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Description of Drawing Elective
Fall Quarter
Wed. 9:00 - 12:00 at Communication Bldg. 1308
During the Fall quarter, this series of drawing workshops will be offered to students who have not taken drawing class previously. In the Winter quarter, it will be open to other students as well. Students will earn two credits from this elective.
This is not a do-your-own-drawing kind of workshop.
Students who are planning to travel to France and Italy during
the Spring quarter especially will need some skills in drawing because
we will be asking you to maintain a sketchbook of drawings of art works,
landscapes and cityscapes you see there.
Description
One of our objectives is to gain a better understanding of the classical
legacy in visual art through a series of hands-on drawing workshops
and assignments. They will consist of several modes of study:
drawing after art works; drawing from a live model, anatomical drawing,
perspective drawing , drawing of people, buildings and scenes from your
surroundings.
1) Drawing after works by old masters: Throughout the
ages, art students were required or encouraged to study and make copies
of works by old masters. Even the modern artists who rejected the
traditional concepts and techniques often drew from works in museums: Cezanne,
van Gogh, Picasso, among many others. During some weeks, you will
be asked to select and study works from classical antiquity, Renaissance
and Neo-Classical periods.
2) Figure drawing: Since 17th century, a major
focus of art training at an art academy in most parts of Europe was the
acquisition of the style and techniques of drawing the "ideal" human
figure. They also studied human anatomy and drew from live models.
The main objective remained: how to reconcile the "ideal" and "real".
Unfortunately, we have limited resource and time to follow such training.:
for example, we have no access to a science lab for the study of human
anatomy. You will be asked to do library research for some anatomical
photographs and drawings to compensate for this. As much as our program
budget allows, we will hire a live model, perhaps for two or three sessions
during the quarter. You will learn specific techniques such as how
to capture proportion, how to do modeling (shading to capture volume) and
how to capture gestures.
3) Perspective drawing: You will also work on perspective
drawing to gain the ability to create an illusion of space as practiced
by academic artists. We will examine the principles and technique
of linear and aerial perspectives. You will apply the skills
in drawing buildings and street scenes.
4) In addition to the scheduled classes, students are expected to
work on specific assignments. You will also be asked to draw regularly
from your surroundings, including street scenes, landscapes, portraits,
still lives, etc..
Supplies:
A sketch book; pencils of various lead densities (2H, HB and two
or three softer-lead drawing pencils); charcoals, erasers , a ruler,
and colored pencils later in the quarter.