WELCOME TO DRAWING
Recent neuro-science studies show that 40% of our brain is involved in vision: to recognize, to categorize, to greet or avoid, to desire or fear. We survive and thrive by seeing, and negotiate between what we expect to see and what we actually see. The pencil, brush, crayon, charcoal, pen or digital software are simply tools that serve the act of seeing. It is my hope that in this class you will learn to see in new and more sophisticated way and express that vision with a varied set of tools. In drawing from observation, an artist attempts to master this deep language of vision. Through disciplined study and creative drive, an artist can build his or her own visual poetry, otherwise known as Art. You can adapt direct observation toward many contemporary and traditional art forms, bringing an ancient human ability into living practice, and changing how you think about what you see. Here we use traditional materials -paper and pencils and charcoal, but the goal is to master the grammar of visual representation, and to use this as a structure for exploring all our visual expectations and experiences: our imagination, our memory, our identities, our social connection and alienation, our senses of beauty and ugliness- anything that can be described visually.
People.....what I am saying is....I want you to draw! I want you to want to draw! I want to see the world through your eyes, one image at a time! I want you to look at the world, see the worldc, and be unafraid of your expression.
Go..see..explore...CREATE!
People.....what I am saying is....I want you to draw! I want you to want to draw! I want to see the world through your eyes, one image at a time! I want you to look at the world, see the worldc, and be unafraid of your expression.
Go..see..explore...CREATE!
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM ME
1. I come to class ready to work, with a useful plan. I am not in the business of wasting time!
2. I respect what I teach and have passion for it. What I am showing you has a purpose and is designed to advance your skill.
3. I will treat you with respect and offer you encouragement. No matter your ability level, I am here to help you and it is my job to teach you.
4. I will not harass you or knowingly embarrass you. However, I may call on you to share your work, opinions, or answers to questions.
5. As much as I wish I were a mind reader, I am not! I encourage communication about whatever it is you may need in the moment. If you need to talk it out, let me know…from the simple to the complex…Ill do my best to help.
6. I will not tolerate any form of malicious intolerance or slander.
7. I do not sit well with choosing to fail. I expect an honest effort.
8. I will be fair and honest.
WHAT I EXPECT FROM YOU
1. Come to class ready to work EVERY DAY. Occasionally this will mean bringing a set of materials gathered outside of class.
2. Have respect for yourself, your classmates, your work and the materials.
3. Give your best effort. Be responsible for your learning even when the process is frustrating.
4. Listen when others are talking. This means no private conversations or texting during presentations or work sessions. (your phone is not a part of class)
5. If you miss class or are late, you are responsible for the material covered during that time. It is your job to come to me. A general topic for the day should be listed on the board for your reference.
6. Report if you need to go somewhere. You need a pass/some form of permission to leave class. I need to know where you are and when you left no matter if the reason is big or small.
7. Do all assignments and turn them in on time. If you want adequate time to re-work your projects and better your grade, assignments must be turned in in a timely fashion.
If learning is what you do only when everything else in your life is perfect, please....let's work to rethink this.
If you cannot abide these class expectations, please rethink this class.
*Promise a lot and give even more…this is my goal of self
*Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach…this is my hope of you.
GENERAL STRUCTURE
For every assignment, there will be a warm up that serves as practice for the bigger creation. Occassionally there will be outside observation homework as well as potential sketchbook work. The foundation for good work generally comes from a solid structure founded in sketches, practice of technique and exposure to observation opportunities as well as various mediums. Because of this, practice is a reasonable request. Warm up assignments generally take 2-3 days of class time, whereas final assignments take 1 -2 weeks. We will work through mediums and structures and build our tool set, culminating at a final exam project that will employ a combination of mediums and techniques.
In addition to a project final, there may also be a written exam that covers (at minimum) vocabulary, medium information, explanation of processes, and written critique of work.
HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED
For every assignment there will be an outline that breaks down project criteria.
Each warm up activity factors in to the final grade equation.
Additionally, points are earned daily for participation and work ethic. (I want you to stay focused, on task, and push through your blocks!!)
Minimum effort earns the minimum grade.
Extra effort and layering in of technique earns greater grades.
All projects can be re-worked for higher grades. (In the art world, it sometimes takes a few times to actually find your final stopping point)
EXTRA CREDIT will be granted for all work done above and beyond the assigned photo shoots, HOWEVER, extra credit will not be considered if the bare minimum of ALL assignments have not been met. (Therefore, you can not pick to do extra on one but skip another)
GRADE REDUCTIONS will occur for excessively late work! If your assignment is beyond 2 weeks late, you cannot receive any grade higher than a C. (this does not include time for re-working)
THE REFLECTION
For each project I will as for a reflection that will offer a quality glance into your thinking and personal assessment of your work. What were you thinking when you created this image? What is it about this composition that is attention getting? What were you trying to achieve when you put the pencil to paper? What makes this composition and this image stand out? What are the elements you applied to make this image? Why did you choose to do what you chose to do? Why is this work successful in your mind? What in this work was challenging and how do you work through it?
THINKING IS A BEAUTIFUL THING......let it out!!!!
1. I come to class ready to work, with a useful plan. I am not in the business of wasting time!
2. I respect what I teach and have passion for it. What I am showing you has a purpose and is designed to advance your skill.
3. I will treat you with respect and offer you encouragement. No matter your ability level, I am here to help you and it is my job to teach you.
4. I will not harass you or knowingly embarrass you. However, I may call on you to share your work, opinions, or answers to questions.
5. As much as I wish I were a mind reader, I am not! I encourage communication about whatever it is you may need in the moment. If you need to talk it out, let me know…from the simple to the complex…Ill do my best to help.
6. I will not tolerate any form of malicious intolerance or slander.
7. I do not sit well with choosing to fail. I expect an honest effort.
8. I will be fair and honest.
WHAT I EXPECT FROM YOU
1. Come to class ready to work EVERY DAY. Occasionally this will mean bringing a set of materials gathered outside of class.
2. Have respect for yourself, your classmates, your work and the materials.
3. Give your best effort. Be responsible for your learning even when the process is frustrating.
4. Listen when others are talking. This means no private conversations or texting during presentations or work sessions. (your phone is not a part of class)
5. If you miss class or are late, you are responsible for the material covered during that time. It is your job to come to me. A general topic for the day should be listed on the board for your reference.
6. Report if you need to go somewhere. You need a pass/some form of permission to leave class. I need to know where you are and when you left no matter if the reason is big or small.
7. Do all assignments and turn them in on time. If you want adequate time to re-work your projects and better your grade, assignments must be turned in in a timely fashion.
If learning is what you do only when everything else in your life is perfect, please....let's work to rethink this.
If you cannot abide these class expectations, please rethink this class.
*Promise a lot and give even more…this is my goal of self
*Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach…this is my hope of you.
GENERAL STRUCTURE
For every assignment, there will be a warm up that serves as practice for the bigger creation. Occassionally there will be outside observation homework as well as potential sketchbook work. The foundation for good work generally comes from a solid structure founded in sketches, practice of technique and exposure to observation opportunities as well as various mediums. Because of this, practice is a reasonable request. Warm up assignments generally take 2-3 days of class time, whereas final assignments take 1 -2 weeks. We will work through mediums and structures and build our tool set, culminating at a final exam project that will employ a combination of mediums and techniques.
In addition to a project final, there may also be a written exam that covers (at minimum) vocabulary, medium information, explanation of processes, and written critique of work.
HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED
For every assignment there will be an outline that breaks down project criteria.
Each warm up activity factors in to the final grade equation.
Additionally, points are earned daily for participation and work ethic. (I want you to stay focused, on task, and push through your blocks!!)
Minimum effort earns the minimum grade.
Extra effort and layering in of technique earns greater grades.
All projects can be re-worked for higher grades. (In the art world, it sometimes takes a few times to actually find your final stopping point)
EXTRA CREDIT will be granted for all work done above and beyond the assigned photo shoots, HOWEVER, extra credit will not be considered if the bare minimum of ALL assignments have not been met. (Therefore, you can not pick to do extra on one but skip another)
GRADE REDUCTIONS will occur for excessively late work! If your assignment is beyond 2 weeks late, you cannot receive any grade higher than a C. (this does not include time for re-working)
THE REFLECTION
For each project I will as for a reflection that will offer a quality glance into your thinking and personal assessment of your work. What were you thinking when you created this image? What is it about this composition that is attention getting? What were you trying to achieve when you put the pencil to paper? What makes this composition and this image stand out? What are the elements you applied to make this image? Why did you choose to do what you chose to do? Why is this work successful in your mind? What in this work was challenging and how do you work through it?
THINKING IS A BEAUTIFUL THING......let it out!!!!