5/1/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Today was a general work day.  After a critique of the Dada inspired mixed media collages and a few other late arriving works, students could work on anything related to the class.  Most worked on their board games, but some had some back projects to work on.

How to make this up-  Everything we've done this semester can be found on the blog, either by using the archive functions on the right, or by clicking on older posts at the bottom of the page.  Figure out what you need to do and do it.

Homework-  The Board Game Final Project is due at the beginning of class on May 8, 2014.  

Late projects should be completed and brought in for partial credit.  Nothing will be accepted after the end of next week's class. If you have any excuse notes, bring them in by then.

For next class 5/8/14- Our last meeting.  We will critique the Final Projects and some late arriving graded projects, then I'll dismiss you while I grade those, and the semester portfolios.  I will let you know what time to return to pick up your work and receive your grades for those items.  The sooner we start, the sooner we finish, so come on time.

4/24/14 2D Design

Today's Class- Despite some occasionally hazardous conditions around Ocean County tonight, school was open and we had class.  We opened by looking at the Limited Palette projects, then introduced our Final Project of the semester, a board game based on the artwork of an historical fine artist.

 Vincent Van Gogh

Painted Dreams

How to make this up- You need to choose a significant artist from art history, one who is recognized in textbooks and museums, one who does two dimensional art, works in color, and representationally.  You will pull images from more than one painting from the artist and reconfigure these bits into a new composition, imitating the shapes, colors, and textures of the original artist as much as possible.  You will use this new image as the backdrop for a board game.  The game must have some kind of path, such as a continuous circuit (Monopoly), a single start to finish path (as in Candyland) or a grid that can be moved over in different directions (like chess).  The game must have a name, which will appear as part of the design.  The game must have a goal and a theme, which should relate to the images in some way. The resulting design is essentially a painting, and so take into account all the design aspects- shapes, value, color, text design.

The piece will be painted onto some kind of heavy board, such as mat board or illustration board, some of which I have available to give you.  Like all classic board games, the board must be able to fold in half.  If your game idea calls for cards, make a few examples, and bring whatever method will be used to advance through the game (dice, spinner, etc).  You may make tokens to represent players, or repurpose them from another game, or use some appropriate found objects.  You don't need to supply the full rules, but be able to explain it during the critique.  Above and below are examples from previous semesters.  Additional information and examples (from students and the one I made as an example) can be found here.

 Roy Lichtenstein

Love Story

Paul Cezanne

Victory Climb

Homework-  This graded Final Project is due at the beginning of class on May 8, 2014, our final meeting of the semester.  No work will be accepted after this date.

The Dada inspired mixed media collage is due at the beginning of class on May 1, 2014.

If you haven't yet turned in any graded projects, such as the limited color palettes, finish them as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

Spring Semester Portfolio-
All work done in class that isn't individually graded is part of the semester portfolio and needs to be brought in on the last night of class to be checked.  Here's what you should have and the day we did it if you need to check the blog:

1/30/14  wallpaper dots
2/6/14  contour lines (shoes)
2/27/14  value drawing (charcoal)
3/13/14  color wheel
3/20/14  text (Russian) and logo


For next class 5/1/14- This will be a general work day for the class, which students may use to work on anything related to the class.  Bring whatever materials you need to work on whatever you are missing.

4/17/14 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we started a new project, a mixed media collage.  I showed examples of collage throughout the 20th century, from Picasso through the Dada period, and some more Pop Art inspired combinations.  With Dada I also brought up how random chance was sometimes part of the artist's working method.  That led to the graded project- mixed media collages interpreting randomly generated subjects.

How to make this up-  The first step is to get your topic.  In class I had students pick slips of paper from two bags, each a piece cut from a newspaper headline.  One bag had nouns, the other modifying words and phrases- put together it created the subject.  You can wait until next week to get the topic, or e-mail me before then and I'll draw it from the bags for you.

Once you have the topic, you need to come up with a visual interpretation.  It can be as literal or metaphorical as you want; as long as you can explain how the image relates to the topic.  The above piece is based on the phrase "City of Zoo", the one below is from "Untamable Deluge". The collage may be organized vertically or horizontally, and should make use of a full sheet or your 18" x 24" paper.  It must involve a mix of paint, drawn elements, and collaged items from any printed source.  You may draw or paint on the collaged pieces.  Your title should appear as part of it, which can be the pieces of newspaper or drawn or painted.  Besides depicting your topic, pieces will be evaluated as art- so composition, balance, use of color, value, mark making, text design all need to be considered in your design.  Additional examples from previous semesters and further instructions can be found here.

Homework-  This random topic mixed media collage graded project is due at the beginning of class on May 1, 2014.

The four limited color palette studies project started last week is due at the beginning of class on April 24, 2014.

For next week, 4/24/14-  We will begin the Final Project of the semester.  It will be based on the artwork of a favorite artist from the history of fine art. one who works flat and in color.  If you have a favorite such artist, bring reproductions of work by that artist to serve as source material.  If you don't have a specific artist, bring examples of a favorite artistic period, style, or subject, or even a general art history textbook if you have one.  I'll bring in a few extras from home as well.  Also bring a sketchbook, pencil and eraser, and your paints and related materials.  I'll provide the surface that you'll be painting on.  If you don't think you'll be able to choose an artist before next week, bring materials to work on anything else from the class (such as the collage piece), and you will still have all of following week's class to work on the final.

4/10/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we discussed the idea of limited color palettes.  Sometimes artists will choose to depict representational imagery by trying to copy the colors of reality as closely as possible.  Other times, artists will intentionally choose different color combinations- not standard reality, but still based on a particular logic.  I showed examples tonight of slides of art historical works in which the artists chose such options as monochromatic, complimentary, and analogous to help determine the color options.  Then students started their next graded project, converting a black and white photo to color using four different limited color palettes.

How to make this up-  As with the stipple project early in the semester, select a black and white photograph of a real scene (object, figure, landscape, etc), one with preferably a wide range of values.  You will sketch the basic composition of the photo in pencil four times on a sheet of 18" x 24" paper, cropping the photo to fit the 9"x12" boxes.  (vertical or horizontal is fine)  The next step is to use your acrylic paints to color the composition, choosing four options from the following list:  monochromatic, complement pair, split complement. analogous, triad, or blue/yellow/black and white.  Identical value structure should be maintained in all four.  Above are two student examples from previous semesters.  Additional examples, along with all the detailed instructions on how to pick and use the colors for each type of limited palette, can be found here.

Homework-  This limited palettes graded project is due at the beginning of class on April 24, 2014.  

The color temperature graded project is due at the beginning of class on April 17, 2014.

For next class 4/17/14-  We will start a new graded project involving a mixed media collage. Bring your 18" x 24" pad. pencil and eraser, markers, paints and brushes, scissors and glue.  You may bring magazines to cut up, but I'll have some there, and you'll learn the topic of your individual collages in class that night.

4/3/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we returned to our study of color, with a focus on color temperature.  We had briefly touched on the concept of colors having perceived temperatures when we did the color wheels, but now we explore that with more detail.  I showed a few dozen slides of art from the renaissance to the present, asking students to decide whether the overall color temperature feel of the painting was cool, warm, or balanced/neutral.  Then the class started their next graded project on this topic.  We reserved time at the end of class to critique the woodblock prints that were produced at our last meeting.

How to make this up-  This project requires students to mix up to 200 unique hues, and arrange them by color temperature by seasons.  On one piece of your 18" x 24" paper, mark two boxes, each 10" square, and set aside.  On other paper, start making squares of color, each 1" square.  Some like to draw out a grid of boxes and fill them, some just paint them freehanded and cut them to size later.  Each of the boxes will represent one of the four seasons by general temperature characteristics- summer is all warm, winter is all cool, autumn and spring are an equal mix of warm and cool.  There can be no duplication of any colors within a single season, but a single color can appear in both seasons if appropriate (for example, a single warm hue could be in both a summer and a spring combination).  You may mix colors with a plan toward specific seasons, or just make a bunch and decide what two seasons they feel like later.  The individual squares will need to be cut out, arranged in the season boxes in whatever way you like, and glued into place.  Mark on the back of the page what seasons you believe each box represents.  Additional instructions and student examples can be found here.

Homework- This graded color temperature project is due at the beginning of class on April 17, 2014, however I strongly recommend that you try to finish it well before then.  Next week's project will be much more complicated and you'll likely want the extra time to work on it.

Those who have not yet turned in their completed wood block, should bring it to class as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 4/10/14-  We'll start a new graded project involving specific color combinations, often referred to as the artist's palette.  Often artists will base color choices not on just trying to imitate what they see, but on effects they have with each other.  Once again you'll need to start with a black and white photograph of a real thing or scene, something with a wide range of value and that you feel comfortable drawing.  You will be sketching the composition four times and using the value structure to organize color choices in different types of combinations.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, paints, brushes, etc.  I'll have the bag of magazines I had when we did the dot drawings, but you will save a lot of time that night if you show up with a photo of your own.

3/20/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we finished everything that related to black and white for the semester.  I assisted each student with printing their woodblocks, while the whole class worked on two portfolio exercises relating to the idea of text as a visual element.  Below are the prints from tonight.

How to make this up-  As for the text stuff, I showed an assortment of slides of visual art in which text was part of the image.  Sometimes it was combinations of words and images (illustrated text), sometimes the words and numbers provided background details for the scene, but had no meaning beyond that, sometimes they contributed to the message of the piece, and some were pure design, with the shapes and colors more important than any message.  Two exercises were completed using pencil and markers in your 18" x 24 " pad.  One involved designing words so that the shapes and spacing of letters and locations on the page gave clues to the meanings, while the other added symbolic images.  Detailed instructions and a few student examples from previous semesters can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises, due by the last day of class, but I recommend getting them done over the break for two reasons.  One is that text and symbols will impact two of our remaining projects, so it's good to start thinking about these ideas.  Two is that (thanks to the snow related shifting) we have nothing but graded project after spring break, lots of work to do.

Homework-  Nothing new, but those who still owe their completed wood block should bring them in as soon as possible to receive partial credit, and those who still need to do last week's color exercises and/or tonight's assignment should should try to catch up before we return.

***Spring Break  March 24- 28  No class next week***

For next class 4/3/14- We return to color with a graded project related to color temperature.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, all paint and related materials (brushes, palette, etc), scissors, and glue.

3/13/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Today we began our study of color, which will be part of almost everything we do for the rest of the semester.  I showed a few dozen slides tracing the development of color from cave paintings to the renaissance to comic books, looking at the evolution of color materials and color theories in art.  After that, the class did a series of portfolio exercises related to basic color theory and mixing.

How to make this up- On a single sheet of your 18" x 24" pad, you will use your acrylic paints to complete three exercises involving color mixing.  First will be a color wheel mixed from the three primaries and white.  Second will be a mix of two complementary colors to create intermediates and neutralized tints.  Third, a single hue will be taken through steps toward white and black.  Above in an example from a previous semester.  Additional student examples, and the detailed directions for each exercise, can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.  If any of it seems too complicated, ask me about it in class next week, but don't wait to long to get to it, as the projects tend to be more time consuming as the semester goes forward.

Homework-  Nothing new, but the woodblock black and white illustration projects are due at the beginning of class on March 20, 2014.  I will bring the ink and tools needed to help you print them in class.

For next class 3/20/14-  As a class everyone will be working on some portfolio exercises related to the idea of text as a visual element.  While that is going on I will help students one at a time to print their completed wood blocks.  Bring those blocks, your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and various black markers from earlier in the semester.  

3/6/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we began the design portion of the semester, with a graded project involving composing in black and white.  I showed slides of an overview of the history of printmaking, as well as some examples of contemporary prints and student examples of tonight's project.  Then I went over the details of the project again, distributed wood, and later in the evening gave a demonstration of how to cut the block using an x-acto knife.  

How to make this up-  Everyone was in attendance tonight, so everyone received their piece of wood and cutting instructions.  The assignment is to produce a black and white illustration based on the literary source of your choice (fiction or non-fiction. novel, short story, poem, etc).  It can be a specific scene, or something that captures a general theme of the book.  It may include text, but doesn't have to. The image can be vertical or horizontal.  Above and below are some student examples from previous semesters.  More detailed instructions and additional examples can be found here.

Homework- This black and white woodcut composition graded project is due at the beginning of class on March 20, 2014.  The cutting of the block should be complete at that point.  I'll bring in the ink and printing tools and I'll help everyone individually print their block while everyone else works on something else.  

For next class 3/13/14- We will start our study of color with some portfolio exercises in basic color theory and mixing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, acrylic paints, paint brushes, palette, palette knife, water container, and pencil and eraser.

2/27/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we wrapped up the basic drawing portion of this class with an exercise in value drawing.  I showed about two dozen art historical slides from ancient times through the present, as I discussed the ways that value was used in each, such as implying volumes, building space, showing texture, focusing attention, and telling us the time of day.  I also showed a few student examples of charcoal still life drawing.  Then I set up a still life in the center of the room and had the class spend a few hours doing a portfolio exercise in value drawing.  After everyone was cleaned up, we devoted a little time at the end of the class to discussing next week's project.  Last week's line drawings were returned graded.

How to make this up- You'll need to set up a still life.  Mine involved mostly white objects (cloth, painted vessels) and some dark colored items for contrast, lit to create patterns of light and shadow.  Draw the still life on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper using charcoal or black conte crayon, paying attention to shape, spacing, perspective, and especially matching value.  The specifics of the assignment, as well as additional student examples, can be found here.

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

Homework-  Nothing new, and I believe everyone is now caught up on our first two projects.

For next class 3/6/14- Next week we begin the design portion of the semester, with a graded project involving woodcut printmaking.  The assignment is to produce a book illustration for a book or your choice.  Can be fiction or non-fiction, novel, short story, poem, anything at an adult level   No fairy tales, kids books, comics, or recent Hollywood films.  You will create a representational image that depicts a particular scene from the book, or sums up the theme of the book.  You don't need to have anything done before next week, but you should at least pick out your literary source.  Bring the book if you have a copy, and also bring a sketchbook or other paper to work out your ideas, pencil and eraser, your black markers, and x-acto knife.  I'll provide the wood.

2/20/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight we picked up from where we would have been if not for last week's snow, with a quick group critique of the stipple drawings, which were graded and returned by the end of class.  The rest of the class period was spent working on our second graded project, a line drawing of a complex object.

How to make this up-  Everyone came to class tonight, so everyone completed it and turned it in.  But if you'd like to see how other handled it in the past, look at the above drawing or see what was posted here.

Homework-  Nothing new, but some still haven't completed the stipple drawing project, and should bring in what they need for next week.

For next class 2/27/14- We'll finish up the basic drawing portion of the class with a portfolio exercise in value drawing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, your choice of charcoal or black conte crayon.  Kneaded erasers and spray fixative are recommended for those planning to use charcoal.

2/13/14 Snow Update

By now I'm sure you all know that OCC is closed today.  In a winter where it snows twice a week, eventually one was going to take away a Thursday.

Homework- The Stipple Drawing will now be due on February 20, 2014, so if you were behind in your progress on it, you now get an extra week to finish it.  Our plans for that day will be the same as they would have been tonight- critique the dot drawings, then a graded still life drawing from a complex set up.  By next week I can let you know how the rest of the course outline will be adjusted.  We should still get to all the planned graded projects, but we may have to drop a portfolio exercise or two.  

For next class 2/20/14-  Bring your finished stipple drawing and the original photo.  Also bring your 18" x 24" pad of drawing paper, pencils, and eraser.

2/6/14 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we began our study of line, a useful tool in 2D design.  I showed about three dozen slides of historical art, ranging from cave painting to the 20th century, and we discussed how lines were used in each and the effects those lines had.  After that the class did a series of portfolio exercises all related to the concept of contour lines.

How to make this up-  Find yourself a shoe.  This works best with a closed shoe- dress shoe, sneaker, boot, but stay away from sandals and flip-flops.  You will use pencil to complete a series of exercises in contour line drawing using the shoe as a subject.  You may put multiple shoes on the same page, as in the student example above, and even use the back of the page if you like.  The specific instructions for the exercises and additional student examples can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises, that will be graded as part of your semester portfolio.  They must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit, however, with the amount of major projects coming in the later part of the semester, I recommend that you get to them sooner than that.

Homework- The stipple value drawing project begun last week is due at the beginning of class on February 13, 2014.  You must bring both the original photo and your drawn version of it.

For next class 2/13/14-  We will open with a group critique of the stipple drawings, which will be graded and returned by the end of class.  Then we will start our next graded project, a line drawing of a more complex subject than shoes.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencils, and eraser.  I'll provide the subject of the drawing.

1/30/14 2D Design

Today's Class-  Tonight was our first real night of art.  We began our study of two dimensional art with the most basic unit of mark making- the dot or point.  Students did a portfolio exercise involving dots, then started our first graded project of the semester.  

Wallpaper Exercise

Everyone on the roster was present tonight and did the wallpaper exercise.  The idea was to use dots to create three patterns that repeat at least once from top to bottom, although we also used it to introduce the idea of the proximity of dots as a way of creating value, and implying form and movement.

Stipple Value Drawing Project

Next we began the first graded project of the semester- a stipple drawing.  This is a drawing made entirely of individual dots of ink.  Increasing the number of dots in a given area leads to a darker value. Each student started with a black and white photo of a real three dimensional object (person, landscape, thing, etc), sketched the basic composition in pencil, then used dots from their ultra fine point black marker to reproduce the shapes of value, as in the above student example.  Additional examples of the project, and the full instructions, can be found here.

Homework- This graded stipple value drawing project is due at the beginning of class on February 13, 2014.  You must bring the original photo with you to class for me to grade it.

For next class 2/6/14- We will begin our study of line.  We'll be doing a series of exercises involving contour line, and the subject will be shoes.  I may have some, but to be safe, everyone should bring a shoe to draw from.  Any kind is fine, though I recommend closed shoes- sandals and flip-flops just don't have enough stuff to draw.  Also bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencils, and eraser.

1/23/14 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight was our first meeting of the semester.  Thanks to complications caused by the midweek snowstorm, I was unable to get the syllabus copied in time for tonight.  I was able to run off copies of the contact information and the materials list, which everyone received.  I read the rest to the class from a copy I had, and it's posted to our Ocean Cruiser page.  I plan to distribute printed copies next week, but students can download it before then if they wish.  After that, I had the class fill out a survey about their artistic background and interests, and we discussed this as a class.  I used the same form to talk about my own background.

Homework- Nothing yet.

For next class 1/30/14- We will start our study of two dimensional art with the most basic of marks, the dot.  Bring your 18"x 24" pad of drawing paper, pencils and eraser, black ultra fine point markers and larger permanent marker, and a black and white photo that will be the subject of one of our projects.  The photo should be of an actual three dimensional object or scene (not a drawing or artwork), and with a wide range of value from light to dark.  Choose something you would be comfortable with drawing.  It can be printed on photo paper, or something reproduced in a book, magazine, etc.  I will bring in a bag of magazines for anyone who does not bring a photo, but you are better off bringing in your own so you don't waste a big chunk of class time looking for one to use.

Welcome to the Spring 2014 Semester

This is the blog that I have set up for my classes at Ocean County College.  To avoid confusion, all posts for my Two Dimensional Design class (ARTS 184 E-01) will be posted in blue text.  Any postings that apply to all my classes will be in black text.

Following class each week I'll post information about the meeting that occurred earlier that evening.  The date of the class and its name will appear in the post title.  I will include a description of what we did in class, along with images of student work from previous semesters, if available and applicable.  If there is homework, I'll include those instructions and due dates.  I will also post what materials will be required for the following week's class.  About a month's worth of posts will be on the main page, and earlier weeks can be found using the archive function in the right column.

Certainly this site will be very useful for anyone who misses a class for whatever reason.  Some students even have things made up by the next time they come to class.  However, this site can also be useful even to those who never miss a meeting, but just want a reminder for when something is due, or what supplies will be needed the following week, or want to see additional examples.   It's here 24/7 and you don't need to wait for a reply from me to get the most commonly sought information.  If you have questions that are not answered here, you are welcome to e-mail me and I'll likely get back to you within a day, but in my experience most of what students need to know will be here.

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.