Week 11: COLOR THEORY

Home-work for the weeks of  October 29 - November 5, 2015
Assignments Due: November 5, 2015

SEMESTER PROJECT #2: Choose your product/business
Start gathering ads, packaging, and/or photos for your project.

Remember, if you have any questions about these assignments,
please contact Mrs. Z at mrsz@gmx.com. Don't wait until it's too late!

INSPIRATION
Please catch up on your reading through page 83 in Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer.  Remember to highlight and/or underline your favorite parts or passages that speak to you. We will be discussing pages 49-83 on November 5th. That's a lot of pages we'll be covering, so if there's something that really stuck out to you, be sure to mark it clearly so that we don't skip by it. You might even want to put a bookmark on that page or a post-it.

VOCABULARY
This week's vocabulary words have been added to our Quizlet. Click here if you still need to join the class: https://quizlet.com/join/tJ49SA5AG. There will be a quiz on these words next week.

ELEMENT OF ART - COLOR

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLAUDE MONET

Windmill at Zaandam by Claude Monet (click to enlarge)

** Remember: Drawing is 50% observation *** 

PRACTICE DRAWING:

Pay close attention to the use of the elements you've learned so far: space, line quality, texture, shape, form, value, and color. Also, remember to apply the principles of art you've learned so far: contrast, unity, balance, and rhythm. You should spend around 30-45 minutes on each drawing. 

DAY ONE: This exercise is to challenge yourself to think outside the box.Using ONE line only, draw a scene—it can be anywhere (e.g., outdoors, in your bedroom, in your living room, etc.). Begin the line in the foreground and work your way into the background. This line will be very long and take on many characteristics. Do not limit yourself with extra rules. The line may cross and crisscross, wiggle, jiggle, or fly back and forth across the page as you observe what is in front of you.

DAY TWO: Search outdoors for a scene where objects overlap. Use charcoal to draw the scene. As you redraw lines, you can wipe out the charcoal lines with a soft chamois cloth (about 5x5 in.) rather than use a kneaded eraser. It will pick up some of the charcoal, but not all of it, so that you can still see the lines—only lighter. Draw back over the lines until your drawing is as you want it. You will notice that as you wipe out more lines, a soft layer of charcoal builds up. These areas can be quite attractive. Many artists draw and redraw when using charcoal just to create the gray tone. 

DAY THREE: Before starting this assignment, please make sure you (1) watch the video below paying attention to how to create a neutral background with your charcoal, (2) read the "Technique Instructions," and (3) follow these instructions:

VIDEO: 

TECHNIQUE INSTRUCTIONS: Look at Monet's Windmills at Zaandam drawing. The sky/sea have been created by laying down the middle value first, then using a kneaded eraser to pick up the white areas. In this way, Monet creates the clouds and waves. Now it's your turn to use this method. Overlap a group of objects in a way that makes it easy to see which object is in front of the others. Begin your charcoal drawing with a neutral background. Look for light values, middle gray values, and dark values. Fix the finished work by applying a light mist of hairspray.

1. Cover the paper with your charcoal (vine).Try to keep it light enough to be a midtone—neither tint nor shade. Use the chamois (shammy) that came with your supplies to smooth out the surface to create a neutral background. 
2. Draw an image onto the neutral background with either your woodless graphite pencils or your vine charcoal. 
3. Using your kneaded eraser, lift off the charcoal to make highlights in your drawing. You can mold your eraser into whatever shape best suits your purpose. 
4. After you've finished your drawing, fix the finished work by applying a light mist of hairspray.

DAY FOUR: Please use this day to finish up any drawings from this week and/or work on your semester project.

Design Matters

Please read this brief article:

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/design-should-matter-more-christians
It's why we're doing what we're doing in the Foundations in Art class.

My pumpkin

Happy International Artist Day!

October 25 is INTERNATIONAL ARTIST DAY!!!

Get out there and compose, paint, act, film, dance, sing, conduct, brood.

Principles of Art - Photo

I took this photo tonight at my husband's workplace. Please click it to enlarge it, and comment what you think (or bring your comments to class on Thursday). What PRINCIPLES of design do you see in this photo? What ELEMENTS of art do you notice?

Week 10: Rhythm

Home-work for the weeks of  October 22-29, 2015
Assignments Due: October 29, 2015

SEMESTER PROJECT #2: Choose your product/business
Start gathering ads, packaging, and/or photos for your project.

Remember, if you have any questions about these assignments,

please contact Mrs. Z at mrsz@gmx.com. Don't wait until it's too late!

INSPIRATION
Please catch up on your reading through page 76 in Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer.  Remember to highlight and/or underline your favorite parts or passages that speak to you. We will be discussing pages 49-76 on October 29th. That's a lot of pages we'll be covering, so if there's something that really stuck out to you, be sure to mark it clearly so that we don't skip by it.

VOCABULARY
This week's vocabulary words have been added to our Quizlet. Click here if you still need to join the class: https://quizlet.com/join/tJ49SA5AG. There will be a quiz on these words next week.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT "RHYTHM" IN ART

Please take a few minutes to read through this excellent tutorial which explains the difference between Repetition, Pattern, and Rhythm:

https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/design-in-art-repetition-pattern-and-rhythm.

This is another (much shorter) article which defines and shows examples of the 3 Types of Rhythm in art:

http://vanseodesign.com/web-design/visual-rhythm/

PRINCIPLE OF ART - RHYTHM

REVIEW OF SOME OF THE  PRINCIPLES OF ART (INCLUDING RHYTHM)

USING A VIEWFINDER

** Remember: Drawing is 50% observation *** 

PRACTICE DRAWING:

Pay close attention to the use of RHYTHM in each of your drawings this week, but do not neglect the other elements you've learned so far: space, line quality, texture, shape, form, value, contrast,  unity, and balance. You should spend around 30-45 minutes on each drawing. 

DAYS ONE & TWO: Make a viewfinder by cutting a hole out of an index card in the same shape and proportions as your composition (what you will be drawing). If you want, you can create a reference point marker by stringing dental floss through the halfway points of the viewfinder (vertically and horizontally). Additionally, for stability and consistency, you can create a "mount" for your viewfinder by turning a styrofoam or paper cup upside down, making a shallow slit across the diameter of the bottom of the cup, and then sliding your viewfinder into the slit. (For detailed instructions, click here, then scroll down to "Part A: How to Make Your Own Viewfinder.")

Once you've got your viewfinder made, setup a "still life" display with two light sources. Be sure to place at least two interesting objects that have smooth surfaces into your composition, and use your viewfinder to frame-out what you'll be drawing.

Start your drawing by sketching in the contour lines with your vine charcoal. Use your finger (or a blending stump or a shammie) to smooth out the value. Then, use a charcoal pencil to add in the shadows and more detail. Use the kneaded eraser* as necessary to lift off charcoal for highlights and lighter values.

* If you haven't done this yet, you will need to "knead" your eraser before using it: "This is done by pulling, then folding, pulling, then folding until it becomes soft and flexible. It can then be shaped to a point or to a wide, flat shape as needed. The eraser is often used as a mark maker. It can be used to make light marks in a dark area."( Brenda Ellis, Artistic Pursuits: The Elements of Art and Composition, Book One)

DAY THREE: Stand near a sidewalk or deserted path. Draw a picture focusing on the rhythms that you see. Be safe. Never sit in a road or bike path where a motorist or cyclist could hit you!

DAY FOUR: Take a walk in the neighborhood or an area approved by your parents. Notice patterns or repeated elements that create rhythms. Draw a scene in which you see rhythm. Here are some examples: train tracks, vehicles on highway, a huge brick wall, fences, stone columns, a row of sheds, rows of trees, posts, bridges. 

Week 9: Balance

Home-work for the weeks of  October 8 - 15, 2015
Assignments Due: October 15, 2015

Remember, if you have any questions about these assignments,

please contact Mrs. Z at mrsz@gmx.com. Don't wait until it's too late!

INSPIRATION
Please catch up on your reading in Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer. You should be up to page 71 by class time on October 22nd. Since this is almost the end of the second essay, we will wait until the reading assignments are completed and discuss it as a whole on October 29th. Remember to highlight and/or underline your favorite parts or passages that speak to you.

VOCABULARY
The terms for balance, contrast, and unity will be combined with next week's vocabulary words.

TIPS & TECHNIQUES
It takes practice to select the right value when looking at something in color. Sometimes it helps to convert the image to "grayscale" in order to show the values more clearly.

** Remember: Drawing is 50% observation *** 

PRINCIPLE OF ART - BALANCE:

PRACTICE DRAWING:

Pay close attention to the use of BALANCE in each of your drawings this week, but do not neglect the other elements you've learned so far: space, line quality, texture, shape, form, value, space, contrast and unity. You should spend around 30-45 minutes on each drawing. 

DAY ONE: Using pencil and paper redraw and rearrange the objects in this week's painting in a new way. What other ways could the figures, doorway, windows, and elements within the painting balance?

DAY TWO: Arrange a group of three or more objects near an open window using daylight as a light source. Balance light and dark areas. Draw the arrangement.

DAY THREE: Make a light box as instructed. Arrange objects within it. Arrange the light. Draw the objects. Works from a light box will show sharp contrasts in values. 

DAY FOUR: Choose a group of objects to arrange within the light box. Try different arrangements and different angles of lighting until you have a view that balances. Consider shading and shadows as part of the drawing. Draw a picture showing balance. 

My Friend, The Artist

Since we took a look at one of my friend's paintings in class today, as well as the picture that inspired it, I thought you might enjoy viewing some of her other works. Here is a link to her website.

http://eliseboysaw.com/

Art: Week 8

Home-work for the weeks of  October 8 - 15, 2015
Assignments Due: October 15, 2015

Remember, if you have any questions about these assignments,

please contact Mrs. Z at mrsz@gmx.com. Don't wait until it's too late!

INSPIRATION
Please catch up on your reading in Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer. You should be up to page 61 by class time on October 15th. We will not have time to discuss this on the 15th, so please just stay on track with your reading. We will take some extra time on October 22nd to discuss all the pages we've been reading over the past couple of weeks

VOCABULARY
There is no new vocabulary this week. Feel free to review the flashcards in Quizlet, so you remember what you've already learned this semester.

TIPS & TECHNIQUES
It takes practice to select the right value when looking at something in color. Sometimes it helps to convert the image to "grayscale" in order to show the values more clearly.

** Remember: Drawing is 50% observation *** 

SUPPLEMENTAL VIDEOS FOR WEEK 8:

ELEMENT OF ART - SPACE:

PRINCIPLE OF ART - CONTRAST:

UNITY:

PRACTICE DRAWING

Pay close attention to the use of space, contrast and unity in each of your drawings this week, but do not neglect the other elements you've learned so far: space, line quality, texture, shape, form, and value. You should spend around 30-45 minutes on each drawing. 

DAY ONE:  Use a half-sheet of paper. Draw random, intersecting lines over the paper. Fill one shape from one of its edges to the other in degrees from dark to light. In the shape next to the dark area, draw from light to dark, so that the light area sits beside the dark area. Continue to fill in shapes until all are filled. You can do this with graphite or colored pencils. Just make sure you follow the instructions.

DAY TWO: Place a light-colored object in front of a window. Notice if the object is darker than the view behind it. Draw the contrast. Remember contrast multiple elements of art (space, line quality, texture, shape, form, and value), not just the values.

DAY THREE: Choose one element of art such as line, shape, or value to show both contrast and unity within the same picture. *** Make sure you watch the "Principle of Design: Unity" video above BEFORE you do this assignment. *** Draw from life, observing the subject directly as you draw.

DAY FOUR: Look for contrast in a landscape scene. You may want to view the scene at different times of the day. Looking east at dusk is a good time to look for lighter objects against a darkening sky. Draw a scene. This could be a "zoomed in" scene such as the ladybug on the leaf, or a "zoomed out" scene such as a landscape or view from the bleachers at a ballpark. Be creative and have fun! 

Art: Week 7

No class. Work on projects.