COURSE OUTLINE
Description:
Introduction to fundamentals of drawing. Drawing of objects to develop student’s understanding of proportion, value, perspective, form and shape. Develops accurate observation, understanding and memory of key forms, properties of illumination, and effective use of drawing materials.
(1 hr. lecture, 4 studio hrs each week.) No prerequisite.
This is a perceptual drawing course. The students work to translate the visual world into two-dimensions through the elements of drawing. The goal of the course is to develop hand-eye coordination, an understanding of the methods and materials, and to begin the process of developing a visual vocabulary. The student is introduced to the fundamental concepts of drawing (as listed in the outline) and is expected to apply these concepts to a given set of problems with a base level of success. In addition, through the activity of drawing students are to come to understand the creative process as a means of examining the world around them and facilitating personal discovery.
Goals:
To introduce the fundamental concepts of drawing.
To enhance the students’ visual perception of the physical world.
To enable the student to translate the visual world into two-dimensions through the elements of drawing.
To develop the students’ hand eye coordination.
To acquaint the student with basic drawing methods and increase his or her sensitivity to drawing materials.
To familiarize the student with a basic vocabulary of visual art terms.
To engage the student in the creative process as a means of examining the world around them and facilitating personal discovery.
Outcome Behaviors:
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
1) Render form, texture, space and light in line and value.
2) Measure and describe the accurate proportions of objects.
3) Create unified and balanced compositions.
4) Demonstrate effective and controlled use of a variety of black and white drawing media and materials.
6) Produce "blind" and "modified" contour drawings.
7) Rapidly capture the formal essence of a visual event through the use of gesture drawing.
8) Define space using linear and atmospheric perspective.
9) Demonstrate an understanding of all the stages of the creative process, from conception of the idea to final presentation.
10) Apply a basic vocabulary of art terms when discussing artwork.
11) Apply unique and creative solutions to a set of visual problems.
12) Constructively critique the work of others.
13) Push themselves, willingly taking the necessary risks, to reach his or her maximum level of achievement.
PROCEDURES: Students will work in class under the guidance of the instructor. Class time is dedicated to drawing still-life objects and architectural spaces from observation in black and white media only. The students’ work will be critiqued, both individually and as part of a group, to discuss how well their drawings meet the objectives of each given problem. Students will also complete homework assignments that relate to work done in class.
REQUIREMENTS:
1) Regular attendance is absolutely mandatory.
2) Completion of all in-class drawings (a portfolio of all your work will be due at the end of the semester).
3) Completion of all homework assignments, including sketchbook.
4) Participation in critiques and class discussions.
ATTENDANCE: The college policy is followed (see handbook or college catalog). Excessive absence or lateness will lead to failure of this course. The college defines excessive absence as more than one week of classes. Two lateness’s equal one absence. In the exceptional circumstance in which the student is allowed to continue in the class beyond the allowed absences, which is solely up to the discretion of the instructor, the student’s grade will be reduced as a result of missing or insufficiently developed class work. Each drawing done in class is given a grade from 0-100. If you miss class and do not complete the project you are given a 0. In-class work cannot be made up without the prior approval of the instructor. This is a studio course. The knowledge that is gained in this course comes almost exclusively from working in class with others and with the instructor’s personal attention. This cannot be made up outside of class. Therefore it is absolutely essential that you be in class. However, you are responsible for all the information that transpired in class and completing the assignment should you happen to be absent. Arrangements should be made to contact a fellow student or the instructor before returning to class to make sure you have the materials you need for the next class.
EVALUATION: Your grade will be determined from the following:
PORTFOLIO – 50% of your grade will come from a portfolio of drawings that you will assemble from work done in class and will turn in at the end of the semester. Each assignment is given a grade of 0-100. Missing work is averaged in as a 0.
HOMEWORK and QUIZZES – 40% of your final grade will come from all of the homework assignments given over the semester and any in-class quizzes. Each homework assignment will be given a grade when it is turned in during the semester. If the homework is turned in late, after the due date, it will receive a reduced grade (5 points off) for each class late. Homework will not be accepted more than one week after the due date.
FINAL PROJECT – The last homework assignment will be the final project. The project will be more complex, you will be given more time to complete it, and it will count as two homework assignments in grading. It will encompass all the ideas dealt with over the semester and will serve as an indication of what you have learned and how much progress you have made.
EFFORT, PARTICIPATION and PROGRESS – 10% of your grade will be based on your overall work ethic, your seriousness of purpose, how prepared you are in class, how much you contribute to discussions and critiques and how much your work progresses from the beginning to the end of class.
WEEKLY OUTLINE
Week 1: blind contour, semi-blind contour, continuous line drawing
Week 2: positive / negative shape, sighting techniques
Week 3: contour line with compositional studies
Week 4: contour line, variation in line weight
Week 5: 2 point perspective
Week 6: 1 point perspective
Week 7: Value – reduction to three
Week 8: modeled value drawing
Week 9 –10: Value and Space
Week 11: Texture – charcoal
Week 12: Texture – pen and ink
Week 13: Value and Texture – china marker on toned charcoal paper
Week 14: Final Still-life – integration of ideas.
Week 15: FINAL CRITIQUE
MATERIALS LIST
Graphite drawing pencils (mix of hardnesses, from soft 4B to hard 4H )
Vine charcoal (soft)
Compressed charcoal (stick) or Char-kole pastel
Charcoal pencil
Black drawing pen (fine point)
All purpose drawing pad, heavy to medium weight, 14”x17” or 16”x20”
All purpose drawing pad suitable for charcoal, 18”x24”
Newsprint pad 18”x24”
Sketchbook
Kneaded eraser
Blending stump
Straight Edge (18” metal ruler is good)
Pencil sharpener
Bull dog clips, masking tape
Portfolio (optional)
Fixative (to be kept at home)
Evaluation Criteria for Effort, Participation and Progress (10% of grade)
Score: 2 -- (Good) Yes, always meets requirement
1 – (Adequate) Almost always meets requirement
0 – (Needs improvement) More than a few times the student has not met requirement
Are you prepared with materials and ready to work at the start of class, and return on time from breaks?
Are you working consistently during the entire class period, focused on your work, not talking to others?
Have you developed your drawings under the guidance of the instructor from start to finish?
Have you taken input from the instructor and applied it to your drawings during its development in effort to improve the drawing and try new ideas?
Do you have your homework ready for critique on time at the start of class and offer a thoughtful analysis of your work during critique when called upon?
Have you put considerable time into your homework assignments and reworked and resubmitted any homework assignments for which you have received a low grade?
Do you participate in the critique of other classmate’s work?
Have you completed all the outside assignments including readings, library visits, purchase of materials, researching artists, and other miscellaneous activities that may not be specifically graded?
Have you attended all classes, or if you have missed the two classes allowed, have you made an effort to make up what you have missed?
Is there evidence at the end of the class of an improved understanding of the artistic process seen through – creating multiple concepts at the beginning of a project; building on earlier stages of the drawing; revising the drawing as it develops; bringing the drawing to completion in the allotted time period, and giving thought to presentation at critique.
Has each drawing improved from where you started at the beginning of the course and are you reaching your fullest potential?
