11/14/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class-  Today we took care of a bunch of things.  We started the first graded project of the semester, a 2D project involving narrative.  We looked at a few dozen slides of art that was created to tell stories, from the ancient world through contemporary.  We also looked at slide examples of work that each student wrote about for their research papers, and discussed some of the things that were learned about in their research.  The graded papers were returned. The last half hour of class we looked at some of the photos that students took as part of the photography assignment, seeing some of the interesting ways everyone met the challenges of each part.  I also went over some of the schedule changes for the semester to make up for class lost to Hurricane Sandy.

How to make this up-  The new project is a personal narrative in the format of a comic strip that uses symbolic characters to enhance the story.  You will tell a true story from your past.  It can be something of major or minor importance, happy or sad, something that took place over multiple years or in just a few minutes.   The story will be told in 12 panels, spread over two pages of your 18" x 24" paper.  The panels can be all the same size, or vary to suit the needs of the story.  The pages can be vertical or horizontal, but it should be the same for both pages.  The characters chosen to represent you and other people in the story should have a relationship to the theme of the story, or be personal symbols important to you and the people in the story.  The symbols can be personified (faces, arms and legs) to whatever extent you like.

You can sketch out the story in pencil first, but it must be colored in using pastels.  You may use a pen or marker for things like dialog or captions, but pastels for the color.  (I'll demonstrate use of them early next class)  The pages should have full color everywhere, though you may use white where it makes sense to represent objects (white clouds, etc) and you don't need to color in dialog balloons.  Consider how to use a variety of color, and mixing in a variety of viewpoints, like close up, medium, and distant (as in the photos of buildings and people from different distances).  

With everything else we had to take care of today, we didn't get much past discussion of the problem today, but we'll have almost all of the next class meeting to work on it, and you'll have another week after that before it will be due.  I recommend that before our next meeting that you select a story, work out how you'll tell the story in 12 panels, and sketch some potential characters.  That way, you can use more of the class time to work on the project.  Above and below are examples of this project from previous semesters.  More examples (including some pages from the Maus graphic novel that inspired this) and additional details about the project, including the use of symbolism in the characters, can be found here.

Homework- The completed comic book project will be due at the beginning of class on December 5, 2012.  On that day we will look at them as group and have a brief critique.  

The collograph project begun last week will be continued next class, so if you have not yet made a collagraph plate, you must make yours before our next class meeting on November 28, 2012. 

The museum assignment is due by the last day of class, December 19, 2012.  Don't wait too long to make your museum visit.  

*****Thanksgiving Break November 22-25th*****
****No class meeting for us on Wed Nov 21st****

For next class 11/28/12- I will help students individually print their collagraph plates while everyone is continuing work on the comic strip project.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, pastels, and completed collagraph plate.

11/12/12 2D Design

Today's Class- We finally returned from our long hurricane related break, and got to start our study of color.  First I discussed some of the scheduled changes that have resulted from the lost days.  Then I showed a selection of slides, from prehistoric through comic books, discussing the evolution of color technology and materials, as well as the ways color was used artistically.  The rest of the morning was spent doing two exercises related to basic color theory and mixing.  In the afternoon we looked at a few more slides to introduce a new graded project on the topic of color temperature.  

How to make this up- The two color mixing exercises are the creation of a color wheel and set of color mixes between complement pairs, examples of which are shown above.  The color wheel requires students to mix all colors from the three primary colors, including the three secondaries and the six tertiaries.  The complement mix involves choosing a pair of complementary colors (red/green or blue/orange) and mixing from one the other to create neutrals.  More examples and the full instructions can be found here.  (you may skip the third exercise on Tints and Shades, which we dropped as part of our post-Sandy schedule adjustment)  These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.

The new graded project is about color temperature, the idea that colors are perceived to have warm or cool qualities.  Artists will use these qualities to various effects in 2D art.  What we did was begin the process of making two collages of color, each meant to represent a different season of the year based on the temperature of the colors within.  Below are two examples from a previous semester.  The project requires the creation of 100 unique colors for each season, mixed from all your colors of acrylic paint.  The colors will be cut out in pieces no larger than 1 square inch and glued into two 10" square boxes.  Additional examples of the project and the full instructions can be found here.

Homework-  The color temperature graded project will be due at the beginning of class on November 26, 2012.  At that time we will look at them as a group and decide if the seasons are accurately represented.

The cut woodblocks for the book illustrations are due at the beginning of class on November 19, 2012. I'll bring the materials and tools to help everyone print their blocks during class while everyone is working on a new graded project.

For next class 11/19/12- We will start a new graded project related to the concept of limited color palettes, creating paintings with just a small number of chosen colors that fit certain patterns.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, all your acrylic paints, brushes, palette, palette knife, and water container.  You will also need a black and white photo to be a source for your project.  Just as with the dot drawing, the photo should be of a real object, scene, figure, etc and have a wide range of values from light to dark.  I'll have a bag of magazines to pick through for those who don't bring a photo of their own.

Updated Plans for 2D Design

School is back in session this week, so our 2D Design class will finally return after a two week absence.  The plan will be what I referenced last week, but here it is again in more detail.

Homework- The woodcut book illustration project will now be due at the beginning of class on November 19, 2012.  On that day, while the class is working on a color related project, I'll help each student print their blocks.  If you were not in on the day when I distributed wood and demonstrated cutting, I will be doing that again this week.

For next class 11/12/12-  We will finally start our study of color, with an exercise in basic color theory, and we will start a graded color project as well.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, all your acrylic paints, brushes, palette, palette knife, and water container.  The graded project will also require scissors and glue.  

11/7/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at the medium of printmaking, an art form in which images (usually identical copies) are created from a fixed matrix.  We looked at slide examples of woodcut, linocut, etching, lithography, monotype, and silkscreen, both historical and contemporary work.  After that the class completed the first part in an exercise involving an additional type of printmaking, the collagraph.

How to make this up- All students will need to construct a collagraph plate, which is a printing plate made by attaching various things to a flat surface.  (comes from the word "collage")  The completed plate will be inked by rolling with black printing ink and printed onto paper.  Above are a few examples from a previous semester.  For this exercise, we used cardboard as the plate base (about 8" x 10"- the large panel of a cereal box is a good size) and attached cut bits of different kinds of fabrics, but you can use any kind of material you want, natural or manufactured, as long as it is relatively thin (no more than 1/8" thick).  The print can be any design you want, as long as it is a recognizable image (person, object, scene, etc) and it must use items with at least 8 different textures.  Below is an example of a collagraph plate (top) and the print made from it (bottom).  Note that the color of the objects has nothing to do with the printed color, and that the image will print as a reverse (mirror) of the plate design, so if it matters what is on each side, or if you are going to include letters/numbers, they will have to be backwards on the plate.  More information and additional examples can be found here.

Homework- The completed collagraph plate is due at the beginning of class on November 28, 2012.  I will bring in the materials that day to print the plates.

The photography assignment is now due on November 14, 2012.  We'll take time out of the class to look at examples of everyone's photographs.

Those who have not yet turned in the research assignment should complete it as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 11/14/12-  We will begin our first major graded art project of the semester, our 2D (flat) project.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, and pastels.

11/4/12 Storm Update Intro to Art

No word as I write this as to whether or not Kean will be open this coming Wednesday, November 7, 2012, which would be our next scheduled class meeting.  If the university is open, I expect to be there to hold the class.  Here's the current plan.

Homework-  The photography assignment will now be due on November 14, 2012.

For next class 11/7/12- We will do the assignment that had been planned for last week, involving the printmaking process collagraph.  I will provide cardboard for the plate base, and bring in a variety of scrap materials with different textures that you can cut up and use to create your design.  Time is required for them to dry before printing, so we will actually print them on a future week.  You are welcome to bring in anything with interesting textures, natural or manufactured, to use in your piece.  (nothing too thick, and no cotton balls- rolling the ink will tear them apart)  Also bring in scissors to cut up the materials, and white or wood glue, along with pencil and eraser.  You do not need your 18" x 24" pad this week.

Further Storm Updates

Things are still pretty rough down in the shore area.  (normally we keep boats docked in the water, not on top of the dock itself, as this one was found the next day) I still have neither electricity or internet access at my home, but I'm on today to check on a few things.  It has already been announced that Kean classes are cancelled for tomorrow, November 5th, and I don't think they are announcing yet when they expect to resume again.  

I'll try to put up a more detailed post when I know more, but for now, on November 12, 2012 my Monday 9:30 am 2D class will again plan to start color with some exercises in basic color theory and mixing.  However, because we have now lost two weeks of meetings, we also have to start the next graded project the same day.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, all your acrylic paints (red, yellow, blue, black, white), palette, palette knife, brushes, and water container.  Also bring scissors and glue (white or rubber cement).

As for the Wednesday 11:00 Intro to Art class, if school is open this week, we will do the planned print project, so bring the same materials you would have this past week.  If school is still closed, I'll look at the schedule and let you know what the alternate plan will be.

Expected Storm Issues

While this coming storm is expected to affect pretty much all of New Jersey and this whole corner of the country, it's expected to come ashore and do its greatest damage in the Monmouth/Ocean region, which is where I happen to live.  The local power company has already threatened to not restore expected power outages for up to 10 days, which will severely limit my access to e-mail and the internet until that is resolved.  I will try to check in when I can, but I may not be able to respond to e-mails as promptly as I try to under normal circumstances.

10/29/12- 2D Design Change

10/28/12  Storm Update and Change-

By now you likely know that the school has finally and wisely decided to cancel all classes for Monday Oct 29th and Tuesday Oct 30th.  That means no meeting for our 2D Design class this coming week (Week 8 on our syllabus).  There is a little bit of wiggle room built into the schedule, so we should be able to cover almost everything that was planned for the semester, just rearranged a little.

Class Assignment Updates-

The woodcut book illustration graded project will now be due at the beginning of class on Monday, November 12, 2012.  On that day I will help all the students print their blocks while everyone works on a color related graded project.  This gives everyone who has wood an extra week to cut the blocks.  Those who were not here last week to receive a block from me can wait until our next meeting to get one.  If you would prefer to start before then with your own wood, I suggest 1/4" thick plywood, either lauan (what I distributed) or birch, about 8" x 6".  However, I recommend that you wait until after our next meeting to start cutting, so I can demonstrate the best and safest way to cut your design into the block.  

For next class 11/5/12-  We are going to pick up where we left off with the next planned lesson- portfolio exercises in basic color theory and color mixing.  (the original plan for this day, text as a visual element, will likely be addressed in a few weeks)  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints (red, blue, yellow, black, white), brushes, mixing palette, palette knife, and a water container.  

10/24/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we discussed the idea of rhythm and movement as aspects of visual art.  We looked at slides from the Renaissance through the present, talking about how patterns of shapes and colors can be described and felt in the same way that musical rhythms are appreciated.  Then the class did a series of abstract paintings, each while listening to a different style of music.  I also collected the research assignments that were due today.

How to make this up- You will need to do a series of paintings using your 18" x 24" pad and watercolors.  The class listened to 15 minute segments of mostly instrumental music, and for each created an abstract composition that reflected the music, choosing colors and designs influenced by the music.  No representational images allowed, but otherwise you are free to create what you want.  Above and below are examples from previous semesters.  The list of the specific music we listened to (or equivalents if you don't have access to those) and additional painting examples can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.

Homework-  If you didn't turn in your research assignment today, you should get it to me as soon as possible to receive partial credit.  The more weeks it is late, the more points will be deducted.  
We are now past the halfway point in the semester.  If you haven't yet done your museum visit, you should do it soon before the you get overloaded with end of the semester papers, projects, and exams in all your classes.

The photography assignment handed out last week is due November 7, 2012.

For next class 10/31/12-  We will start a printmaking project, a collagraph.  It's a process where materials are attached to a surface, and the shapes and textures are printed on paper with printing ink.  I'll provide cardboard for the plate base and I have a bag of things that you may pick through and cut up for your project, but if you have some things with potentially interesting textures (can be natural or manufactured items) that you don't mind cutting up and gluing down, bring them in.  The plates will be given time to dry and actually printed in class in a few weeks.  Bring scissors and glue, and any materials you want to bring in.  You won't need paper next week so you may leave the big pad at home.

10/22/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we began the graded woodcut project, a problem of black and white composition that is also a book illustration.  Looking back at the textbook's chapter on value, I went over the idea of value patterns- using value more as a formal compositional element and less as a way to describe surface appearances or to imply form and volume.  Using examples from my own work I discussed approaches to developing an idea- from initial concept, through revisions, to the final visual idea.  Wood was distributed and I did a demonstration of safe and effective cutting techniques.  We also visited the printmaking studio down the hall and a printmaking exhibition at the library.

How to make this up-  You can't create the block until you get a piece of wood, but you can develop your idea on paper.  You are creating an original illustration based on a literary source- fiction or non fiction, novel, short story, poem, etc, but no fairy tales, kids or young adult books, comics, or anything fully illustrated.  You can pick a specific scene, or something that sums up the book.  You will be working at a size of 8" x 6", which can be vertical or horizontal.  Bring your sketch idea(s) to class next week, and I'll give you a piece of the same wood distributed to everyone today.  Above are some examples from previous semesters. Additional examples and further instructions can be found here.

Homework- The completed block is due at the beginning of class on November 19, 2012. (note new storm related date) At that time I will bring in ink and printing tools to help you print them.  I suggest you start the cutting before next week so I can look at your progress.

For next class 10/29/12-  (now 11/12/12) We will start our study of color with some exercises in basic color theory and mixing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, acrylic paints (red, yellow, blue, white, black), brushes, palette knife, palette, and water container.

10/17/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at the medium of photography.   I showed slides with examples of the history of photography, from the earliest experiments of the 1800's to contemporary artists, discussing the changes of technology, and the ways that photographs address the same concerns as more traditional arts.  A handout with a take home photo assignment was distributed.  We also took a tour of the building, visiting many of the studio classrooms and observing the type of work done there.  After that, we visited two exhibitions on campus, at the Human Rights Institute and at the CAS building.

How to make this up-  The take home photography assignment, and some previous student examples of the assignment, can be found here.

Homework-  The take home photography assignment is due at the beginning of class on November 7, 2012.

The research assignment on the various art historical periods is due at the beginning of class on October 24, 2012.

For next class 10/24/12-  We will go back to working with color.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, watercolors, brushes, mixing palette and water container, along with the completed research papers.

10/15/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we finished our study of value drawing with a graded charcoal drawing of a mixed value still life.  We reserved the last hour of class for a slide show of the history of printmaking and a discussion of next week's woodcut project.

How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life that includes both white and dark colored objects, and both white and dark colored drapes.  Light with a directional light to create light and shadow patterns on the still life, and then draw it on your 18"x 24" paper using the charcoal of your choice.  Full directions and additional student examples can be found here. This post also includes details about next week's woodcut project.

This is a graded project and must be completed as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

Homework- Come up with a literary source for your woodcut book illustration project mentioned above.

For next class 10/22/12- We will start the next graded project.  I'll bring actual examples of student prints from this project from previous semesters and books with examples of woodcut prints.  I will distribute the wood that you'll use for the project, and do a demonstration of safe and effective cutting techniques.  We will likely visit the printmaking classroom and possibly a print exhibition on campus.  Bring paper (a small sketchbook will be enough, but you can use your 18" x 24" pad if you like), pencil and eraser, black markers, and x-acto knife.  If you have a copy of your chosen literary source, bring it along.

10/10/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class-  Today we talked about color for the first time this semester.  I showed slides of art from prehistory to the present, discussing the role of color in each, as well as the evolving technology of pigments and paints.  After that, the class did a couple of portfolio exercises related to basic color theory and color mixing.

How to make this up- Students did two exercises involving the specific mixing of colors.  First was a color wheel, in which all the colors were mixed from three primary colors, including tints of the primary and secondary colors.  Second was mixing a pair of complementary (opposite) colors to create some related neutrals.  Above is a student example.  To see the full instructions and another example, click here.

These are portfolio exercises and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit.

Homework-  The research assignment is due at the beginning of class two weeks from today, October 24, 2012.  If you haven't yet cleared your choices of artists and artworks with me, I suggest you do so soon.

For next class 10/17/12-  We will discuss the medium of photography.  We'll look at examples of photography from the earliest experiments to contemporary images, discussing the similarities and differences with more traditional mediums.  The related project will be a take home assignment that you'll have a few weeks to complete on your own. We will spend the rest of the class period taking a walk around the building, visiting some of the other studios and learning about some of the other things taught in the department, and perhaps visiting an exhibition on campus.  You do not need to bring any art supplies to class next week.

10/8/12 2D Design

Today's Class-  Today was devoted to the concept of value in two dimensional art.  Value was a part of the stipple drawing assignment, but now we're using a more traditional medium, charcoal.  We discussed some related vocabulary and definitions from the textbook, looked at slides of historical art from antiquity through the present, and discussed the way value was used to imply form and volume, space, to highlight specific details, and to focus attention.  After that the class did two still life drawings using different types of charcoal.

How to make this up- You will need to set up a still life to draw from, which will be lit by a single directional light source to create patterns of light and shadow.  You will do one drawing as a value reduction using vine charcoal, filling a page with it and using your kneaded eraser to draw the lights from the set up.  You will also do a more traditional value drawing using compressed charcoal on clean white paper.  Specific instructions as to how to put together the still life and what to focus on, and additional student examples, can be seen here.

These are portfolio exercises and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit, but I recommend that you complete them before next week as practice for a graded charcoal assignment, especially if have never tried charcoal before.

Homework-  Nothing new, but a few students still owe me the graded projects involving stipple drawing and pencil line still life drawing.  The longer the delay, the fewer points they will be worth.

For next class 10/15/12- We will finish our study of value with a graded project involving charcoal still life value drawing.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, preferred type of charcoal (vine, compressed, or both), kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.  We will use part of the class to discuss printmaking in preparation for the project we will start the week after that.

10/3/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at a category that I am calling Monumental Art, two dimensional work on a large scale that permanently covers walls, ceilings, and floors of buildings and other large structures.  I showed slide examples of such art, mostly mosaics and frescoes, from antiquity through the present.  I also showed a short video that demonstrated the steps involved in creating a large contemporary mural.  After that the students began a new portfolio exercise, a mosaic style collage.

How to make this up- I put out a stack of old magazines and had students select a color photo.  It must be a photograph of something three dimensional and real, not an artwork or illustration.  Students then selected a square or rectangular portion of it to reproduce as a basic pencil sketch.  After that, they continued to go through the magazines searching for colors that exactly matched those in the photo, cut out small pieces, and glued them to the drawn version to match the original photo.  In the above student example, the original is on the left, the collage version on the right.  The specific instructions and additional student examples can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and is due by the end of the semester.  I suggest working on it before then- it is not difficult, but it is very time consuming.

Homework- Nothing new, but the research assignment is due at the beginning of class on October 24, 2012.  Many of you have shown me your chosen artists and artworks for approval, but if you haven't yet, you should do it soon.

For next class 10/10/12- We will work with color again, this time mixing paint.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, watercolor paints, and brushes.  There may be water containers and palettes there on the counter, but if you don't want to take a chance, bring your own.

10/1/12 2D Design

Today's Class- We started with a class critique of the stipple drawings, which were graded and returned before the end of class.  The rest of the class period was spent working on our second graded project, a line drawn still life with a variety of objects.

How to make this up- You will need to gather a variety of objects, which you'll use to set up a multi-level still life.   Then you'll draw the set up on a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper.  The full instructions, including a list of the required objects for the still life, can be found here.

This is a graded project and must be completed as soon as possible.  The longer it takes you to turn it in, the fewer points it will be worth.

Homework- Nothing new, but those who still owe me the stipple drawing graded project should try to get it done as soon as possible to receive partial credit.

For next class 10/8/12- We will start our study of value.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser, and spray fixative.  I'll provide the subjects for a couple of value drawing portfolio exercises.

9/26/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we spent the class period considering the formal property of value, the use of light and dark in a composition.  We looked at slides of fine art from Ancient Rome through the 20th century, considering how value was used by the artist to imply three dimensional form, deep space, location, weight, to show time of day, to focus attention, and to describe the detail of surfaces.  Then I set up a still life of white objects under a direct light and everyone used charcoal to do a value drawing of the still life.

How to make this up-  You will have to set up a still life, in this case a collection of white or light colored objects of similar size, on a table.  The still life should be lit with a directional light to create patterns of light and shadow on and around the objects.  Use charcoal to draw the light and shadow, as in the above student example.  Another student example, and the specifics of how to set up the still life, can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit.

Homework- Nothing new, but I have requested that everyone bring me their proposed list of artists and artworks for their research assignment for next week, October 3, 2012.  The paper itself is due three weeks after that.

For next class 10/3/12- We will do an exercise using collage as the format.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, scissors, and glue suitable for working with thin paper.

9/24/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started our study of line.  I reviewed terms and descriptions of the use of line from the textbook, and we looked slides of fine art from prehistory, through ancient civilizations, to the renaissance, and the present, discussing how lines were used in each case.  Then the class did a series of portfolio exercises relating to line.

How to make this up-

Contour Line Exercises

We did a series of contour line exercises, drawing from shoes.  Despite being simple objects, shoes have some complex aspects that make them excellent to draw.  We explored contour, cross contour, and blind contour.  The full assignment, along with student examples of each, can be found here.

Negative Space Exercises

Negative space is the space around and between the positive shapes in a composition.  In 2D art, positive and negative space are equally important, as each defines the other.  Negative space is very useful in still life drawing as way of finding the right spacing and relative location of objects, as well as helping to find the shapes of objects themselves.  The specific assignments and additional student examples can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.  If time is short for you this week, finish the stipple drawing first, and do the exercises later.

Homework- The graded stipple drawing project begun in class last week is due at the beginning of class on October 1, 2012.  You must bring the original photo as well as your dot drawing version of it.

For next class 10/1/12-  We will start class with a group critique of the stipple drawings, which will be graded and returned.  The rest of the class period will be spent working on our next graded project, a pencil line still life of mixed objects.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencils, and eraser, along with the homework due that day.

9/19/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we discussed the idea of negative space, the space that surrounds and falls between positive shapes in an artwork.  In a two dimensional artwork, every space in the composition is either positive or negative, and each defines the other, so though we tend to focus on positive shapes, positive and negative are equally important.  In addition to two portfolio exercises, the research assignment was distributed today, and students each picked a topic from the list.

How to make this up-  We did two exercises, each requiring a sheet from the 18" x 24" pad and a pencil.  The first thing we did was draw the negative spaces in a chair.  I set up a wooden chair on a table in the center of the class and had students draw all the spaces in the chair that were surrounded by wood.  Although nothing but empty spaces were drawn, if done right the form of the chair is revealed.  The second exercise involved drawing from a simple still life, a group of diverse bottles set up on a platform in the center of the room.  This time students drew the actual objects, the bottles, but used negative spaces as an aid to drawing the shapes of the bottles and in finding the relative positions of the bottles.  Full instructions for the exercises and additional student examples can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises and must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.  If the online instructions aren't clear enough, wait to do the assignment until after you talk to me next week.

Homework-  A list of the three artists and an artwork from each that you plan to use for your research assignment is due in class on October 3, 2012.  Not getting my approval for your artists won't affect the grade for the paper, but if I don't approve your artists and artworks, the responsibility for having chosen appropriate subjects is all on you.  The completed paper is due at the beginning of class on October 24, 2012.  

Those who haven't yet been assigned a topic for their research paper need to contact me by e-mail for a list to choose from, or wait to see me in class next week.

For next class 9/26/12- We will start our study of value, the use of light and shadow to imply space and volume in two dimensional art.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, either vine or compressed charcoal, and your kneaded eraser.  Charcoal is very messy, so you are advised not to wear anything white or light colored to class that day.

9/17/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we started our study of two dimensional art with the most basic mark of all, the point or dot.  We did a portfolio exercise and started a graded project, both making use of dots.

How to make this up-  Everyone was in class today, so you should all know what we did, but here's a reminder if you are interested.

Wallpaper exercise

We started with the wallpaper exercise, where I had students create 3 patterns that included a vertically repeating pattern, made only from dots.  The dots could make geometric patterns, form recognizable images, or whatever you like.  Above is an example from a previous semester.  This was a portfolio exercise, so hold onto it until the end of the semester.

Graded Stipple Drawing Project

We started our first graded project of the semester, a stipple drawing based on a black and white photograph.  This is a type of drawing made with nothing but individual dots of ink, with the number and closeness of the dots creating different levels of value.  Students chose a black and white photograph of a three dimensional subject.  The basic composition was sketched in pencil on paper, and then the exact values are to be reproduced with the dots of ink.  In the above student example, the original photo is on the left, and the drawing is on the right (click to enlarge).  Additional examples and the specific rules of the assignment can be found here.

Homework- The graded stipple drawing project is due at the beginning of class on October 1, 2012.  You must bring the original photo with you that day so I can grade the project.

For next class 9/24/12- We will start our study of line with a few portfolio exercises.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencils, and eraser.  One of the exercises will involve drawing from shoes.  I do not have enough to distribute to everyone, so you are all responsible for having your own to draw from.  (closed shoes are easier to work with- dress shoes, sneakers, boots, etc)  I would suggest that you bring an extra shoe or be prepared to remove one from your own foot.  I'll provide the other subjects.

9/12/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we started our study of line as a visual element.  We looked at slides of art through history, from cave paintings through ancient civilizations, to the renaissance, to the present, in each case discussing how artists used lines in each.  After that the students did a series of portfolio exercises involving contour line.  I also distributed and reviewed the museum assignment.

How to make this up- We did exercises involving contour lines, simple lines that surround and define a shape in two dimensional art.  For a subject we used shoes, which have a shape that is both simple and challenging.  The class did shoe drawings with simple exterior contour lines, cross contour lines, and blind contour lines.  Detailed instructions for these exercises, and additional photos of student drawings, can be found here.

This is a portfolio exercise and must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit.

Homework- Nothing immediate, but the museum assignment was distributed today.  It is ultimately due by the end of the semester, but I strongly recommend starting it well before then.  If you wait until the end of the semester, you will be dealing with major assignments in your other classes, plus the busyness of holiday time.  Turning it in before the last class means that if it's lacking in some way, you will have the opportunity to redo it for a higher grade.  If you wait until the last day, it gets the grade it gets.

For next class 9/19/12- We will continue working with line, a portfolio exercise dealing with the concept of negative space.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser.  I'll provide the subject matter. In addition, I'll be distributing the research assignment.

9/10/12 2D Design

Today's Class- Today was our first meeting of the semester.  The course syllabus was distributed and reviewed.  I had students fill out a survey about their art experiences and interests, and we discussed the results as a group.  I also handed out the museum assignment, so those who may be making museum trips with other classes will know what my assignment is.

Homework- none

For next class 9/17/12-  Next Monday we will begin our study of two dimensional art with the most basic unit of mark making, the dot.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad of drawing paper, pencils, eraser, large black permanent marker, and two ultra fine point black markers.  A small sketchbook may come in handy if you have one available, but no need to go out and buy one.  One project will require a drawing based on a black and white photo.  It should be of an existing 3 dimensional subject (person, object, landscape, interior, etc), not line art of digitally created.  It works best if there is a wide range of values in the photo- light, medium, dark.  For those who don't have a photo next week I will have some magazines to pick through, but if you bring your own, you will have a photo you like and won't have to waste class time searching for one.

9/5/12 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today was our first meeting of the semester.  We reviewed and discussed the syllabus.  Students filled out a survey regarding their artistic experiences and interests, which we discussed as a group.  Some students purchased the class textbook.

Homework- Nothing today.  If you didn't have money for the text book today, try to bring the $3 next week.

For next class 9/12/12- We will begin our study of line.  Bring your 18" x 24" pad of drawing paper, pencils, and eraser.  The subject for our line exercises will be shoes, and since I don't have enough for everyone, you may need to provide your own.  Either bring an extra to class, or be prepared to take one off your foot.  We will also talk about the museum assignment.

Welcome to the Fall 2012 Semester

This is the blog that I have set up for my art classes at Kean University.  Each post title will contain the date of the class and the name of the course.  To avoid confusion, posts for my Intro to Art class (FA 1000 sec 10, Wednesdays) will be printed in red text, while posts for my 2D Design class (FA 1100 sec 02, Mondays) will be printed in blue text.  Posts meant for both classes, like this one, will be printed with black text.

Each week I will create a post for the class, usually later that evening.  Besides the name and date, I will include a description of the day's activity and photos of student examples of completed projects if available and applicable.  If there is related homework, I'll provide the details, including the day that it will be due.  I'll also include a list of the required materials for the following week's class. About a month's worth of posts will seen on the home page; ones from earlier in the semester can be accessed using the archives in the right hand column.

The purpose of this blog is to provide information to students who might miss an occasional class so that they may quickly catch up.  It is not intended to be a substitute for actually coming to class- this is not an online course and you are expected to show up each week.  However, even students who never miss a class may find this blog useful, as a way to see additional examples of completed projects, to check due dates for assignments, or to get a quick reminder of what is needed for the next class.  It is available to you 24/7 without having to wait for me to reply to your e-mail.  If you have questions that are not answered here, send an e-mail and I'll usually get back to you within the day, but I have found most of the information students are looking for will be found here.