skip to main |
skip to sidebar
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.
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.
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.
