COURSE DESCRIPTION
This class is an intermediate studio production class and is designed for those students wishing to continue on into A.P. art. Students will be exploring different media, techniques and styles, while continuing to improve in their skill level within the visual arts. The class will review various skills and techniques, as well as provide accelerated learning of other visual art issues. Some Art History and Aesthetics will be taught as well as Art Criticism.
One of the most effective tools I've seen to help students develop their creativity is the G.E.D.R. process.
GATHER - Collect images & ideas you like from a variety of places, artists and sources.
EXPLORE - Cultivate playful curiosity and examine a wide range of possibilities both visually and conceptually.
DEVELOP - Choose a direction and progress towards creating a finished artwork.
REFLECT - Review what’s working well and what needs improvement, then make adjustments as you go.
Students will be expected to use this process and show evidence of this process in their sketchbook for every in-class assignment.
The 4 C's of great art: CONCEPT, CRAFT, COMPOSITION & CREATIVITY.
This class is an intermediate studio production class and is designed for those students wishing to continue on into A.P. art. Students will be exploring different media, techniques and styles, while continuing to improve in their skill level within the visual arts. The class will review various skills and techniques, as well as provide accelerated learning of other visual art issues. Some Art History and Aesthetics will be taught as well as Art Criticism.
One of the most effective tools I've seen to help students develop their creativity is the G.E.D.R. process.
GATHER - Collect images & ideas you like from a variety of places, artists and sources.
EXPLORE - Cultivate playful curiosity and examine a wide range of possibilities both visually and conceptually.
DEVELOP - Choose a direction and progress towards creating a finished artwork.
REFLECT - Review what’s working well and what needs improvement, then make adjustments as you go.
Students will be expected to use this process and show evidence of this process in their sketchbook for every in-class assignment.
The 4 C's of great art: CONCEPT, CRAFT, COMPOSITION & CREATIVITY.
- CONCEPT - What is the overall idea, purpose, or meaning of your art?
- CRAFT - Have you put in the time to develop your skill and form your style?
- COMPOSITION - How are you arranging & designing the the elements within your ?
- CREATIVITY (runs through all of it) - Is your concept, visual style and composition intentional & original?
ASSIGNMENTS
SKETCHBOOK BINDING & COVERS
You will bind your own sketchbook using the Coptic binding method and then design both the front and back covers.
Requirements
- Must use the Coptic binding method (watch the video below or follow this GUIDE)
- At least 8 signatures with 4 sheets in each signature
- Create artwork on the front AND back cover (ideally something that looks cohesive)
You will bind your own sketchbook using the Coptic binding method and then design both the front and back covers.
Requirements
- Must use the Coptic binding method (watch the video below or follow this GUIDE)
- At least 8 signatures with 4 sheets in each signature
- Create artwork on the front AND back cover (ideally something that looks cohesive)
SKETCHBOOK PAGES
By the end of each semester you should fill half your sketchbook. If you're looking for ideas, HERE is a list of prompts to get the creative juices flowing.
Requirements
- Must show evidence of using the G.E.D.R. process for each in-class assignment
- Include drawings from observation and from imagination
- Explore different mediums and artistic processes / techniques
By the end of each semester you should fill half your sketchbook. If you're looking for ideas, HERE is a list of prompts to get the creative juices flowing.
Requirements
- Must show evidence of using the G.E.D.R. process for each in-class assignment
- Include drawings from observation and from imagination
- Explore different mediums and artistic processes / techniques
TESSELLATION
A tessellation is an arrangement of shapes closely fitted together in a repeated pattern without gaps or overlapping. (Watch the video below to see step by step instructions.)
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Must repeat your design at least 6 times
- Include at least 3 different images within your design
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
What can you write about this piece that is NOT already visually obvious? (inspiration / opinions / thoughts)
A tessellation is an arrangement of shapes closely fitted together in a repeated pattern without gaps or overlapping. (Watch the video below to see step by step instructions.)
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Must repeat your design at least 6 times
- Include at least 3 different images within your design
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
What can you write about this piece that is NOT already visually obvious? (inspiration / opinions / thoughts)
5 MEDIUMS
Create an artwork in which you use at least 5 different mediums.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS
- How many different mediums can you list?
- What mediums are you most & least comfortable with?
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Must be able to see and easily identity all 5 mediums in the finished piece
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
Create an artwork in which you use at least 5 different mediums.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS
- How many different mediums can you list?
- What mediums are you most & least comfortable with?
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Must be able to see and easily identity all 5 mediums in the finished piece
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
REVERSED ACTION
Think of all the human actions that could be performed where a person is acting upon an animal, object or thing (other than another person)… now reverse that situation so the animal, object or thing is acting upon a person. Create an artwork that depicts this idea.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- How many of these human actions can you list in 5 minutes?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Must have a human figure
- Include an environment / setting
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
Think of all the human actions that could be performed where a person is acting upon an animal, object or thing (other than another person)… now reverse that situation so the animal, object or thing is acting upon a person. Create an artwork that depicts this idea.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- How many of these human actions can you list in 5 minutes?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Must have a human figure
- Include an environment / setting
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
MERGING IMAGES
Create an artwork in which you are merging at least 2 different images together. One image must be a portrait of a person / animal and the other image could be elements of an environment or an object(s).
BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
- How do you plan to visually / conceptually connect the supporting imagery with the portrait?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- The two images should be fully merged / blended and not look cut n paste.
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
Create an artwork in which you are merging at least 2 different images together. One image must be a portrait of a person / animal and the other image could be elements of an environment or an object(s).
BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
- How do you plan to visually / conceptually connect the supporting imagery with the portrait?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- The two images should be fully merged / blended and not look cut n paste.
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
LINOCUT PRINTS
Create a design that has strong use of lines, shapes and positive / negative space. Keeping in mind that all imagery carved on the linoleum should be backwards because when you make your prints the image will be reversed. (this is especially important with words!)
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- What scene / subject matter would be interesting for this assignment?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Your design should have black areas, white areas and areas with texture.
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
Create a design that has strong use of lines, shapes and positive / negative space. Keeping in mind that all imagery carved on the linoleum should be backwards because when you make your prints the image will be reversed. (this is especially important with words!)
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- What scene / subject matter would be interesting for this assignment?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Your design should have black areas, white areas and areas with texture.
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
OPPOSITES
You will work with a partner to plan and design this assignment but you will each create your own piece. Your composition, medium, color scheme, size etc. should be harmonious and communicate a unified message about your theme.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- How many opposites can you list in 5 minutes?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Yours and your partner's pieces should be cohesive both visually and conceptually.
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
You will work with a partner to plan and design this assignment but you will each create your own piece. Your composition, medium, color scheme, size etc. should be harmonious and communicate a unified message about your theme.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTION
- How many opposites can you list in 5 minutes?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Yours and your partner's pieces should be cohesive both visually and conceptually.
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
IMAGE MORPH
You will create a series of at least 3 pieces in which one image transitions into a different image. Your imagery between all three pieces should seamlessly flow with the elements & principles of art progressing in a logical way.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
- How do you plan to visually / conceptually connect these two different images?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Size and medium should be consistent
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
You will create a series of at least 3 pieces in which one image transitions into a different image. Your imagery between all three pieces should seamlessly flow with the elements & principles of art progressing in a logical way.
BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS
- What theme / imagery would be interesting for this assignment?
- How do you plan to visually / conceptually connect these two different images?
Requirements
- AT LEAST 6 HOURS
- Size and medium should be consistent
- Write an artist statement: At least 3-5 sentences to help others better understand & appreciate your art.
MISCELLANEOUS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES