Today's Class- Today we discussed the idea of negative space, the space that surrounds and falls between positive shapes in an artwork. In a two dimensional artwork, every space in the composition is either positive or negative, and each defines the other, so though we tend to focus on positive shapes, positive and negative are equally important. In addition to two portfolio exercises, the research assignment was distributed today, and students each picked a topic from the list.
How to make this up- We did two exercises, each requiring a sheet from the 18" x 24" pad and a pencil. The first thing we did was draw the negative spaces in a chair. I set up a wooden chair on a table in the center of the class and had students draw all the spaces in the chair that were surrounded by wood. Although nothing but empty spaces were drawn, if done right the form of the chair is revealed. The second exercise involved drawing from a simple still life, a group of diverse bottles set up on a platform in the center of the room. This time students drew the actual objects, the bottles, but used negative spaces as an aid to drawing the shapes of the bottles and in finding the relative positions of the bottles. Full instructions for the exercises and additional student examples can be found here.
These are portfolio exercises and must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit. If the online instructions aren't clear enough, wait to do the assignment until after you talk to me next week.
Homework- A list of the three artists and an artwork from each that you plan to use for your research assignment is due in class on October 3, 2012. Not getting my approval for your artists won't affect the grade for the paper, but if I don't approve your artists and artworks, the responsibility for having chosen appropriate subjects is all on you. The completed paper is due at the beginning of class on October 24, 2012.
Those who haven't yet been assigned a topic for their research paper need to contact me by e-mail for a list to choose from, or wait to see me in class next week.
For next class 9/26/12- We will start our study of value, the use of light and shadow to imply space and volume in two dimensional art. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, either vine or compressed charcoal, and your kneaded eraser. Charcoal is very messy, so you are advised not to wear anything white or light colored to class that day.
