12/19/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today was the last class meeting of the semester.  We spent much of the class looking at the 3D projects.  After that, I dismissed the students for a while so that I could grade those projects, some late arriving comic strips, the semester portfolios, and museum papers.  Because so many were late in arriving today, I didn't get to all the papers before the end, so if you chose not to wait, e-mail me and I'll send you the grade for the paper.  Most students did return to pick up their work and learn the grades on the 3D projects, the portfolios, etc.  Unclaimed work was put over on a table in the niche on the side (under where it says "art" in the above photo)- I can't guarantee how long it will remain there, so if you want it, you should try to pick it up soon.  (keep in mind that the room is often locked when not in use)  Final class grades will be available online, probably in early January.

Enjoy the holidays

12/17/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today was our last meeting of the semester.  We opened with a critique of the Board Game Final Projects, as well as a few other late arriving projects.  Then I dismissed the class while I graded those, the semester portfolios, and the museum papers.  Most students returned to pick up their work.  Work not picked up by 3:00 pm was placed, as stated during class, on top of the metal cabinet in the back corner of the classroom (by the windows)- it is recommended that you pick it up as soon as possible.  Final class grades will be available online sometime after Christmas.  

Enjoy the holiday break.

12/12/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class-  Today was a general work day for the class.  Students chose such options for themselves as working on parts of the 3D project, working on their museum papers, or finishing a back exercise from the portfolio.  We also looked at a few late arriving comic strips, and took a walk to the gallery down the hall to see the current Kean Fine Arts Faculty Exhibition.

Homework-  The 3D Final Project is due at the beginning of class on December 19, 2012.  

The museum paper is due at the beginning of class on December 19, 2012.

The semester portfolio (all the otherwise ungraded work) is due at the beginning of class on December 19, 2012.  The full list of what is expected in the semester portfolio (and the dates they can be found on this blog) can be found on last week's blog post.

For next week 12/19/12-  Our last meeting of the semester.  We will open with a group critique of the 3D projects, then I'll dismiss everyone while I grade those, the portfolios, and any back projects or museum papers I haven't seen yet.  At a time I'll tell you that day, you can return and collect all the graded work.  No work for the semester will be accepted after the end of the class.

2012 Faculty Exhibition

Currently on view in the James Howe Gallery in Vaughn-Eames is the 2012 Fall Salon / Kean Fine Arts Faculty Exhibition.  It features artwork from 21 members of the art department faculty, including prints, paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, video, and mixed media.  

My 2D Design class saw the show a few weeks ago, and my Intro class will likely see it tomorrow.  However, if you find yourself on campus on Wednesday, December 12th from 4 to 6 pm, you are invited to stop by the gallery and enjoy the official reception.  Many of the participating artists will be present, along with free refreshments.

The show will remain on display through Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

12/10/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we opened with a critique of the limited palettes graded projects, and we took time to take the department's 2D Design Assessment test.  The rest of the day was a general work day, for students to work on anything related to the class.

******Final Portfolio*******

At our last class meeting next week I'll be grading the semester portfolio, which is all the items that weren't individually graded.  If you missed no classes, you should have them done.  (the wallpaper and color wheel/mixes have to be complete, the others only need to be as much as we got done in class)  If you missed time, or aren't sure of what is included, below is a list, along with the dates they can be found on this blog:

9/17/12-    Wallpaper patterns with dots
9/24/12-    Contour Lines (shoes)
                  Negative Space (chair, bottles)
10/8/12-    Value drawing exercises (charcoal)
11/12/12-  Color Wheel, Complement Mix
11/26/12-  Color Still Life painting

Homework-  The Board Game final project is due at the beginning of class on December 17, 2012.  

The museum assignment is due at the beginning of class on December 17, 2012.

If you still owe such back assignments as the color temperature collage (seasons), or limited palettes project, they can be turned on at the beginning of class on December 17, 2012 for partial credit.

For next class 12/17/12-  Our final class meeting of the semester. We will have a group critique of the final projects, and perhaps some late arriving other graded projects.  Then I'll dismiss the class temporarily while I grade those items, the portfolios, and the papers.  If you return at the designated time that day (I'll let you know that morning), you may pick up all those items and learn the grades they earned.  Final class grades will come out online when the college releases them.  

Make sure you are on time.  The sooner we start, the sooner we will finish.  No work will be accepted after that.

12/5/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class-  Today we covered the last new topic of the semester, sculpture.  I showed slides of three dimensional art stretching from prehistoric to contemporary, and then I assigned the final 3D graded project.  We also held a brief critique of all the 2D projects, the comic strips.

How to make this up- You will base your sculpture on an individualized theme, randomly chosen.  Students in class today chose words from paper bags to create a random phrase to be the inspiration for the sculpture.  Once you have the theme,  you choose the type of sculpture to make, either an open front box sculpture (like the example above) or a free standing tabletop sculpture.  Student examples of each type, and all the specific directions and project requirements, can be found here.

To get your specific theme, you can wait until next week's class and pick from the bags yourself, or contact me by e-mail and have me pick a phrase for you.

Homework- This 3D graded project is due at the beginning of class on December 19, 2012.  This is the last day of class.  Any work not turned in by then will not be accepted for your final grade.

Museum papers are also due on the last day of class, but will be accepted next week.  Turning it in a week earlier means I can let you know if there are issues that you can fix, and then resubmit it for a better grade  on the last day of class.

If you haven't turned in your 2D graded project (comic strip), bring it as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

Next week, December 12th, is the last chance to bring in your collagraph plate to be printed and included in your semester portfolio.

For next class 12/12/12- The class period will be a general work day for the class, which you may use for any class related work.  Most will work on the 3D Final.  If you want to do that, bring with you whatever materials you plan to use in the creation of your sculpture.  (having your theme before you come to class will help you to know what kinds of things to bring with you)  Another option is to work on a back project from earlier in the semester.  The full list of portfolio exercises can be seen below.  If you can complete it without any assistance from me (setting up a still life, providing specific music), you can work on it next week.  Another possibility is working on your museum paper, if you've completed your visit.

Semester Portfolio
9/12/12  Contour Lines (shoes)
9/19/12  Negative Space
9/26/12  Value Drawing (charcoal)
10/3/12  Mosaic Collage
10/10/12 Color Wheel and Mixing
10/17/12  Photography
10/24/12  Rhythm (music)
11/7/12  Collagraph

Next week I will also return the graded comic strip projects and we'll visit the Faculty Exhibition down the hall.

12/3/12 2D Design

Today's Class-  We spent the first half of class today exploring the idea of composing with color.  We reviewed some general rules and concepts from the textbook, and looked at a few dozen slides of historical art, considering the compositional strategies in each.  Then the class did a group exercise, playing the composition game (above), balancing with shape, color intensity, value, etc.  Most of the rest of the class was devoted to the Final Project, creating a board game out of the work of a chosen fine artist.  We also took some time to see the Faculty Exhibition downstairs in the gallery.

Board Game Final Project

Roots
Kerry James Marshall

Painted Dreams
Vincent Van Gogh

How to make this up- You are asked to create an original composition that makes use of the artwork of a recognized fine artist from the 20th century or earlier, someone found in museums, art history textbooks, etc, who works in two dimensions, uses representational imagery (no total abstraction), and full color.  You are to use elements from two or more of the artist's works, such as figures, objects, interiors, and landscapes- the shapes, colors, and style of painting.  Arrange these items as part of your new composition, considering the various principles of design.  Because this is a board game format, your piece must include some kind of game path, a game theme (player goal) related to the chosen artwork, and the name of the game must be part of the board.  You will create this game board on a piece of mat board or the equivalent, between 15" x 20" and 18" x 24", using your acrylic paints.  Above and below are examples of student projects from earlier semesters, with the name of the inspiring artist and the game.  More details of what is required, as well as my example and the story behind its development, can be found here.

Love Story

Roy Lichtenstein

Magritte: The Board Game

Rene Magritte

Homework-  This Game Board Final Project is due at the beginning of class on December 17, 2012.  This is our final class meeting.  No projects will be accepted after this date.

The limited palettes graded project that we started a few weeks ago is due at the beginning of class on December 10, 2012.

The museum assignment is due on December 17, 2012, though it can be turned in next week.

For next class 12/10/12-  We will critique the limited palettes projects, take a brief vocabulary and art concepts test, and spend the rest of the day working on the final projects.