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Today's Class- Today we looked at the mixed media collage pieces that were due today, and a few late arriving behavior changing posters. I returned some previously graded work. Much of the day was spent working more on the final project that we introduced last week- something linked to a specific culture.
How to make this up- As a group, the class created a word association tree. We started with a single example term that could have many associations (HOME), then selected 5 related terms. Above is a photo of this morning's chalkboard (click on the photo to enlarge), starting with Home, which branched into Family, House, Safe, Bed, and Community. For each of these words we found 3 related terms, and for each of those 3 more associations, so that at the end we had 45 words at the end of the branches, all of which had a relationship to our original word.
Last week I had asked everyone to come up with a list of 3 cultures that would be possibilities as a subject for this last project. Today each student chose the one they liked best, and came up with a list of 6 branch words and at least 3 words branching off that. This was the basis of this week's homework.
Homework- Chose 3 of the initial branching words from your original chosen culture to be basis for some sketches. Use the branch word and any of the terms that branched off it to serve as the subject for a small pencil sketch. There may be some overlapping concepts between the three sketches, but the focus of each should be different. The sketches should be done in pencil, and can either be a full page in your sketchbook or half a page in your large pad. These may change before final piece due in two weeks, but use this opportunity to work out compositional ideas and gather as many related details. Do a total of 3 sketches.
Any graded projects that students still owe, including the museum paper, should be turned in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.
For next class 5/6/13- Bring the sketchbook, pencil and eraser. If you would like to use some class time next week to work out the final idea, make sure to have your 18" x 24 pad as well. We will discuss the homework sketches and look at any late arriving projects.
Today's Class- Today we looked at the behavior change posters and a few late arriving previous projects. I returned graded projects from previous weeks and more students picked the words that will be the subject of their mixed media collage. I also introduced what will be the final project of the semester.
How to make this up- Our final project will be based on a subject explored by many artists- their experience in a specific culture or subculture. Among the artists I showed was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (above), whose paintings featured the subject of the tawdry music halls and bars he frequented. I also showed examples of my own work, series of prints about life in supermarkets and at New Jersey's boardwalks.
Students are being asked to pick some cultures they have experience being part of, one of which will eventually be the subject of the final piece. These cultures can be geographic, family/ethnic, occupational, hobby-related, etc. Over the next few weeks we will gradually focus attention to one specific culture on your list, with a specific aspect of that to be the subject of your final artwork.
Homework- For this cultural final project, select 3 specific cultures that you have first hand familiarity with, things that you don't share with everyone in the class. In your sketchbook list as many associations as you can think of for each culture- words for sure, and sketching objects and locations if you have ideas.
The mixed media collage projects that we began last week are due at the beginning of class on April 29, 2013. The museum paper is also due on that same day.
For next class 4/29/13- Bring your completed collage pieces and your sketchbook with potential ideas for the subculture final project.
City of Zoo
Dangerous Roots
Today's Class- Tonight we started our second to last project of the semester, a mixed media collage. We also spent some time discussing progress on the behavior changing posters, and looking at more late arriving projects from earlier in the semester.
How to make this up- The project makes use of a few aspects of the early 20th century art movement Dada, specifically the use of collage and of randomly generated art. We looked at a few slides of art from that period, and then students selected words (subject and modifier) from paper bags, the words forming random phrases that became the subject of the collages. You can't begin without your phrase, so either contact me and have me draw one for you, or wait until next week and choose from the bags yourself. Once you have the phrase, create a mixed media collage with a theme based on the phrase. The piece must use collaged elements, painted elements, and drawn (pencil, markers, etc) elements. You may use any of those media in any way you want in the creation of your piece. In grading these, I'll be looking for the use of all three media, addressing the theme, and how you compose the space (use of value, color, balance, etc). Examples from previous semesters can be seen above and below with the chosen theme underneath each one.
Untamable Deluge
Give us the Pragmatic
Tangled Men
Homework- This mixed media collage graded project is due at the beginning of class on April 29, 2013.
The poster to change behavior is due at the beginning of class on April 22, 2013
The museum assignment is due at the beginning of class on April 29, 2013.
Any earlier assignments not yet turned in (symbolic language, symbolic self portrait, synthesis project) should be turned in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.
For next class 4/22/13- We will have a class critique of the Behavior Changing posters, and I'll return items collected tonight for grading. We will also begin discussing what will be the final project of the semester, due the last day of class.
Today's Class- Today we held a group critique of the Synthesis projects, the work based on ideas from the recent student show in the Howe Gallery downstairs. We went back to that gallery again today, not for an assignment, but just to see the new current show (above), art from graduating students in our MA program. We also looked at some late arriving projects from earlier in the semester, discussed the Behavior Change project again, and filled out the semester's course evaluation forms.
How to make this up- We didn't start anything new tonight, but the details about the current graded project can be found in last week's blog post.
Homework- The finished Behavior Changing poster project is due at the beginning of class on April 22, 2013. However, I want to see ideas, including sketches of possible images to use in your poster by next week, April 15, 2013.
Those who still owe any of the previous projects (symbolic language, symbolic self portrait, synthesis) should turn them in as soon as possible for partial credit.
For next class 4/15/13- We will start our last new graded project of the semester before the Final Project. Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, markers, acrylic paints and brushes and other painting supplies (palette, palette knife, water container), scissors and glue.
Today's Class- We looked at a few late arriving projects, and discussed the upcoming Synthesis project, but most of the time was devoted to what will be our next project, the idea of using art to change behavior.
How to make this up- I introduced the idea of semiotics, the study of signs and symbols and how their meanings are interpreted. Although these signs can be found in fine art, I chose to demonstrate using examples from the world of advertising, a mix of World War II era government propaganda and 1960's magazine advertisements, as in the above examples. I had the class bring examples of contemporary magazine advertisements and we took them apart the same way, looking at some of the associations carried by names, text, and images.
This gave us the frame of reference for the next graded project, a poster designed to change a person's behavior. Use your 18" x 24" paper and acrylic paints to provide full color. The purpose of the poster will be to try to convince someone to either start doing something that they are not, or to stop doing something that they are doing. The behavior can be something serious or trivial. You may use text to help carry your message, but this is an art class, so the visual image should be the primary means of communicating the idea. If you use text, size, shape, style, and location of the lettering should be specifically considered. In grading I'll be looking for all the formal issues (composition, value, color) and how you use visuals to try to to convince us of your point of view.
This graded behavior changing project is due at the beginning of class on April 22, 2013.
Homework- The Synthesis Project, combining aspects of two or more artworks from the recent student show, is due at the beginning of class on April 8, 2013.
This new Behavior Changing Project is due at the beginning of class on April 22, 2013.
Any back projects that you owe should be completed and turned in as soon as possible to get partial credit.
For next class 4/8/13- We will critique the Synthesis project and further discuss the behavior project. We will also probably complete the course evaluation and maybe visit the grad student show in the gallery downstairs. Bring your completed project, sketchbook, pencil and eraser.
