4/28/17 Mentor Sequence

Today's Class-  I looked at progress on the latest block, and discussed some technical stuff.  One of those things was the use of rubbings as a way of verifying the level of cutting that has been done without inking and pulling a proof.  For that purpose I recommend newsprint for paper (or anything else very thin) and pencil or other hard graphite.  Besides providing a quick read of your cut block without an inky mess, one can use the block rubbing to experiment with deciding what to further cut- if you're debating whether or not to cut a particular section, you can try erasing the pencil from that part of the rubbing and see the new value balance for yourself.  If you like the new result, go ahead and cut the wood.  If not, fill the pencil back in and consider removing wood from a different area.

We also talked a little bit about rubbing techniques can be used for creative purposes, and I discussed some of the things I used to do in my college days.  For a while I was regularly employing a technique where I cut a wood block as anyone else would, but then place a sheet of thin Japanese paper right on top of the dry wood, then rolled inked brayers over the top of the paper, which picked up the patterns of the cut wood underneath, sort of like a rubbing.  This approach does not lend itself to creating proper edition prints, but if you just want to express yourself, there are a lot of possibilities.  In the above example there was just one block cut, but three layers of ink (red, blue, black) applied using viscosity techniques.  

For next week-  I'm hoping to see the new block proofed, if not completely done.

4/28/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we started by looking at the comic strip 2D final projects that were due today.  One at a time each student put theirs up and presented the work, explaining the choice of symbolic characters and explaining the story when necessary, though in most cases the plot was clear from the images and words.  Below are a few examples from today's classes.

The other thing that we did today was to select the topics for the 3D final project, which will be the last project of the semester.  

How to make this up- For the final project you will be choosing a random topic that will be the subject of the last project, a three dimensional representation of the randomly generated topic.  Students in class drew slips of paper from hats, each with a word printed on it.  (taken from headlines of book reviews in the Sunday New York Times)  One hat contained nouns, the other one modifying words or phrases.  Together, a new random concept was created.  The assignment is to interpret that new random concept as a three dimensional sculpture.   Below are some examples from previous semesters, with the phrase that was used to inspire them. 

Apetite for Distraction

Impasse Changed

Planet Gone Wild

Plowing through the Nation

Troubled Uprising

You may use any materials you like in the creation of your 3D piece- craft materials, modeling clay, wood, found objects, etc.  There needs to be evidence of your involvement in the creation of the final piece- you can't just buy it ready made and be done.  It can be a simple freestanding object, have a base, or (as in some examples above) be in an open from box/frame.  No specific size requirement.  The two main things I'll be looking for are three dimensions and how you interpret your topic.  Creative use of materials is a plus.  This is not a sculpture class, and so classic modeling and carving techniques are not expected, but you should deal with formal issues as you have with other assignments this semester.

Homework-  This 3D final project will be due at the beginning of class on May 12, 2017, our last meeting of the semester.  They will be critiqued, graded, and returned that day.  If you were not there today to pick your topic, you may either have me pick it for you, of I'll bring the slips and hats back next week.

The museum papers are due on May 5, 2017 if you wish to receive full credit.  They will be accepted after that through the last day of class, but be considered late, and papers turned in on the last day can't be fixed and regraded.

One thing I did today was bring in the printed collagraphs I did for students who were not prepared to print the day we did it in class.  If you didn't yet print your plate, you need to bring it in ready to go by next class, or be able to print it yourself to get the credit.

For next class 5/5/17- It will be a work day for the class.  For most of you, that will likely be the 3D final, your best chance to have me provide further advice and guidance on the project, while having tables and spaces suitable for making potentially messy artworks.  If you still need to make up anything else we've done this semester, it's an opportunity to do so.  Looking back through this blog will show you everything we've done, and everything that is not the comic strip or the 3D final is part of the portfolio grade.  If you haven't done it, you have until the end of the semester to get them done.  So next week bring whatever materials, tools, etc you need to work on what you plan to do.

4/21/17 Mentor Sequence

Today's Class- Two weeks ago my student had put up all his recent prints for me to see, but was not there, so we couldn't discuss them.  The prints were still up today and we did get to have a discussion of what he had accomplished, planned changes to the blocks that had been printed, and sketches and plans for some upcoming pieces.  Below are photos of works from a few weeks ago.

For next class- just a few more weeks remaining in the semester.  I look forward to seeing progress made on the latest block.

4/21/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we opened with finally doing the course evaluations.  When those were done I was able to return to the classroom and get back to teaching art.  The topic today was architecture, so I showed a few dozen slides of the history of architecture- highlights of ancient world through the Gothic period.  Our art process today was perspective drawing, which is commonly used to depict architecture.  We drew an interior corner of our classroom in two point perspective.  A few students got my input on their museum papers, and several brought in the their unprinted collograph plates so could print them for them to be part of the portfolio collection in a few weeks.  And I talked about what awaits the class for the rest of the semester, which isn't much now.

How to make this up- One of the great challenges of rendering real objects on paper is converting three dimensional reality to the limitations of a two dimensional surface, and losing a whole dimension makes it difficult.  During the Renaissance drawing perspective systems were developed- procedures and rules for depicting three dimensional space on a flat surface in a way that made it logical and relatable, despite some distortions of reality.  Properly and consistently done, those distortions can still provide an understanding of what the artist saw.

Below is an example of a two point perspective drawing of an interior corner of a room in Vaughn-Eames by a Kean student, the kind of thing we were doing today.  Everyone chose a corner of the studio their class was in to depict, and started with a horizon/eye level line and a deep corner line, and gradually added the vanishing points and ceiling and floor lines, as well as other bits of the building architecture and sometimes furniture or other wall items.  Some students had some experience with the process and took to the assignment quickly, while others were brought through it step by step.  By the end of class all students present had completed the assignment.

It's a bit too complicated for me to explain it all here, so those who missed class today and don't already have experience with perspective drawing should wait until you talk to me in class where I can explain it a little better.  Those who know the process can meet the portfolio assignment by choosing an interior corner of any room and drawing it in 2 point perspective.  The corner should include the deep corner, floor and ceiling lines, at least two wall related items (such as a door, a window, something hanging) and one piece of free standing furniture (end table, file cabinet, small dresser, etc)

Homework- The need to finally have everyone fill out the course evaluations led me to extend the deadline for completing the 2D Final (comic strip project) to next week, 4/28/17.  Part of that day will include students presenting their pieces to the class, after which I will collect them for grading.  
The museum papers are due on May 5, 2017, though if they are turned in before that I can review them and advise as to how they can be revised to receive a better grade, while still being considered on time.

For next class 4/28/17-  We will look at the comic strip projects, so bring those in.  I will return the collograph prints that I print up for students from their constructed plates.  And we will begin the 3D Final, which will be based on a randomly chosen topic for each student.  Everyone will choose words from a hat (or equivalent) that will form a phrase that will be the subject of your piece.  You can choose what materials to use, and we will use class time for that process the week after our next meeting.  For next week I suggest sketch paper and a pencil (your big pad will do fine) to work out your ideas and plan what you'll need for the following week to build it.

4/7/17 Mentor Sequence II

Today's Class-  No one showed up but me today, so there wasn't so much to do.  One thing I had brought with me was a proof of my former student Tom Huck's second ever woodcut print, from 1993.

This one print was used to both satisfy the requirements of his then lithography class (used to create an image on a photolitho plate), and to gain admission to an MFA program in printmaking- not bad for a drawing major with little print experience.  Goes to show what a motivated student can accomplish.  

Kean is closed for Good Friday, so we won't be meeting next week.

4/7/17 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Thanks to an 8 mile back up on the Parkway, the morning class was a few minutes late in starting, but everyone had work to do.  As planned, today was the day to print the collograph plates we made a few weeks ago, and I brought in materials and tools to make that possible.  

Meanwhile, students continued work on last week's 2D final, the autobiographical comic strip project.  As I was leaving late this afternoon, car radio reported a series of accidents on the Parkway South in the 130's, but if these had existed they were cleared up by the time I passed through.  There was a pile of junk in the middle of one of the central lanes, but I managed to avoid that.

How to make this up- The print project is part of the semester portfolio, so not actually due until the end of the semester, but if you need help printing it, you need to bring it to me sooner.  Don't know if I'll be bringing back all the printing stuff, or just collecting the plates and printing them in my studio down the shore.

Homework- The 2D final, the symbolic autobiographical comic strip project is due at the beginning of class on April 21, 2017.  Full instructions and student examples can be seen on last week's post for this class.
Some students requested more time to complete the museum assignment, and I agreed to push the due date to May 5, 2017, our second to last meeting.  Keep in mind that the purpose of having the deadline be before the last class is to allow the possibility of you correcting deficiencies in the papers and resubmitting it for a better grade.  Papers submitted after that will not have the opportunity to be changed and regraded and will get the grade they get.  You may submit the paper before then (as has already happened this semester) so that you know what you would need to do to make it better.

****University is closed on April 14, 2017 for Good Friday.  No class next week****


For next class 4/21/17- Just four more meetings remain, with two projects.  Next week the topic is architecture and the process for the portfolio is perspective drawing, which is commonly used in drawing buildings.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and a ruler or other straightedge is very recommended.