2/3/09 Intro to Art

Class for today, Feb 3, 2009 is cancelled. The snow is not too bad yet, but it will be much worse by the evening (especially down in the part of the state that I live in), and I think we'd all be better off not coming in. Everyone will be e-mailed as well.

Same materials for next week- 18x24 pad, pencils, eraser.

2/2/09 2D Design

Today's Class- Today I distributed the museum assignment, then we did an exercise and started a graded project involving dots. For the details of how to make up the dot project, click here.

Homework- The stipple drawing (dot project) started today is due at the beginning of class on February 23, 2009.

Next Class 2/9/09- We will start our study of line. Bring your 18"x24" pad of drawing paper, pencils, eraser. Some of those exercises will involve shoes. As I may not be able to provide a shoe to everyone, students should be prepared to provide their own, either bringing an extra or taking one off their feet.

1/27/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we began with a visit to the Tatana Kellner exhibition in the CAS Gallery. After that we looked at examples of how line has been used in art from prehistory and the ancient world, as well as the renaissance through contemporary art. For today's art project, the class did various exercises in contour line involving shoes. For details about how to make this up, click here.

Homework- None

Next class 2/3/09- We will review the upcoming museum and research assignments, and continue our study of line. Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencils, eraser. I'll provide the subject for the drawings.

1/26/09 2D Design

Today's Class- Today the syllabus was distributed and reviewed. The class filled out a survey which we went over as a group in class.

Homework- None

For next class 2/2/09- Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil, eraser, ultra fine point markers (black), permanent marker (black), and a black and white photo that will be the source for a project. A smaller sketchbook is recommended.

1/20/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today the syllabus, including the list of materials, was distributed and reviewed. The class also filled out a survey and we went over them in class. Some students purchased the photocopied text for the class.

Homework- None

For next class 1/27/09- The class will likely include a trip to the Tatana Kellner exhibition at the CAS Gallery. We will be starting our study of line. Bring your 18"x24" drawing pad, pencil, eraser. The subject will be shoes. I may not be able to provide them for everybody, so you may want to bring in a spare shoe to draw from, or be prepared to remove one from you foot. Those who didn't purchase the text today should bring $3.00 to pay for a copy.

Welcome to the Spring 2009 Semester

Welcome to the blog that I have set up for my classes at Kean.

To make things easier to follow, posts for my Introduction to Art class (FA 1000 Sec 18, Tues 4:30pm) will be made with red text, while posts for my Two Dimensional Design class (FA 2402 Sec 01 Mon 9:30am) will be made using blue text. Posts that are meant for both classes will use black text.

I will use the blog each week to post information about the classes. I will include a description of the projects done in class, homework assignments, due dates, and will include photos of examples of completed projects if available and applicable. I will also list the art materials needed for the following week's class. The title of each post will include the date and the name of the class. About a months worth of postings will appear on the main page, but earlier postings will be available in the blog archives.

Certainly I expect students to stop by when they've missed a class, so they can catch up on what the class did. The blog is also available to students who want to verify due dates for homework, details about assignments, or materials needed for the next class. These questions are the some of the most common things I used to get asked by students via e-mail, and now you can get the answers 24/7 without having to wait for me to reply. If you still have questions after reading the blog, you may still e-mail me to get answers or further details. Don't bother leaving comments, as I won't be on this blog between class meetings.

Final Grades

Final Grades have been calculated and submitted to KeanWise. I don't know if they will be available immediately or after January 5th.

Happy New Year.

12/16/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we critiqued the final projects (books), and I graded those, the portfolios, museum papers, and anything else that needed grading. Most students returned to pick up their work; those who didn't may find their stuff on the counter by the sink.

Final grades will be submitted to KeanWise after the holidays and be available for viewing in early January. Enjoy the break.

9/16/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at the final projects (3D boxes), and the boxes, portfolios, and museum papers were graded. Work that was not picked up by the end of class was put on table on the side. The work may or may not be there for long.

Grades will be posted to KeanWise after the holidays and be available to view in early January. Enjoy the break.

12/9/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we critiqed the still life paintings started 2 weeks ago, visited the faculty show in the gallery downstairs, and worked on the final book project.

Next week is the final meeting of the class, at which the final project, portfolio, and remaining museum papers will be graded. Students should bring the following items (dates are when each project can be found on this blog):

Portfolio
Wallpaper Dots Sep 16
Contour lines (shoes) Sep 23
Negative space (chair/bottles) Sep 23
Charcoal exercises (vine and compressed) Oct 7
Color wheel/complements/tints and shades Oct 28

Also bring in all the previously graded projects-

Stipple drawing (dots) Sep 16
Contour line final (still life) Sep 30
Charcoal final Oct 14
Woodcut print Oct 21
Color Temperature collage Nov 11
Specific color palettes Nov 18
Color still life Nov 25

And the final book project Dec 2
as well as the musuem paper Sep 16

All work will be graded and returned that night.

12/9/08 Intro to Art

Today's class- Today we had a general work day to devote to any past current classwork. We also visited the faculty exhibition in the gallery downstairs.

Next week is the final meeting of the semester, at which time the final 3D project is due and everything will be graded. You should bring the following items (dates are where you can find the assignments on this blog):

Portfolio-
Contour line (shoes) Sep 16
Negative space (chair/bottles) Sep 23
Charcoal Value Drawing Sep 30
Mosaic collage (magazines) Oct 7
Color Wheel Oct 14
Photographs Oct 21
Abstract paintings (music) Oct 28
Collograph Print Nov 4
2 point perspective (corner) Nov 25

Also bring in the 2 graded projects (the comic strip and the 3D box project (Dec 2) started last week), and the completed museum paper. I will grade the portfolios, 3D projects,and museum papers, which will be returned at the end of class.

12/2/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we started by critiquing the limited palettes projects that were due today, then I gave the assignment for the final project, Transforming Books, a few examples of which (pop up [Hokusai wave] and transparency [Van Gogh interior]) can be seen above. For more examples and details of the project, click here.

How to make this up- Today was mostly spent looking through books and getting ideas. When you come to class next week, have your idea picked out and a full color image to work from.

Homework- This Final Project for the semester is due at the beginning of class on December 16, 2008, the last day of class, as art the final portfolio and museum assignment if not turned in yet. The Still Life painting started last week is due at the beginning of class on December 9th.

For next week 12/9/08- The class will be a general work day. Students can work on the final or any back projects or unfinished portfolio assignment from our class. I would recommend using the time to work on the final, since I will be around to assist you with any engineering issues. Bring to class whatever you need to work on the book or back project- paper, brushes, paint, glue, scissors, matboard, etc.

12/2/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we looked at slides, an overview of the history of sculpture from prehistoric to the present. We then looked at examples of Joseph Cornell boxes and assigned the Final 3D project, the Cornell style box. The above are student examples from past semesters. To see more and to learn the details, click here.

Homework- The final 3D box project is due at the beginning of class on December 16, 2008, the last meeting of the class. The musuem papers are also due that day unless turned in before then, as well as the final portfolio.

Semester Portfolio- For those who need a reminder, the following are the class projects that are expected to be part of the final portfolio:

Shoes

Chair and bottles

Charcoal drawing

Mosaic Collage (magazine paper)

Color Wheel

Abstract paintings from Music

Photographs

Collagraph Print

2 point perspective corner drawing

For next class December 9, 2008- The class will be an open workday that can be used to work on the final 3D project or any back project from this class. Bring whatever materials are appropriate to what you plan to work on.

11/25/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight the project was a still life painting, which was worked on for the entire length of the class. Above are a photo of a similar still life set up and a resulting painting.

How to make this up- Set up a still life of your own. Put a box on a table, drape with a colored cloth, and arrange at least 4 solidly colored objects on and around it. The objects should be all different colors, from among this list: red, yellow, orange, blue, green. The cloth can be any color. Use a full sheet of your 18"x24" paper.

Homework- This still life project is due at the beginning of class on December 9, 2008. The specific color palettes project that we started last week is due next week, December 2, 2008.

For next class December 2, 2008- We will be starting our final project of the semester. Bring your painting materials, 18"x24" pad, pencil, eraser. You will also need a piece of matboard, about 20"x30" (any color) and a book with full color images from a favorite fine art painter, period of painting, or at least a general art history book. You will be basing the final project on a painting from the history of art.

11/25/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- We began by reviewing the comic strip projects that were due today. Then we looked at slides of the history of architecture from prehistoric to the present. Today's project was a two point perspective interior drawing, an example of which can be seen above.

How to make this up- To see an example diagram of two point perspective drawing, click here. I'd also like to remind everyone that the museum assignment is due on the last day of class in 3 weeks, so if you haven't been to a museum yet, it's in your best interest to go as soon as possible. For a review of the assignment and links to the museums, click here.

Homework- Those who did not turn in the comic strip project today should bring it in next week.

Next class December 2, 2008- Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil, eraser. We will be starting the 3D final project.

11/18/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we looked at the completed season temperature collages, and then started a new graded project, involving specific color palettes, such as the above example.

How to make this up- Details and more examples of this project can be found here.

Homework- The specific color palettes project that we started tonight is due at the beginning of class on December 2, 2008. Those who still owe me the season project should complete it as soon as possible.

For next class November 25, 2008- Bring all your painting stuff- paper, paints, brushes, palette, water container, etc. We will start a new painting related project.

11/18/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we continued working on the comic strip projects that were started in class last week. See 11/11/08 for the details. At the same time, the collagraph plates were printed. We also took a trip to the gallery downstairs to see the print exhibition there.

How to make this up- Bring your completed collagraph plate into class as soon as possible, so it can be printed.

Homework- The completed comic strip projects are due at the beginning of class on November 25, 2008.

For next week November 25, 2008- Bring your completed comic strip, 18"x24" pad, pencil, eraser, and a ruler or other straight edge.

11/11/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we looked at slides of various paintings and discussed the general temperature of each. Then we started a new graded project relating to color temperature. For the details of how to complete this project (examples of which can be seen above), click here.

Homework- This color temperature graded project is due at the beginning of class on November 18, 2008.

For Next Class 11/18/08- Bring all your painting related materials. In addition, bring a black and white photograph that will be the basis of our next project. For those who don't have a photograph, I will have the usual pile of magazines to pick through.

11/11/08 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Today we began our first graded project of the semester, which is also our major 2D project. It's an autobiographical comic strip, using symbols to represent yourself and the other characters. For more details about the assignment, click here.

Homework- This graded 2D comic strip project is due at the beginning of class on November 25, 2008. The collagraph plates we started building in class last week are due November 18, 2008.

For next class 11/18/08- Bring all the materials needed to continue on this project (pad, pencil/eraser, pastels) and your completed collagraph plates.

11/04/08 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we took the class to a new location, down the hall to room 209, the printmaking studio, to enjoy the presentation by the guys from Drive By Press. They showed us some of their collection of prints from artists from around the country, including the giant mural print made by the guys from Cannonball Press. They also printed t-shirts for anyone interested from their supply of wood blocks. While they were printing, so were we, and the results can be seen above. We finished with a critique of all the prints.

Homework- None, but if you missed class tonight you must bring your block in next week to be printed.

For next week November 11, 2008- We will go back to our study of color. Bring in your 18"x24" pad, pencil, eraser, acrylic paints, brushes, water container, palette, and glue and scissors.