12/21/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today was the final meeting of the semester.  Both sections met as scheduled, with most of the students showing up.  In each class we started by looking at the 3D projects, a quick group critique.  We then moved on to grading the semester portfolios, and final museum papers were collected, which will be graded in the coming days, first for the purposes of the class, and then for class learning outcomes evaluations.  

Some students returned to pick up the graded materials.  Work that was not collected by the students today was stacked on small tables near the front of the room (adjacent to the chalk board), one for large pads, one for 3D works.  How long they will stay there is up to the university. Below are some examples of 3D student projects shown today:

Against College

Pile Of Rubble

Dead Idol

Sting Despair

All student work will be graded in accordance with the system mentioned on the syllabus, within the next few days.  Calculated final class grades will then be submitted to the University.  When they make them available to the students is up to them.  The Student Leaning Outcome evaluations have nothing to do with how the grades will be calculated.

How to make this up- Nothing more to be done at this point.  


Homework- The semester is over.  Enjoy the break and the holidays.

12/12/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- We had our unusual Wednesday meeting today, and I was surprised that most of the students showed up- radical changes to the schedule can be tricky.  Otherwise it was a basic work day.  Started nothing new (I think you all have enough to keep you busy for the rest of the semester) and nothing was specifically due today, though I did collect some things still owed from past weeks.  I also returned graded various things I was still holding and answered many questions regarding the rest of the semester.

How to make this up- Today was mostly students working on their choice of class related assignments, so I saw such things as shoe drawings, bottle still lifes, mosaic collages, mixed media collages (the print thing), color wheels, comic strips, 3D final projects, and museum papers all being worked on. 

Homework- Nothing new, but quite a few students still need to finish some things, projects that are past due, or portfolio exercises that will be graded next week.  The complete list of what is expected as part of the semester portfolio (and the dates on the blog when the specifics can be found) were posted to last week's blog entry and will be there.

The Wednesday is Friday thing is now concluded, so next week we go back to being a Friday class.

For next class 12/21/18- Our last meeting of the semester. We will open with a quick group critique of the 3D Final projects, after which I will check portfolios.  Just bring the whole 18" x 24" pad.  Before the class period ends, they will all be graded and ready to be returned, along with any late arriving comic strip, and the 3D projects.  I will also be accepting the final version of the museum papers, and if students are still around at the end of class, they will be returned graded.  (or they can be left with me and they'll be graded over the break) 

Nothing will be accepted after the official end of the class period, so make sure you are on time for class.  

12/7/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- With the course evaluations now completed, we were able to deal with actual class stuff today.  We opened by looking at all the comic strip projects, thus learning what each was about.  These will be graded and returned to the students next week. I also had students select slips of paper from hats, with nouns and modifying words/phrases, creating new combinations that will be the subjects for the last project, our 3D final.  The morning class saw a set of slides, a very shallow overview of the history of sculpture, including prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Renaissance, Baroque, and various modern and contemporary approaches.  By the afternoon the slide projector bulb had burned out, but this gave us time to look at examples of photographs students had taken as part of that assignment.  

How to make this up- The last new project of the semester got a start today when students randomly selected topics for the 3D final project.  From one hat students drew nouns, from the other modifying words or phrases, and together these created concepts, which the students are asked to use as the subject for a three dimensional work.  Samples from previous semesters are posted in the previous blog entry from earlier this morning.  

Here are some additional student examples:

Homework- The 3D final project started today will be due on December 21, 2018, our last day of class.  Like everything else, it must be turned in that day by the end of class time.  If you were not here today, you will need to get your subject from me.  You may e-mail me and ask me to choose out of the hats for you, or you can choose them yourself next class.

The final version of the museum assignment is due on December 21, 2018, our last day of class.

The semester portfolio, the total of all artwork not otherwise graded this semester, will be graded at our last class meeting on December 21, 2018.  Here is what will be expected to be part of that, and the day on this blog that the assignment was done:

Sep 14 contour line (shoes)
Sep 21  negative space (chair, bottles)
Sep 28  value drawing (charcoal)
Oct 5  mosaic collage
Oct 12 color wheel and complement mix
Oct 19 photography
Oct 26 visual rhythm (music)
Nov 2 collagraph plate
Nov 30  two point perspective


For next class Wed 12/12/18- Our next class meeting has been moved by Kean University to Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at the standard time for the class.  We will not be starting anything new, so bring whatever materials you need to work on whatever class related item you plan to work on.  It can be the final 3D project, something from the semester portfolio, or the museum assignment.  On that day I will return whatever student work I have collected so far, including the comic strip projects, printed collagraphs, and completed museum papers.

Materials are whatever you choose to work with to create the sculpture.  The piece can be modeled, carved, or assembled from whatever you want to use.  Posted student examples (all from today on this blog) will show you some of the things students have used in the past, and if you are not sure, e-mail me and ask questions.  Because you have to bring the materials and finished piece to class, I recommend something not too heavy, and a maximum of 12 inches in any direction.  

The next week after that, our last meeting of the semester, we will be back on Friday, December 21, 2018.

3D Samples for Intro Class Dec 2018

These are examples of this project completed by students in previous semesters.  Today current students will have selected topics for their projects, but this shows how some previous students have dealt with it- their chosen topic and their resulting visualization.

One option is to create a free standing object out of whatever materials you wish to use.  Can be modeled, carved, assembled, etc. Can be a single object, make use of a base or platform, etc. You will need to bring the completed piece to class, so I recommend no larger than 12" tall.

 Appetite for Distraction

 Fallen Merchant

 Planet Gone Wild

 Troubled Uprising

Another option is to create an enclosed space to contain your view of the concept.  The first example here put together two boxes to present a before/after concept.  The second example built two shelves and filled them with elements to tell the story.

 Impasse Changed

Plowing through the Nation

11/30/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Our topic today was architecture, and my plan was to first have a group critique of the comic strip projects, then a slide overview of the history of architecture, then today's portfolio exercise, a lesson in drawing an interior space in two point perspective.  But over the break I was given a deadline to do the course evaluations (a university priority), and quite a few students in both sections didn't finish the comic strips, so I collected those that came in for grading and will do the critique next week, when I hope more will be done.  I had requested photos be ready to show today, but as a portfolio exercise, the don't get graded until the final week, so I put off viewing those until next week.

How to make this up- Perspective systems were first developed during the Renaissance as a more orderly and logical way to depict three dimensional objects and spaces, taking advantage of the way all objects diminish in size over space.  The result is an image that provides a lot of detailed information to the viewer, even if some parts are distorted.  Still the distortion is very regular, so it's easy to understand the original scene.  These days most of the work is done on computers, but once upon a time, perspective drawing was a big part of architecture.

Above is a student drawing of an interior of a Vaughn-Eames classroom much like our own, an example of what students did today.  Using a full sheet of 18"x 24" paper and a pencil, they chose one corner of our classroom and produced a simplified, yet accurate, line drawing of the major features of that corner.  I did a quick demonstration on the chalkboard, had everyone start, and circled the room helping each student advance their drawing.  By the end of each class, every student had shown the ability to do a two point perspective drawing.

To do this on your own, choose any interior corner in a building. Your drawing should include the corner, floor and ceiling lines, two items on the wall (door, window, art, etc) and one small piece of furniture.  If you don't know how to do this, talk to me in class next week.

Homework- Nothing new today, but if you didn't turn in your 2D final (pastel comic strip) today, get it done as soon as possible.  The longer it takes to be finished, the fewer points it will be worth.  

Those who haven't yet had me review their museum assignment first draft should get those to me as soon as possible, to give yourself the most time to complete the final version. 

I was given a few more collograph plates to print this week and I'll be returning those to the students next week.  If you need my help with printing those, you must get them to me by next week.

For next class 12/7/18- We will be starting our final project of the semester, the 3D Final. You won't need he large pad for what we will be doing, unless you want it to protect your comic strip projects for bringing them in or taking them back. You will be randomly choosing topics, so no art materials needed.  If you did not turn in your comic strip today, bring it next week.  

11/16/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Despite yesterday's unusually early winter storm, Kean was determined to be ready for business this morning.  They even plowed a lot of snow, left in a huge pile in the faculty parking lot along Morris Avenue.  Our morning class lost the beginning of our day to a fire alarm, but eventually we were allowed back into the building and our classroom.  
Luckily, yesterday's weather did not return and our classes were allowed to run as planned.  Two main activities today- students continued to work on the 2D Final project (the comic strip) and those who were prepared to do so printed the collagraph plates we made a few weeks ago.

I provided ink and tools to print with, while students brought their plates and provided paper from their pads.  

How to make this up- The autobiographical symbolic comic strip project is the same thing we started last week, and all the information can be found in last week's blog post.  Finished pieces will be due at the start of class on November 30, 2018, our next meeting.  At that time we will have a quick group critique of the works, after which I will collect them for grading.

The collagraph print (cardboard, fabric, etc) is a portfolio exercise involving 3 steps- we made the plates a few weeks ago, they were printed in class today, and students will finish the artworks by collaging materials to the finished print to complete the image in whatever way they want.  Let the print dry (we used water soluble ink so they should be dry quickly) then use paper elements to enhance your image.  Can be images from other sources (magazines, etc), colored paper, things you've drawn yourself- things that you think would complete the picture.  You also have the option of coloring the print directly with watercolors or pastels from your kit, but you must add collaged materials.  The print is part of the semester portfolio, due by the end of the semester.

If you didn't have the plate ready today, and don't have the ability or materials to print it yourself, you will have to bring it in to class as soon as possible, give it to me, I'll print it in my studio, and bring it back.  After December 7, 2018, there will not be time to do all this, so if you want my help with the 2nd part, get it to me by then.


Homework- The comic strip 2D Final project is due at the beginning of class on November 30, 2018.  This is a graded project, so any delays in completing it will result in point deductions.  

If you have not yet shown me the first draft of your museum assignment, get it to me as soon as possible.  Once I see it, I can let you know what it may be lacking before the final one is to be turned in for grading in late December.  

****School closed for Thanksgiving vacation November 22-25, 2018. So recover from overeating, go shopping, sleep late, or whatever you want.   No class meeting that week. ****

For next class 11/30/18- Our last portfolio exercise of the semester, drawing in perspective, which relates to the study of architecture.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and some kind of long straightedge (ruler or even yardstick).  I will have some, but they will have to be shared, so having your own means you get to complete yours much faster.

11/9/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today's new topic was narrative, which we determined was stories, which is often the subject of art.  In the era when literacy was rare, the main focus of art was to share stories, especially in art financed by the powers in the world (kings, church, etc).  I showed a few dozen historical slides, including some examples of the above from the Renaissance to the present, as well as art that made use of a lot of symbols that would have been known to viewers at the time, a lead in to our project.
I also returned the first drafts of the museum assignment turned in last week, reviewing each with the students who wrote them. Those who left early before talking to me can get theirs next week.

How to make this up- Today's project made use of narrative, and is also our first individually graded project of the semester- a symbolic, autobiographical comic strip.  The inspiration for this project was Art Spiegelman's MAUS comic strip, originally published through the 80's, and collected into bound form in the 90's.  The strip's narrative goes back and forth between the story of the author's father growing up Jewish in Poland, marrying, having some success, then getting sent to a concentration camp by the Nazi forces in power in the 30's and 40's, and also the then current story of his elderly widowed father, whose behavior causes lots of problems for his grown American born son in the 70's. What made the strip unusual is that all the characters are shown as animals, so all Jewish characters are shown as mice, all German people and soldiers are depicted as cats, the American soldiers who liberate the concentration camp are shown as dogs (classic cartoon hierarchy), and other animals play roles in the story as well.

Your assignment is to create a comic strip of your own that tells a true story from your own life, using symbolic characters to portray everyone in the story.  Below are some student examples from previous semesters:

Your strip must fill two pages in your 18"x24" pad, at least 12 panels.  (those with smaller pads should talk to me about what will be appropriate for them) I recommend sketching things out with pencil first.  You may use pens or markers to outline objects and for all lettering (dialog and though balloons, caption, and other comics related lettering).  Things that might normally be considered white may stay the color of the paper, but everything else should be in full color, applied with your pastels.  Each page of six panels should be on a different sheet of paper.  More instructions and another student example can be found on the MAUS link near the top of this section.

Homework-  Because this 2D project is time consuming and worth 20% of your grade, next week's class will mostly be devoted to it as well, and you'll be given additional time on your own to work on it, so the final piece will be due on November 30, 2018.  

Students who want my feedback/input regarding the final museum assignment should get it to me by December 7, 2018.  I will accept them through the last meeting of the semester, but there will be no opportunity to resubmit them for a better grade.

Those who haven't yet turned in the first draft of the museum assignment should do so as soon as possible.  Points are deducted on that for each week late.

For next class 11/16/18- We will be continuing the project from this week, so bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil and eraser, and pastels.

While those are being worked on, I'll bring students one at a time over the big table and help you print your completed collagraph plates (cardboard with textures stuck to it), so also bring that plate with you.  If not yet completed, do so at least one day before class so the glue has time to dry.  We will use paper from your pad, and I'll supply the ink and tools that are needed.

11/2/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today's topic was printmaking, a variety of mediums that have in common that images are created from a fixed matrix, generally resulting in identical copies.  That matrix can be carved relief (woodcut, linoleum), metal plates (etching, engraving), stone (lithography), all of which we saw examples of in slide and items I brought in.  Silkscreen (a form of stencil supported by fabric) is also common, but I had no examples to show.  

For today's exercise, we tried the collagraph, a more modern technique that can be used in many ways.  Most common is building a collage on a flat surface and inking and printing it like a relief print, and that is what we started today.  Flat pieces of cardboard were used as the base, and I had a supply of old fabric samples that could be cut up and glued to  the base.  The ink will later be applied in a way that accentuates the textures of each collaged item, and the resulting print will document those textures.  Today was just the creation of the printing plates (students have the option to add more items at home), and I will bring in the tools and materials to print them in a few weeks.

I also collected rough drafts of the museum assignment from those who turned them in.  They will be returned with comments next class.

How to make this up- The process to make the plate is actually fairly simple and can easily be done from home.  Start with a piece of flat cardboard (the large panel from a cereal or cracker box will do- that is what we were using today), and you will create some kind of image on it by attaching bits of found materials.  I had a variety of cloth scraps scavenged from the Interior Design program, but anything that is relatively thin will work, and I showed examples of plates from previous semesters that made use of yarn, plastics, even food items.  White glue is probably the best adhesive for this project, and can even be used to coat delicate items to give them more strength in the printing process.  Here are some student examples of printing plates and the resulting collagraph print.

Note that printing will be done with black relief ink, and that the color of the collaged objects will have no effect on the print.  (color can be added after printing by painting or drawing, as in the last example above) Also, the prints are mirror images of the plate, which can make a difference if you plan to use letters or numbers in your image.  (can be done, just make them backwards on the plate and they will print as normal) 

Only a few rules at this point- the image must be something recognizable (accuracy to reality is not required, so for example, it can be how you picture such an item in your head) and your print must involve at least 8 different textures in the use of materials.  Choice of subject is completely up to you.

Homework- The completed collagraph plates should be brought to class on November 16, 2018, and I will have the ink and tools to print them.  

If you did not turn in a rough draft of your museum assignment today, you should do so (hard copy) as soon as possible.  Although this paper is worth fewer points than the final version, each week it is late means a lower grade.

For next class 11/9/18- We will begin our first graded art project of the semester, our 2D final, which will be worked on two weeks in class, and then given more time to finish at home.  Bring your 18"x24" pad, pastels, pencil and eraser.  If you have any questions about the collagraph projects, bring those as well.

10/26/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today's topic was rhythm, which we all probably know well in terms of sound and music, but it also has a place in visual arts, such as the repetition of shapes, marks, spacing of elements, balance of value and color, etc.  I showed a few dozen examples from art history, occurring from the Renaissance to the present, and then we did some portfolio exercises using our watercolors and making use of rhythm.


How to make this up- You will need your 18" x 24" pad, watercolor paints, brushes, and a water container.  You may use your palette to mix colors, but you also have the option of using any of your colors directly from the kits.  No color theory rules today.  Below are some student examples from previous semesters.

I played 5 segments of music for the class, each running about 15 minutes, all different kinds with very different rhythms and arrangements.  Students were asked to produce an abstract painting while each segment played, influenced by the music they were hearing.  Brush strokes and colors were to be chosen by the students based on what they were hearing and feeling.  More student examples, and a list of the specific music we listened to (and suitable substitutes) can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise that can be made up any time during the semester for full credit.

Homework- The first draft of the museum assignment is due at the start of class on November 2, 2018.  I have received one from each section so far.  I will review all of them and upon returning them, let you know of any obvious missing things so they can be revised before the final version is due.


For next class 11/2/18- We will be starting an exercise that will be completed over multiple weeks, involving the process of printmaking.  Prints are artworks made from a fixed surface, such as an etched metal plate, a silkscreen, a carved wooden block, or (in our case) a collaged image.  Below is a student example from a previous semester of plate and resulting print-

You will notice that the colors of objects on the plate does not affect the final version, which will be printed with black ink.  Color can be added through use of collage on the print, but we'll talk about that later.  The first step is to make the plate, but glue takes a little while to dry, so we will do the printing a few weeks from now.  I will provide cardboard for the base and I have a bag full of cloth scraps that can be used in the collage, but you are welcome to bring in more stuff- things that are flat and have textures work best.  You can also add them later at home. Also it prints as a mirror image, an issue if you plan to include letters or numbers in your image.

Bring scissors, glue (white is best in this case), and any scraps or found objects you may wish to use for your plate.  Eventually they will be printed on paper from your large pad, but not this day, so you may leave the big pad at home.

10/19/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today's topic was photography, a relatively modern medium with some ancient roots.  It all began with the camera obscura, a simple device perfected during the Baroque period of painting, which projected real life scenes onto a wall where artists could trace them for use in paintings.  By the early 19th century, methods were found to use the new science of chemistry to automatically record these images on film, glass, paper, etc.  Digital photography uses computers instead of chemicals, but the results are the same.

After showing examples of the development of photography and some of the ways it is used, I handed out a take home assignment and we took a tour of Vaughn-Eames, which is the building on campus for all art.

How to make this up- The take home assignment is printed on paper and I'll have extra copies in class next week.  Meanwhile, the specific assignment and some student examples can be seen here.

This is a portfolio exercise and not technically due until the end of the semester, but I'm encouraging students to have them printed to share with the class by November 30, 2018.  Any kind of paper is fine.  They don't need to be mounted, but labeling them on the back with the specific problem being addressed would be very helpful.

Homework- The first draft of the museum assignment is due at the start of class on November 2, 2018.  It should be typed or printed on paper.  

For next class 10/26/18- We go back to color and to our watercolor paints, this time less theoretical and more expressive.  Bring you watercolor paints, brushes, palette, water container, and 18"x24" pad.

10/12/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today was our first full on class about color.  We did two portfolio exercises related to color, following a look at color in historical art, and we covered the basics of color theory.  

How to make this up- As a class, the entire class completed two color exercises- first a 12 step color wheel (primary/secondary/intermediates) and the a mixing of a complementary color set.  

A list of all the steps needed to complete these exercises can be found here.  

These are portfolio exercises and can be made up any time before the end of the semester for full credit, but since color is something we will use a lot, I advise you not to wait too long to make it up.

Homework- Nothing new, but just a reminder that the first draft of the museum assignment is due at the beginning of class on November 2, 2018, three weeks from today.  I will go over the details again in class next week.

Faculty exhibition reception- There is a public reception for the current faculty exhibition at the Howe Gallery on the 1st floor of Vaughn-Eames, on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.  Attendance is not required, and I'm not even sure I will attend myself, and I expect that we will visit the show as part of class next week, but if you feel like checking it out, seeing what your teachers do as art, it is expected to be open and refreshments are to be served from 3:30-5:00 pm.

For next class 10/19/18- We will spend part of the class looking at the history of photography, and I will distribute a take home assignment that you will complete on your own.  Following slides about photo history, we will take a tour of our building, visiting as many of the studio classroom as we can get into, and then the gallery on the 1st floor to see the current faculty exhibition. Since we will not be making any art in class, you may leave all your supplies at home next week.

10/5/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today we had our first look at color, as part of what I refer to as Monumental Art. For much of human history, large scale artworks were a large part of both culture and communication, depicting history and mythology in a visual way that even the largely illiterate population could understand.  And when this art was made with long lasting materials, it has been preserved so that we can still experience it today.  

One such medium was mosaic, in which very small pieces of hard permanent materials were arranged to depict two dimensional objects and/or scenes, often in full color.  They could be affixed to the wall, floor, or ceiling, filling architecture with imagery that has sometimes lasted thousands of years.  For today's portfolio exercise, we borrowed from the format if not the materials.

How to make this up- First you need to choose a full color photograph, of a real object or scene, not an digitally created art image.  Reproduce the basic composition in pencil on a page in your 18" x 24" pad, at a minimum of 6" square or 9" x 4" (vertical or horizontal).  You may crop your source photo image to fit one of the image sizes, or expand beyond those above minimums if you wish to match the original in size.  Attach the source photo to the page next to your pencil drawing.  

Color for your new image will come from small cut pieces of glossy magazine paper, maximum size1/2" square, though you may go smaller and make a variety of shapes.  Try to match the colors of the original piece as closely as possible- there's an amazing range of colors to be found in magazine photos.  Glue the small pieces to the drawing to fill in the matching colors.  Pieces may be edge to edge, with a small amount of white paper visible, or even overlapping a little if it makes it easier. Below are some student examples from previous semesters, showing both the source photo and the student artworks:

In evaluating these, my main concern is matching the original colors.  Accurate drawing of the source photo is recommended as it will make matching the color shapes easier.  This is a portfolio exercise, which can be made up any time before the end of the semester for full credit, but I advise not waiting too long, as students who put if off too long never get around to finishing it.  

Homework- The first draft of the museum assignment needs to submitted as a printed copy by November 2, 2018.

Midterm Grading- The University has instituted a new policy that requires us to provide some kind of mid-term grading report via KeanWise this week.  We have the option of letter grades or comments, and late on Friday we got e-mail acknowledgement that it's understandable if we don't have letter grades yet, since this started after only 4 weeks of a 16 week semester.  So you'll be getting comments, I expect sometime Saturday.  Keep in mind that these comments are required by the University and have nothing to do with your actual grade for the class, for which no points have been assigned yet.  What is assigned now has no impact on what grade you will get- the syllabus has the formula.

For next class 10/12/18- We continue with color but in a more traditional way.  We will be learning some basic color theory and doing some simple color mixing exercises using the watercolors.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, watercolor paints, watercolor brushes, a water container (empty cup or can), and a mixing palette.

9/28/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today's topic was value, meaning use of light and dark in two dimensional art.  Besides rendering local color and value, artists have used it to imply form and volume, to emphasize parts of the artwork, add weight to depicted objects, establish time of day, etc.  We looked at a few historical slides showing all these ideas and then did drawings using charcoal for the experience of value drawing.

How to make this up- Place a box on a low table, drape it with a white or light colored cloth, and arrange 3 white or light colored objects on and near it.  Have a direct light source to create patters of light and shadow.  Draw the whole still life set up on a page in your 18"x 24" pad using charcoal, attempting to match the amount and shapes of light and dark from the original.  Kneaded erasers work best for erasing the material, and it can be blended with fingers, paper towels, or anything else you want to use.  Below are some student examples from earlier semesters:

Use of a background tone is optional, but as you can see, it does help imply space around white objects.  You may use contour lines to establish the shapes of your objects, but try to convert the lines to edges of dark shapes in the end.  Spend up to 90 minutes on the drawing, or do more than one if you want to get more practice.

Homework- First draft of the museum assignment is due on Nov 2.  Don't wait too long to make your museum visit.

For next class 10/5/18- We will begin our next portfolio exercise, which will be our first look at color and make use of a variation on an ancient technique.  Mosaics were flat art that could be created on floors, walls, and ceilings, made from large numbers of tiles, stones, pieces of glass, etc, that were arranged to form an image.  We will do something similar with small cut pieces of colored paper.  Below is an example from a previous semester:

Original source photo (top) and student mosaic collage (below) Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, scissors and glue, anything suitable to glue paper to paper.  I have a bunch of magazines to cut up for this purpose, but if anyone wants to add some old magazines to the pile, they are welcome.

9/21/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today we continued with line, this time using it to explore the concept of negative space.  After an introductory brain-teaser exercise, the students did two portfolio exercises involving aspects of negative space, which is all the space in a given area of art that isn't made up of positive shapes.  

How to make this up- The students did two exercises involving drawings and negative space.  The first involved a wooden chair and drawing the spaces between the wooden parts.  The second was a still life of bottles, with negative space being used to calculate the space between them and to depict them in relation to each other.

Specific instructions for these two assignment, as well as student examples from previous semester, can be found here.
These are portfolio exercises that can be made up for full credit any time before the end of the semester.

Homework- Nothing in art, but the first draft of the museum assignment is due November 2, 2018.

For next class 9/28/18- We start our study of value, using light and dark to imply form and many other things.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, black charcoal (vine or compressed) and your kneaded eraser.  I'll provide the subject, which will not be a chair or a shoe.

9/14/18 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today was the first real class of the semester, and we opened with Line, the simplest formal issue we will deal with this semester.  Students were not doing well in coming up with properties and purposes of line, but a short slide show of historical art may have helped.  Then we jumped into some basic drawing exercises, involving various types of contour lines, with shoes as the subject.  I also distributed and reviewed the museum assignment.

How to make this up- Students had a choice of using a shoe that they brought in, or taking one from my bag of old shoes. Using a page from their large pad would be preferable, but with the small size of the drawing, any paper could be pressed into service today.

More student examples, as well as list of all the exercises that will need to be done, can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and can be made up for full credit any time before the end of the semester, but I recommend doing it sooner, both as preparation for later drawing exercises and because work will pile up in all your classes through the semester.

Homework- No art homework.  The museum and research assignment was distributed today and the first draft is due on November 2, 2018.  

For next class 9/21/18- More basic drawing involving line, with a focus on negative spaces.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil(s) and an eraser.  I'll provide the subject matter, which will not involve any shoes.

9/7/18 Introduction to Art

Today's class- Today was our first meeting of the semester.  The syllabus was distributed and reviewed. Students filled out a survey regarding their past art experiences, which we shared as a group, and I shared my experiences using the same format.  

How to make this up- If you missed today, make sure to request a syllabus at next week's class.  

Homework- Nothing yet.  If you are on campus over the next week I recommend visiting Tino Cook's exhibition "Caged Bird" in the student gallery on the first floor of Vaughn-Eames.  Hours are listed as noon to 8 pm daily, with a special reception on 9/12/18 starting at 7 pm.  Not required, and there is no related assignment, just something free and worth seeing if you are in the building.

For next class 9/14/18- We start our study of line.  Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil(s) and an eraser.  We will be drawing shoes, and I'll have some for the class to use.  You are welcome to provide one of your own, a closed shoe (no sandals or flip flops), any style, or even take one off your own foot if you like.  The semester museum assignment will be distributed as well.