3/31/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we looked at slides of the history of printmaking from the Renaissance to contemporary, and began a new print related project. We also took a brief trip to see the new print exhibition (Rauschenberg and Rosenquist) at the CAS Gallery and looked at some of the results of the photo assignment.

How to make this up- You need to make the printing plate that will allow you to make images like the above student examples. Details as to how to create a collagraph plate can be found if you click here.

Homework- The completed plate is due at the beginning of class on April 14, 2009. At that time I'll provide ink and help students print the plates. Any students who still haven't brought in their photos or research assignment should bring them in next week.

For next class 4/7/09- We will be beginning our first graded art project of the semester. Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil and eraser, and pastels.

3/30/09 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started the woodcut project discussed in class last week. I handed out pieces of wood to all the students. Everyone came up with designs on paper, drew them onto the wood, and began cutting. I also did a demonstration of proper and safe cutting techniques.

How to make this up- More examples of previous student woodcuts and details about the assignment can be found if you click here.

Homework- The completed cut block for this woodcut illustration project is due at the beginning of class on April 13, 2009. At that time we will print them in class.

For next class 4/6/09- Next week we start our study of color. Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil and eraser, and all your painting related materials- acrylic paints, brushes, palette, palette knife, and some kind of water container.

3/24/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we looked at slides with the idea of rhythm and movement as elements of art. We also reviewed the research assignments, which were graded and returned. For the art project, we did a class exercise involving listening to different kinds of music and creating abstract paintings that reflect the feeling of the music. At the end of class we looked at one from each student and tried to guess which piece of music inspired it.

How to make this up- Details as to process and kinds of music and other examples of student abstract paintings can be found here. As a portfolio exercise, this should be completed by the end of the semester.

Homework- If you haven't yet finished and turned in your research assignment, you should get it done as soon as possible to get partial credit. The photography assignment is due next week.

Next class 3/31/09- We will start a printmaking project involving collograph. Bring a variety of materials that can be cut up and/or glued down. These things can be natural or artificial, and should be relatively flat. Also bring scissors and glue. In addition, bring your printed photos for the photography assignment.

3/23/09 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we did a final charcoal drawing, this time as a graded project. After that we looked at slides of printmaking in preparation for next week's woodcut project.

How to make this up- Put a box on a table and drape it with a white or light colored cloth. On and around it place the following:

1) a shoe
2) a bottle
3) a piece of sports equipment (such as a ball, baseball mitt, etc)
4) any white colored object of similar size to the other items

Light the set up with a direct light to create strong light and shadow. Draw the set-up on your 18"x24" paper, using either vine or compressed charcoal, whichever you prefer. Pay attention to matching the values of the objects, as well as the proportions of individual objects and the relative scale of items in the still life. Bring the completed drawing to class as soon as possible.

Homework- Next week we will be starting a graded woodcut project that will take the form of a book illustration. You need to choose the book. It can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc. No kids books, comics, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, or anything fully illustrated. The illustration can be a specific scene or something that captures the general spirit of the book. You don't need to come up with the idea before next week, but you can give it some thought if you want.

For next class 3/30/09- Bring the book that you will do the illustration for, paper (can be your big pad or a smaller sketchbook), pencil and eraser, markers, and your x-acto knife. I'll provide the wood for the block.

Printmaking Exhibition

For anyone who may be interested, I have several artworks in a current show in Union County. The exhibition is a curated show of relief printmaking (woodcuts, linocuts, etc) at the Arts Guild of Rahway. For more information about the show and the gallery, go to the gallery website.

This exhibition does not count for your museum visit requirement, and going to it will not get you extra credit. Just announcing it for anyone curious about the art.

3/10/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at the history of photography, seeing examples ranging from the experiments of the 1820's through the present. A photo assignment was distributed and reviewed. We also visited the student arts show currently on display in the gallery down the hall, and took a tour of the building to visit the art studio classrooms and learn what goes on in them.

Homework- The photo assignment handed out today is due at the beginning of class on March 31, 2009. The specifics of the assignment can be found here.

Those who have not yet turned in their research assignment should bring it in next class. Points will be deducted for each week it's late.

SPRING BREAK MARCH 16 TO MARCH 21 NO CLASSES

Next class 3/24/09- We will be using the paints again. Bring your 18"x24" pad, watercolors, brushes, water container and palette.

3/9/09 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started by looking at slides of art from Ancient Greece through the present, discussing how value (light and dark) was used to show form, volume, location, space, and time. We then did two portfolio exercises involving charcoal. We also visited the Student Art Show in the Howe Gallery on the 1st floor.

How to make this up- We did two drawings from a still life set up, one with vine charcoal and one with compressed charcoal. Details as to how to make up these exercises can be found here.

Homework- None, unless you still owe me one of the back projects- dots or line drawing still life.

SPRING BREAK MARCH 15TH TO 21ST NO CLASS NEXT WEEK

For next class 3/23/09- We will do one more charcoal drawing, this time as a graded project. Bring your 18"x24" pad, charcoal of preference (vine or compressed), kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.

3/3/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we started our study of color. We looked at slides, covering art from prehistoric to the present, talking about how color was used. Our exercise was creating a color wheel, mixing all the colors from the 3 primaries, and doing a complement pair mix. Above is an example of the project.

How to make this up- It's too much to explain here, so I will have a handout to give to anyone who missed class this week. This is a portfolio exercise, so should be made up by the end of the semester.

Homework- The research assignments are due at the beginning of class on March 10, 2009. If you haven't yet cleared your artists/artworks/book with me, you may want to contact me by e-mail and do so soon. If you don't check with me first, the responsibility for choosing appropriate artists and artworks falls completely on you.

For next class 3/10/09- Next week we will be discussing photography. Because the photo assignment will be done completely on your own time, we will use the rest of the class to do other things. Therefore, you do not need to bring any of your art materials next week.

3/2/09 2D Design

By now you should all know that the university is closed for the entire day, cancelling our class. Next week we will do what we would have done this week, so bring the same materials- 18"x24" pad, vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser. Spray fixative is recommended.