3/3/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we started our study of color. We looked at slides, covering art from prehistoric to the present, talking about how color was used. Our exercise was creating a color wheel, mixing all the colors from the 3 primaries, and doing a complement pair mix. Above is an example of the project.

How to make this up- It's too much to explain here, so I will have a handout to give to anyone who missed class this week. This is a portfolio exercise, so should be made up by the end of the semester.

Homework- The research assignments are due at the beginning of class on March 10, 2009. If you haven't yet cleared your artists/artworks/book with me, you may want to contact me by e-mail and do so soon. If you don't check with me first, the responsibility for choosing appropriate artists and artworks falls completely on you.

For next class 3/10/09- Next week we will be discussing photography. Because the photo assignment will be done completely on your own time, we will use the rest of the class to do other things. Therefore, you do not need to bring any of your art materials next week.

3/2/09 2D Design

By now you should all know that the university is closed for the entire day, cancelling our class. Next week we will do what we would have done this week, so bring the same materials- 18"x24" pad, vine and compressed charcoal, kneaded eraser. Spray fixative is recommended.

2/24/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we looked at examples of monumental art, which I defined as two dimensional art that is designed on a large scale and can cover walls, floors, and ceilings. Most of these were frescos and mosaics. We also looked at a short video showing the process of painting a modern mural. Today's art project was a mosaic style collage inspired by a magazine photo and made of other magazine paper, an example of which can be seen above. Details as to how to complete this assignment, and further student examples, can be found here.

Homework- Those who have not yet provided me with their list of artists and artworks for their research paper should get them to me as soon as possible, either by e-mail or in class next week. The paper itself is due in 2 weeks, at the beginning of class on March 10, 2009.

For next class 3/3/09- We will be beginning our study of color. Bring all the materials related to painting- watercolor paints, brushes, mixing palette, water container, as well as your 18"x24" pad, pencil, and eraser.

2/23/09 2D Design

Today's Class- Today we began by critiquing the dot drawings. Then we finished our study of line with a graded project- a contour line still life with a variety of objects.

How to make this up- Those who missed class today need to make this project up as soon as possible. The specifics of the assignment can be found here.

Homework- Nothing new, but those who have not yet turned in the dot drawing or today's line drawing should turn them in next week.

For next class 3/2/09- We will begin our study of value drawing. Bring your 18"x24" pad, both vine and compressed charcoal, and kneaded eraser. Spray fixative is recommended as well.

2/17/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we looked at slides with examples of art from antiquity through the present, with a focus on value, the use of light and dark to create the illusion of volume and space. Then we did a charcoal value drawing based on a still life set up.

How to make this up- To learn what you need to do to make up this exercise, click here. This is a portfolio exercise, so it must be completed by the end of the semester.

Homework- The list of artists and artworks for your research assignment should be brought to class next week, along with a book that you'll use as part of the research.

For next class 2/24/09- Bring your 18"x24" pad, pencil, eraser, scissors, and glue, and some old magazines that you don't mind cutting up, if you have some you can bring in.

2/10/09 Intro to Art

Today's Class- Tonight we reviewed the museum assignment, then the research assignment. After that we did two exercises that make use of negative space. To learn how to make up tonight's drawing exercises, click here. To learn the specifics fo the museum assignment, click here.

Research Assignment- Students drew numbers for a hat for draft positions, and picked from the list of topics. Those who missed class need to choose their topics. This can be done by e-mail or in class next week. The following topics are still available:
Northern Renaissance
Dutch Baroque
18th Century Portraiture
Neoclassical Art and Architecture
Academic Art (19th century)
American Realism of the 20th Century
Political Art
German Expressionism
Dada
New Objectivity (Germany, 1920's)

If you wish to pick one by e-mail, send me your two top choices. The first person to contact me gets his first choice. The second person gets first pick of whatever remains. The assignment is to choose 3 prominent artists from your assigned period in western art, and analyze one artwork by each, in addition to answering some general questions about the particular art movement. The specifics of the assignment are available on a handout that you can get at the next class.

List of 3 artists and artworks is due on February 24. Research Assignment is due on March 10.

For next class 2/17/09- Bring your 18"x24" drawing pad, drawing charcoal, and kneaded eraser. We will begin our study of value.

2/9/09 2D Design

Today's class - Today we started our study of line. We looked at slides showing the use of line through the history of art. After that, we did some exercises in contour line drawing involving shoes. We had a lunch break, then did some exercises involving negative space.

How to make this up- Details about the contour line exercise can be found here. Details about the negative space exercises can be found here. These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester, though to get the most benefit from the exercises, they should be done now rather than later.

Homework- The dot (stipple) drawing begun in class last week is due at our next class meeting on February 23, 2009.

Reminder- School is closed for President's Day on Feb 16th. No class.

For next class 2/23/09- Bring your completed dot drawing and the original photo. These will be critiqued. Also bring your 18"x24" drawing pad, pencil, and eraser. We will do a graded project involving line.

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.