SELF PORTRAIT AS. . .

Last Monday we reviewed the proportions of the head. On Wednesday the class began work on the project Self Portrait As . . . We will continue with this project all next week.

Bianey

Dennis

Laura

COMBINED VIEWPOINTS

Yesterday the class continued working on the combined viewpoints drawings. We will critique these on Monday followed by a discussion on Head Construction before moving on to the Self-portrait Project.

THE LIST CRITIQUE AND COMBINED VIEWPOINT SKETCHES

Yesterday we critiqued the "List" drawings and made six contour sketches of a single object. Each sketch addresses the object from a different angle or distance. We will use these sketches tomorrow.

THE LIST

Laura (work in progress)

Last Wednesday the class continued working on the "List" project. Laura's drawing above is progressing very well. Notice the scale of the objects and the attention and balance of the positive and negative areas. These drawings are due when we return from Spring Break.

THE LIST

Today the class began work on "The List" project. Students are to compose an image using at least 15 of the items from the list compiled on the first day of class. Above is Jeff's initial composition in his sketch book. We will continue working on these drawings Wednesday followed by a critique on the Monday we return from Spring Break.

EYE LEVEL AND BASELINES

The class completed the Eye Level and Baselines project today. On Monday, we will start work on the list project. Check Canvas for a preview of the slide lecture and the instructions. Jesse's drawings below skillfully illustrate the three different eye levels. In addition, the complementary color scheme of red and green enhance the dramatic lighting and extreme views.

Jesse Bird's Eye View

Jesse Bug's Eye View

Jesse Mid-View

EYE LEVEL AND BASELINES

The class continued working on the "Eye Level and Baselines" series. Patti's drawings above illustrate (L to R) the bird's eye view, mid view and bug's eye view. We will continue working on these Wednesday with a critique at the end of class.

EYE LEVEL AND BASELINES

The class continued working on their series of drawings. We will work on these all next week as well.

EYE LEVEL AND BASELINES

Julianne

Today the class began work on the Eye Level and Baselines series. First, the class made small sculptures from clay. Next, they made a number of studies illustrating the sculptures from various points of view (I.E. above, below, front, back, etc). After completing the studies, students made thumbnails of the sculptures within three different spaces. One exhibiting a high horizon line, looking down on the objects. One with a low horizon line, looking up at the objects. And one standard position near the middle of the page.
For the next two class sessions, we will work on creating a series of at least three drawings illustrating the three locations of horizon line (aka. eye level).

NO CLASS MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY: Work on the "List"

No class this week due to teacher absence. Continue working on the "List" project. Feel free to develop some of these sketches into more complete drawings but it is best to have multiple views rather than one single rendering of the object. Remember, you are trying to familiarize yourself with these items. Draw what is important and "get to know" the objects. You will be using them in a larger composition in a couple of weeks. Below are some examples from Joy's sketchbook.

COLOR: Watercolor and Ink

Yesterday the class added watercolor to the ink drawings from Monday. Students explored multiple techniques of wet on wet to wet on dry.

Joy

Joy has effectively rendered the local colors of objects by using layered applications of color to build up the values. Notice how she uses warm colors towards the light source and cool colors in the receding and shadow areas. In addition, she has applied a final glaze of yellow over the objects adding depth and luminosity.

Emily

Emily started with a very complete ink drawing in black and white before adding color. She has very skillfully located similar colors in diagonal locations to unite the elements strengthening the compositional balance.

WATERCOLOR: Atmospheric Perspective

Yesterday the class made ink drawings from a group still life. Tomorrow we will color the drawings using watercolor. The objective is to explore the application of watercolor on an image illustrating the properties of atmospheric perspective and the distal cues.

COLORED PENCILS: Personal Theme

The class continued working on their drawings exploring a personal theme. These drawings will be critiqued on Monday.

Dylan

 Dylan has created a pop surrealist image of cosmic desserts and interstellar birdies. This humorous display of his subconscious is well balanced with repeating shapes as well as colors. "Everyone knows the moon is made of cheese."

Jesse

 Jesse has created a very bold composition by engaging with all four sides of the paper. Notice the triangulated rhythms between the blue, rectilinear forms and the spheres.

Judy

Judy has also entered the realm of Pop Surrealism with her rendition of "Mr. Potato Head consulting his dog." She has skillfully addressed the value and color patterns observed across the forms. The layering of colors (notice the reds and oranges within the brown) is similar to "glazing" techniques in painting which adds depth and luminosity to the forms rather than flat, "cartoonish" qualities.

COLOR PENCILS: Personal Theme

Patti

Yesterday the class began work on there color drawings exploring their own personal theme. They will continue with these on Wednesday followed by a critique on Monday before moving onto Ink and Watercolor drawings addressing atmospheric perspective.

COLOR PENCIL: Still Life

Yesterday the class made color pencil drawings from a still life. The three drawings above illustrate very different techniques in the handling of the materials. 

Jose

 Jose has applied a very light touch in rendering the color patterns observed on the various objects. By allowing the paper to show through many of the objects the positive and negative areas are united while creating a dreamy, surreal atmosphere.

Julianne

 Julianne has employed a more dense and saturated application of the medium. The colors are bold and rich. Notice the rhythm established by the placement of red and orange hues.

Nick

Nick's approach is more expressive in comparison to the previous two. The strokes and marks from the pencil swirl around the light patterns adding energy and dynamics to an otherwise stationary composition.

COLOR PENCILS: Reverse Drawing

Yesterday the class made drawings using white pencils on black paper. When using toned paper it is beneficial to take advantage of the papers value. With black paper, the shadows are already present. Therefore, the artist works from dark light. This requires thinking in reverse to working with dark materials on white paper.

Crystal

 Crystal has created a very stable composition by engaging the top and bottom edges of the paper. The large scale of the objects fills the composition activating the negative areas and establishing rhythmic value patterns.

Jose

 Jose has very keenly observed the subtle tonal variations within the transparent objects. The values are bold and striking. The centered composition allows him to address the still life in its entirety.

Laura

Laura has also employed "cropping" to great effect with her composition. This Cubist inspired drawing is composed of many positive and negative shapes interlocked together. Observe how she uses brighter values in the negative areas and switches to diffused values with the transparent, positive areas.

IMPROVISATION: continued

Yesterday the class completed work on the "Improvisation" drawings. Monday we will begin work on Color beginning with colored pencil drawings on black paper.

Jeff

Jeff's drawing illustrates the manipulation of an open ended spatula. The progression is very well paced revealing a gradual curling of the tines. Each frame exhibits strong attention to the negative areas which have been activated primarily by "cropping the object."

Laura

Laura has also used "cropping" with the addition of rendering soft patches of value to accentuate key points around and across the object. In addition, her handling of "accenting" along the contours is very complementary to the values adding volume and dynamics.

IMPROVISATION

Today the class began a series of compositional studies exploring positive and negative relationships as well as improvisational form. One view is of a cropped object. The successive views illustrate the object being stretched, twisted, bloated etc. in an effort to "activate" and engage the negative areas. We will critique these drawings at the end of class tomorrow.

First Class Meeting

Today we discussed the syllabus and materials. Most importantly we created "The List". The items are above with directions.