12/22/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today was our final meeting of the semester.  The snow held off, and parking wasn't a problem, with the Vaughn-Eames lot empty early in the morning and never more than half full all day.  And we had some of our best attendance of the semester, perhaps driven by the need to turn things in for grading.  The main class activity was looking at the 3D graded projects, plus getting the portfolios reviewed.

How to make this up- All work was due by the end of our class meetings, so if you didn't turn it in today and made no other arrangements, you're out of luck.  Most students turned in their 3D graded projects, with many finding very creative ways to make use of their randomly chosen topic.  Here are just a few examples:

A whole lot of papers came in today as well, both handed in as hard copies or e-mailed to me, far too many for me to evaluate during class time.  I'll start looking them over tomorrow and probably finish shortly after Christmas.  Any papers arriving today will be graded as 'late', but that's better than not at all.  

Most students brought in their large pads so that I could review the semester portfolios, and the exercises were all checked off in my records.  A few late arriving comic strips were also evaluated. 

Homework- As I said above, if you didn't turn it in by today's class, it won't be graded.  I will continue evaluating the papers and after that, start adding up the numbers to determine the final semester grades, which I believe are due sometime in January.  I will turn them over to the university as soon as I have them all figured out.  

If you enjoyed anything that we did, there's no reason you can't try those processes again on your own, and most of you probably have some left over materials to work with.  

Enjoy the break.

12/15/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today was a general work day.  A few students turned in papers, and one even showed her 3D final project, while some worked on portfolio stuff or their 3D projects.  People who missed last week drew words for their 3D subjects. We saw the last slides of the semester, a very brief overview of three dimensional art through history.  People left early from both classes, which was probably a good idea in the afternoon, when the snow showed up shortly after the last student left.  That I'm writing this is a sign that I made it home, but that happened just barely.  Long range forecasts for next Friday are looking better, but we'll see.


How to make this up- Nothing new happened today, so if you have anything to make up it's whatever you needed to make up before class.


Homework- The graded 3D project (randomly chosen subject sculpture) is due at the beginning of class on December 22, 2017.  If you haven't yet picked your words from the hats, you should e-mail me and I'll send you two possibilities to choose from.

Any 2D projects (comic strips) and papers not yet turned in are also due that day, as are the completed portfolios- list of expected work can be found in last week's blog post.


For next class 12/22/17- Our final meeting of the semester. Each student will present their 3D project to the class, and then we'll do all the grading .  Things that have already been graded and returned to you don't need to come back, but you do need to bring in everything part of the class portfolio, the 3D projects, any late papers, etc.  It's also your last chance to turn in any excused absence notes you may have.  No work will be accepted after the official end of class.  At the end of class you'll know the grades for every assignment, but final semester grades will be calculated after the holidays.

12/8/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- We did some little things today, such as filling out the class evaluation forms, but our main new art was beginning the 3D graded project, our last new thing of the semester.  We finished a little early, but not early enough to avoid the delays associated with the freight train derailment right by the campus.

How to make this up- Each student received a randomly selected phrase with both a subject and modifying phrase, which will form the subject for the last project, a three dimensional representation of that idea.  Each student will create a sculpture that depicts their chosen concept.  Below are some examples from previous semesters, including the phrase that inspired each:

 Appetite for Distraction

 Fallen Merchant

 Impasse Changed

 Planet Gone Wild

 Plowing Through the Nation

Troubled Uprising

Each student picked slips of paper from two hats, one filled with nouns, the other with modifying words or phrases, all the words taken from headlines of book reviews in the New York Times.  The randomly created new phrase will form the subject for your piece.   You may use any process and materials you want to create the sculpture, including making use of ready made objects, although the sculpture itself should be something you designed and made.  The piece may be freestanding, or can be designed to hang on a wall with an open front, as in some examples above.  It must be at least 8" in one dimension, but overall can be any size you want.

The first step is to get your phrase.  If you missed today's class, you can either wait until next week and draw a possibility yourself from the hats, or you can e-mail me sooner and I will pick two possibilities for you, one of which you must work with.  The advantage of having me do it sooner is that you have time to come up with your idea of what you want to do and acquire chosen materials to bring to class next week.

Homework- This final 3D graded project is due December 22, 2017, our final meeting of the semester.  On that day you'll present it to the class.

That is also the last day to turn in anything else you may still owe me, such as the last paper if you hadn't done it yet.  That same day I will also evaluate the semester portfolios- all the in class exercises you've done all semester.  If you've missed no classes, you've at least started all of them, and may have finished all of them.  However, if you'd like to verify what I'll be expecting, here's the complete list and where you'll find them on this blog:

9/15/17-  Contour Lines (shoes)
9/22/17-  Negative Space (chair, bottles)
9/29/17-  Value (charcoal)
10/6/17-  Collage/Mosaic
10/13/17-  Color Theory (Wheel) and mixing
10/20/17-  Photography
10/27/17-  Rhythm 
11/3/17-  Collograph print (texture)
12/1/17-  Two point Perspective


For next class 12/15/17- Next week will be a general work day, which you can use to work on anything from the class.  We will see the last slides of the semester, an overview of sculpture (which could be helpful to your process for the last project) but otherwise you'll be working on whatever you need to do for the class.  Many of you will work on the 3D graded project, but some of you may want to take advantage of the time and space to work on one of the above portfolio exercise, or you can even bring a computer and work on your last paper for the class.  Therefore bring with you whatever you need to work on whatever you have decided to work on.  

Research Assignment

We had a request to have the specifics of the research assignment for the 1000 class posted to this blog, so here it is.  It will appear in the list of what we've done, and I hope to set up a link directly to it from the list at the top of the right column.

Research Assignment

Each student is responsible for researching a particular movement in western art, the topics to be chosen by a method listed in the assignment sheet.  A written report will be produced containing the following information:

*The names of three prominent artists from this group (painters, sculptors, architects, printmakers, photographers, or whatever is significant to that group)

*For one work by each artist you will follow the Feldman criticism method we are using for the museum assignment.  (description, analysis, meaning, and judgement)  Although you may expand beyond it, your analysis should include the answers to these questions for the whole artistic movement:

   1) What were/are the goals of this art?
   2) How is the art of this period different from that which 
       proceeded it in its society?
   3) How does this art reflect its society?

The written report must be typewritten or computer printed, and should be a minimum of two pages.  You must cite bibliographic sources.  Books are generally more reliable than the internet for research, but under the current circumstances, use whatever you must.  

These are websites that may have some relevant information, including lists of artists and artworks that are parts of various movements, but you are not limited to these:

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner

https://artsandculture.google.com/explore

12/1/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today the class completed the last portfolio exercise of the semester.  After viewing a few dozen slides of the history of architecture, we did something related- perspective drawing.  Perspective is the use of formulas and procedures to draw a three dimension space in a way that provides a regular system of distortion, but one that makes sense in art.  Developed during the renaissance, it's main use was to portray the inside and outside of buildings, so it relates to the idea of architecture.  We also looked at all comic strip that came in today in a critique format.  Here are some examples from today:

How to make this up- The process of perspective drawing is fairly complex, too much so to easily explain here.  Below is an example of the assignment from a previous Kean student, drawn in a room very similar to ours.

If you know how to draw in two point perspective, you can make this up by choosing an interior corner of any room, using a page in your 18" x 24" pad, and pencil of your choice.  Your drawing should include the corner, floor and ceiling lines, two items that are part of a wall (such as a door, window, poster, etc) and one small piece of furniture.  If you are unfamiliar with the process, I suggest you wait until you return to class and ask me about it.

Homework-   The second written assignment is due next week, December 8, 2017.  For most people that will be the museum assignment, but if you did that for last month's paper, then you owe the research assignment.  

If you did not turn in your comic strip today, try to get it done for next week.  It's a graded assignment, so the longer it takes to finish, the lower the eventual grade will be.

If you were not present when we printed the collograph plates, you should bring it in as soon as possible.  I won't be bringing all the printing stuff each week, but I will collect what comes in and print the in my studio over the weekend.  I took home three such plates today.  Here's what came when I printed them-

I can't help you out on the last day of class, so you should get it done for the weeks before out last meeting.

For next class 12/8/17- I'll return the comic strips and more papers, and we'll begin the final graded project of the semester, our 3D final.  You'll be getting subjects that are randomly created and assigned and will be able to make use of any materials you want.  For next week I suggest having a place to make notes and sketch your ideas.  A small sketchbook or notebook will suffice, but you may use your large pad if that's all the paper you have, plus pencil and eraser.

11/17/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we had two main activities, continuing work on the symbolic autobiographical comic strip that was started last week, and we printed the collagraph plates that were created in class two weeks ago. Some of the papers turned in last week were returned.  No new slides today, since the project in class was the same one related to the narrative slides looked at last week.

How to make this up-  As far as the comic strip part of the day, if you were in class last week, you already know what to do. If not, last week's blog post should explain it all. Some students who missed last week got to have me explain the project directly to them, showing the student examples I have saved in recent years.  

The majority of students present today brought in their completed collagraph plates.  I had brought in some newspapers to protect the table, a portable glass palette, brayers, wooden rubbing tools, and black water-based relief ink, and we used some of the paper from the large pads to print those plates.

I probably won't be bringing in all the printmaking stuff again, so as in previous semesters, I'll ask that anyone who wasn't prepared to print today bring in their plates to class as soon as possible, and I will take them to my home studio, print them, and bring the results back to class.

Homework- The completed comic strip project is due at the beginning of class on December 1, 2017.  This is the first individually graded project of the semester.  We will look at them as a group and I will collect them.

Students who have not yet turned in their first paper should do so as soon as possible.

  *******Next week is Thanksgiving********
  ******Kean will be closed on Friday******
  ********No class for us next week********

For next class 12/1/17- Getting near the end, only four meetings left after the holiday.  We have one last portfolio exercise, involving architecture and perspective drawing.  Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil and eraser, and some kind of straightedge, like a ruler or yardstick.  I will have some, but not enough for everyone to have their own, so if you don't bring one you will have to be sharing. 

11/10/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we started on the first individually graded project of the semester, our main 2D project.  The topic that we are addressing is narrative, or the way that art can be used to tell a story, which has often been part of visual art.  In fact, other than parts of the mid-20th century, most western art has been about telling stories.   We looked at the Bayeux Tapestry (which may be the world's first comic strip), plenty of examples from the Renaissance, Baroque, Academic, and early modernism, for which the story played an important role.  We also looked at pieces that relied on viewers' knowledge of mythology and symbolism to make their points.  Then we moved on to the project itself- an autobiographical symbolic full color comic strip.


How to make this up- One of the inspirations for this project was Art Spiegelman's 1970's/80's comic book Maus, which simultaneously told two stories about his father- one recounting his parents activities in the 1930's and 40's, victims of the Nazi concentration camps in Poland, and the other story about dealing with his often difficult elderly father, now living in New York.  As in that example, students are being asked to tell a true story from their life, using symbolic characters (see the above Maus link for more details) Below are some student examples from previous semesters- click on the images to enlarge:

The comic strip should use two 18" x 24" pages from your large pad.  Each page should include 6 panels (can be more if you want), which can be identical in size or vary if needed.  Pages can be horizontal or vertical.  I recommend working out ideas for the 12 panels before starting, and you may use pencil to sketch out the layouts first.  Pens/markers can be used to write text (such as dialog balloons, thought balloons, or caption boxes) and even to outline objects, but otherwise the art should all be in full color (things that one might expect to be white may remain so) from pastels.  All character will be symbolic, the symbolism either relating directly to the individuals, or to the subject of the story.  

The nature of the story can be significant or inconsequential, and can take place all at once, over a period of years, or any amount in between.  


Homework- Nothing new, but some students still haven't turned in a written assignment yet, so get one of those done. People who have completed the photo assignment should bring those in to share.


For next class 11/17/17- We will continue work on this comic strip project, so bring in your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and pastels.  We will also be printing the collagraph plates made in class last week (cardboard, cloth, etc), so bring those as well.  I'll provide the ink and printing tools, the paper will come from your large pad.  We'll take care of those while students are individually working on their comic strips.  The completed comic strips will be due the week after our Thanksgiving vacation.

11/03/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today's formal topic was texture, which we will be exploring through a print process called collagraph.  I opened with a slide presentation on the history of printmaking
starting with the earliest European woodcuts, then the introduction of intaglio (etching and engraving) into metal, then lithography, followed by side looks to Japanese print traditions and contemporary prints by artists I have worked with.  Today's portfolio exercise was starting the creation of a collagraph plate, which uses a collage of materials to make the printing plate, rather than carving, acid, or other means.  I provided small sheets of cardboard for students to use as a base and various found cloth pieces.  Examples of past student prints and their plates were also shown.  Students constructed their plates.  Some finished, some have plans to add additional materials from home.  

How to make this up- You will need a flat thin piece of cardboard- we were using broad sides of cereal and cracker boxes, the plain sides.  Anywhere from 5"x7" to 8"x10" will work well.  You may sketch it our first, or just start attaching textured materials to the cardboard.  (white glue works well, but some students asked about hot glue, which would also work)  

The subject is up to you, but should be something recognizable, such as an object, a defined space, a symbol, or even words and numbers, though in that last case remember that everything prints backwards (as in a mirror), so letters or numbers have to be made backwards to print the correct way.  The other requirement is that there need to be at least 8 different textures (created by different materials) in the finished print.  Below are some student examples of the plate and resulting print.

The next two images just show sample student prints.  Click on them to enlarge.  Note how different materials result in different textures when printed. We will be using black ink, and the colors of materials used to make the plate don't matter.  If students want to include color in their image, they can do like the last example, and add it after the ink dries, using watercolor, pastels, etc.

These are portfolio exercises.  Complete them and bring them in for November 17, 2017, at which time I will bring in ink and printing tools so we can print your images.


Homework- The first paper is due next week at the beginning of class.  Originally I assigned that to be the museum assignment, but at the request of some students, I will be allowing the research assignment to be done first if they prefer.  Just complete one of them for November 10th.  

I had asked that the photo exercise be completed for next week as well, so results can be shared with the whole class,  However, as a portfolio exercise, it can be turned in by the end of the semester for full credit.

For next class 11/10/07- We will be starting our first individually graded art project of the semester.  It will be a two week project in class, plus some additional time to complete it on your own.  Bring your 18"x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and your pastels.

10/27/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today's topic was rhythm.  Most of us are familiar with how it relates to sound, but it also relates to the visual, and how it is used can have a big effect on an artwork or on how we interpret it.  We looked at a few dozen examples from the history of art, such as the ordered serenity of Raphael, Bosch's varied views of the afterlife, the aggressive marks of Van Gogh, the repetitive shapes of Hokusai, and the interesting surface textures of Klimt.

After that, the class did a portfolio exercise related to rhythm in art, and I discussed deadlines on the papers and next week's project.


How to make this up- To make the concept of visual rhythm more accessible, the assignment was to paint abstract compositions based on musics being played in class.  Five sequences were played, each about 15 minutes, five very different styles of music with five very different rhythms.  The idea was to react to the music and paint what the music made you feel.  Below are some student examples from previous semesters.

This is a portfolio exercise and can be made up any time before the end of the semester for full credit.  More examples, and a list of the actual music we listened to, and alternatives you can try if you can't find those, can be found here.

Homework- I reminded the students that the first papers are due on November 10, 2017, just two weeks away.  The originally assigned deadlines were November 10 for the museum assignment and December for the art history assignment, but some students asked if we could switch them.  I told them they could have that option as long as I got one of the by the 10th, as the school is pushing for evaluations of specified students in a few weeks, and otherwise all I have to work with is attendance, since the graded art projects are later in the semester.  


For next class 11/3/17- Next week we start a two part multi-week project related to printmaking.  This will be using a variety of the specific print style of collagraph, which is collaging materials in order to make a printing plate.  Below are some examples from previous semesters:

Each photo shows both the plate and print it produced, which will be made by rolling black relief printing ink onto the plate and printing it onto paper from your pad.  The plates were made from cardboard and scraps of fabric or other found materials. The colors of the textured source material do not affect colors in the print- we'll be using black ink, although students have the option of adding color to the prints after the ink dries, using watercolor or pastels.  Note that the process creates a mirror image, so any text will need to be made backwards if you want to print forwards.

I will provide cardboard (broad sides of cereal or cracker boxes), and scraps of fabric with various textures, and when we print in a few weeks, ink and printing tools.  Students have the option of bringing in materials of their own, or adding them to the plates later, as we won't print these for a few weeks.  Glued items should be relatively flat- things you don't mind cutting up.  Interesting textures are enjoyable.  Things that are fragile should be protected with some kind of varnish before printing.  (cotton balls, which seem like they would be interesting, should be avoided- they tend to stick to the sticky ink on the roller) I recommend white glue for this process over glue sticks or rubber cement.  You don't need the large pads next week, as we won't be printing yet.  Do bring scissors or something else to cut with, and glue.

10/20/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today's topic was the relatively new medium of photography.  The concept of images created by light goes back to the ancient world and the camera obscura, which was known to civilizations around the globe, but it wasn't until the age of chemistry in the 19th century that a system was worked out to record these images in a more permanent way.  I went over the evolving technology of photography, and showed a few dozen slides of the history of photography, as well as examples of some of the uses it has been put to over the past two centuries.

I also used some class time to bring the class on a brief tour of Vaughn-Eames, showing some of the studios and discussing the kinds of art classes that are offered every semester, and answering related questions.


How to make this up-  I handed out a simple assignment on paper, a list of 20 photos that students need to take, broken down into 6 categories, all of which reflect common uses of photography.

Examples of the assignment from past students can be found here.


Homework-  The photo assignment is part of the semester portfolio, and I am asking students to complete it and bring in the resulting prints for November 10, 2017, so we can look at the results in class.


For next class 10/27/17-  We go back to color and the use of watercolor paints, with an exercise in visual rhythm.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, watercolor paints, brushes, and a water container.  Mixing colors is optional, but if you think you might want to do that, a palette is recommended.

10/13/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we took our first official look at color.  Slides included examples of color use in art from pre-history to the 20th century, and I went over basic color theory- including how colors exist, as well as the history of color use and how changes in technology were adapted for artist use.  Then the class completed two exercises in color- a color wheel and the mixing of complementary colors.

How to make this up- The class completed two portfolio exercises in basic color using their watercolor paints.   First was a 12 hue color wheel, with primary, secondary, and intermediate colors, all mixed from primary colors.  Second was an exercise in mixing a pair of complementary colors and the resulting neutral colors that can be created.  Below is an example from a previous semester.

Additional examples, as well as full step by step directions on how to complete these ideas can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises and can be made up any time before the end of the semester.

Homework- Nothing new, but don't forget the first paper is due in November.

For next class 10/20/17- Next week we take a break from color and spend some time looking at photography.  I'll discuss the history of photography and show examples of the varying technology and the ways the medium has been used to great effect over its history.  The exercise will come in the form of an assignment I'll hand out that day and you'll have a few weeks to complete on your own, so no art materials are needed next week.

10/6/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we talked about monumental art, which I defined as large scale art permanently part of a building, usually done right on part of the architecture, common in every era and part of the world.  Slide examples included cave paintings, to Roman era fresco and mosaics, through the Byzantine times, Renaissance, and into the 20th century. Our art exercise today included making a mosaic style collage from color magazine paper.


How to make this up- Start with a color photo of your choice. I provided old magazines to look through, or students could find something on the internet.  The only rule was a photo of something real (no graphics/illustrations) and in color.

The photo should be attached to a page in your large pad.  Then you should sketch the basic composition of the photo in pencil. It can be at 100% scale, or you can enlarge a section of the original photo.  Your new version should be at least 6" x 6" or 9" x 4" (horizontal or vertical), though it can be larger if you want.

Continue to reproduce your photo by adding colors as close to the original as you can, using small pieces of colored paper from magazines or similar sources.  The color paper should be no bigger than 1/2" square, but may be smaller. One piece can be layered over another if that makes it easier to handle small details.  The color paper can be secured in place with the adhesive of your choice- some options used today included white glue, rubber cement, or glue sticks, each having advantages and disadvantages.  Below are some student examples from previous semesters, showing both the original photo and the collage piece.

This is a portfolio exercise and can be made up any time before the end of the semester for full credit.  

Homework- If you didn't finish the piece in class, you need to finish it before the end of the semester.

Nothing else new, but remember there are two papers, due starting in November.

For next class 10/13/17- We continue with color, but this time using the watercolor paints.  This first time using the watercolors we will be looking at basic color theory and do some exercises involving color mixing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, watercolor paints, brushes, a water container (old cup or can will suffice) and a mixing palette- anything flat and waterproof.

9/29/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we moved from line to shape, leaving line drawing for value drawing.  I showed about three dozen art historical slides of art with a focus on how value was used to do such things as describe surfaces, imply distance and volume, show specific times of day, etc.  Then we did a portfolio exercise in drawing still life with charcoal- simple white painted objects and a white cloth, eliminating the issue of local values and concentrating on effects of light and shadow.

How to make this up- put a box on a table and cover it with a white or light colored cloth.  Arrange on or around the box three objects, all of which should be white or very light colored.  Shine a direct light on the still life set up to create light and shadow patterns.  Draw the still life on a sheet of your 18"x 24" paper using charcoal, paying attention to such ideas as size and shape of the objects, negative space, while trying to match the observed value in the set up.


Homework- Nothing new, but don't forget that papers have been assigned, the first of which will be due in November.


For next class October 6, 2017- We will start a new exercise that deals with color for the first time, a mosaic style collage. You will copy a color photograph of your choosing using cut bits of color magazine paper, as in the example below-

Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, scissors, and glue suitable for gluing paper to paper.  If you have any old magazines that you don't mind cutting up, feel free to bring them in to add to our pile of color material.

9/22/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we continued out study of line, but this time concentrating on using it to explore negative space, all the parts of an artwork that are not made from or representing actual things.  Positive space and negative space each define the other, so if you have one you have the other as well.  We also chose topics for the research assignment today.

How to make this up- Student did two portfolio exercises using pencil line and drawing from things provided by the instructor.  The first was an exclusively negative space drawing, all the empty spaces surrounded by wood in an old desk chair.  Then we moved on to a drawing of bottles, in which the positive shapes of the bottles were drawn, and negative space used to help with shapes and overall spacing.

Examples of both exercises and more details can be found here.  These are both portfolio exercises and can be made up for full credit any time before the end of the semester.

Homework - Nothing new.  The research assignment was distributed today because I had time to show the slides today, but even the list of names isn't due until November, after the museum assignment is due.

For next class 9/29/17- We will move on to the next major concept- value.  That will make use of charcoal, a potentially messy material.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, charcoal, and the kneaded eraser.  I strongly recommend that you wear black or dark colored clothes that day, as it is very possible that you will get dirty, and the charcoal shows up much worse on light colored clothes.

9/15/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we began the study of line, one of the basics of fine art.  We talked about the concept of line, different ways it can be used and function it has.  I showed a few dozen art historical slides, demonstrating ways line has been use in art through history.  Then we did some drawing exercises, with shoes as our subject.

How to make this up- Today's class work is part of the semester portfolio, and can be made up any time before the end of the semester for full credit, though I suggest not waiting that long as students who put this stuff off usually don't get around to making it up.  Specifics of the work done in class today and student examples from past semesters can be seen here.

Homework-  Nothing new, but I hope to have the research assignment ready to hand out by next week.

For next class 9/22/17- We will continue with line, and with the same materials- 18"x 24" pad, pencils, eraser.  The focus will be on negative space, a key factor in representing groups of objects.  I'll provide the subjects for the drawing exercises.

9/8/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today was our first meeting of the semester.  After verifying that everyone was on the roster, the syllabus was distributed and reviewed.  The museum assignment was also distributed and reviewed.  The students were given a survey about their art interests and experiences, which was shared with the whole class, after which the instructor used the same form to share his background and experiences.

How to make this up- Anyone who missed class can get the handouts when they come to class.

Homework- The museum assignment will be due November 10, 2017, about two months from today, though it can be turned in sooner.

For next class 9/15/17- We will do our first art exercise, involving the use of contour line- simple lines that are used in two dimensional art to define shapes.  The exercises will involve drawing from shoes, a classic subject for art students.  I will bring a bag of shoes, but if there aren't enough to go around, students will have to provide one to work from.  So you may wish to bring an extra shoe with you, or be prepared to take off one you are wearing.  You will also need your 18"x24" pad of drawing paper, pencils, and a pencil eraser.  All are likely available at any art supply store, the college bookstore, online retailers, or other places you can think of.