4/26/19 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- We were required to complete the student evaluations of the class, which the instructions specify should be done at the start of the class, so we opened with that.  By rules, I can't be present while students are filling those out, so I waited up in the department office until a student volunteer turned the envelope of forms over to the department secretary (wasn't going to ask a student to carry them across campus in a rain storm to deliver them to the dean's office), and with that done I could go back to the room and get on with the last portfolio exercise of the semester.

Today's topic was perspective in drawing. Perspective systems were developed during the Renaissance to bring some logic to drawings that included much space and many elements.  Any time a three dimensional object (such as a shoe, a bottle, or something more complex) is rendered on a two dimensions surface (such as paper), some distortion has to occur.  The more that is shown, the more distortion can occur.  This led artists to work out the rules of perspective, which provide a system to depict three dimensions in a way that still has distortions, but is logical and ordered, so that the results will make sense to any viewer.  It also makes use of physical laws, that show that objects diminish with mathematical regularity with distance.  This principle is demonstrated by the use of vanishing points, lines being oriented toward specific points. 

I showed this on the board with quick sketches and explanations of one and two point perspective, before I led the class through an exercise in two point perspective where they drew one of the interior corners of the classroom. Here is an example from a previous semester:

I worked my way around the room, assisting each student with doing such a drawing until everyone was done and had demonstrated knowledge of two point perspective.  This is a portfolio exercise, and can be made up for full credit any time before the end of the semester, but that comes in about two weeks.

The other main task today was to select themes for the final 3D project, nouns and modifying words drawn randomly from hats to create a concept.  Students will now have a week to think about what they might do with their ideas.

I also collected comic strips from the few students who had them, as they were due today, reviewed photo assignments from those who had them, and even a few museum papers.

How to make this up-  Students need to do a drawing on their 18" x 24" paper depicting the interior corner of a room in two point perspective.  The drawing should include a specific corner, clear ceiling and floor lines, two wall based elements (such as a doorway, a window, something framed and hanging, etc) and one free standing piece of furniture.  Those who do not know the rules of perspective might want to wait and talk to me in class next week. 

Homework- Those who have not yet turned in their comic strips or museum paper rough drafts should do so as soon as possible. These are individually graded assignments and each week they are delayed means losing points. If you missed the class where we printed the collagraphs (cardboard prints) and need me to do it for you, bring in the completed plate this week, I'll collect them and print them in my studio. If I don't have it by this week, you are responsible for printing it yourself.

For next class 5/3/19- We will officially start the 3D project, though those present today in both classes had the opportunity to select randomly generated topics. (the hats and words will be back next week for those who missed it today) Here are some student examples from previous semesters, along with the randomly chosen themes:

Appetite for Distraction

Impasse Changed

Planet Gone Wild

Plowing through the Nation

Troubled Uprising

The goal is to provide a visual depiction of the theme.  Students can interpret their topic phrases however they want.  Materials can be whatever the student chooses, and can include items molded or sculpted, as well as found objects.  Sculptures may be free standing or include a base, as in #1 and #5 above, or can make use of constructed boxes or shelves, as in examples #2 and #4 above. Because parts and completed pieces will need to be brought back and forth, I recommend a maximum size of one foot in any dimension.  

This is the last assignment of the semester, due the last day of class, and nothing new will be started after this. If you already picked your random topic, bring what you need to work on it, or materials to work on any back assignments you may need to complete.  

4/12/19 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Nothing new started today, but work continued on two things begun on other days.  Everyone worked on the 2D Final, the comic strip graded project begun the previous week. I posted several examples here last week, and here are a few more I have on the computer.

Full instructions for this graded assignment can be found in last week's blog post, as well as additional student examples from past semesters.

The other thing that was worked on in class today was the printing of the cardboard collagraph plates that were started a few weeks ago, with at least 8 textures in the images.  A printing station was set up and one by one each student who was prepared to print came to do so.  I had water soluble ink, brayers, an ink knife, and a palette and did the actual printing.  The resulting prints went right back to the students, who were given instructions to add elements to the printed paper after the ink dries (collage for sure, color is an option) to make it a more complete artwork.  Above are a few examples of student projects from last semester, examples of the last phase of this assignment.  All areas can be colored, which might better define the shapes in your composition, and both pastels and watercolors from your kit will work.  You must also have some collage, materials glued to the completed print, which may also add some color.  The goal is to make the whole piece more interesting, so use your knowledge of formal issues.

In a few cases I also discussed results of the museum rough draft assignments with the students, providing advice as to how to make them better before the final version.

How to make this up- Comic strip instructions can be found in  last week's blog post.  

Those who were not present today or weren't prepared to print their collagraph should bring the cardboard plate to class as soon as possible.  I won't be bringing all the printing materials back to class, but I will collect the the plates, print them in my studio, and return them the following week.

Homework- The completed autobiographical symbolic comic strip project is due at the start of class on April 26, 2019.  I will collect them that day, and return them graded the following week.

Those who have not yet turned in the rough draft of the museum assignment should do so as soon as possible.  This is a graded assignment, and the longer the delay in turning it in, the more points will be lost, and the less time you will have to work on the revised version.

********Easter Recess April 19 through April 21, 2019.  Kean University will be closed.  No class next week on April 19th.  As a result, the university will require us to have a Tuesday meeting in May.*********

For next class 4/26/19- Students will be filling out the course evaluation forms, and completing the last portfolio exercise of the semester involving perspective drawing.  Bring your 18"x 24" drawing pad, pencil and eraser.  A long straight edge (like a ruler) will be very helpful, or you will be forced to share one of the few I will have for the class to use. 

Make sure to have your completed comic strip project as well.

4/5/19 Introduction to Art

Today's Class- Today the main topic was narrative, the idea that artworks may have story telling as a focus.  I showed slides of about a dozen historical art examples from the past 1000 years, all of which told stories to the viewers, related to mythology, symbolism, and current events that would have been known to them.  In those eras when books and literacy were rare, images in art were a very important source of knowledge. It was only the examples from the last century where today's students had guesses as to the narrative.

Today we start our first individually graded project of the semester, the idea for which came from the comic strip/graphic novel MAUS.  In that 1980's publication, cartoonist Art Spiegelman tells the story of his father, moving back and forth between two periods of his life- reaching adulthood and having some success in his native Poland before being sent to a concentration camp by the Nazis, and as a sometimes cantankerous old man in America in the 1970's.  What made it unusual was that all people were portrayed as animals- Jewish people (of all nationalities) as mice, German soldiers who imprisoned them as cats, American soldiers who liberated the camp as dogs- standard cartoon hierarchy of conflict.  

How to make this up- Today's assignment is to create your own autobiographical symbolic comic strip.  Use two sheets of your 18"x24" paper (if you have smaller paper I will have to let you know how many sheets to use), and have a minimum of 12 panels.  It should be based on a true story from the student's life, but should be told with symbolic characters.  The symbols can relate to the story in some way, or just be personal symbols that have meaning to the artist, subjects, etc.  Below are some student examples from past semesters:

The comics should be in full color, except for objects that can/should be depicted as white, making use of your pastels.  Lettering may be done with pencils, pens, markers, or other things suitable for fine lines, and even for outlining if you like.  General comic book rules apply, so you may make use of dialogue balloons, thought balloons, caption boxes, sound effect words, but it can also be done without any words if you prefer.  Characters can be depicted as just objects, or be personified (arms, legs, facial expressions) if desired.  The focus in grading will be on telling the story, not on skill in drawing things and scenes.  

Homework- This is our first graded art project, and you will be given time to get it done.  We worked on it today in class, and will work on it in class next week.  We are off from school on April 19th for Good Friday, so these will be due at the beginning of class on April 26, 2019.  

The next phase of the collagraph project (cardboard printing) will be done during class next week (4/12/19), so your plate should be completed by then.  If you need to add to it to get to the required 8 textures, do it early enough to allow the glue to dry before Friday.

Those who have not yet turned in their rough draft of the museum assignment should do so as soon as possible. It is a graded assignment, so time is of the essence, and I can't advise you on how to revise it for the final draft until I have seen it, and the semester ends in 5 weeks.

For next class 4/12/19-  Two major things.  Students will continue on this comic strip project and can start as soon as they arrive, so bring the 18"x24" pad, pencil and eraser, and pastels.  During the class each student will be asked to take a few moments off to come get their collagraph plate printed. I'll have a station set up for that and provide the ink and tools to print with. We will print on paper from your large pad, so the only other thing you need is the cardboard printing plate itself.