9/30/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we held a group critique of all the dot drawings, which were later graded and returned. Then we did a graded project involving line, drawing from a still life. To learn how to make up the project, click here.

Homework- Nothing new, but if you have not yet turned in the dot drawing, or tonight's line project, bring them next week.

For next class 10/7/08- We will start our study of value. Bring your 18"x24" pad, vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.

9/30/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at slides to see the use of value through the history of art. Our studio project was a value drawing of white objects using charcoal. To see an example and learn how to make up the assignment, click here.

Homework- If you haven't yet done so, you need to bring a list of your 3 artists and artworks, as well as a book you will use for your research, to class on 10/7/08.

For next class 10/7/08- Bring your large pad of paper, pencil, eraser, glue, scissors, and old magazines that you don't mind cutting up.

9/23/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we did various exercises related to line. After looking at slides of how artists have used Line, from cave paintings to the present, the class did various portfolio exercises making use of line.

We started with contour line exercises that used shoes as a subject. To review what we did in class, click here.

After the mid class break, we did some exercises involving negative space. To review what we did there, click here.

Homework- the dot drawings begun last week in class are due on September 30, 2008. Bring the original photo as well as your drawing.

For next class 9/30/08- Bring your homework, your 18"x24 pad, pencil and eraser. We will critique the dot drawings and do the final line project of the semester.

9/23/08 Intro to Art

Today's class- Today we spent some time reviewing the research assignment and choosing artistic movements to be studied. Then we did some drawing exercises that made use of negative space. To learn how to make up the drawing assignment, click here.

For the research assignment, each student picked a different particular movement/period from western art from a list provided. The assignment requires that students choose 3 prominent artists from their assigned art period, and one work of art from each. These artists/artworks need to be approved by me by October 7. Details of the assignment will be available on a handout that you can get at the next class.

How to make this up- The following periods in western art are still available-

Spanish Baroque (17th century)
Dutch Baroque (17th century)
Portraiture of the 18th century
Academic art of the 19th century
German Expressionism
Dada
New Objectivity (Germany 20th century)
Conceptual art (20th century to the present)

Students who missed class on 9/23/08 need to choose from this list. Send me an e-mail with your top 3 choices. The first one to contact me will get his or her first choice. The other 2 students will be able to get their highest choice still available in the order that they contact me. Anyone who I haven't heard from by next week can also choose their topic in class.

Homework- The lists of artists and artworks is due on October 7. The paper itself is due at the beginning of class on October 28.

For next class 9/30/08- Bring your 18"x24" pad, drawing charcoal, and kneaded eraser. We will begin our study of value.

9/16/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight the museum assignment was distributed and explained. (see below) The class then did an exercise in patterns involving dots. We also began the first graded project of the year, a stipple drawing- a value drawing using tiny dots to create the various values. To learn the specifics of the assignment and to see some examples, click here.

Homework- the Dot Drawing Project is due at the beginning of class on September 30.

For next class 9/23/08- Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencils, eraser. We will work on some basic drawing exercises. Some of these will involve shoes. Since I can't guarantee enough shoes from the prop closet to go around, students may want to bring in a shoe to draw, or be prepared to take one off their foot to draw.

9/16/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at slides of artwork using line, beginning with cave paintings and continuing to the 20th century. The museum assignment was distributed and explained to all students. (see below) Then we did some exercises in contour line involving shoes. For the specifics of that assignment, click here.

Homework- None

Next class 9/23/08- Bring in your 18"x24" pad, pencils, eraser. We will continue to work on basic drawing skills. I'll provide the subject matter.

Spring 2009 Intro to Art Extra Credit Assignment

There had been some requests for an extra credit assignment. Normally I don't do that, but since we lost a class meeting this semester to a snow day, this is an opportunity to learn a little about the topic that will be missed- architecture.

The Assignment- It will relate to a building you are familiar with, Vaughn-Eames Hall. Our art department building makes use of many modern architectural elements and techniques associated with the Bauhaus or International Style developed during the early 20th century. (you'll need to do a little research to learn the specific characteristics of the movement)

1) Choose 3 features of Vaughn-Eames that are based on the Bauhaus/International style. Describe them specifically (where they are found in the building, how they function, what makes them different from architecture from before 1900)

2) Find examples of these same features in buildings completed between 1910 and 1935 from each of these 3 period architects-

Walter Gropius
Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe
Le Corbusier

For each architect, include the names and locations of the building(s), as well as where in the building the particular architectural element can be found.

This extra credit assignment should be typed or computer printed, and must be turned in by April 28, 2009. It will not be accepted after that.

The point value of the extra credit assignment is worth a 10% raise in your final class grade point total for those who fully complete it. Partial credit will be awarded as appropriate.

9/9/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Today the syllabus was distributed and reviewed. The class also filled out a survey about art experiences, which we reviewed as a group.

Homework- None

Next class (9/16/08)- Bring your large 18"x24" pad of drawing paper, pencils, eraser, and ultra fine point and large markers. Bringing a sketchbook is an option. You will also need a black and white photograph that will be the source of a drawing project. The photo can be a print on photo paper, printed off the internet, or something from a magazine/newspaper/etc. The project will work better if there is a wide range of lights, darks, and midtones. I will have a pile of magazines to go through for students who do not bring a photo of their own.

9/9/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today the syllabus was distributed and reviewed. The class also filled out a survey of past art experiences, which we discussed as a group.

Homework- None

For next week (9/16/08) Bring your large pad, pencils, erasers. Bringing a shoe is optional, as we will be doing exercises in contour line involving shoes. There are some shoes in the prop closet, but probably not enough to go around, so if you want to guarantee yourself a good shoe, either bring an extra or be prepared to take one off you foot.

Welcome to the Fall 2008 Semester

Welcome to the blog that I have set up for my Kean students.

To make things easier to follow, posts meant for my Introduction to Art class (FA 1000 sec 13, 12:30 pm) will use red text, while posts for my Two Dimensional Foundations class (FA 2402 sec 04, 5:00 pm) will use blue text. Posts that are for both my classes, like this one, will use black text.

I will use the blog to put up all important information from the classes. Each week there will be a post for each class, the title containing the date and name of the class. I will write about what we did in class, what homework (if any) has been assigned, and list when assignments are due and what materials are needed for the next class. When applicable and available, I'll post photos of previous student work as examples of the project. I will usually post this information either very late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. About a month's worth of entries will be kept on the main page; after that earlier postings can be found in the archives

Certainly I expect you to stop by this blog if you miss a class for any reason. It will make it a lot easier to catch up on what you missed and not fall further behind. Even if you never miss a class, you might find it useful to stop by at times to verify due dates, get reminders of next week's art materials, etc. These are the most common questions I used to get in e-mail, and now you can find those answers 24/7 without having to wait for me to read your mail and reply. And due to the nature of blogs, all the previous entries are saved, so you can always go back in the archives to get information about projects from earlier in the semester. If you need further information than can be found on this blog, you should e-mail me directly at my kean.edu address, rather than leave comments, since I wont be checking comments between class meetings.