Final Grading Fall 2011

Final Class Grades were submitted to KeanWise today. I don't know how long it takes before they will be available to students, but probably not too long.

12/19/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today was our last class meeting of the semester. We opened with a critique of all the Final Projects. After that, I dismissed the class while I graded the final projects, semester portfolios, and remaining back projects and museum papers. Everyone who came to today's class returned to pick up their work, learning their grades for all of the above. Final class grades will be calculated soon and submitted to KeanWise. If tradition holds, they'll post them in early January, but if I hear something different I'll post an update.

Enjoy your break.

12/14/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today was our final class meeting of the semester. We held a critique of all of the final drawings from last week, and then all the 2nd half portfolios, sketchbooks, and museum papers were graded. Most students returned and picked them up, along with the graded final drawings. Art not picked up as of 3 pm was stacked on one of the paper cutters in the corner by the green chalk board. The classroom is heavily used, so if you care about getting your stuff back, you should pick it up as soon as possible.

Final grades will be calculated next week and submitted shortly after that. I don't know yet when they will be posted by the school. If I learn something, I'll post it on the blog.

Enjoy your break.

12/12/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today was a general work day for the class. Most put in time working on the Board Game final project. Some used the time to work on back projects still owed, or their museum papers.

**********Semester Portfolio**********

The semester portfolio, all work that wasn't an individually graded project, is due at the beginning of class next week. If you haven't missed any classes, you should be all caught up. If you're not sure, here is a list of what is expected and the blog dates where details can be found.

9/19/11- Wall paper (dots)

9/26/11- Contour Lines (shoes)

9/26/11- Negative space (chair, bottles)

10/17/11- Value drawing with charcoal

10/17/11- ( 1 each vine and compressed charcoal)

11/7/11- Color wheel/Color Mixing

11/28/11- Color Still Life Painting

Homework- Nothing new, but the Final Project is due December 19, 2011 for everyone, and almost everyone still owes the museum paper. If you still owe a back project (seasons, limited palettes), next week is your last chance to earn partial credit.

For next class 12/19/11- Our final meeting of the semester. We will spend some time doing a full critique of the final projects and some late arriving work. After that I will grade the final projects, museum papers, and portfolios. Bring all those items to class. Be on time- the sooner we can start, the sooner we will finish.

12/7/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today we did our final still life drawing of the semester, which serves as the class Final Project. A few minutes were also spent filling out the course evaluation forms.

How to make this up- Set up a still life. Place two low boxes on a table, drape with a white or light colored cloth. Arrange 5 objects on and around the boxes and light with a directional light to create patterns of light and shadow. For the objects, choose one each from among the following list:

a bottle

a hat

a shoe

a power tool

a large sports ball (basketball, football, etc)

a piece of sports related equipment (baseball mitt, golf club, etc)

For the drawing, you may use your choice of charcoal (vine or compressed), ink wash, or conte crayon (black, red, or combined). Spend up to 5 hours working on it. Above are a few examples from a previous semester.

Homework- Nothing new, so use the opportunity to catch up on any back homework you may have missed, or get that museum paper done.

**************2nd Half Portfolio******************

The following items are expected to be part of your 2nd half portfolio. The dates indicate where those things can be found on this blog.

11/2/11- Ink wash drawings of white objects (2)

11/16/11- Black Conte Crayon still life

11/16/11- Red Conte Crayon still life

11/23/11- Monotype prints of still life objects

11/23/11 (most students did 3 to 4)

11/30/11- Mixed red and black conte crayon

11/30/11- One from mannequin, one from live model

For next class 12/14/11- Our final meeting of the semester. We will have a detailed critique of all the final project drawings, and then everyone will be dismissed temporarily while I grade the final drawings, the museum papers, the 2nd half portfolios, and the sketchbooks. If you don't bring in the museum paper, portfolio or sketchbook, I can't grade them and you will get a zero for those items. No art supplies needed. All student work will be returned by the end of class that day.

12/5/11 2D Design

War Hall

Andy Warhol

Roots

Kerry James Marshall

Today's Class- Today we started working on the final project of the semester, using the two dimensional color artwork of an established fine artist to design a board game with a theme based on the artist and/or the work. We also devoted time to looking at the completed limited color palettes projects that were due today.

How to make this up- You will need to select a fine artist, one who works with representational images and is a recognized fine artist- appearing in textbooks, major museums, etc. Images from one or more paintings from the artist will be used to create a new composition, which is built around the concept of a board game of your devising. Examples from previous semesters, with the name of the game and the source artist, can be seen above and below. To see all the requirements for the project, along with another example and all the specifics of how it was created from the original source painting, click here.

Homework- This final project of the semester is due at the beginning of class on December 19, 2011, which is our last class meeting and the last day of the semester. If it's not turned in then, it will not be graded. The museum paper is also due that day, if it hasn't been turned in yet.

Those who still owe one of the back graded projects (seasons, palettes, etc) need to get them done as soon as possible to earn partial credit.

For next class 12/12/11- The class period will be used as a general work day. Most students will use the time to work on the final project, but you may use the time to work on anything related to class, such as back portfolio work, late graded projects, or even the museum assignment. Bring whatever materials you need to work on whatever you plan to work on.

Anxiety Clue

Edvard Munch

Bari Master

Ancient Egypt

The Greek Grape Faze

Ancient Greece

11/30/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today we continued our use of conte crayons in value drawing, but this time used the red and black together, and the subject was figural rather than simple objects. The red crayon adds a feeling of warmth that the black crayon doesn't provide, making it ideal for representing flesh, while the black crayon provides the possibilities of dark values that the red crayon can't achieve. We looked at a few slide examples of Renaissance era chiaroscuro drawing and chiaroscuro woodcut, processes that relate to what we did today.

Above is a student drawing from a different class, done more in the style popularized in the Renaissance.  It uses a piece of solidly colored paper (in this case green, but other colors can be just as effective), and the artist draws with both white (highlights, done with conte or chalk) and black (shadows, done with charcoal or ink), and the medium value of the colored paper serves as the middle value.  However, colored papers can be expensive and are not always stocked in local art supply stores, so our light will come from our white paper, our medium values from a sanguine (red) crayon, and the darks from a black crayon.

How to make this up- Today's subject was the human figure, more complex than what we've drawn before, but the next step for people who want to continue their study of drawing. The first half of class was spent working from a mannequin, and the second half working from a live model. Below is an example drawing from today's class.

There are two approaches that can be taken to this three-tone technique. The traditional method (similar effect to old fashioned chiaroscuro drawing) is to use the red crayon first to do a value drawing, then blend from red to black for the darker values and deep shadows. The drawing below and two above using red and black are examples of this process.

Another option is reducing the drawing to 3 solid tones representing light (white of the paper), medium (red) and dark (black) values in the subject. So instead of blending gradually from white to red to black, the drawing is made from hard edged shapes, the result looking more like a chiaroscuro woodcut. Below is an example. This option is more difficult, as everything must be planned in advance, and the artist must consistently assign values in the subject to one of the 3 tones.

The assignment- Complete two figure related drawings, each using a full sheet of your 18" x 24" paper and the two colors of conte crayons. The subjects can be a live human figure (dressed is acceptable), or figure-like object such as a statue, figurine or doll that is large enough to show details. Light the figure to create strong light and shadow patterns. Spend about 2 hours on each drawing. You may use either or both of the above styles for the two drawings.

Homework- We will return to our old friend, the shoe. In your sketchbook draw two shoes using the combined red and black crayons, one per page. Use two different shoes, or the same shoe from two different angles. Light the shoes to create light and shadows and try to match the values as closely as possible.

Reminder- we only have two weeks left of class, at which point everything is due, including the sketchbook and the museum paper. If you are behind on the homework sketches, you have until then to get them done. Use the blog archives to check on what you may have missed.

For next class 12/7/11- We will be doing the final still life drawing of the semester. You may use your choice of charcoal (vine or compressed), ink wash, or conte crayon (one or two colors) to complete the value drawing. Bring your medium of choice and related materials (brushes, kneaded eraser, fixative, etc), along with your 18" x 24" paper. You will have the whole class period to work on one drawing, or do more than one and choose the best one to turn in at the end of class.

11/28/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we explored another aspect of painting with color, a simple still life painting of colorful objects. We looked at about a dozen slides of still life paintings from the Renaissance to the present, discussing what purpose the paintings served for the artist and the viewers, past and present. Students spent the rest of the class working on a color painting from a still life set up.

How to make this up- Set up a still life. In a well lit room put a box on a table and drape with a multicolored cloth. Find four solidly colored objects, each a different color from the others and the cloth. Arrange on and around the box. Do a painting of the set up on your 18" x 24" paper. You may sketch with pencil first, or just paint directly. As with earlier still life projects, pay attention to the shapes of individual objects, the proportions of individual objects and between objects, and to the relative value of objects. In addition, try to match the colors of the drape and objects as closely as possible. You may choose any color you want for the background. Above are two examples from previous semesters.

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

Homework- Nothing new, but the limited color palettes project that we started last week is due at the beginning of class next week, December 5, 2011. Those who still owe back projects (woodcut, seasons) should get those done as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

The museum paper is due on the last day of class, 3 weeks from today, but it can be turned in sooner if you have it.

For next class 12/5/11- We will begin the final project of the semester. It will be based on the artwork of a fine artist of your choosing. The artist must be a legitimate fine artist (the type found in art history texts, major museums, etc), working two dimensionally, in color, and with recognizable content (images). Bring color examples of the artists's work to class. If you have no artist in mind, bring a book with examples of a favorite painting subject or style, or even a general art history textbook. For materials you will need a piece of mat board- any color, at least 18" x 24" (standard mat is 30"x 40", so two students can split one). Also pencil and eraser, and all your painting supplies.

11/23/11 Drawing 1

Today's Class- Today we explored a printmaking medium that has much in common with value drawing, the monotype. Monotypes can be done many ways with many different materials, but we tried a very traditional process, using oil based media on glass or plexiglass. The class worked from typical still life objects, everyone completing at least 3 prints.

How to make this up- Find 3 objects of similar size, one white, two with darker values. Set up on a table with some kind of backdrop and shine a direct light to create patterns of light and shadow. You will need a printing plate, made from glass or plexiglass, about 8" x 10". (if glass, I recommend putting some masking tape on all edges to reduce the chance of getting cuts) Cut three pieces of paper that are at least slightly larger than the printing plate and set aside. Lay out some newspaper on your work surface, as this will be messy.

The drawings were done as value reductions, like when we filled a page with vine charcoal and erased out the lights. Spread a small amount of your black oil paint or relief ink over the whole plate, covering it with a very thin layer. Use whatever tools you would like to draw into the ink and remove it. (today's students used such things as q-tips, paint brushes, mat cards, and paper towels) A few drops of vegetable oil will help loosen the ink and make it easier to wipe. You can add more ink back if you need to redraw sections. Once you are satisfied with the drawing on the plate, carefully place a piece of the paper on top and gently rub the back of the paper with your hand to transfer the ink to the paper. Pick up the corners to see how it looks, and if it's lighter than you expect, drop it back down and rub again. (a wooden spoon or equivalent can be helpful) Students were asked to bring black paint or ink, so that the images would relate to our experiences with charcoal, etc, but a few only had color paints. Examples of both black and white and color can be seen above and below.

Do the following drawings-

1) Draw one of the objects by itself

2) Draw two side by side objects

3) Draw all three objects, or substitute one complex object (the alternate today was flowers in a vase)

The completed prints should be allowed to dry in the open air if possible, for about a week or so. This is a portfolio exercise, and the prints should be saved to be part of your 2nd half of the semester portfolio. If you are confused by the above directions, wait and ask me about it next week in class.

Homework- None today. Enjoy the holiday, or use the time to make up back homework assignments if you are behind.

For next class 11/30/11- We will go back to using the conte crayons, this time to try a variation of chiaroscuro drawing. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both red and black conte crayons, erasers, and anything you find useful for blending.

11/21/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started a new graded project involving limited color palettes. Sometimes artists will paint with the natural colors of their subject, but at other times they will choose other colors to represent their subject. We looked at a few dozen slides of examples of some common approaches to limited color, then started the project. Some time was reserved at the end of class to look at the season temperature collages.

How to make this up- First find a black and white photograph of an actual scene (person, landscape, interior, still life, etc). Sketch the basic composition of your photo four times on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper, then use your acrylic paints to do paintings reflecting the value structures of the photo. Student examples from previous semesters can be seen above and below. To learn the specific details of how the colors will be chosen, and to see additional examples, click here.

Homework- This limited palettes graded project is due at the beginning of class on December 5, 2011. Anyone who still owes a back project, such as the woodblock or the season temperature collage, should bring them in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 11/28/11- We will take a more traditional approach to paint by painting a color still life painting. Bring your 18" x 24" paper, paints, brushes, palette, palette knife, pencil and eraser.

11/16/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today we started by looking at the ink wash drawings completed in class last week. Then we spent most of the day trying a new drawing medium- conte crayons. They have a clay base and are a little harder than charcoal, which allows for a more precise placing of marks, but makes it a little more difficult to blend. Also, they come in a variety of colors.

How to make this up- Set up a typical still life. Put a box on a table and drape with a white or light colored cloth. Find 3 simple objects of similar size, one white or light colored, two medium or dark colored. Arrange on and around the box and shine a direct light on it to create light and shadow patterns.

Black Crayon- Draw the still life on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper using the black crayon. As with charcoal, pay attention to the shapes of each object,and the relative proportions and locations of the objects. Try to match the original values from the still life as closely as possible. It will be difficult to blend it with just your fingers, but a blending tool (such as white paper tortillions or stumps sold in the drawing section of art supply stores), or even a bit of paper towel will make blending much easier. Some students like using kneaded erasers for this, while erasers for pencil do a better job actually erasing the crayon. Spend up to 90 minutes on the drawing.

Red Crayon- Rearrange the objects and draw the set up again on another sheet of 18" x 24" paper, this time using the red crayon. There are student examples from a previous semester above and below. All of the same concerns of value drawing still apply, however the red crayon is lighter than black, so at its darkest will never be as dark as black conte crayon or charcoal, and you may have to adjust your relative values in the drawing. Again, spend about 90 minutes working on it.

These are portfolio exercises, which must be made up by the last day of the semester in order to receive credit for them.

Homework- Arrange a knife, fork, and spoon on a medium dark surface, so that none of the utensils are parallel to each other. Draw the set up in your sketchbook using the black crayon. Account for any visible reflections or shadows. Draw the same arrangement again on a new page of your sketchbook using the red crayon. Then rearrange the utensils, again so that none are parallel to each other and draw two more times, once black, once red, for a total of 4 pages of sketches.

For next class 11/23/11- We will explore a new medium, the monotype, a form of printmaking that is very much related to value drawing. You will need a printing plate (a smooth piece of glass, plexiglass/plastic, or metal, about 8" x 10"), black oil paint or oil based relief ink, paint brushes and anything that can be used to manipulate paint and create textures, and your 18" x 24 pad. I'll provide everything else you'll need.

11/14/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we printed the completed woodcut blocks, all of which are shown above. While that was going on, everyone started a new graded project relating to color temperature.

How to make this up- This graded project requires you to use your acrylic paints to mix up to 200 different colors. The colors should be painted as 1" squares, which will be cut out and arranged in grids of 10 squares by 10 squares. You will create two such large squares, each representing one of the seasons as determined by temperature- the perception that any given color feels warm or cool. For example, a large square made up of all warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) would signify summer. A large square with a mix of warm and cool colors could represent either spring or autumn. Below are two examples from a previous semester. Additional examples and the full directions can be found here.

Homework- This color temperature graded project is due at the beginning of class on November 21, 2011. Those who did not bring in their block today should complete it as soon as possible and bring it to class.

For next class 11/21/11- We will critique the color temperature projects as a group and then start a new graded project involving specific color combinations. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints, brushes, palette, etc. You will also need a black and white photo to base the project on, so either bring one of your own or I'll have the pile of magazines to pick through again.

11/9/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today we finished our time with ink wash, with students doing a graded drawing. Drawings were collected at the end of class, and will be returned graded next week.

How to make this up- Today's set up was a large leafy plant hanging within a wooden tripod easel. Find your own potted plant and some kind of stand. If you don't have a stand, put the potted plant on a wooden chair. The room should be well lit, from either daylight or lamps. Draw the plant and stand/chair at 100% scale (if a leaf is two inches long on the plant, it should be about the same size on your paper) on your 18" x 24" paper, including as much of the subject as will fit on the page. The page can be vertical or horizontal. Use pencil for a contour sketch, then complete the value drawing using ink wash. Try to match the values of the leaves, stems, flowerpot, and stand as closely as possible. Take a photo of the plant to bring in along with the drawing. Above and below are examples from previous semesters.

This is a graded project, so the longer it takes for you to turn it in, the more points will be lost.

Homework- Find 3 leaves from 3 different species of tree (maple, oak, birch, etc). The leaves can still be green, or have turned fall colors. Arrange the leaves on a piece of white paper, so that they overlap each other slightly. Do an ink wash drawing of the leaves in your sketchbook, at a scale where the leaves will mostly fill the page. (you may sketch in pencil first) Rearrange the leaves and draw with ink a second time. Rearrange again and do a third ink wash drawing.

For next class 11/16/11- We will start a new medium, conte crayon. Conte crayons are a little harder than charcoal, so they are easier to control, though a little more difficult to blend. They also come in colors besides black. Bring both black and red crayons, along with various erasers and your 18" x 24" pad, and we will do some portfolio exercise still life drawings.

11/7/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started our study of color. We talked about the physical properties of color, the materials used to make pigments, and how it's used in art. Students then did a series of portfolio exercises related to basic color theory.

How to make this up- The class did three portfolio exercises involving basic color theory. They produced a color wheel, a complement mix, and a series of tints and shades of a single hue. Above are two examples from previous semesters. The full directions to complete these exercises, and additional examples, can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester.

Homework- The completed wood block is due at the beginning of class on November 14, 2011.

For next class 11/14/11- Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, all painting materials (acrylic paints, brushes, palette, palette knife, water container), scissors and glue. We will print the wood blocks and start a new graded project about color temperature.

11/2/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today we opened with a short group critique of the charcoal drawings done in class last week. After that we looked at a few slides of art done in the medium of ink wash- drawing ink that has been diluted with water to make washes of various gray values, and applied to the paper with brushes. Then students did two portfolio exercises involving ink wash drawing.

How to make this up- Set up a still life as in the examples shown above and below. Put a small box on a table, and hang a white or light colored cloth so that it covers the box and creates a backdrop behind it as well. Find two white or light colored objects to act as your subjects, and light with a direct light source to create patterns of light and shadow. Make some ink wash by putting some water in a disposable container (cup, can), and add a few drops of your drawing ink. Test the resulting ink on a piece of scrap paper to see how dark it is. Then do the following drawings:

1) Place one of the objects on the cloth covered box. Do a simple contour line sketch of the set with light pencil on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper. Use the ink wash to start filling in values to match the values seen in the still life. Brushes designed to use with watercolors work best for this material. Add ink to your wash a few drops at a time to create darker washes. It's best to work from light values toward dark values. Continue until all the values in the still life are reproduced in your drawing. Spend about 90 minutes working on it.

2) Place one of the objects on the cloth covered box, and the second one in front of it. Draw with pencil, then ink, as in the first drawing. Spend up to 2.5 hours working on the drawing.

These are portfolio exercises, which must be made up by the end of the semester in order to receive credit. However, because we are doing a graded project involving ink wash next week, I strongly recommend you complete these before next Wednesday for the practice.

Homework- Set up a still life in the same manner as listed in the section above. Use two white or light colored objects of similar size, with one on the box and one on the table near it. Do an ink wash sketch of it in your sketchbook. Switch the objects and draw it again, for a total of two pages.

For next class 11/9/11- We will continue with ink wash, using it to do a graded drawing. Bring your 18" x 24" paper, pencil and eraser, drawing ink, brushes, and water containers. Students have the option of using a piece of watercolor paper of similar size if they wish to purchase one on their own.

10/31/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we officially started working on the woodcut black and white book illustration project. I distributed pieces of wood to everyone present. We took a tour of the printmaking studio down the hall, and I gave a demonstration of safe and effective ways to cut the block with the x-acto knives that everyone has. Most of the day was spent working on the compositional designs, first on paper, then on the wood. Most students started cutting the blocks by the end of the day.

How to make this up- You can't start drawing on the block until you get one, but until then you can start working on your idea. The blocks are about 8" x 6". Work up design ideas (can be vertical or horizontal) on paper for a black and white composition. I suggest that you complete your best design in black marker, to get a good sense of how it will look when printed in black ink. Above are some recent student examples of the project. For additional examples and specifics regarding the assignment can be found here.

Homework- The completed wood block graded project is due at the beginning of class on November 14, 2011. On that day I will help everyone print their woodcuts during class while people are working on another project.

For next class 11/7/11- We will begin our study of color. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints (red/yellow/blue/black/white), brushes, palette, palette knife, and water container.

10/26/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today we did two things- the final charcoal drawing of the semester, and the first half of the semester portfolios were graded and returned. The charcoal drawing were collected and will be returned graded next week.

How to make this up- Set up a still life. Put a medium size box on a table, with a smaller box on the table in front of it. Drape both boxes with a white or light colored cloth. Arrange 4 objects of similar size on and around the the two boxes- two white or very light colored, two darker colored. Shine a direct light source on it to create strong patterns of light and shadow. Draw the still life on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper using the charcoal of your choice (vine or compressed), paying attention to our usual concerns of the shapes of objects, proportions of objects, spacing, perspective, and matching the values of objects and drapery as closely as possible. Spend up to 5 hours working on it if you need to. This is a graded project and must be completed as soon as possible.

If you haven't had your 1st half portfolio graded yet, bring it in as soon as possible.

Homework- Find a pumpkin, either whole or carved as a jack-o'lantern. Draw three different views of the pumpkin, one per page in your sketchbook, using your softest pencil, paying attention to the specific values of the parts of the pumpkin, any attached or cast shadows, and if it's carved, either the dark or light within.

For next class 11/2/11- We will begin our study of value drawing using ink wash. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, black drawing ink, watercolor brushes, water containers (cups, cans, etc), and pencil and eraser.

10/24/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we spent most of the class working on our third graded project of the semester, our last charcoal value drawing. The last hour of the class was spent looking at slides of the history of printmaking (including some contemporary work) and student examples of the woodcut project that we will start next week.

How to make this up- For the charcoal drawing, you will have to set up a still life grouping similar to those from last week, except this time there will be some darker colored objects in the mix, as in the above examples. You may use your choice of vine or compressed charcoal. After showing the printmaking slides, I discussed the nature of next week's project and how to prepare for it. Information about the print project and full details for the charcoal drawing can be found here.

The charcoal drawing is a graded project and must be completed and turned in as soon as possible to avoid losing too many points.

Homework- No new drawing is required, however I suggest that you come up with a literary source for your illustration project next week, and bring it with you if possible. If you find yourself inspired, feel free to start thinking about image ideas for the print. Anyone who still owes any back work would be advised to work on it this week, as there will likely be homework every week beginning with next class.

For next class 10/31/11- Bring some paper for sketching (can be your 18" x 24" pad or a smaller sketchbook), pencil and eraser, black markers, and x-acto knife. I will distribute wood and demonstrate how to cut a block, and everyone will work on their illustration projects.

10/19/11 Drawing I

Today's Class- Today we continued our study of value drawing with charcoal, using both vine and compressed. What was different today was that we added into the still life some objects and drapery that were not white, so that we had to deal with the local color values in addition to the effect of light and shadow.

How to make this up- Set up a still life grouping. Place a box on a table, and drape with one white or light colored cloth, and one dark colored cloth, arranged so that parts of both are visible. Find four objects of similar size, two of which are white or very light colored, two of which are a solid color (medium or dark). Use a direct light source to light the set up. Then do the following drawings on your 18" x 24" paper, paying attention to shapes, proportions, spacing, and value of the objects:

1) Vine Charcoal- Arrange the two white objects and one dark object on and around the draped box, and draw the set up using vine charcoal. Unlike last week, do not fill the page with charcoal first, but instead draw with the charcoal on white paper. In class students spent about 90 minutes on it. Make sure to spray it with fixative when you are done.

2) Compressed Charcoal- Replace one of the white objects with the other dark object, rearrange the three objects, and draw again, this time using your compressed charcoal. Students in class spent about two hours working on it.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by October 26th (next week) to receive credit.

Homework- Put a box on a table, drape with a patterned cloth (stripes, checks, etc), and shine on it a direct light source to create strong light and shadow patterns. Arrange on and around the box two white or light colored objects, and two solidly dark colored objects. Draw the set up in your sketchbook using a soft pencil (6B or 4B), matching the light and shadow. Rearrange the objects and draw it again. Do a total of 2 sketches of the still life, one per page.

********Midterm Portfolio Collection**********

The midterm portfolio (all drawings done in class except the graded pencil line still life) for this class will be graded during class time on Wednesday, October 26th. If you have not missed any classes and did all the drawings we did in class each day, you're all set. If you missed any classes, the following list covers what I expect to see, and the dates that each can be found on this blog. All September exercises are in pencil, the October drawings are charcoal.

9/14/11- Contour line exercises (shoes and hands)

9/21/11- Reductive line drawing (bamboo)

-Contour line drawing (bamboo)

-Negative space drawing of chair

-Still life group of bottles

9/28/11- Two point perspective (room corner)

-Still life of boxes and cans

10/12/11- Value studies of all white objects (vine and compressed)

10/19/11- Value studies of mixed value objects (vine and compressed)

For next class 10/26/11- We will do our final charcoal drawing of the semester. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, your charcoal of choice, appropriate erasers for the charcoal, and spray fixative. Also bring the midterm portfolio art.

10/17/11 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started our study of charcoal value drawing. We started by looking at some slides of art from the classical period to the present, observing how artists have used value (light and dark) to suggest volume, space, location, and time of day in two dimensional artworks. After that the class worked from a still life, doing two charcoal drawings.

How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life of white or light colored objects, light it with a direct light source to create light and shadow patterns, and draw it with each type of charcoal. Full details of the assignment and additional student examples can be found here. These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester for credit, however I recommend doing them before next week for practice, especially if you've never worked with charcoal before.

Homework- Nothing new, but if anyone still owes their stipple drawing or pencil line still life, they should try to get them in as soon as possible to avoid losing too many points.

For next class 10/24/11- We will continue charcoal drawing, doing our next graded project, and then discuss the next medium we'll try after that- the woodcut print. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, charcoal of choice (vine or compressed), erasers, and spray fixative.