Western Connecticut State University
School of Visual and Performing Arts
Art Department
Syllabus for Drawing 2 – prerequisite Art 111
Course number: Art 211- 02, VPA 241 – Spring 2016
Credit hours: 3 – classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:45pm-2:15pm
Instructor: Christine Hartman
Telephone: 845-838-3635
Email: hartmanc@wcsu.edu
Student Website:www.classes.christinehartman.com
My Website: www.christinehartman.com
Course description: This course concentrates on developing the individual’s powers of graphic imagery through sustained drawing in figure drawing, portrait, landscape, still life and imagination problems and exercises. Special emphasis will be on the figure. A required course for graphic communications. Frequent individual and class critiques
What you can expect to learn in this class:
You will develop skill and confidence in your ability to draw from observation. Students will explore composition through sustained drawing projects. You will be introduced to work from the live model alternating with anatomical studies.
We will discuss the language of drawing through studies from great works of art.
You will be encouraged to develop your awareness and ideas about how we see, how the artist can use awareness of the rules we unconsciously use to create space and form.
Required Text:
Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist. Stephen Rogers Peck, Oxford University Press. Available in WCSU bookstore and on Amazon. You will need this book before March 18th. Alternately, you may purchase “3D4 Medical” anatomical application (complete skeleton and muscles) for Mac, you will need a tablet or laptop to view your anatomy app.
Required Supplies:
All supplies from Utrecht (http://www.utrechtart.com/) or campus bookstore
item numbers are from Utrecht.com
4 each student: Strathmore 400 or 500 series drawing paper – sheets 23” x 29” Item #13309-9001
2 each student: Strathmore 400 or 500 series charcoal paper, storm Gray 19 x 25” Item #10703-2681
Strathmore 400 Series Drawing paper Pad: 14 x 17” Medium surface item #10316-1017
Farber Castell or Utrecht Brand drawing Pencils: 6B,4B,2B,HB,and H
General brand, Charcoal pencils 4B,6B item #20418-2041 one each
General brand, White charcoal Pencil item #20418-1001 one each
Staedtler Mars plastic eraser item #21500-0000 one each
Kneaded Rubber Eraser item #21502-2620 one each
Gum eraser item #21582-1001 one each
Willow Charcoal Pack Item #22614-2005 one each
Portfolio for transporting your work
Heavy duty drawing clipboard 28” x 38” one per student (optional)
Supplies will cost from $35.-$45.
Attendance Policy:
This is a studio course and attendance will significantly affect your ability to learn the required skills, therefore absences will affect your grade. You are responsible for all class work, if you must miss a class – you can check the website for the assignment for that date although not all materials will be available on the web. After two absences grades will drop one letter grade per absence.
Students are expected to also complete a series of drawing exercises outside of class which will include developing a personal image library and completing assignments started in class. The final grade will be based on class participation (30%), skill development (30%) and a portfolio of class work and the sketchbook and assignments executed during the semester (40%). Your work will be reviewed at midterm and a final review at the end of the semester.
General Course Outline:
Project: weeks 1-4
How to develop a perceptual drawing. (Still life)
Sighting study and learning the process for developing a refined drawing.
Chose what interests you and pay attention to what is important and expressive.
Find the main gesture.
Develop a structure and composition (copies, study compositional ideas thumbnails).
Developing clarity of spatial construction.
Creating ambiguity and tension.
Considerations: Qualities of line (path and plan), put together a group of art works 4 or 5 and sketch their plan on top of them. Stress the overall organizational directions of a drawing. How to draw with plan in mind. Movement over the page following relationship directions.
Project: week 5
Learning basic perspective. Concept drawing.
Using perspective and drawing from concept.
Using one point perspective, create an imaginary space. Find a one point perspective photograph and create your grid as an overlay. Use that grid to modify and create your own visual cityscape. Using two point perspective draw an object: create a plan, elevation, and two point perspective drawing.
If you do not own a book on perspective these two are both clear and easily understood. Both are Dover books available from Amazon.
“Perspective Drawing Handbook” Joseph D’amelio
“Perspective Made Easy” Ernest Norling
Project: weeks 6-15
Anatomy and figure drawing.
Anatomical studies and their application to life drawing.
Drawing studies will be made of the skeletal system and the significant muscular systems for artistic anatomy will be added. Specific areas of the model will be studied on alternating class sessions.
See text requirements above.
Miscellaneous: Turn off cell phones and all electronic devices prior to entering classroom.
Special Accommodation: Students with disabilities, language conflicts or having special circumstances during the semester should contact me early so that appropriate accommodation may be made. Contact Access Ability Services (SC207) and request accommodation letter.
Additional reading:
Hoffman,Donald, “Visual Intelligence”, 1998
Arnheim,Rudolf, “Art and Visual Perception”, 1954
D’amelio,Joseph, “Perspective Drawing Handbook”,
Norling,Ernest, “Perspective Made Easy”,
Goldfinger,Eliot, “Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form”
Winslow,Valerie L., “Classic Human Anatomy: The Artist’s Guide to Form, Function, and Movement”