Today's Class- Today was our final meeting of the semester. We opened with a group critique of the Final Drawings done in last week's class. After that I temporarily dismissed everyone while I completed the first steps of the grading process. For everyone present I graded the Final Drawings, the 2nd half semester portfolios, and the sketchbooks. Students who came back after the designated time could pick up their work and learn those various individual grades. Unclaimed work was moved to the top shelf in the stack closest to the door to our classroom, just to the left of the door in the above photo. Grading slips were left inside of the sketchbooks. I have no control over this room, so if you are concerned about getting your work back, don't wait too long to check out that shelf.
In the coming days I will complete the complex calculations for the Final Grades and submit them to the school. How soon after that they make them available to the students I have no idea.
Enjoy your break.
Today's Class- Today was our final meeting of the semester for the 3D Design class. The biggest thing we did was to check out the Final Projects (inflatables), such as the examples below.
Since this was our last meeting of the semester, it was also our last opportunity to see any work from this semester. Among the items presented today were pieces made from all natural materials and from cast off plastics, from coffee trays, carved from books, and more examples of the the figure installation pieces carved from plaster.
It looks like the students had a busy semester, but it's over now. In the coming days I will complete the complex grade calculations for the final class grades. I will submit them to the school,and then you'll have to wait until they share them with you. I closed up the 3D room for the last time. There are still student projects in the hallway, in the glass display case and hanging on the wall. I have no idea if they will stay there or not. I have no plans to keep them, so if you want the work you've done, claim it soon.
Enjoy the holiday.
Today's Class- Today was our Final Drawing of the semester. A still life was set up with a variety of objects- some new, some you know well- and students and the option of working with charcoal, ink wash, or conte crayon. Below are student examples from previous semesters that include some of the same objects.
Students worked as long as they wanted and then turned them in.
How to make this up- Everyone still on the roster was in
attendance today and completed the assignment.
Homework- No new homework today, but next week I'll be grading the homework sketchbooks, so use the time to make up any assignments you haven't done yet. All are listed on this blog.
***The college is requesting that you fill out the course evaluation forms. By now you should have received an e-mail with a link to where you need to go.***
For next class 12/23/16- Our final meeting. We will open with a critique of today's drawings, after which I will temporarily dismiss everyone while I grade the 2nd half portfolio exercises and the homework sketchbooks. Before you go, I will let everyone know at what time that process should be completed, in case you want to pick up your art and learn the grades earned on everything. Anything unclaimed when I leave that day will go on the class shelf, and may or may not be there when you go looking for it later. No art materials are needed.
Today's Class- Today was a general work day for the class, which could be devoted to any class project. Some worked on the recent installation style art piece, carving a photo inspired figure in plaster and then creating an environment around it that related to the figure somehow. The original deadline for the project was today and some were ready to be turned in today. Below are two examples that arrived today.
Meanwhile some students were working on the last project of the semester- the large scale inflatable sculpture based on a living thing. Using the bristol board models made last week as a guide, students cut and joined pieces of the clear plastic drop cloths. None were inflated this time, but basic shapes were starting to be revealed.
Homework- The inflatable Final Project is due at the beginning of class on December 23, 2016. We will start looking at them and critiquing them as soon as students are ready to inflate and present them. Once they have done so, and made sure that I have graded everything they have done, students are welcome to leave. However, if more time is needed to complete the Final or any back project, the room and those big tables are ours until 1:00 pm that day. No work will be accepted after the end of class that day.
For those with questions about work done this semester and how it impacts the grades, here are lists of exercises and project from this fall, along the dates that the projects were introduced on this blog.
Portfolio exercises-
9/23/16 Symmetry/Asymmetry
10/7/16 Surface Planes (cars)
10/21/16 Coffee trays
(if you think you are missing any of these, they can still be made up for full credit.
Graded Projects-
9/16/16- 100 Modules
9/30/16- Relief Sculptures (skeletons)
10/14/16- Natural Materials
10/28/16- Synthetic Materials (plastics, etc)
11/4/16- Book Carving
11/18/16- Figure in Installation art (clay/plaster)
12/9/16- Final Project
(the longer these are overdue, the fewer points they will be worth in the semester grade)
***If you want any of your projects in the glass case or the shelves or on the walls, take them with you next week. I have no idea what will happen to them after that. Also the school is requesting that you fill out course evolutions- you should have received an e-mail with a link for this purpose.***
For next class 12/23/16- Our last meeting of the semester. We will inflate the final projects and critique them, as well as look at any back projects. No new work will be started, but if you need to finish something from this semester, you have the class period available to work on it.
Today's Class- Today I introduced the last new concept of the semester, the idea of chiaroscuro drawing. This is a traditional process, normally done with a medium value toned paper (can be color or neutral) and drawn with both black and white media, to create a wide range of value. I showed both slides and actual student drawings as demonstration. Because toned paper is not available on campus and can by pricey, I have worked out an alternative that uses the materials that students already have- white paper and both red and black conte crayons. Below are some student examples from previous semesters.
To give students a chance to make better use of this new material and to test their skills at modeling with value and tone, our usual still life object stayed home and we had a visit from more figural objects- items from our collection of mannequins, body part casts, animals, and good old Headless Baby.
We also took a brief field trip to the 2nd floor, both to see a current art show and to learn about the history of the drawing class, including seeing the location of the previous drawing classroom.
How to make this up- The class did two drawings combining the red and black crayons into a single drawing, as in the above examples. For detailed instructions and to see further student examples, click here.
Homework- We will stick with today's medium but go back to an old subject. Find a shoe of your choice and set on a table in front of you. Draw it on a page of your sketchbook using both the red and black crayons, trying to capture the volume and shapes of an object designed to fit on the human body. Then either switch to another shoe, or change its position, and do a second red/black conte drawing. Total of 2 drawings.
For next class 12/16/16- You will be doing the final still life drawing of the semester, a mix of typical objects- some you've seen before and some new, but nothing too unusual. For the medium select whatever you feel most comfortable with from among these value options- charcoal (vine or compressed), ink wash (can be combined with traditional pen using the same ink) or conte crayon (red, black, or combining both crayons). I plan to have it set up for 2:00pm and you can have the whole class period if you need it. Spend the time you need to do the drawing, as this counts for a lot of points. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, your chosen medium, and any needed related materials (such as erasers, blending sticks, fixative, brushes, etc)
Today's Class- Today the class started the Final Project of the semester, a large inflatable piece based on a living thing. The first step was to sketch at least 5 living things (animals work best, but plants can be done, too), and then everyone chose at least one of the drawn items to convert into a small 3D model in bristol board. Below are examples from previous semesters.
Part of the point of the 3D model is to give everyone a better understanding of how to design the inflatable version. That includes considering how air will be introduced into the plastic piece and the best way to get the air to all parts of the sculpture. Above is a small model of an ant, and below we see students assembling the sculpture.
We also took a few minutes to take a field trip to the 2nd floor and view a recent art exhibition installed there. Most current students have never been to our building's 2nd floor, so it was a new experience for them.
The necessary materials for the inflatable part of the project hadn't been purchased yet, so today's main activity was doing the pencil sketches and building models using bristol board. Below are two from today's class.
How to make this up- Everyone was present today, so everyone is caught up on this project so far.
Homework- This inflatable Final Project is due at the beginning of the last day of class, December 23, 2016. At that time we will inflate all of them and have a group critique of the pieces.
The scale installation figure piece (plaster) is due at the beginning of class on December 16, 2016.
For next class 12/16/16- This will be a general work day, which students can devote to anything related to the class. Before our next meeting I will post on this blog a list of all the projects and exercises we did this semester. Bring with you whatever materials and/or tool you need to work on whatever you might still owe me. Meanwhile, here are more images of completed projects from previous semesters.
Today's Class- Today we introduced the last new medium of the semester, the Conte crayon. These were first invented about 200 years ago, when a war had created a shortage of some other art materials. Unlike the wax crayons you may be familiar with, in these the pigments are mixed with a clay base. The sticks are harder than charcoal and allow the creation of hard edges. They don't smear as easily as charcoal, which means that immediate spraying with a fixative is not necessary, but it also means that blending is more difficult. (white paper tortillons work well, but bits of paper towels or erasers are sometimes used) They come in a variety of colors, though earth colors are the most commonly found. I had the class buy black and sanguine (blood color) and these are available in the college bookstore. Below are some student examples from previous semesters-
How to make this up- On this first day, the class did two portfolio exercises. For each I set up a basic still life, draped boxes and familiar objects, and had students use one color for each. First black, as the results resemble the familiar charcoal, then the red to see the kind of value ranges that result. For additional examples and more detailed instructions, click here.
Homework- Gather a typical set of utensils (fork, knife, spoon) and lay them on the table in front of you in a random pattern. Draw them on a page in your sketchbook using just the black crayon, paying attention to size, shape, cast shadows, and reflections in the surfaces. Then redraw it on a second page, using just the red crayon. Rearrange the three utensils in a new pattern, then repeat the process- one black drawing and one red drawing. Total of 4 drawings.
For next class 12/9/16- We continue with the conte crayons, this time combining red and black in a single drawing. This allows the warm tones possible with the red crayon and the dark values of the black crayon to work together. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both black and red crayons, eraser, and any blending tool you may want to try.
Today's Class- Today we began the last step in the current project, the scale installation style piece. Previously the students had created clay figure pieces based on photo sources, and we had cast blocks of plaster to be carved. The latest step was to begin carving the plaster blocks to resemble the clay models. Using various tools that we had in the classroom (including new plaster rasps) and in the supply closet (hammers, saw) and a few of my own, progress was made and a lot of plaster dust was created. Below are two examples from today's efforts.
I also showed examples of two prominent 20th century artists who built installation pieces around figures, George Segal and Edward Kienholz, so students could get some more ideas about how they could build around the figure. We also looked at some older projects, a plastics project that was a few weeks late, and some of the book carving projects that were due today.
How to make this up- If you haven't yet started carving the plaster, you need to start on that. The tools that we had today belong to the school and had to stay there, returned to the container on the top shelf in the back of the room. If you can gain access during an open lab session you can use those. Nothing was too specialized that you can't find other things to use- utility knives, emery boards, sand paper, putty knives, etc may all be useful.
Homework- The completed installation piece, which includes the carved plaster figure and whatever else you surround it with to complete your idea, is due on December 16, 2016.
For next class 12/9/16- We will begin the final project of the semester, a large inflatable piece based on a living thing (animals are most common, but I have allowed plants in the past). Below are some examples from previous semesters:
The material is clear plastic drop cloths (used to cover things when painting and found wherever house paint is sold) and clear plastic sealing tape. Inflation is done with a hair dryer. The finished piece must be at least 8 feet in one dimension, and it must be articulated- having parts that inflate (such as legs, heads. fins, tails); you can't just make a simple tube, call it a snake, and be done. Because of the size, I allow students to work in groups of up to 3 students on a single inflatable, though everyone has the option of working by themselves if they prefer. No plastic needed for the first day, as all students will need to do some pencil sketches and make at least one bristol board model of their idea (it's part of your individual grade, whether or not you work in a group for the end piece) I believe that we have the bristol board material, but you should bring a sketchbook (or loose paper) for the sketches, scissors or a knife and glue to make the models, and necessary materials for any back projects you may want to work on during class time.
Today's Class- Today the class took a brief detour into printmaking, trying the process known as monotype or mono print. Of all printmaking processes, it is the one with most in common with drawing. Images are created on nonporous surfaces, such as glass, plexiglass, or flat metal, using mediums that won't dry right away, such as oil paint or oil based ink. A common approach is to fill the whole plate with a layer of ink and then wipe it away, as in the reductive vine charcoal drawings we did several weeks ago. It is also possible to paint the images with a brush. The wet ink can be modified by wiping it away or adding more any time up to where it's printed. I provided mat cards and cotton swabs, plus vegetable oil to aid in this process. To complete the print, a piece of paper is place on top of the inked surface, and light hand pressure (perhaps supplemented with a wooden spoon) will transfer the image to the paper. Below are some examples from previous semesters.
Today we used black oil paint, since most of our drawing is value drawing using charcoal, india ink, and other black mediums, but as shown in the above example, any color(s) can be used. Color can also be added on top of the dry print with watercolor, pastels, etc.
We also had a quick critique of last week's ink wash final drawings, which were returned graded today.
How to make this up- This is a portfolio exercise and can be made up any time before the end of the semester for full credit. If you are unfamiliar with the process, you may want to wait until you talk to me before trying it on your own.
Homework- As a rule, the sketchbook homework relates to work done in class each week, and while there's nothing about the monotype process that can't be done at home, it can be quite messy, so I'm going to give you a week off from homework. Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, and maybe use the time to catch up on any missed homework.
***No class on November 25, 2016***
For next class 12/2/16- We try our last new medium of the semester- conte crayon. They are squarish sticks, with a clay base and typically come in black and earth colors. I had put black and sanguine (blood color) on your list, and both types should be available at the college bookstore or any decent art supply store. Bring both colors of crayon, your large 18"x24" pad, and eraser. Blending tools (such as the white paper "stumps") aren't necessary, but may prove useful.
Today's Class- Today we started a new multi-part graded project, involving two new (for our class) mediums. Students were asked to create a small figure out of modeling clay, using a magazine photo of their choosing as a guide. Below is an example in progress from today's class. The clay is not planned to be fired, but just to serve as 3D sketch.
While this was going on I was mixing plaster and pouring it into molds brought in by each student. Nothing fancy, just making blocks, but at our next meeting students will carve their blocks using various tools.
At the end of class the plaster block molds were moved to the shelves in the back of the room, most in the back right corner.
How to make this up- A rare day- everyone was present, and everyone is caught up with this first part.
Homework- The next phase of this project will involve creating a scale model figure based installation style piece. Installation sculpture is art that is not just a single piece, but the whole area around it is accounted for in the artistic vision. Excellent examples from back in the 1960's include work by Edward Kienholz and New Jersey resident George Segal. If you are not familiar, take a few minutes to look them up. You need to look at your figure and come up with an interesting environment to contain it. You may use any materials you like to surround the carved plaster figure. This is based on a similar project my 3D class at Kean used to do, though there the figures were made from bristol board. Below are some student examples of the project:
The installation space will be defined by base of the piece, and that whole area should be activated. Backdrops are permitted a may prove useful to your theme. Other than your plaster figure, the rest of the piece can be made from any material you want, as shown in the above student examples. You may use paint if you like. You need not construct anything yet, as the plaster figure haven't even been started yet. Just start thinking about it and what you might do.
The completed book sculptures are due at the beginning of class on December 2, 2016.
Only four more meetings after Thanksgiving. If you owe any back projects, better get them soon.
***No Class on November 25th for the Holiday***
For next class 12/2/16- We should have some tools in the classroom that can be used to carve the plaster, but any tools that can be used to carve wood, clay, or stone can also carve plaster, so feel free to bring any you have. We will open by looking at the completed books, then spend the day working on the plaster figures. If you have the materials for your installation piece you can start on it, but it won't be due that day.
Today's Class- Today the class completed the third individually graded drawing, the final ink wash drawing. The charcoal drawings were returned graded.
How to make this up-
The subject today was a potted plant hanging within a wooden tripod easel. For this you may substitute any potted plant (real or artificial) resting on the seat of a wooden chair. Have it fully lit- this is more about local value than light and shadow. Draw it at 100% scale (the size of the leaf on the paper should be about the size of a leaf on the plant) using ink wash. You may sketch it in pencil first, or just go directly to the brush and ink on paper. I provided pieces of heavyweight drawing paper, more suitable for water based mediums, so either go to an art supply store and buy some, or you may make use of the 18" x 24" paper in your pad. Paper may be vertical or horizontal. Below are some student examples from today's class.
Homework- Find 3 leaves, one each from three different species of trees. Can still be green, brown and dead, or anywhere in between. Lay them down on a table and draw on a page in your sketchbook, paying attention to size, shape, and value, using pencil contour lines and ink wash. Then rearrange the set and do a second drawing. Total of two pages.
For next class 11/18/16- You will be trying a new process- monotype printing. It is a type of printmaking that most relates to drawing, as there is no fixed block or plate to make the image. You will need a small tube of black oil paint, and a non-porous surface to act as a printing plate. Glass is the most traditional (the glass from an 8" x 10" dollar store frame can work well), but plexiglass and metal can also work- anything that can't absorb water. The drawings will be completed on the plate before being printed on paper. I'll provide tools and solvents (non-toxic cooking oil), but you'll need paper- pieces from your large pad will be fine.
Today's Class- Work continued today on the book carving project started last week, and those present made good progress on their pieces. We looked at the plastics projects that were due today, some examples of which can be seen below-
Some preparations were done toward the next project, which will involve modeling clay and carving plaster. Creation of a plaster block was demonstrated and students learned that curing plaster generates noticeable heat. No one was burned.
How to make this up- See last week's post for information about the book project.
Homework- Just as I gave more in-class time for the book project, I am giving more homework time for students to finish what they've dreamed up. Cutting paper takes a lot of time. Because there is a holiday the week after next, I extended the deadline for the book project to the beginning of class on December 2, 2016.
For next class 11/18/16- We will begin our next graded project, which will involve making something with modeling clay, then reworking it as a carved plaster sculpture. There is clay in the ceramic studio that we can use, and the department has provided us with plaster, but for what I have in mind, we need to cast blocks, which will be started in class next week. Therefore you will need something to act as a mold for the wet plaster. In my demonstration I used a carton that once contained orange juice- which could handle the liquid plaster and support it until the block dried, which took about half an hour. If you don't have one of those, a similar size box lined with plastic will suffice.
