10/31/16 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started our study of color, which will be part of almost everything else we do the rest of this semester.  I showed a few dozen slides of art from the Renaissance to the present, discussing the history of the art, the technology and evolution of color use, and how it all related to the cultural environments.  The class did a series of portfolio exercises about color theory and color mixing.  A few pulled practice proofs of their woodcut blocks started last week.

How to make this up-

You will be doing three exercises relating to color.  There is a 12 step color wheel, and exercise in mixing a complement color pair to make various intermediate colors, and choosing a color to explore in 15 steps that include tints and shades.  All can fit on a single page of your 18" x 24" pad.  Above and below are student examples from previous semesters.  For additional examples and to see the complete directions, click here.

This is a portfolio exercise that must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.  If you are unfamiliar with basic color theory or acrylic paints, I recommend doing it soon for the information and practice.

Homework-  Nothing new today, but the woodcut book illustration project is due at the beginning of class next week, November 7, 2016.

For next class 11/7/16- We will be doing an exercise in the idea of text as a visual element.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencils and eraser, and various black markers.  We will also be printing your wood block book illustration project, so bring your completed wood block.  You will need paper to print it on.  A piece of paper from your big pad or a smaller sketchbook will do, as long as it's at least a little larger than the dimensions of your 8" x 6" block. I'll provide the printing tools and ink.

10/24/16- 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we moved from the basic drawing phase of the class to more of the design portion, with students creating something at least partly from their own heads.  The assignment was to create an illustration inspired by a literary source, such as a novel, poem, short story, etc.  The medium would be something new to most students- a woodcut print.  Prints were introduced in a slide lecture last week, and today was spent developing the drawing ideas and starting on the carving of the blocks.  Some were very motivated by the medium or the assignment and actually finished carving  their blocks before the end of the class meeting.  Some time was also devoted to safety tips and some got to try some actual woodcut tools that I brought in for the occasion.

How to make this up- You can't make the block without having the wood.  I did provide small panels of luaun plywood to each student, the same wood I used for many years in making my own prints.  These panels were 6" x 8", 1/4" thickness.  Those who were not there today can pick up a panel from me next week, or go to a lumber yard and get some suitable wood yourself.  Meanwhile, you can work out the drawing ideas on paper.

As book illustrations, each image must relate to the narrative of the source material in some way.  It can depict a specific scene from the original story, or be something that sums up the book.  It must be representative, but need not be realistic- the story is more important than how well you draw the subject.  However the design is important- this is an assignment in black and white composition, so we are seeking a balance in positive and negative space, and interesting interactions of black and white shapes.  Make all parts of the panel interesting, as well as balancing the whole composition.  I posted some examples from past students on this blog, which can be found here or just scroll down to the next post.  The compositions can be either vertical or horizontal.  To speed up the process, I suggest you come in next week with a worked out drawing on paper, and I will spend some time going over it with you and making suggestions before you start creating your block.  At least in pencil, though most will also use a sharpie marker to provide the drawing with the proper black effect.

The original hope was to have this ready for a proposed foundations classes student show, and as of Monday there was some question as to how it would work.  I learned on Tuesday night that the deadline for entry of that show is now on November 4, 2016.  Work submitted by then will be evaluated (not by me) for the show.   For the purposes of the class, the block deadline is the Monday after that, and that's not changing, as I think it's more important for the class that you do well in the focus of the project.  However, if you have finished your block by next week and wish to submit it to the student show, I will have materials to print the images in class on October 31st.  Bring your completed block and a piece of paper large enough to print it (standard drawing paper at least a few inches larger than the block in all directions).  For mounting purposes it was asked that students use black foam core or black mat board.  I can go over that with you in class next week.

Homework- This graded book illustration project (the carved block) is due at the beginning of class on November 7, 2016.  On that day, while everyone is working on another assignment, I'll take everyone individually over to the print tables and help everyone print a good proof of you block. We will critique them in class later that day.

For next week 10/31/16- We go to work on the other important principle of 2D design that we'll need to know this semester- use of color.  I will go over the history of color in art, discuss basic color theory, and we'll do some exercises in basic color mixing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, tubes of black, white, red, yellow, and blue acrylic paints, paint brushes, mixing palette, and a water container.  

student examples of woodcut prints

Examples of the woodcut illustration project from past semesters.

10/17/16 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we continued our study of value and concluded our study of charcoal, doing the Final in Charcoal.  I set up a mixed value still life and students spent the first part of the class doing a charcoal drawing of it.  After lunch I showed slides and talked about the history of printmaking, a two dimensional art form that will be the next medium we will study.  I introduced the idea of the next graded project, which will be started next week.

How to make this up- You will need to set up still life, a mix of all white objects and dark objects, so all values will be represented in the next drawing, as in the student example above.  Additional examples and specific requirements can be found here.

This is a graded project, and must be made up as soon as possible.  The longer the delay in completing it, the more points will be lost in the grading.

Homework- Nothing new, but if you still owe any back assignments, try to get them done as soon as possible.  And start working on your ideas for the next project, a woodcut illustration from a literary source, which will be begun in class next week.

For next class 10/24/16- We will be starting the next graded project, a woodcut illustration from a literary source.  I will be providing the wood, but you will need to select an inspiring concept and be prepared to start drawing and cutting the block.  Bring a pencil and eraser, a small sketchbook (your large 18"x 24" pad will do if you have no other paper), large black sharpie markers, and suitable cutting tools.  An x-acto knife or the equivalent (such as the hobby kits everyone received early this semester) will work, and I plan to be binging in some traditional relief carving tools for students to make use of during the class meeting. It wouldn't hurt to have a printed copy of the source you are working from, in case you want to check for additional details.  We will have a quick critique of the charcoal drawings form today, which will be returned graded, then we move on to the woodcut project.  I will demonstrate safe and effective techniques for making a relief block and we will discuss composing in black and white, with an emphasis on positive and negative shapes.  What you don't finish in class you will complete before the next meeting so that we can print them the following week in class.

10/10/16 2D Design

Today's Class- The final line drawings from last week were graded and returned, and we moved onto out next topic- value drawing.  In 2D art, value is the use of light and dark in an image, which can describe an object, show volume and form, draw attention to a specific part, indicate time of day, etc. I showed about 3 dozen slides of historical art, reviewing how each used value and to what purpose.  Then students did two portfolio exercises involving charcoal and drawing from a still life.

How to make this up- You will need to set up two still life subjects and draw them with charcoal on a sheet of 18" x 24" paper using vine charcoal, and then compressed charcoal.  Student examples and a specific list of requirements can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit, but since next week you will do a charcoal drawing that will be for a grade, I suggest you do this before next week for relevant practice.

Homework- Nothing new, but if you still owe one of the first two graded assignments (stipple drawing, line still life), get them dome as soon as possible.

For next class 10/17/16- We will continue with value drawing with charcoal, this time as a graded drawing.  Bring your 18"x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.  After completing the graded drawing, students will see a presentation about printmaking, which will lead to the next graded project to be started the following week.

10/3/16 2D Design

Today's Class- We opened with a quick critique of the stipple drawings, which were graded during class and returned.  Then we moved on to the second graded project of the semester, a pencil line still life of a complex composition.  Students had the rest of the class period to work on it, and I collected the results.  Those will be returned next week.

How to make this up-  You will need to assemble a group of items and set up a still life.  Examples from a previous semester and specific requirements can be found here.

This is a graded project and must be made up as quickly as possible.


Homework- Nothing new, but if you owe me either the stipple drawing or today's still life, get it done soon.  The longer it takes to get them in, the fewer points they will be worth.


For next class 10/10/16- Our study of 2D continues with value, using light and dark in a composition for various purposes.  We touched on this with the dot drawings, but now we will move to a more traditional medium- charcoal.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.  We will be doing portfolio exercises, and I will return the student work I have from today.