Course Description, Evaluation, and Syllabus Summer 2021

Course Description:
An introduction to the use of pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, and other drawing media. Focuses on technical skills in drawing as well as the nature of drawing as a way of seeing and of organizing ideas and perceptions.

Essential Objectives:

The successful student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the use of mediums such as: charcoal, pastels, markers, graphite, charcoal pencil, pen and ink.
2. Explore and describe how drawing materials can be used on various types and sizes of paper.
3. Draw a variety of subjects such as still life, landscape and human forms.
4. Apply elements of design and composition in one's own drawing as well as other artwork.
5. Explain the meaning of such terms as space, form, value, texture, rhythm, balance line, scale, etc., in discussing works of art and demonstrate how these concepts can contribute to aesthetic judgment.
6. Examine, discuss and critique art work, including some reference to the art historical, social, and cultural context.
7. Design and complete individual projects.
8. Create a portfolio of drawings.
9. Display finished works in a professional manner.

Methods - How this Course Works:

Each Week runs from Tuesday through Monday Midnight.

Each week there will be a reading assignment, drawing exercises, and web resources links to articles and instructional videos. There will also be a Weekly Gallery featuring Masters of Drawing: artists who provide inspiration.

In the A Forum, you answer questions related to the weekly reading usually from the text by Betty Edwards, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain". 40 Points

In the B Forum, you post your drawing exercises for the week. You also provide a reflective evaluation of your progress for that week. 60 Points

There is a midterm and final presentation, critique and reflection. 100 points each.

All work needs to be completed for the week by Monday Midnight. New week starts Tuesday.

Evaluation Criteria:   

A Forum: 40 points x 12 weeks = 480

B Forum: 60 points x 12 weeks = 720

Midterm student showcase, critique, and reflection: 100 points

Final student showcase, critique, and reflection: 100 points

Total Course points = 1400

 Attendance Policy: Regular Attendance is crucial for success in this class. More than 3 absences will result in a failing grade.

 

Syllabus Outline

Week 1 -  “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” Introduction. “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Workbook” Forward, Materials and
Glossary. Exercises: 1, 2 and 3. Pre-Instruction Drawings
Chapter 1: Drawing and the Art of Bicycle Riding. Workbook Exercise: 4 (Warm up and Free Drawing) and 5 (The “Vase/Faces” Drawing)

Week 2 - Chapter 2: First Steps in Drawing. Workbook Exercises: 6 (Upside-Down Drawing) and 7(Pure Contour Drawing)

Week 3 - Chapter 3: Your Brain, the Right and Left of It. Workbook Exercises: 8 (Drawing Your Hand on the Plastic Picture Plane) 9 (Setting a Ground)
and 10 (Transferring Your Hand Drawing from Picture Plane to Paper)

Week 4 - Chapter 4: Crossing Over from Left to Right. Workbook Exercises: 11 (Drawing Your Hand Holding an Object) and 12 (Drawing a Flower)

Week 5 - Chapter 5: Drawing on Your Childhood Artistry Workbook Exercises: 13 (Drawing an Orange) and 14(Drawing Leaves in Negative Space),

Week 6 - Chapter 6: Perceiving Edges Workbook Exercises: 15 (Drawing a Chair in Negative Space) and 16 (Drawing a Household Object)

Week 7 - Chapter 7: Perceiving Spaces. Workbook Exercises: 17 (Negative-Space Drawing of a Photograph) and 18 (Negative Space Drawing of an Actual Chair)
Midterm student showcase, critique, and reflection

Week 8 - Chapter 8: Perceiving Relationships. Workbook Exercises: 19 (Copying a Master Drawing by Vincent Van Gogh), 20 (Sighting a Room Corner), and 21 (Sighting an Open Doorway)

Week 9 - Chapter 9: Drawing a Profile Portrait. Workbook Exercises: Exercises 26 (Proportions of the Head in Profile), 27 (Copying a Master Drawing of a Profile Portrait), and 28 (Drawing a Profile Portrait).

Week 10 - Chapter 10: Perceiving Light, Shadow and the Gestalt. Workbook Exercises: 30 (Drawing Eggs Lighted from Above) and 31 (Charlie Chaplain: Light and Shadow)

Week 11 - Chapter 11: Using Your New Perceptual Skills for Creative Problem Solving. Workbook Exercises: 32 (Proportions of the Head in Full Face View), 33 (A Full Face Portrait), 34 (Drawing your Self Portrait in Lights and Shadows).

Week 12 - Chapter 12: Drawing on the Artist in You. Workbook Exercise: Choose one from exercises 35-40.
Final student showcase, critique, and reflection