Sketchbook #5: Alter Ego Mask Collage

What is an alter ego? If you were able to transform yourself into another person, animal, or something else, what would it be? What powers would you have? What would you look like?

In your sketchbook, create a "mask" collage that uses a variety of different materials to illustrate what your alter ego would look like.
-Your alter ego should include all the major parts of the face, ears, eyes, eyebrows, mouth, facial expression, nose, etc.
-Your collage should demonstrate expert cutting skills, and be neatly glued into your sketchbook.
-You should use at least 15-20 shapes/materials in your final collage.
-Your final collage should use at least 75% of the sketchbook page.

Illustrate a Personal Journey

Student Painting and Visual Evidence by Candy Jernigan

Next week we will begin to create an artwork that will be based upon a personal journey that has had a positive influence on you. We take many journeys in our lives, some are long and tiresome, others are short and quick. Regardless, the journeys we have taken in our lives have brought meaning to our lives, and shaped who we've become today.

For class next Monday, I'd like you to bring in 5-10 photographs, artifacts, or other mementos that remind you of a significant, positive journey you've taken in your life. This journey may have lasted a long time, like meeting and becoming friends with a new person over the summer, or maybe it just happened in one day, like the night you went to see a music concert with a friend. Or maybe it was even simpler, like the journey you took from your bedroom to your kitchen to get a midnight snack. Whatever journey you decide to work with, make sure it's important or significant enough to inspire an artwork.

Due next class, Monday, November 17th

1) Complete the worksheet "Illustrating a Personal Journey" for Monday, I will collect it at the end of class for a 10 point homework grade.

2) Collect 5-10 photographs, artifacts, or mementos that illustrate or are evidence of that significant event. These will be counted for a 10 point homework grade as well.

Look at the slideshow below to get an idea for how this "visual evidence" will be used to inspire a personal journey painting you'll be making in class, as well as what kinds of things could be included! Below the slideshow is a copy of the "Illustrating a Personal Journey" worksheet to be submitted on Monday!



Personal Journey Painting Criteria

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Sketchbook #4: "Altered Object"

For this sketchbook drawing, choose an object that you can alter somehow. Unwrap it, wrap it, squish it, break it, fold it, eat it, etc. This object might be a food item, just make sure you don't forget to leave it out for too long, (although to decompose could be another way to alter it...)

Draw your object three times on one page. Touch at least two sides of your sketchbook page. Draw your objects close to actual size or larger than life, so choose an object that's not too big. Draw the object in two or three altered states, showing it's "before and after" or it's transformation.

Include shadows, a full range of values (blackest blacks and whitest whites?, and show careful observational skills. Be creative, have fun!

For an added challenge, draw your object in more than two altered states, and figure out a way to fit it on one page!

DUE: Thurs. Nov. 13th

Visual Journals: "My Identity" and "A Trip..."

Below are our first batch of visual journal entries for the quarter. Congratulations to those who were picked for the show!

Shadows and Openings

For your next sketchbook assignment, choose an object that has interesting holes or openings that light can pass through. Objects like glasses, watches, scissors, hand tools, kitchen tools, (egg-beaters, bottle openers, etc.) work well, because they are interesting but no too complex, and they cast interesting shadows. Place the object in front of you and shine a bright light onto it so that it casts an interesting shadow. Draw both the object and the shadow in your final composition.

Make an observational drawing of this object that shows the following:

1) Touches at least two sides of the sketchbook page, and uses an interesting
composition.
2) Use the majority of the space of the page, (at least 75%)
3) Show interesting line qualities.
4) Show a wide rage of values/shading (blackest blacks & whitest whites)
5) Show both the shadow and the object in the composition

For a challenge, choose a unique point-of-view, or an object with challenging details or forms.

DUE: Monday, October 20th.

See the slideshow below of excellent sketchbook entries for ideas for your own!

Multiple Personality Portraits

In class we will be creating portraits that include both observational, and expressive elements that demonstrate your many personalities.

Your final composition should include at least four feature studies, each study should include at least two facial features.

Your final composition should elegantly overlap and combine your feature studies in a unified way. Consider how the features of your face can be combined together and experiment with your layout in your sketchbook first.

Once you've connected your feature studies together, identify an expressive element that you'd like to include. This element could be a metaphorical object, personal item, or even something imaginary. You should draw this element into your combined feature studies in your sketchbook first.

Final Feature study Drawings
Your final feature study drawings should show the following:

1) Careful observation, (no schema)
2) Careful, clean application of charcoal
3) Wide range of values (blackest blacks and whitest whites)to show form of your face
4) Variety of line quality

Your four final drawings will be due on Monday, Oct. 13th.

Visual Journals: An Introduction

The visual journal is way for you to express your ideas, your jokes, your interests, your concerns, your life in a visual way. Every four weeks, you will need to complete three assignments in the order they are given on the sheet below. The rules are simple:

1) Respond to each word/phrase creatively, artistically and personally.
2) Avoid clichés and easy solutions. Avoid the first answer that comes to mind, (it's usually what everyone else will think of too. Consider what this word means to you, metaphorically, not literally.
3) Don't use the same media combination more than twice! (Media is the art material you use in your artwork. Experiment with different combinations of each. Try out media we experiment with in class!

The journals will be graded based upon four things:
1) Creativity-your ability to solve the problem in a unique way.
2) Design-your ability to consider the composition of the entire page.
3) Media Skills-your ability to experiment, practice, and refine your use of a variety of art materials.
4) Presentation-your ability to be neat, clean, careful, and show an investment of time in each entry.

Click on the slideshow to the right to see examples of visual journal entries we looked at in class, and also see how students solved problems in unique and creative ways.

Below is a list of the assignments and due dates. Please refer to this often in case you forget or lose your assignment sheet!

Art 1 Visual Journal Entries (08-09) - Upload a Document to Scribd

Sketchbook #2: Super-size Me!

Find a small object (should fit inside your hand) and do a close up drawing of it. Your drawing should be zoomed in to capture the object at least 5 times larger than it actually is. Create an interesting composition (size, angle, placement). Your drawing should go off/touch at least two edges of the page. Your drawing should show a full range of values (shading) to illustrate the light and shadows you see.


**For a challenge: Capture reflections and shadows. Consider using more than one of your object or a very complex object.

Classwork #1: Block Drawings

Mr. La Londe's drawing in progress
Mr.English's final drawing

To begin the year, we will learn how to set up a simple block still-life, use a viewfinder and our sketchbooks to create small "thumbnail" compositions, and then choose a final composition to complete our charcoal drawings.

Below is the grading rubric for our block drawing assignment in class. Today, will be the last full period to work on these drawings, and next class (Monday, Sept. 15th) we will have our class critique. The drawings will be due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, Sept.17th.

Block Drawings assessment - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Block Drawings assessment

Homework #2: "Spoon in Water"

Drawing by Todd Ford

Find an interesting clear drinking glass. Fill it about half way with water. Place a metal spoon in the glass of water. Carefully observe what you see. Create a drawing that captures what you see in an interesting way. Show a variety of line quality. Consider an interesting angle, and have your drawing take up the space on the page. Add value (shading) to your drawing.

Your drawing will be graded on the following:
1) Uses the entire page, (touches at least two edges of the page)
2) Shows evidence of being drawn from life (don't make it up!)
3) Uses a variety of line quality (remember the artist's styles we looked at in class)
4) Demonstrates at least an hour of observed study. (Take your time and do your best!)
5) Show shading of different values that you see. (Include shadows and reflections!)

I will not accept drawings that are not in a sketchbook!


**For a challenge: Capture reflections and shadows.

Welcome to the Art Department!

Hello everyone,
Welcome to Reservoir High School's Visual Arts department! This blog will be a resource for both parents and students to contact me, keep track of assignments and due dates, as well as review the artworks and ideas we looked at and discuss in Art 1.

It will also serve as an online calendar and blackboard, listing all homework and classwork assignments, as well as providing resources to help you generate ideas and help you along. Keep this site bookmarked in your web browser, and check in often to see what's going on in Art 1!

This blog will also be connected to Reservoir's official Visual Art department's website, which you can access currently at: http://web.mac.com/gregenglish/RHS/RHS_Art_Dept..html
Please feel free to email me with any questions at evan_lalonde@hcpss.org

Homework #1: Syllabus and Contract

It's important to know the rules and rights you have as a student in my Art 1 class. Below is an online copy of the Art 1 syllabus that you can access at any point, just click on the iPaper icon to read, download, or print this document.

I will give you a copy of the syllabus in class so that we can read over it together, but your assignment is as follows:

1) Read over entire syllabus with your parent or guardian.
2) Fill in all required student information on contract, and sign.
3) Have parent/guardian sign contract on back, please note the "publication notice" on the bottom.
4) Tear off contract and turn in to me by Friday, August 29th.
5) Store syllabus in safe place.

Art I Course Syllabus 2008-09 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Art I Course Syllabus 2008-09