Expected Storm Issues

While this coming storm is expected to affect pretty much all of New Jersey and this whole corner of the country, it's expected to come ashore and do its greatest damage in the Monmouth/Ocean region, which is where I happen to live.  The local power company has already threatened to not restore expected power outages for up to 10 days, which will severely limit my access to e-mail and the internet until that is resolved.  I will try to check in when I can, but I may not be able to respond to e-mails as promptly as I try to under normal circumstances.

10/29/12- 2D Design Change

10/28/12  Storm Update and Change-

By now you likely know that the school has finally and wisely decided to cancel all classes for Monday Oct 29th and Tuesday Oct 30th.  That means no meeting for our 2D Design class this coming week (Week 8 on our syllabus).  There is a little bit of wiggle room built into the schedule, so we should be able to cover almost everything that was planned for the semester, just rearranged a little.

Class Assignment Updates-

The woodcut book illustration graded project will now be due at the beginning of class on Monday, November 12, 2012.  On that day I will help all the students print their blocks while everyone works on a color related graded project.  This gives everyone who has wood an extra week to cut the blocks.  Those who were not here last week to receive a block from me can wait until our next meeting to get one.  If you would prefer to start before then with your own wood, I suggest 1/4" thick plywood, either lauan (what I distributed) or birch, about 8" x 6".  However, I recommend that you wait until after our next meeting to start cutting, so I can demonstrate the best and safest way to cut your design into the block.  

For next class 11/5/12-  We are going to pick up where we left off with the next planned lesson- portfolio exercises in basic color theory and color mixing.  (the original plan for this day, text as a visual element, will likely be addressed in a few weeks)  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints (red, blue, yellow, black, white), brushes, mixing palette, palette knife, and a water container.  

10/24/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we discussed the idea of rhythm and movement as aspects of visual art.  We looked at slides from the Renaissance through the present, talking about how patterns of shapes and colors can be described and felt in the same way that musical rhythms are appreciated.  Then the class did a series of abstract paintings, each while listening to a different style of music.  I also collected the research assignments that were due today.

How to make this up- You will need to do a series of paintings using your 18" x 24" pad and watercolors.  The class listened to 15 minute segments of mostly instrumental music, and for each created an abstract composition that reflected the music, choosing colors and designs influenced by the music.  No representational images allowed, but otherwise you are free to create what you want.  Above and below are examples from previous semesters.  The list of the specific music we listened to (or equivalents if you don't have access to those) and additional painting examples can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.

Homework-  If you didn't turn in your research assignment today, you should get it to me as soon as possible to receive partial credit.  The more weeks it is late, the more points will be deducted.  
We are now past the halfway point in the semester.  If you haven't yet done your museum visit, you should do it soon before the you get overloaded with end of the semester papers, projects, and exams in all your classes.

The photography assignment handed out last week is due November 7, 2012.

For next class 10/31/12-  We will start a printmaking project, a collagraph.  It's a process where materials are attached to a surface, and the shapes and textures are printed on paper with printing ink.  I'll provide cardboard for the plate base and I have a bag of things that you may pick through and cut up for your project, but if you have some things with potentially interesting textures (can be natural or manufactured items) that you don't mind cutting up and gluing down, bring them in.  The plates will be given time to dry and actually printed in class in a few weeks.  Bring scissors and glue, and any materials you want to bring in.  You won't need paper next week so you may leave the big pad at home.

10/22/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we began the graded woodcut project, a problem of black and white composition that is also a book illustration.  Looking back at the textbook's chapter on value, I went over the idea of value patterns- using value more as a formal compositional element and less as a way to describe surface appearances or to imply form and volume.  Using examples from my own work I discussed approaches to developing an idea- from initial concept, through revisions, to the final visual idea.  Wood was distributed and I did a demonstration of safe and effective cutting techniques.  We also visited the printmaking studio down the hall and a printmaking exhibition at the library.

How to make this up-  You can't create the block until you get a piece of wood, but you can develop your idea on paper.  You are creating an original illustration based on a literary source- fiction or non fiction, novel, short story, poem, etc, but no fairy tales, kids or young adult books, comics, or anything fully illustrated.  You can pick a specific scene, or something that sums up the book.  You will be working at a size of 8" x 6", which can be vertical or horizontal.  Bring your sketch idea(s) to class next week, and I'll give you a piece of the same wood distributed to everyone today.  Above are some examples from previous semesters. Additional examples and further instructions can be found here.

Homework- The completed block is due at the beginning of class on November 19, 2012. (note new storm related date) At that time I will bring in ink and printing tools to help you print them.  I suggest you start the cutting before next week so I can look at your progress.

For next class 10/29/12-  (now 11/12/12) We will start our study of color with some exercises in basic color theory and mixing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints (red, yellow, blue, white, black), brushes, palette knife, palette, and water container.

10/17/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at the medium of photography.   I showed slides with examples of the history of photography, from the earliest experiments of the 1800's to contemporary artists, discussing the changes of technology, and the ways that photographs address the same concerns as more traditional arts.  A handout with a take home photo assignment was distributed.  We also took a tour of the building, visiting many of the studio classrooms and observing the type of work done there.  After that, we visited two exhibitions on campus, at the Human Rights Institute and at the CAS building.

How to make this up-  The take home photography assignment, and some previous student examples of the assignment, can be found here.

Homework-  The take home photography assignment is due at the beginning of class on November 7, 2012.

The research assignment on the various art historical periods is due at the beginning of class on October 24, 2012.

For next class 10/24/12-  We will go back to working with color.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, watercolors, brushes, mixing palette and water container, along with the completed research papers.

10/15/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we finished our study of value drawing with a graded charcoal drawing of a mixed value still life.  We reserved the last hour of class for a slide show of the history of printmaking and a discussion of next week's woodcut project.

How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life that includes both white and dark colored objects, and both white and dark colored drapes.  Light with a directional light to create light and shadow patterns on the still life, and then draw it on your 18"x 24" paper using the charcoal of your choice.  Full directions and additional student examples can be found here. This post also includes details about next week's woodcut project.

This is a graded project and must be completed as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

Homework- Come up with a literary source for your woodcut book illustration project mentioned above.

For next class 10/22/12- We will start the next graded project.  I'll bring actual examples of student prints from this project from previous semesters and books with examples of woodcut prints.  I will distribute the wood that you'll use for the project, and do a demonstration of safe and effective cutting techniques.  We will likely visit the printmaking classroom and possibly a print exhibition on campus.  Bring paper (a small sketchbook will be enough, but you can use your 18" x 24" pad if you like), pencil and eraser, black markers, and x-acto knife.  If you have a copy of your chosen literary source, bring it along.

10/10/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class-  Today we talked about color for the first time this semester.  I showed slides of art from prehistory to the present, discussing the role of color in each, as well as the evolving technology of pigments and paints.  After that, the class did a couple of portfolio exercises related to basic color theory and color mixing.

How to make this up- Students did two exercises involving the specific mixing of colors.  First was a color wheel, in which all the colors were mixed from three primary colors, including tints of the primary and secondary colors.  Second was mixing a pair of complementary (opposite) colors to create some related neutrals.  Above is a student example.  To see the full instructions and another example, click here.

These are portfolio exercises and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit.

Homework-  The research assignment is due at the beginning of class two weeks from today, October 24, 2012.  If you haven't yet cleared your choices of artists and artworks with me, I suggest you do so soon.

For next class 10/17/12-  We will discuss the medium of photography.  We'll look at examples of photography from the earliest experiments to contemporary images, discussing the similarities and differences with more traditional mediums.  The related project will be a take home assignment that you'll have a few weeks to complete on your own. We will spend the rest of the class period taking a walk around the building, visiting some of the other studios and learning about some of the other things taught in the department, and perhaps visiting an exhibition on campus.  You do not need to bring any art supplies to class next week.

10/8/12 2D Design

Today's Class-  Today was devoted to the concept of value in two dimensional art.  Value was a part of the stipple drawing assignment, but now we're using a more traditional medium, charcoal.  We discussed some related vocabulary and definitions from the textbook, looked at slides of historical art from antiquity through the present, and discussed the way value was used to imply form and volume, space, to highlight specific details, and to focus attention.  After that the class did two still life drawings using different types of charcoal.

How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life to draw from, which will be lit by a single directional light source to create patterns of light and shadow.  You will do one drawing as a value reduction using vine charcoal, filling a page with it and using your kneaded eraser to draw the lights from the set up.  You will also do a more traditional value drawing using compressed charcoal on clean white paper.  Specific instructions as to how to put together the still life and what to focus on, and additional student examples, can be seen here.

These are portfolio exercises and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit, but I recommend that you complete them before next week as practice for a graded charcoal assignment, especially if have never tried charcoal before.

Homework-  Nothing new, but a few students still owe me the graded projects involving stipple drawing and pencil line still life drawing.  The longer the delay, the fewer points they will be worth.

For next class 10/15/12- We will finish our study of value with a graded project involving charcoal still life value drawing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, preferred type of charcoal (vine, compressed, or both), kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.  We will use part of the class to discuss printmaking in preparation for the project we will start the week after that.

10/3/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at a category that I am calling Monumental Art, two dimensional work on a large scale that permanently covers walls, ceilings, and floors of buildings and other large structures.  I showed slide examples of such art, mostly mosaics and frescoes, from antiquity through the present.  I also showed a short video that demonstrated the steps involved in creating a large contemporary mural.  After that the students began a new portfolio exercise, a mosaic style collage.

How to make this up- I put out a stack of old magazines and had students select a color photo.  It must be a photograph of something three dimensional and real, not an artwork or illustration.  Students then selected a square or rectangular portion of it to reproduce as a basic pencil sketch.  After that, they continued to go through the magazines searching for colors that exactly matched those in the photo, cut out small pieces, and glued them to the drawn version to match the original photo.  In the above student example, the original is on the left, the collage version on the right.  The specific instructions and additional student examples can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and is due by the end of the semester.  I suggest working on it before then- it is not difficult, but it is very time consuming.

Homework- Nothing new, but the research assignment is due at the beginning of class on October 24, 2012.  Many of you have shown me your chosen artists and artworks for approval, but if you haven't yet, you should do it soon.

For next class 10/10/12- We will work with color again, this time mixing paint.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, watercolor paints, and brushes.  There may be water containers and palettes there on the counter, but if you don't want to take a chance, bring your own.

10/1/12 2D Design

Today's Class- We started with a class critique of the stipple drawings, which were graded and returned before the end of class.  The rest of the class period was spent working on our second graded project, a line drawn still life with a variety of objects.

How to make this up- You will need to gather a variety of objects, which you'll use to set up a multi-level still life.   Then you'll draw the set up on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper.  The full instructions, including a list of the required objects for the still life, can be found here.

This is a graded project and must be completed as soon as possible.  The longer it takes you to turn it in, the fewer points it will be worth.

Homework- Nothing new, but those who still owe me the stipple drawing graded project should try to get it done as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 10/8/12- We will start our study of value.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.  I'll provide the subjects for a couple of value drawing portfolio exercises.