as in the above student image from a previous semester.  An additional example and the specific requirements of the assignment can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must my completed by next week's portfolio collection to receive full credit, but even besides that I recommend doing it before then for the practice, as next week you'll be doing an individually graded charcoal drawing.

Homework-  Place a box on a tabletop and drape with a cloth that has some kind or printed pattern (stripes, checked, etc).  Select four objects of similar size, two white, two colored, and arrange on and around the box. Light with a direct light source to create patterns of light and shadow.  Draw the still life in your sketchbook using a soft pencil (such as a 4B or 6B), paying attention to the usual concerns. Rearrange the objects and draw the still life again, for a total of two drawings.

1st Half Portfolio Collection

During next week's class I'll be grading the 1st half portfolio, all the work done in class that was not individually graded.  If you've never missed a class, you're all ready to go.  If you have missed some time and aren't sure if you made up the work yet, the list of what I expect to see is below, along with the dates you'll find the assignment on this blog.

Contour line (shoes) Sep 13
Reductive/gesture (bamboo) Sep 20
Negative space (chair) Sep 20
Perspective (boxes) Sep 27
Perspective (boxes and cans) Sep 27
Value w/ white objects (vine) Oct 11
Value w/ white objects (compressed) Oct 11
Value w/ mixed objects (vine) Oct 18
Value w/ mixed objects (compressed) Oct 18

For next class 10/25/13- We'll be doing the final charcoal drawing of the semester for an individual grade.  I will also grade the 1st half portfolios; the portfolios will be returned during class, and I'll be collecting the final charcoal.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, all the work from this semester (which you can leave in the pad), your charcoal of choice, and spray fixative.  

10/17/13 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we introduced the idea of color, which will be a part of almost everything we do the rest of the semester.  I showed slides with art examples ranging from cave paintings, through the renaissance, to comic books, as I discussed the evolution of color materials and the functions color served in those works.  Then the class completed some portfolio exercises in basic color theory and color mixing.

How to make this up- You will need the acrylic paints and related materials (brushes, palette, palette knife, water container), pencil and your 18" x 24" pad.  The class started by creating a color wheel with all colors derived from the three primaries plus white.  Then a pair of complementary colors was chosen and mixed to create a series of intermediate and neutral colors.  Finally, a color was taken through steps of tints and shades.  Above is an example from a previous semester.  Additional student examples and the full instructions can be seen here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be made up by the end of the semester in order to receive full credit.

Homework-  Nothing new, but the woodcut book illustration project begun in class last week is due at the beginning of class on October 24, 2013.  We will print them in class.

Those who still owe the stipple drawing or final line drawing (plant) should complete them as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 10/24/13-  Students will work on some class portfolio exercises related to the use of text in art while I help individuals print their blocks.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad and black markers, along with your completed woodblock.

10/11/13 Basic Drawing

Today's Class-  Today we began our study of value, which will be a part of all our drawings through the rest of the semester.  I showed a few dozen slides of historical art, pointing out the ways that artists used value (light and dark) to imply three dimensional volume, form, and space, in two dimensional art, as well as to show weight, and to focus attention.   Then I had students do two charcoal drawings from a simple still life of white objects, concentrating on the effects of light and shadow.  Last week's final line drawings were returned graded.

How to make this up-  You will need to set up a still life.  Place a box on a table and drape with a white or very light colored cloth (such as a sheet or towel) and arrange 3 similar sized white or light colored objects on and around the the box.  Light the set up with a directional light (spot light, or bright sunlight coming through a window) to create strong patterns of light and shadow, as in the student example shown above.  You will do two drawings, one a value reduction drawing with vine charcoal, one a more traditional value drawing with compressed charcoal.  The specific directions and requirements for each can be found here.

These are class portfolio exercises that must be made up before the first half portfolio collection (10/25/13) to receive full credit.  However, I recommend doing them before then for practice, especially if you are new to charcoal.

Homework- Set up a still life as described in the "how to make this up" section above- draped box, 3 objects, all light colors, direct light source.  Draw the set up on a full page of your sketchbook using your softest pencil (such as a #4B or #6B), paying attention to shapes, perspective, spacing, and now matching values as closely as possible.  Then rearrange the three objects and draw the still life again.  Total of 2 sketchbook drawings.

For next class 10/18/13-  We will continue our study of value with charcoal, this time adding in local values.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, spray fixative, and your kneaded eraser.