The warm-up on Monday was copying the proportions of the human body in the format of Stick Figure 1.0 (lines and circles for joints) followed by Stick Figure 2.0 (ovals and rectangles make up the body parts).
This week was the last few work days on the Grid Method Self Portrait Drawings. We then had a gallery walk and gave each other feedback in a mini-critique. We discussed strengths of standout pieces and gave productive criticism on how to improve. I'm incredibly proud of everyone because these drawings turned out beautiful. They are recognizable, high-contrast, realistic works of art and you came up with highly creative solutions to make them complete. We also watched a couple videos introducing our color unit: If You Are In A Shell True Facts About The Mantis Shrimp
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Along with continuing to work on the grid self portraits, this week we listened to music and responded to it in our sketchbooks. Drawn responses are open-ended. You may draw an abstract pattern that represents the rhythm or feeling of the song, or you may choose to draw a specific scene as an illustration of the song. Here are the songs I played, with a slightly different combination of 3-5 songs in each class:
1. Viva La Vida by Coldplay 2. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol 3. In The Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg 4. Tightrope by Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi 5. Scat by Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme 6. 19-2000 by Gorillaz This week, we continued working on the grid method self portrait drawings. They are coming along very nicely! There's a great variety in styles across all classes, and many people are starting to add creative elements to their portraits. Don't forget to do it in this order:
1. Complete, label, and double-check your grids on the photograph (1/2") as well as the drawing paper (1"). 2. Using a light pencil pressure, copy what you see and enlarge it, square by square. You are lightly outlining the shapes created by shadows and highlights. You may ignore the background. 3. After everything has been plotted, begin filling in with shading. You may choose to use hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, scribbling, blending, or something else creative like text. 4. While adding shading, begin making whichever creative alterations you would like to make. Remember the examples we saw in class for inspiration! We also practiced drawing the facial features by watching tutorials. There should now be a page in your sketchbook for each of the following: EYES (also see this, and this), NOSES, MOUTHS, and EARS. Sketchbook checks were moved to the next grading cycle. Report cards went home. Some classes completed the first few assignments on separate paper instead of in the sketchbook. If your class as a whole skipped one of the assignments, you are not responsible for completing it. Please make a note of that at the bottom of the sketchbook check list.
Complete list:
The week of February 8-12, we drew the proportions of the human face in our sketchbooks following my step-by-step method. We studied how to draw noses, mouths, and ears.
Friday this week is an art analysis and sketchbook catch-up day. We began our self portraits. Here are the steps: (PROTIP: Always draw lightly using a soft pressure on the paper. If you need to adjust something, it will be easier to erase without showing a ghost mark.) 1. Trace the square template onto your project board. 2. Using the ruler, measure the square to be sure it's 10"x10". 3. Make marks at every inch along each side. 4. Connect the marks you made. Be sure to line the ruler up with both marks before making the line. 5. Double check that your lines are straight and that you have 10 squares across by 10 squares down creating a complete grid. 6. Follow the same process to draw a grid on top of your printed photograph. The only difference is you will make marks at every half-inch (1/2") instead of every inch. This way, you will have a half-sized grid that's still 10 squares by 10 squares. 7. Label both grids with numbers across the top between the lines and letters down the size between the lines. This way, your squares are lettered and numbered. You can find the square for E4, for example. 8. Be sure your name is written in the top left corner and class period in the top right corner of both your photo and your drawing. 9. Start plotting the points and connecting them. DO NOT SHADE IN ANY VALUES YET. Just outline the shapes you see that make up the shadows and highlights. There are 10 levels of shades. 10. Start thinking about what kinds of alterations you would like to make to your drawing. We've been looking at a lot of creative examples of portraits that are based in reality but transformed in many ways. What will you do to make yours finished? What method of value will you apply? Brainstorm on your own. HOMEWORK: Finish anything in your sketchbook you weren't finished with yet. The week of February 1-5, we studied examples of artworks that incorporated the various methods of adding value, also known as shading. Then we did abstract sketchbook drawings using those same value methods (blending, hatching, cross hatching, stippling, and scribbling).
We studied and practiced drawing a wide variety of implied textures and began applying them to 3D forms. Friday, we looked at a few portraits and practiced going through the steps of art analysis. We wrote about the works we saw, starting with a first reaction and description, followed by a closer viewing of the elements of art and how they were used. Then we wrote about and discussed the mood, overall tone, or message the artist seemed to be expressing, whether purposeful or otherwise. This week we practiced drawing using the grid method, a technique for transcribing an image from one page to another by breaking it down to individual squares on a grid. This is drastically different from the technique we practiced last week using contour lines, continuous contour, blind contour, and even non-dominant hand drawings. In your sketchbook after those drawings, you should now have taped in the cat, bird, and face grid drawings.
We began practicing applying value (shading) on two worksheets also taped into your sketchbook. After taking pictures in class or submitting them to me via e-mail, we will begin our self portrait drawings soon, our first major grade of the semester. Until then, we are preparing by practicing grid method drawing, value, texture, and studying other portrait artists. We will look at examples of expressive and purposeful use of the elements of art (line, shape, value, form, color, texture, and space) in portraiture and plan how to apply them to our self portraits. Step-by-step guide for the grid method: http://www.art-is-fun.com/grid-method/ Welcome! We have been doing a lot of drawing exercises in the first few weeks of the semester. Below is the complete list thus far:
1. Imagine: draw a person, animal, plant, and thing 2. Memory: draw the painting and scene from what you can recall 3. Observation: draw the critters from looking at the image 4. Mix and Match Bodies 5. Complete the Scribble 6. Realistic or Symbolic Self Portrait 7. Illustrate a Class Rule 8. Name Tag 9. Still Life: Flowers in Vase 10. Sketchbook Check! 11. Do Now: 5 Personal Goals and a Drawing of 1 Accomplished 12. Sketch an artwork from the textbook 13. Do Now: Eyes practice (one pair on your own, one step-by-step, one from observation) 14. Line examples and contour line drawing of hand 15. Contour line drawings of faces from observation (followed by continuous, blind, non-dominant hand) Our first major project is a self-portrait based on a picture. We will practice doing grid drawings and showing value (shading) in our sketchbooks before applying it to the self-portrait, which will be on larger drawing paper. Check back soon for an updated Gallery. Thank you for a wonderful semester! I've enjoyed getting to know everyone and seeing you grow as artists. Don't forget to say hi in the hall and come by to pick up any artwork you want to keep that you left in the classroom.
-Ms. L. Slavin Sketchbook Check Monday or Tuesday
To be graded:
2. Do you like it or not? Why? 3. What do you think is the meaning?
Chuck Close: face blindness, portraits with grid method Frida Kahlo: paralyzed, sterile, self portraits with surreal elements Michael Monaco: quadriplegic, paints with mouth Peter Longstaff: armless, paints with foot Vincent Van Gogh: depression, bipolar, colorblind?, painted colors & texture
Polyhedrons due end of class Wednesday (5th and 7th) or Thursday (2nd, 6th, and 8th). |
AuthorMs. Slavin Archives
May 2016
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