Today's Class- Today was our final meeting of the semester. We opened by looking at the Final Drawings from last week. After that, I dismissed everyone temporarily while I finished grading those, as well as grading the 2nd Half Portfolios and the sketchbooks. Students who returned by the designated time were able to pick up those items and learn the grades for those things. Students who did not come back can pick up their work from our designated shelf at their convenience.
The top horizontal shelf closest to the classroom door is labeled Friday Drawing or something like that. It includes a stack of 18" x 24" pads and all the sketchbooks. Inside the sketchbooks are small grading slips that list the grades for the sketchbooks, for the portfolios, absences, and other relevant information.
Final semester grades will be calculated in the coming days and submitted to the school. The school will release them whenever it is they do that. Enjoy the break.
Today's Class- Today was our final drawing of the semester. I set up a complex still life with a mix of familiar and new objects and the class had the whole period to draw it using their choice of the three value mediums we studied this semester. The drawings were collected and will be critiqued next class.
How to make this up- Everyone showed up and completed the assignment.
Homework- No homework this week, but I imagine most of you need to make up at least one or two of the past ones. If you don't have them written down, they are all listed here on the blog under the days of the semester.
2nd Half Portfolio- All the work done in class that was not for an individually graded assignment. If you missed no classes, you should have it all done. If you missed some time or may have misplaced some work, here is what I will be looking for and the dates you can find it on this blog:
11/6/15- Ink wash with white objects
11/20/15- Monotype exercise
11/25/15- Conte Crayon introduction
One red drawing, one black drawing
12/4/15- Conte Crayon, mixed tones
Two drawings (mannequins) with red and blue
For next class 12/18/15- Our final meeting of the semester. We will open with a critique of today's drawings. After that I will temporarily dismiss everyone while I grade the 2nd Half Portfolio and the Sketchbooks. At the time I tell you to return, you can pick up all your work and learn the grades for the Final Drawing and the Portfolios and Sketchbook.
Bring your 18"x 24" pad (or at least the drawings that were in it), and your homework sketchbooks. If you need to show me any earlier work, bring that as well. No drawing materials needed.
Today's Class- Today we continued our work with conte crayons, trying variations of the chiaroscuro technique. This is a style that developed during the renaissance, in which artists used three different tones. In drawing, it was typically starting with a medium toned (neutral or color) paper and the artist drawing with both white (pastels, chalk) for highlights and black (ink, graphite) for the shadows and darks. Also in this time there was a chiaroscuro woodcut technique, with white paper, and the image was created by a combination of a dark ink block and a medium value ink block. I adapted aspects of both techniques for today's exercises, having students use both the red and black together.
How to make this up- To reflect nearing the end of the semester, I left the white bottles and shoes at home and broke out the department's supply of mannequins and body parts, so everyone could try a more complex subject. Students did two drawings today.
Traditional approach- Since the college book store has decided it will no longer sell art paper, we'll use the white paper from your large pads and red conte for the medium values, black for the darkest values. Start by using your red conte crayon to do a full value drawing from the subject. Then gradually blend in black crayon to build the darks, going to full black if necessary. Above and below are student examples of this approach.
Hard edged approach- This relates more to the woodcut variation, with all tones being reduced to just three- solid white, red, and black. For this to be successful, the artist has to decide in advance what range of value in the subject will be represented by each tone and consistently apply it. All light is solid white, then at a certain point in the value range everything will be solid red. All values in the range above the red will be shown as solid black. Since conte crayon can't be completely erased, the artist is committing on each shape. Two student examples showing the different approaches to drawing the same mannequin can be found here.
If you don't have any store fashion mannequins of your own at home, you can use a dress making form, a figural sculpture, or even substitute a live subject. (dressed is fine) Everyone must try the traditional approach for the first one, spending about 1. 5 hours. Light the subject so as to create patterns of light and shadow over the figure, and draw the subject large, as in the above examples. For the second drawing, find a new figure, or change the angle. I also put together a few combinations of body parts (including the semester's visit from Headless Baby) as an option. And for this one, you can use the same technique or try the hard edge approach if you like. Again, spend about 90 minutes on the drawing.
These are portfolio exercises and must be made up by the last day of class to receive full credit.
Homework- We're going back to our roots and drawing shoes. Select two shoes, and light the first to create patterns of light and shadow. Draw it on a page in your sketchbook using the red and black crayon together, paying attention to shape, proportions, perspective, value, texture, etc. Then set up the second shoe in a similar way and draw that on a second page. Two drawings total.
For next class 12/11/15- Students will be doing the Final Drawing of the semester. I'll set up a complex still life, a mix of familiar objects and things you haven't drawn before. You have the choice of using charcoal (vine, compressed, or both), ink wash, or conte crayon (black, red, or both). Also bring your 18" x 24" pad, and any items associated with the medium you are choosing (erasers, spray fixative, etc). You may have up until the end of the period to work on it and I'll collect them from you that day.
Today's Class- Today we began our last new medium of the semester, the conte crayon. These were developed about 200 years ago when a war had created a shortage of other art supplies. Unlike the wax crayons familiar from childhood, these are made from pigments mixed with a clay base. They are smooth and make precise marks with clean edges. They don't smear easily, so spray fixative isn't needed immediately. This means that they don't blend as easily, but blending stumps (tortillons), erasers, or bits of paper towel will do the job. They can come in any color, but most common are black and the sanguine colors- earth tones ranging from red to brown. I had students buy black and a sanguine as part of their kit this semester.
How to make this up- Today I had students do two still life drawings, with a collection of familiar objects. We did one using the black crayon first, since the effect is similar to the charcoal that you are all familiar with. In the second half of class I had students do a drawing with just their red crayon. With the latter one the overall value range will be less, but a range of relative lights and darks can be achieved. Above and below are student examples from previous semesters. An additional example and the specifics of how to make up the assignment can be found here.
These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the last day of class to receive full credit.
Homework- Assemble a set of dining utensils- fork, knife, and spoon. Lay them on a table in front of you, all different directions. Draw the whole set on a page in your sketchbook using the black crayon, including any cast shadows and reflections in the metal. Then draw the same set up with your red crayon on a new page. Rearrange the three utensils and then draw again with the black and then the red. Total of four drawings.
For next class 12/4/15- We will continue with conte crayons, this time combining the red and black in the same drawing to simulate the effect of a traditional chiaroscuro drawing.
Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both red and black conte crayons, pencil eraser, and anything you wish to use to aid in blending.
Today's Class- The focus of today's class was a look at printmaking, an art form in which the finished art is usually produced from a fixed matrix (such as carved wood, etched metal, litho stones, silkscreens, etc) so that multiple identical copies can be made quickly. However, an exception to the multiple process is the monotype, in which the art is offset from a perfectly smooth surface that can't absorb the ink. The ink is manipulated on the surface until the artist is satisfied with the result and then it's printed onto paper, so that the drawing is essentially completed before it ever touches the paper. I showed slides with examples of the various print processes used in the past 6 centuries, as well as examples from some professional print artist friends of mine, and a few examples of my own work. Then I set up everyone with some materials and put out some still life stuff for everyone to work from. Time was saved at the end for a class critique of last week's ink wash drawings.
How to make this up-
Monotypes are printed from flat non-porous surfaces, such as glass, plexiglass, metal, or plastic. The glass from a dollar store 8"x 10" frame works fine (I recommend taping the edges with masking tape to avoid cutting your fingers while handling it) but today some students were able to make use of old plastic cafeteria trays found by our classroom sink. Few art supply stores carry oil based printing ink, but oil paint will work and I had students buy a small tube of black in their semester supplies. We are not allowed to use toxic solvents or thinners in our building, but regular common vegetable oil (such as canola) works just fine for the purpose and I provided everyone with a small paper cup of it, along with some cotton swabs for drawing (a paint brush- bristles or back end- can be used, along with paper towels, stiff edges of mat board, etc. no rules here.) Paper from your big pads or sketchbooks can be used to print on, placing a piece on the inked plate and gently rubbing the back to transfer the paint to the paper. Above and below are student examples. Instructions on how to make this up can be found here. Or if you prefer, wait until the next time you are in and ask me for details. This is a portfolio exercise and must be made up by the last day of class to get credit.
Homework- Because this is a new process and extremely messy, I am not assigning any related homework this week. Since most of you are missing one or more homeworks, I suggest you use the time to catch up on one you have missed. All homework assignments can be found by looking back through this blog.
Next week's class will be held on Wednesday November 25th at the usual time and place. Orders from OCC.
For next week 11/25/15- We will start our last new medium of the semester, the conte crayon. This is a clay based medium, sticks a little harder than wax crayons and charcoal. They can be used to draw shapes with hard edges, but also can be blended. On the list of materials I put black and red (sanguine) crayons. Bring those, your 18" x 24" pad, and erasers.
Today's Class- Today we concluded our study of ink wash as a value medium with a graded ink drawing. I brought back my wooden tripod and a potted plant with long vines and set it up in the middle of the room. Full light, so this was about matching local values more than dealing with light and shadows on surfaces. And thanks to the college bookstore's decision to discontinue selling fine art paper, and the decision to donate it to art department, students all had the opportunity to try this process with a heavy weight paper, far superior to the thin white paper in the large pads. The drawings were collected and will be returned graded next week, following a class critique. Below are some examples of this project from previous semesters.
How to make this up- For the first time this semester, everyone on the class roster was present in class, so everyone did the project. We are done with ink for semester, but it will be an option for the final drawing of the semester in a few weeks.
Homework- Find 3 leaves from 3 different species of tree. Can be still alive or in various states of turning color. Lay them on a table and sketch them, first with pencil contours and then use the ink wash to match the values of all the leaves. Then rearrange the leaves and draw the set again. Total of two pages of sketches.
For next class 11/20/15- We are going to move away from traditional drawing for one week and experiment with a closely related printmaking process, called monotype. Unlike most forms of printmaking, the image is created on a perfectly flat non-pourous surface, and completely manipulated before begin printed, so essentially the drawing is completed before it ever touches paper. You will need some kind of printing plate. Common choices are glass, plexiglass, or even metal. (the glass from a dollar store 8" x 10" frame works well) In place of traditional printing ink, bring a small tube of black oil paint. Also bring your brushes. I'll provide mat cards, cotton swabs, and the vegetable oil we'll use to thin the paint and clean everything. For paper you can use sheets from your large pad, cut down to size. Reminder, the week of Thanksgiving our class will meet on Wednesday afternoon from 2:00 to 5:30 pm. Plan ahead.
Today's Class- The class is done with charcoal now, be we continued with exploring value with a new medium- ink wash. This is a process where we use liquid drawing ink, which is diluted with water to achieve various levels of value and is applied with a brush. I showed a few slides, a mix of historical and student work from earlier semesters. I also showed a demonstration piece from several years ago, simulating the progress as the ink gets darker. After that the class did a couple of portfolio exercises, working with white objects and drapery, so students could gain some familiarity with the medium. The last part of class we had critique of last week's charcoal drawings, which were returned graded.
How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life involving some white drapery, a few white or very light colored objects, all with direct lighting to create patterns of light and shadow. Sketch the set up lightly with pencil on a page of your 18" x 24" paper. Fill a small container (cup, can, etc) with water and add a few drops of your black drawing ink. Test the wash on some scrap paper or a corner of your drawing. If the value matches what you want to work with, go ahead and start applying it to the page wherever you don't want white. If the wash isn't dark enough, add a few more drops; if it's too dark, add some more water. Once you have applied the tone everywhere it needs to be and the paper is more or less dry, add a few more drops of ink, and add this darker tone where appropriate. Continue the process until the darkest areas of the drawing match the darkest parts of your set up. Above and below are student examples of this exercise. More student examples and specifics on how to make up the assignment can be seen here.
Ink wash drawing has some similarities to watercolor, so if you have some experience with that it should come naturally. The big difference is that once the ink is in the paper it is permanent and can't be lifted out as watercolors can. When the ink is very wet, you may be able to blot it up with a paper towel, so keep one handy.
Homework- Attach a white cloth to a wall or something tall, and let the end gather on a table or other horizontal surface. Place a white or light colored object on the horizontal part (like the images above) and light to create strong light and shadow patterns. Sketch on a page in your sketchbook using pencil, then ink wash to match the values. Replace the white object with a different one and do a second drawing. Total of two drawings.
For next class 11/13/15- We will do a graded drawing using the ink wash. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, bottle of ink, brushes, and two water containers. You have the option of bringing an equivalent sized piece of watercolor paper instead, hot press is recommended. Such paper absorbs water better and allows the artist more control, but your grade won't be affected if you just go with the paper in your pad.
Today's Class- Today two things were accomplished- the class completed a graded drawing, the final charcoal drawing of the semester, and the mid semester portfolios were graded. The latter were returned to students by the end of class, while graded drawings were collected and will be returned graded next week.
How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life in the manner typical for this class- a box draped with various cloths, and a mix of simple objects with a variety of local colors and values, and lit to create patterns of light and shadows. You will draw the set up using the charcoal of your choice, paying attention to shapes, space, perspective, and both local and overall values, as in the student example above. More specific directions and additional examples can be found here.
This is a graded drawing, so the longer it takes for you to make it up, the fewer points it will be worth.
Homework- Find a pumpkin, can be whole or one carved as a jack o'lantern, and place it on a table. Put a light on it to create light and shadow patterns, or if it's carved you have the option to light it from the inside. Draw a full value rendering on a page in your sketchbook using your softest pencil, paying attention to surface values, cast shadows, etc. Then rotate it some and draw it a second time, for a total of two drawings.
For next class 11/6/15- We will continue with value, but moving on to a new medium, ink. We'll be drawing with ink wash, drawing ink diluted with water in various concentrations to create different levels of light and dark values, and applied with a brush in layers. We'll be doing some simple exercises to gain familiarity with the medium. Bring your 18" x 24" pad of drawing paper, medium and small brushes, bottle of ink, pencil and eraser, and a couple of small water containers (cans, cups, etc).
Today's Class- Today we continued our study of value drawing with charcoal. I set up a still life similar to last week's- boxes, draped with a sheet, a variety of objects, and with some spotlights to create patterns of light and shadow. However, this time instead of all white items in the still life, I added some darker items, so we could consider local color along with the effects of light and shadow.
How to make this up- Place a box on a table, and drape with two cloths side by side, one white, one a medium to dark color. Select four objects of similar size, two white or light colored, two medium to dark color, and place on and around the box. Shine a direct light on the set up to create patterns of light and shadow. You will do two drawings on sheets of your 18" x 24" paper, one using the vine charcoal, this time drawing directly onto the white paper, and one using the compressed charcoal. Pay attention to shapes, negative space, proportions, perspective, and values. Above is an example from a previous semester. More details can be found here.
These are portfolio exercises, but the first half portfolio collection and grading is next week, so you should try to get them done by then.
Homework- Set up a still life similar to today's assignment, box, colored or patterned cloth, mix of light and dark colored objects, direct light source. Draw on a page in your sketchbook, using a soft pencil, matching the value as well as the other usual concerns. Then rearrange the objects and draw a second time, for a total of two drawings.
1st Half Portfolio
During class next week I'll be grading the 1st half portfolio, which is all the drawings done in class except the one graded pencil line final. If you've missed no classes, you are caught up. If you've missed one or part of any classes, you should try to make up the missed work before next week to get the maximum points. Here is a list of what I am expecting and the dates you can find the specifics on this blog:
9/18- Contour Lines (shoes)
exterior/cross/blind/final
9/25- Reductive (bamboo)
Negative Space (chair)
Positive/Negative (bottles)
10/2- Perspective
Boxes/Boxes and Cans
10/16- Value with white objects
vine charcoal/ compressed charcoal
10/23- Value with mixed value objects
vine charcoal/compressed charcoal
For next class 10/30/15- I will be grading the first half portfolio while the class is completing the final charcoal drawing of the semester. Bring all your first half work, your 18" x 24" pad, charcoal of your choice, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.
Today's Class- Today we introduced the idea of value drawing, using light and dark, which will be a part of what we do for the rest of the semester. I showed about 40 slides of art through history, pointing out how value has been used to imply form and volume in two dimensional work, and can be used to focus attention, tell time of day, show texture, imply weight, and create space. Then I had the class do two portfolio exercises involving charcoal, the value medium closest to the pencil we've been using up to now. I also returned last week's graded final pencil line drawings.
How to make this up- Students did two charcoal drawings today, each on a full sheet of the 18" x 24" paper. One was a reductive value drawing in vine charcoal, where people started by filing in the whole page with the charcoal and then using their kneaded eraser to draw the lights in the still life. The other was a more traditional approach, drawing with compressed charcoal on the white paper. In both cases the goal was to match shape, size, space, perspective, plus now values. Student examples from previous semesters, as well a more detailed instructions, can be found here.
Homework- Place a small box on a table and drape with a white or light colored cloth. Find three white or light colored objects of similar size and place on and around the box. Light the set up with a direct light to create patterns of light and shadows. Draw on a page in your sketchbook using your softest pencil, such as a 6B, paying attention to shape, size, negative space, perspective, while trying to match values as closely as possible. Try to eliminate lines in the final version of the drawing, using edges of shapes instead. Then either rearrange the objects or move your location and draw it a second time, for a total of two drawings.
For next class 10/23/15- We will continue value drawing with charcoal, but this time introduce the idea of local value, dealing with the light and dark values of the objects themselves as well as the effects of light and shadows on the still life. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, your kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.
Today's Class- Today we finished our specific study of line with our first graded project of the semester, a complex line still life. I set something up on the two tables in the center of the room, using some of the boxes we were drawing last week, draped it with a white sheet, and then placed a variety of objects on and around the boxes. Students had the entire class period to draw the still life.
How to make this up- You will need to set up a complex still life as we had in today's class, a mixture of different kinds of objects. You will then draw the still life on a full sheet of your 18" x 24" paper using pencil- line only, no shading. Above is a student example from a previous semester. The list of specific items for the assignment and how to set it up can be found here.
Homework- Place a medium small box on a table and drape it with a piece of cloth (sheet, towel, etc). Choose 4 objects of similar size and place one on top of the box, with the others on the table around it. Draw the still life on a full page in your small sketchbook, paying attention to our usual concerns of shapes, scale, proportions, and perspective. Then move to a different location and draw it again. Total of two drawings.
For next class 10/16/15- We will move on to the next phase of the class, value- the use of light and dark to create representations of volume, distance, weight, time, among other things. It will be a part of all our drawing for the rest of the semester. For the first few weeks we will be working with charcoal, the closest to pencil. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine charcoal and compressed charcoal, your kneaded eraser, and spray fixative. I strongly suggest black clothes. Charcoal dust won't permanently stain your clothes, but it will make you look grubby for the rest of the day.
Today's Class- The topic today was perspective, which allows artists to represent three dimensional space, including multiple layers of items, in a consistent and logical way on a two dimensional surface. It is impossible to do this without some distortion of reality, but done well the viewer still ends up with a representation of the original subject that is easy to understand. I gave a quick run through of one and two point perspective systems, but then quickly moved into a natural perspective system- using the shapes of objects, negative space, and relative positioning to show this information.
How to make this up- We did two portfolio exercises today, one just using several identical boxes, and one where I introduced several cylindrical objects so that we could consider ellipses (curves). Everyone was present so should have this or know how to finish it, but it you want to relive the experience, student examples and the full instructions can be found here.
Homework- Find a medium large box with a flat side, like we used in today's class, such as a large cereal box, and three medium small bottles, like soda bottles. Lay the box on the table on one of its broad sides. Lay the three bottles down on the table on their sides- one in profile, one pointing directly at you, and one at an angle. Place one of these bottles on top of the box, and the other two on the table in front of it, and draw the set up on a full page in your sketchbook, pencil line only. Then switch two of the bottles and draw it again. Then one more switch involving the third bottle, so that all three bottles have been in all three positions, and draw again. Total of three drawings.
For next class 10/9/15- We will conclude our study of line by doing an individually graded drawing featuring a complex still life- a mixture of different kinds of objects. You will have the whole 3.5 hour period to work on it, and I'll collect them from you to grade before the following week. Bring your 18' x 24" pad, pencils, and eraser.
Today's Class- Today we continued our study of line, a series of exercises that cover some basic drawing concepts. First I set up some flexible bamboo shoots in an arrangement in the center of the room and had students draw it using a continually diminishing number of lines, an exercise in gesture and reductive drawing. Next, an old wooden chair was put up on the center table and the students were asked to draw the negative spaces- all the spaces that were completely surrounded by wood. For the last thing, I set up a still life of medium large bottles and had the class draw it, using negative space to help establish the relative size and space of the items. Student examples and the complete instructions can be found here.
These are portfolio exercises that must be completed by the mid semester portfolio review to receive full credit.
Homework- Gather four similar sized bottles (wine bottles, soda bottle, perfume bottles, shampoo bottles, etc) and set them up in a group on a table at near eye level. Draw the still life on a full page of your small sketchbook, paying attention to the specific shapes and locations of the bottles. Draw the bottles, but use negative space to assist in finding the spacing and locations of the bottles, pencil line only. Without touching the bottles, move yourself to a different location and draw the set up again, then two more spots for a total of four drawings. (or, have the four bottles on a flat rigid item and rotate the whole set between drawings, so that the bottles maintain their relative position to each other)
For next class 10/2/15- We will continue with line, this time with an exercise dealing with perspective in drawing. This is the process by which artists can depict multiple objects in space in such a way that the viewer can understand their relative size and positions. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencils and eraser. I'll provide the subject matter, which will not include bottles, shoes, or chairs.
Today's Class- Today was our first real day of drawing and we opened with the most basic unit of drawing, the line. We talked about some of the various functions and aspects of line, and my plan was to show a few dozen slides of line based art through history to demonstrate some of these, but the slides were left at home, so I walked around with an art history textbook to show a few key things, then we went right into the drawing exercises, all related to contour line.
How to make this up- Contour lines are the lines that surround a shape (positive space) and separate it from the negative space around it. We used shoes as the subject for these portfolio exercises. Shoes are designed to fit on a part of the human body and have many characteristics in common with figures, making them ideal for this kind of practice. Students were asked to use paper from their 18" x 24" pad and the pencils of their choice, putting as many shoes on one page as they wanted. The list of specific exercises and photos of student examples from previous semesters can be found here.
These are portfolio exercises, that can be made up for full credit any time before the midterm portfolio grading in week 8. I do recommend doing it sooner rather than later, as the lesson leads into everything else we do this semester.
Homework- We're going to continue shoe based exercises with contour lines. Use your small sketchbooks and the pencil of your choice. You will draw 10 pages of shoes, one shoe per page, at a scale that mostly fills the page. Use line only- no shading. Reflecting what we did in class today, do the following drawings-
8 pages of exterior contour line only (the silhouette)
1 page of cross contour
1 page of finished line drawing in full detail
For next class 9/25/15- We will continue with line, including exercises involving gesture and negative space. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencils, and eraser. I'll provide the subjects.
Today's Class- Today was the first meeting of our Basic Drawing class. We reviewed the syllabus, and then I had students fill out a brief survey of their artistic interests and experiences. We reviewed this as a group activity, including me using the same form to provide my background and interests.
How to make this up- Those who missed today's class can get the syllabus from me next week, or download it from the Ocean Connect class page, and I can have them fill out the survey next week in class.
Homework- No homework this week, but you will have it from here on out.
For next class 9/18/15- We will start out by studying the most basic part of drawing, the line. I will show examples of how artists have used line throughout history, then the class will do a series of exercises using various types of contour line. Bring your 18" x 24" pad of drawing paper, pencils, and eraser. Shoes will be our subject. I will try to bring some from home, but I don't have enough if everyone shows up, so you will be responsible for having one of your own. Any type is fine, but I would suggest a closed shoe- sandals and flip flops don't provide enough to draw. You can bring one with you, or take it off your foot.
This is the blog site that I have set up for my classes at OCC. Each week I will post information about my classes. This semester I am scheduled to teach a section of ARTS 183-04 Basic Drawing, and everything specific to that class will be appear in green text. Anything that is outside the class will appear in black text.
The posts usually go up later in the day after each class meeting. The title will include the name of the class and the date it was held. The post will include a brief overview of what we did that day, and a detailed description of any exercises and projects done in class, along with photos of student examples from previous semesters. I will also include the homework assignments for the week, and a list of materials that will be required for the following meeting. About a month's worth of posts will appear on the home page, but everything from the semester will be accessible by using the archive function in the column on the right hand side.
This is not an online class and this blog is not a substitute for attending class. You will learn as much from interaction with me and your classmates as from this site. However it does make it easier for people who miss the class meeting to make up the work, which some do even before the next meeting. Even a student who never misses a class may find it useful to see more student examples of a project or medium, or to get a reminder of something that is due, or just to check what to bring in. It's available 24/7, without having to wait for me to reply to e-mail. If you have any questions that are not answered by this site, you are always welcome to send me e-mail and I will probably get back to you within a day.
Today's Class- Today was our final meeting of the semester. We had a critique of the Final drawings from last week, then I dismissed everyone temporarily while I graded those, the 2nd half portfolio, and the sketchbooks. Those students who returned at the designated time could pick up all their work and learn the grades for the items mentioned above. For those who did not, I put their large pads (with the final inside) and sketchbooks on the top shelf, just to the left of the door to the hall. A slip of paper inside lists those grades. I can't guarantee how long stuff will remain on the shelf, so if you are concerned with getting those back, don't wait too long.
Final semester grades will be calculated in the next several days and submitted to the school. When they will post them I have no idea.
Enjoy your summer.
Today's Class- Tonight was our final meeting in this revised schedule. We critiqued the mixed media collage pieces and the Final Projects. After I finished grading all those items, as well as other late arriving work, and the semester portfolio, students could return and pick up all their work. Work that was not picked up by the end of class was put on the shelf by the door. Work for my 2D class is on the 2nd shelf from the top.
Final semester grades will be calculated and submitted to the web by early next week. The college will make them available to students whenever it is that they do so.
Enjoy the summer.
Today's Class- Today was the Final Drawing of the semester. I set up a still life of typical objects and students had the whole class period to do a full value drawing of it on their 18" x 24" paper, using their choice of charcoal, ink wash, or conte crayon. As it turned out, the class was evenly divided between those options in what they chose. Once finished, they could turn in their drawing and leave.
How to make this up- Yet another day of perfect attendance. Everyone did it, everyone turned one in.
Homework- No homework this week. If you think you may not have done all the previous homework sketches, take this opportunity to go back through this blog (archive function in the right hand column) and compare what's listed to your sketchbook.
2nd half Portfolio- Everything done in class since the the first half Portfolio that wasn't individually graded. If you missed no classes (and most of you didn't) you have it all done. Here's what I'll be looking for, and the date the assignments can be found on this blog:
4/3/15- Ink Wash Drape plus one object.
Drape plus two objects.
4/17/15- Conte Crayon Still life with black crayon
Still life with red crayon
4/24/15- Conte Crayon Mannequin w/ red & black
Assorted body parts w/ red & black
total of 6 drawings
For next class 5/8/15- Our final meeting of the semester. We will open with a group critique of the drawings from today, after which I will temporarily dismiss the class while I grade the 2nd half Portfolio and the semester sketchbook. Students will be able to return later during the scheduled period to pick up those items and learn the grades received. Bring your 2nd half Portfolio and homework sketchbook.
Today's Class- We held a group critique for the limited palettes project, but otherwise it was a general work day for the class. Students mostly worked on the collage pieces. The color temperature collage pieces were returned to those who were present.
Homework- The random subject mixed media collage projects are due at the beginning of class on May 7, 2015.
The Art Historical Board Game Final Project is due at the beginning of class on May 7, 2015.
Those who still owe the color temperature collage and/or the limited palettes graded projects can still turn them in for partial credit on May 7, 2015.
No work will be accepted after the end of class on May 7, 2015.
Semester Portfolio- Everything that is not an individually graded project is considered part of the semester portfolio and should be brought in for the final class meeting. If you missed no classes, you have it all done. If you have missed some classes. or are not sure, here's what I'm expecting to see and the dates those items can be found on this blog:
Jan 29 Wallpaper Dot patterns
Feb 5 Contour line exercises (shoes)
Feb 19 Charcoal Value Drawing
Mar 12 Color wheel and color mixing
Mar 26 Designing words (Russian) and logo
For next class 5/7/15- Thanks to the college's last minute schedule change, next week is our last meeting. The sooner people arrive, the sooner we will start and the sooner we will be finished. We will do a critique of the mixed media collages and the Final Projects, then I will temporarily dismiss the class while I grade those items, any late arriving graded projects, and the semester portfolios. Before you leave I will let you know how long that will likely take, so you know when you may return to pick up those items and learn the grades for those items.
Today's Class- Today we continued our use of red and black conte crayons, this time together in the same drawing, allowing the benefits of the warm tones of the red along with the intense darks that can be achieved with black. This is based on the idea behind the Renaissance developments of chiaroscuro drawing and chiaroscuro woodcut. Chiaroscuro drawing starts with a paper with a medium value (can be colorful or neutral) already in the paper. The artist lets the color of the paper act as the medium value tones, and adds white (pastel, conte, chalk) to create the lights in the image, and black (conte, charcoal, etc) to create the darks. However, it does require the artist to acquire large sheets of color paper, which can be hard to find and expensive. So we are using the white paper from our pads, and drawing medium values with the red crayon, and dark values with the black. Below is an example from a previous semester.
How to make this up- Once again, all students were there today, so everyone should be caught up. However, if you'd like a reminder of what we did, to mark the occasion of our last meeting before the final drawing, I broke out the mannequins and cast body parts, a subject between still life and figure drawing. For the first half of class I set up two mannequins and had everyone choose one to draw, combining the red and black crayons. Those mannequins were also available for the second half, but I also put out assemblages of other body part related objects, the most popular of which were the headless baby and hands combo, and the encounter between a squirrel and a human head and arm (see below).
Homework- For our last homework of the semester, we are going back to the beginning, and shoes. Find two different shoes. Draw one of them on a page in your sketchbook, a full value rendering (including shadows, textures, etc) using both the red and black conte crayon. Then draw the second shoe (same deal) with the red and black crayon on a second page in your sketchbook. Total of two pages.
For next class 5/1/15- We will be doing our Final Drawing of the semester. I'll set up a still life, a mix of things you've seen before and some new things, but nothing you can't handle. You will have the entire 3.5 hour class period to work on it if you want it. You will have the choice of any of our value based mediums- charcoal (vine, compressed, or both), ink wash, or conte crayon (red, black, or both). Bring your 18" x 24" pad, medium of choice, erasers, and any related materials that you might need (brushes for ink, spray fixative for charcoal, etc). I will also go over the list of drawings expected for the portfolio review that will happen at our last class meeting on May 8th.
