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.
