Author: Christine Hartman

Assignments and information about classes for the week of October 5th.

October 6th: Bring your viewfinder to class and bring in your thumbnail copies from last Thursday’s assignment they may be helpful. We will be planning a longer term drawing today, starting with thumbnail sketches of your ideas. You will need a good size and quality piece of drawing paper 11×14 or 14×17 and charcoal for your drawing. If you like you may use gray-toned paper with charcoal and white chalk.

Assignment: Make a copy of the grayscale below with pencils of appropriate hardness. Due next Tuesday 10/13/15, midterms the 15th.

October 8th: Work will continue on your long term drawing. Check out the Video based on Piranesi Drawings!

Assignments and information about classes for the week of September 21st.

September 22nd, Copy Day!
Bring a ruler and 11×14 (or larger) paper to class.
To use a music analogy, so far you have been learning to read music and hit the right note. This week we will make a master copy in class so you can see the benefits of copying master works. Think of copying for the artist like learning to play a complex piece of music for a musician. You get to practice your drawing skills with the extra added benefit of learning a little bit about how a great work of art is made.
Assignment: As part of your sketchbook assignment make a more involved copy (work multiple sessions) of one of the images in the Drawing Library this week, use the methods you learned in class, pay close attention to the outer edges of the drawing.

September 24th, Introduction to composition (you will need your viewfinder). In today’s class we will experiment with placement, by this I mean awareness of how your marks are placed on the rectangle (the edges of your paper). Surprisingly the way your drawing relates to the edges of your paper is probably one of the most important elements of drawing.
Assignment: Assessment Drawing: Draw the simple still life; pick one from the three images below, (images will be handed out in class on 09/24 if you missed class go to the download tab in the main menu you will find printable images available for download). The drawing must be drawn inside of a 9” x 7 3/4” rectangle. Make your drawing as close to the original as you can (but in the larger size). Work visually. You can use a ruler but do not work with a grid. The purpose is to work at training your eye to see more accurately. Bring your drawing copy and the original to class on September 29th, late work will not be accepted.

 

 

Assignments and information about classes for the week of September 14.

September 15th: Class time: still life set up, sighting practice, skill development more complex forms. Assignment: Work in your sketchbook, if you feel uncertain about what you are doing and would like feedback bring your sketchbook to class and we can look at it together.

September 17th: Class time: still life set up, sighting practice, skill development. Next week we will begin to discuss placing your images on the rectangle (composition). You will need a viewfinder (see below) for next Thursdays class. You will also need a small sketchbook to make thumbnail drawings. Thumbnails are small sketches that experiment with various ways of placing objects on the rectangle (the edges of your drawing) creating different possible compositions. Also, Next Tuesday the 22nd you will need to bring your ruler to class.
Assignment: due September 24th
Buy or make a viewfinder:
Make two L-shaped pieces of mat board you will need paper clips or spring clips to hold them together. (approximately 8″x10″)

Or, buy and 8×10 pre-cut mat and cut into two L-shaped pieces.

Assignments and information about classes for the week of September 7th.

September 8th,
Class time: we will work again from a still life set up. The set ups will become progressively more complex and challenging. Don’t miss class!
Assignment: Please read: Building a Visual and Perceptual Skill Set
Assignment: Keeping a sketchbook. Start your sketchbook this week, draw in it every day. Build on the things you learned in class and find subjects that are similar to what you drew in class that week, you are practicing the skills you learned in class, so the more practice the better. Remember one of the main skills involved in drawing is the ability to find and correct your mistakes.

September 10th, Class time: we will work again from a still life set up introducing forms based on the circle. You will continue checking angles and learning about triangulation, the system of looking for connections between three points to find proportion and placement simultaneously.
Assignment: Work in your sketchbook, at least once a week you should draw from a master drawing, you will find some on the class website in the Drawing 1- Library link. You can also copy any other drawings that interest you as long as it is by one of the artists in the library. Copy the same way you draw in class, look for angles, negative shapes and relationships.