HOMEWORK #5: Still Life in Ink

Kate Picchi

Elaine Gutsch

Draw a still life of at least three small objects using ink in 12 x 15 in. drawing paper.  Employ cross-hatching, stippling and/or a combination of techniques. Pay attention to composition, negative space and eye level.  Kate's drawing above is rich with textural variety while Elaine's drawing dynamically encloses the negative areas into large and small triangles leading the "eye" on a zig-zag path.

THURS. 10/ 27 INK: Flattening the Picture Plane

Ashley Hurd

Valentin Mendoza

The objective of this project was to draw attention to the surface of the picture plane by creating a flattened sense of space. Ashley's drawing above perfectly illustrates the process of creating atmosphere with broad, sweeping brush strokes combined with drips and splatters with diluted ink washes. Then she developed the forms with line work. And finally adding solidity to the forms with white ink washes. Valentin's drawing exhibits great use of materials as well.  The medium of ink and washes is a perfect match for illustrating the wet and slimy textures of fish and water. Look closely at the delicate gradations he's achieved on the back's of the fish and lure.

TUES. 10/25 India Ink

Students explored mark-making possibilities by way of the Dada/ Surrealist game "The Exquisite Corpse".  About the game: 3 participants, first person draws the head, second person torso, third legs and feet. Students were introduced to the techniques of hatching, stippling, patterning and combining the techniques all using pen and ink.

Next class, bring three to five personal, hand-held items for a still life of your own.

THURS. 10/20 MIDTERM DRAWING EXAM

Cullen Houser

Abigail Sanchez

Oscar Mendoza

For the midterm drawing, students had to address the concepts covered to date: composition, line quality, value and proportions. Here are three examples of the many excellent drawings.
With his use of line and tone, Cullen has beautifully captured the light and shadow patterns as well as the fragility of the broken ceramics. Also take note of the balance between positive and negative areas.
Abigail has taken a beautifully minimal approach to the still life.  Note her use of value patterns in the shadows to establish rhythm. The key to the success of her vignetted composition lies within the centered placement with plenty of negative area allowing the eye to breath and encircle the still life.
Oscar's drawing also has a strong sense of design and rhythm.  Note the similarity in the wavy pattern on the mug (left) and the reflections in the lid (right). The criss-crossing triangles on the paper perfectly contrast the curvilinear nature of the ceramic forms.

TUES. 10/18 Midterm Drawing

Students began work on their Midterm Drawing Project.  Students will have at least an hour on Thurs. to put the finishing touches on these drawings before the critique. Pics will follow.

Remember to have ink materials for next week: India Ink, pen and nibs, brushes,sticks, stamping materials and any other mark-making tool.

THURS. 10/13 Playing with Blocks

Zoe Brester-Pennings

Students made drawings from a still life of blocks.  This project applied the theory of Linear Perspective without actually using vanishing points.  Instead, armed with the knowledge of perspective and proportion, students drew the still life free-hand. In the drawing above, Zoe has created interest and dynamics by adding a diagonal edge in the background as well as applying textural and tonal elements to the blocks.

TUES. 10/11 IMAGINARY SPACE

Ashley Hurd

Here are a couple of finished drawings from the Imaginary Space in Two-Point Linear Perspective. Ashley's drawing above has not only accurately rendered a 2-point space but has also imaginatively illustrated the whole purpose of the project.  Which is to create spaces that will complement your concepts and narratives.  Note how she has repeated architectural elements in the design of the space (archways) as well as repeating the tentacles. The room brings a rigid structure while the tentacles add a fluid rhythm and movement to the composition.

Danielle Bazsuly

Danielle's drawing, albeit a more straight forward rendering of a space, is also very inventive and imaginative with her use of eastern influenced archways. This space too is beautifully designed.  Note how the tonal rendering brings a sense of depth and atmosphere to the space.

PORTFOLIOS ARE DUE FOR THE EVENING CLASS

THIS ONLY CONCERNS ART 7A T/TH 7-10 PM
Work must be presented in a paper, plastic or canvas tote envelope or cardboard duct taped.  No folded or rolled drawings.
1. Gestures (3 of any)
2. Contour
3. Ideal Solids (both)
4. Subjective Value
5. Value Patterns
6. Value Reduction
7. Modeling
8. Rendering Light
9. Perspective
10. Homework
11. DHR

HOMEWORK#4: Under the Sink

On 18 x24 in., hand-toned, drawing paper using charcoal materials and erasers make a drawing of the space under your sink; any sink. Use value subjectively to emphasize and exaggerate the lighting conditions and the character of the space. Note the composition in the drawing above.  The use of receding diagonals adds depth and dynamics to the space.  A straight on view of the sink would be far less interesting. Also note the use of dark values in the background to push the objects forward.

THURS. 10/6 Imaginary Space (continued)

Students continued working on their Imaginary Space in Two-Point Linear Perspective drawings. Above is a work in progress by Lina Chambliss.

TUES. 10/4 Two-Point Linear Perspective

In class we discussed some of the functions and properties of Linear Perspective: 1. Establishes viewer location from a fixed point of view. 2. Diagonal parallel lines will converge meeting at vanishing point(s) located on the horizon line (eye level). And 3. Objects will appear to diminish in size as they recede into the distance. By the end of class we had established the ground plane and back walls seen in the demo above.