Assignments
include 5 major + minor assignments
Project #1 :: Eye, Mouth, Ear + Nose participation grade
In your sketch book draw your own eye from 2 views on one page, your mouth closed and open on another, your nose from front and side views on another in 4B or softer pencil. Each drawing should be beautifully developed expressing light, shadow and volumes —practice using halftone techniques via cross hatching.
Explore on 18” x 24” drawing paper, in pencil, develop value and explore scale shifts.
Light yourself thoughtfully.
Observe carefully. Detail is necessary to your drawings to feel like the beautifully rendered objects can be actually touched.
Project #2 :: Developed gesture / skeletal drawings (10% of final grade)
Take drawings from class and redraw them interacting on the same page as skeletons. Complete on drawing paper, minimum edge 18”
Project #3 :: Eye, Mouth, Nose and Ear with Anatomical Illustrations - Mixed media > Figure Abstraction (10% of final grade)
You will be collecting B+W anatomical illustrations that will be collaged onto the finished drawn surface as drawing that highlights anatomical pieces and parts of the face - eye, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, etc as well as the bones, if you wish to include. You will be creating one drawing on paper with collage elements, as well as one "drawing" with collage elements on canvas or fabric. You will make use of anatomical illustrations (drawing or photography), making use of scale shifts, b+w, color and will compose these onto a paper substrate 18" x 24" with Modge-podge or Acrylic Mat Medium. You may add Gesso if you wish to assist you in creating a stiffer surface to draw on. Your substrate need not be a rectangle or a square, but may in fact be a 'shaped' structure. The second part of this exercise, 3B, will make use of the same materials, however, this time you will use canvas or fabric, or a combination of both. The overall composition, drawn accuracy, developed volumes and the value of each anatomical part is key.
Project # 3A on paper
Experiment with line, color, mark making of both wet and dry materials. Apply your 'found' anatomical illustrations into an interesting composition on to a paper substrate. Making use of your full figure in-class gestures and other drawings, you will drawing back into the new 'ground' surface. You will now place the information you know about the figure into this work. Your project should exemplify abstract mark making, composition, figure to ground relationships. Media choice. Minimum edge 18" x 24”
Project # 3B on canvas
From knowledge gained from earlier projects, experiment with mixed media choices on canvas and or fabric (which can be prints!) - minimum edge 36” (purchase one yard of canvas). This work may be 2D or 3D. Critique will take into consideration the installation in actual space of the work.
Project #4 Drawing of a hand(s) interacting with a foot (feet). Draw from direct observation. Light the pose carefully. Work life-sized or larger. Well-developed value and realistic local color should be emphasized. Develop in charcoal. Develop 5 thumbnails in pencil in your sketchbook prior to advancing onto 140# paper or canvas support to complete this drawing. You may use wet media, but you need to speak to me first about this and your approach to the drawing. Extra grade
Project #5 (10% of final grade)
5A Self Portrait from observation. Light the pose carefully. Work life-sized or larger. Well-developed value and realistic local color should be emphasized. Develop in charcoal and make use of actual lighting and chiaroscuro. Place figure in a believable space. Develop 5 thumbnails in pencil in your sketchbook prior to advancing onto 140# paper or canvas support to complete this drawing.
Project #5B, 5C & 5D towards the final portrait narrative
Media choice is yours
Develop 5 thumbnails in your sketchbook prior to advancing onto 140# archival paper or canvas support. Should you wish to include wet media, color and collage, speak to me about how you will use the media in the advancement of your final rendering for this course.
Complete on 140# or canvas support, minimum edge 24” - 3 times
Project #6 Final Portrait Narrative = 10% final grade
Activating Foreground, Middle-ground, Background.
Create an intrusion into a space of your choosing.
Media choice is yours.
Use a portion of your body, your hand, foot, etc. holding or advancing towards something, to activate the immediate foreground of a space.
The space you draw must have an active middle-ground and background.
Include objects, clothing, lighting source that expresses you; multiple objects such as thumbnails, found illustrations, books, etcetera are to be included. This study should be rendered with a careful study of value in dry media.
Research & Multi media presentations (2 research papers, 10% each = 20%)
Research of two artists that make use of the figure in their two dimensional works. One must be prior to the 1890 and is to be compared to a contemporary artist between the years 1965-2013. Research both artists developing a written research paper on both. Papers need to include a short biography on artists. The bulk of your paper should develop a well analyzed deconstructions of two works of art that emphasize the figure for each artist. Total pages for your 4 deconstructions should be a minimum of 4 pages total. Finally, your paper needs to address the similarities and differences found among the two researched artists (minimum of two pages). Your finished papers should be a minimum of 7 pages, excluding images. A formal biography needs to be completed with your paper. Print out thumbnails of the four works of art you are deconstructing, noting complete details, title, date, dimensions, media, collection of each and source.
You will give an eight minute presentation of your selected works towards the end of the course.
(Multi media presentation + research paper 10% > 2x = 20% total )
Minor media presentation (1 per student)
In addition, each student will present a minor media presentation on three figure drawings they find of interest. The selection can come from the same artist / designer, or three different individuals. Students need to present the images, along with details (title, artist/designer, date, media) with their personal remarks to their chosen works.
Active Sketchbooks 10% of final grade
Keeping and maintaining an active sketchbook of various works of art that make use of the figure as its main subject. Examples may be found in painting, drawing, photography, stills from video, installation art, etc. You need to shoot for works from art history, cross cultural examples, as well as contemporary creative works. Cite your sources. Include 5 examples per week. At the conclusion of the semester you will have 50 entries.
Class participation, effort & professionalism 20%
