Beginning Drawing

ART 111
1:00 – 3:50PM  MW
ROOM AS1532

INSTRUCTOR:
Elroy Christenson Office: IC2408A
Telephone: 528-4535 (office and voice mail)
email: echriste@sccd.ctc.edu
home page: ://facweb.northseattle.edu/echriste/echome.html

COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This will be the FIRST quarter in drawing. The concentration will be on proportioning, shading and PERSPECTIVE in Black and White media. Much of the work will be based on still-life work in class.  Success in this class is very dependent on attendence and practice. In addition you will gain some of the following forms of knowledge.

 Problem solving
     Knowledge and ability to:
        -think philosophically encompassing both rational and emotional
       -generate, direct, and organize ideas and thoughts.
       -acquire mental processes for facilitating imagination, logic and ideas.
       -pose concepts related to need for expression
       -define and analyze problems relevant to need.
       -ask and answer pertinent questions.
       -order priorities.
       -research, recall factual, emotional, and experiential data related to concept.
       -intuit communication value of a variety of visual, emotional, and intellectual stimulants.
       -acknowledge diverse value systems within the client/consumer context.
       -make esthetic judgments and decisions based on user adaptability, activity, and function.
       -verbalize clearly and succinctly any of the above (or more) when necessary.
       -know the difference between a solution and a concept.

Process
You will learn and about and practice:
       - design philosophy and principles (gestalt, line, space, shape, volume, contrast, repetition) based on the original goal.

Tools Skills use:
You will gain the skills and understanding of good craftsmanship:
       -knowledge of potential and limitation of the media in the chosen area of study whether painting, sculpture, or crafts including but not limited to
       - pens, pencils, brushes, canvas, paint, paper, clay, plaster, wax, wood, metal.
       -thorough understanding practices of the best methodology for the use of those tools whether they be hand tools, power tools or computers.
       -knowledge of safe practises in the use of artists' tools and techniques
       -knowledge in and ability to use the tool effectively for the desired result


Applied Arts and Crafts Knowledge and ability to use:
       -various media processes in both two- and three-dimensional expressions of the above.
       -understanding of the similarities and the differences between the Fine art and Crafts.
       -the above as a area of research and understanding to ensure personal growth.

History of Art Knowledge and ability to:
       -recall and understand historical or current concepts, movements, philosophies, and works by individual and /or groups of artists, designers, architects.
       -recall and understand the cultural climates, value systems, and societies that produced any movement, concept, and work.
       -fine art as an area of pure research and understanding to ensure continued personal growth.
        

PROCEDURE:
You will be expected to attend each session, and work on the techniques to the best of your abilities. Success in this class is very dependent on attendance and practice. You will work in class on newsprint pads from classroom assignments. All work will be executed in black and white media or colored media as specified.

A standing homework assignment of AT LEAST TWO COMPLETE COMPOSITIONS due each week. These drawings will be critiqued in class each Monday. Do not get behind on these weekly assignments, it is virtually impossible to catch up. Student drawing show improvement very much in relationship to how many quality drawings are finished.

All work will reviewed at the end of the quarter. Do not throw anything away. Loose sheets must be kept in sequence of execution.

GRADING:
Grading will be based on :
    1. Quality of the work, ie. Consistency of technique. "the problem."
    2. How well you progress from beginning to the end.
    3. Attendance and participation in critiques is mandatory. (one full grade point will be deducted for each five sessions absent or tardy. Students are expected to stay the entire length of the class and early departures will count as absences. )

        CHEMICAL WARNING: All artists’ materials have some health risk and should be used with proper precautions. Since this room is also used for oil painting, some residual fumes are always present. People who have chemical sensitivity would be advised not to take this course. The dust that is created by drawing with charcoal may cause irritation of the nose and throat and dryness of the hands. Other precautions can be gathered from data sheets of artists materials (MSDS forms) available from the manufacturer.




MATERIALS:
    11" x 14" Spiral Sketchbook or bigger (thicker paper is better than lots of pages
    18 X 24" Newsprint Pad (smooth)
    3 sticks (minimum) compressed charcoal (square) I would buy a box
    #2b, 4b and/or Ebony lead drawing pencil
    one stick each of white(chalk or pastels), sepia, and raw umber (pastels or conté)
    one small box of Caran d’ache watersoluable crayons
    white plastic gum eraser
    kneaded gum eraser (large)
    Two Large Metal Clips (for holding your paper in place)
    India ink (black pigmented permanent ink, not fountain pen ink)
    Pen Staff and two pen points (Speedball C-4 and C-6)
    Sumi brush - 1/4" at the ferrule or larger
    black and white tempera or acrylic paints ( a jar of each color, buy when asked)
    #8 or 10 flat bristle painting brush (buy when asked)
    One can of spray fixative (this must only be used out-of-doors)