ART 131 Homework and what you'll need for Tuesday Oct. 21

Homework: If you didn't complete your in class assignment on Thursday, please finish it and post it to the hallway board by the beginning of class Tuesday.

For Tuesday, please bring a small, personal object that has meaning to you, and you think would be interesting to draw. Also bring assorted pencils and erasers. I will provide the paper.

ART 131 Homework Assignment Due 9/9

Drawing I: Contour line Assignment

A contour is the visible border of an object in space. In this assignment, you will create a sense of depth through line variation.

Warning: absolutely no shading!

Supplies: Ink pen (such as a Sharpie ultra fine point), white drawing paper (18x24 inches –2 sheets), a piece (or pieces) of fruit or vegetable for your still life.

Note: you can use a nib/stylus or a bamboo pen* with bottled ink instead of an ink pen.

Step 1: Choose one or two pieces of fruit or vegetable to draw. Look for items that have an interesting edges or texture---this will make your drawing more interesting. Some suggestions include green peppers, melons, whole pineapple, cabbage, etc.

Step 2: Place one sheet of white paper on a flat surface to serve as a background for your still life. Cut, tear or partially eat your still life and then arrange it on the white paper.

Step 3: Take a look at your light source. The best light is a singe light source coming from above and to one side.

Step 4: In your sketchbook, draw several different compositions. Do this quickly, allowing only a minute or two for each small postcard size (or smaller) sketch.

Step 5: Choose one of your sketches and create a small (postcard size or smaller) positive/negative version of it. Take a look and ask yourself the following:*Is the negative space interesting?*Is there significantly more negative space than positive space?*Are there any adjustments I can make to create a more interesting composition?

Step 6:Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you are satisfied with your composition.

Step 7: You may lightly draw your composition in pencil on the 18x24” sheet of paper. You will be drawing large---fill the entire 18x24” sheet of paper. This may mean you are increasing the scale of your still life dramatically, but will allow you to show a lot of detail. Eventually, you’ll want to work toward drawing directly in ink, but at this point using pencil is okay. Keep your paper as clean as possible though. No messy lines or messy erasing.

Step 8: Once you’ve completed your pencil underdrawing, begin to ink it in. Focus on line variation---make your line descriptive, but also focus on the beauty of the line. Vary the amount of pressure placed on the pen to create lines that are more interesting. Allow some lines to disappear and then find them again. The viewer’s eye will connect the missing edges.

An example: (reprinted from Drawing Basics by Jacklyn St. Aubyn, Harcourt Brace).

ART 131 Homework; due Tues. Sept. 2

In your sketchbook, create at least 10 thumbnail size drawings of the subject matter of your choice. These should be done in black ink---you can use an ink pen. Look for interesting figure ground relationships in your subjects. The drawings should be solid black and white.

Positive space: the active shapes in a composition; also known as "figure"
Negative space: the inactive shapes in a composition; also known as "ground"
*Always be conscious of the figure/ground relationship!

On Tuesday, we will begin working on line. You'll need vine charcoal, paper, pencils, eraser and ink pens.

Have a good weekend!

ART 131 Homework due 8/26/08

Homework Assignment: Create a reductive drawing in the same manner as the classroom assignment from Thursday, 8/21. Use charcoal, chamois, and erasers and proceed in the same manner as Thursdays assignment. Choice of subject matter is up to you. Use 18x24 drawing paper. Post on the bulletin board at the beginning of class


Sketchbook Assignment: Brainstorm a list of at least twenty different kinds of artworks you'd like to create. Additionally, write a brief statement (in your sketchbook) about your goals for this class.

PLC Mural Video Link

Here it is:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W3mdNXCzarA

Enjoy...and be proud...I will post some in progress photos as soon as I catch my breath...

(and no more puddin' for me)

Drawing I Portfolio Requirements

You must bring 8 of the following drawings to the Portfolio Review:

All of these should have been done in class or as homework.

• tonal study (such as the first day exercise)
• an example of a gesture drawing
• an example of ink wash
• an example of negative space
• an example of contour line
• the homework contour drawing of veggies
• Exposing Scarlet project
• an example of cross contour
• an example of a value study
• an example of one-point perspective
• an example of two-point perspective
• an example of a still life with an ellipse in it
• a portrait drawing
• 
  We will only have time for short critiques, so only bring the eight best examples from the list above.
• 
  Also, I will provide you with lunch on Monday (and maybe even some cookies :-)
  Carol

Favorite quote from the Jon Houghton workshop

Jon Houghton, Nicole, watercolor demo

Jon did this demo...sorry, this was the best slide I got of it and he took the portrait with him. Anyway, he carefully drew her features and then mixed up a flesh tone and THREW it on the paper! We all gasped. He laughed and said something about "it can't get any worse now". Then he proceeded to create this lovely work. But, it was a valuable lesson even for me----you cannot be afraid to make mistakes. A certain and deliberate boldness is liberating. I also noticed an economy of marks---I know my students have heard this before....if you can say it with one stroke---why use twenty?

This is an oil sketch demo Jon did of Nicole as well. Lovely. I will post his portrait of Tamra (aka Michelle :-) as soon as I get a good slide of it.

But my favorite quote: "The mind cannot comprehend what the rear cannot endure".