ART 1111 - DRAWING 1 SYLLABUS – Spring 2009

INSTRUCTOR: Marlin Adams

GORDON COLLEGE

OFFICE:  Room 234 - Fine Arts Building

PHONE: 678-359-5301

E-MAIL:  m_adams@gdn.edu

WEB URLs: http://www.gdn.edu/faculty/m_adams

                    http://www.marlinadamsart.com/

        http://www.gandynet.com/art/Marlin/index.htm

        http://www.hellomacon.com/ art/marlinadams.Cfm

DATE OF FINAL - Thursday, Mayth  from 10:15AM. – 12:15 AM.

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PREREQUISITE: None

 

TEXTBOOK: None required

 

SUGGESTED READING : Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Dr. Betty Edwards.

Classical Drawing Atelier  by Juliette Aristides

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION : An introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques emphasizing observational skills in drawing from life.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: (1) To give the student an opportunity to improve his drawing skills through disciplined practice with pencil.  (2) To explore the techniques and expressive possibilities of linear perspective, line drawing and value handling.  (3) To give the student an understanding of the role drawing plays in the comprehension of form and as a preparation for the added problem of color.   (4) To encourage individual exploration of media possibilities and self improvement through practice.

 

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: (1) Lectures (2) Audio visual; slides and photographs

(3) Demonstrations by the instructor (4) Copying of master drawings to develop mechanical perception of proportion and value.  (5) Individual instruction and guidance by the instructor

(6) Class participation through discussions, critiques, and exhibition of student works.

 

EVALUATION: Student work will be evaluated on principles of visual representation including composition, proportion, value contrast, value transitions, edge treatment and line quality.  Student improvement is so extremely varied that grading must also be based on effort, following of instructions, completion of assignments and attendance.  Each graded drawing will receive a point value and the final grade will be a total of all graded projects. Classroom demeanor may also be a portion of your final grade if necessary (disruptive behavior).  The final grade will be a percentage of the possible point total on the following basis: 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, etc.  You must achieve a point total of 216/240 for an A in the class.  The instructor may choose to curve the grade using the highest point total in the class as the standard.

 

ATTENDANCE: Regular and punctual attendance is required and will be considered in your final grade.  I will take roll only once at the beginning of class.  If you are not there when your name is called, you will be counted absent unless you see me after class to be marked tardy.  Students wishing to drop a class for any reason must report to the registrar’s office for an official drop of the class.   Four absences will be an automatic 20 point reduction in grade.  Seven absences after the official add drop period will be an automatic failure.  Three tardies will count as an absence. Showing up without your drawing materials will constitute an absence and you will be dismissed from class.  Absent is absent so I don’t accept doctor’s notes, police reports, or grandparents’ obituaries or anything else.  I am not in a position to judge what exactly is a “valid” reason for missing class.

 

 

SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT:  If you need academic accommodations for a disability, you must first see Ms. Kristina Henderson, Student Counselor, in the Student Center (second floor).  Her telephone number is 678-359-5585.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY: Plagiarism (the presentation of someone else’s work as one’s own) and cheating (dishonesty or deception in fulfilling academic requirements) will not be tolerated.  Any act of academic dishonesty by a student may result in a grade of F for the relevant assignment or an F in the class if you turn in deceptive work for the final end of class evaluation.

 

CLASS RULES: 

1.  Students must clean their work areas before leaving class.  That includes putting away all their materials including: pads, pencils, drawing boards, T squares, etc. 

2.  The classroom is not a storage facility.  Work left behind after the semester ends is not the responsibility of the instructor.  You relinquish your property rights by leaving your work behind.

3.  No radios or headsets in the classroom.

4.  DO NOT TOUCH STILL LIFE SET UPS!  YOU MAY RUIN SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK!

 

.OFFICE HOURS: The office hours of the instructor will be posted on his office door.  The instructor will be available for student counseling during office hours or by appointment.  The art student should feel free to discuss art projects with the instructor during classroom time.

 

GRADED PROJECTS: The projects to be done in this class will generally fall under the following categories; linear perspective, Master copies, and drawings from life.

LINEAR PERSPECTIVE: Six un-graded perspective exercises will be conducted in class before the graded perspective exercises begin.

1.  One Point Perspective Drawing: Include doors, windows, and some type of furniture in your one point perspective drawing.  This drawing will be strictly a line drawing (no shaded areas).

2.  Two Point Perspective Drawing: You may draw the exterior of an actual building from life or draw from a photograph.  These drawings will be graded on visual comprehension, neatness and craftsmanship.  This is a line drawing - NO SHADING!

MODELING EXERCISE

3.  Shading Exercise drawing: Shaded ball, or shaded forms plus a value scale.  This is an exercise in modeling form.  This project will be graded on visual comprehension of the project, wide use of the value scale and on craftsmanship.

MASTER COPIES:

4.  First copy of an old master drawing: These drawings will be doubled in size using a grid. Copies of original master drawings are an excellent way to develop a feel for their methods of seeing; IE. rhythm, proportion and values etc.

5.  Second copy of an old master drawing: Copies of old master drawings will be provided by the instructor.  These drawings will be graded on faithfulness to the original and on craftsmanship.

6.  Photo copy: Copy a photograph of your own or one provided by the instructor to at least double its original size using a grid and a full range of value.

7.  4 Homework copies of  old master drawings: These may be done in or outside of class.

DRAWINGS FROM LIFE : A block-in technique will be demonstrated.

8.  Still life drawing: A still life emphasizing the use of the value scale will be set up in the classroom.  This drawing will be graded on accuracy of draftsmanship, modeling of the form, use of the value scale and craftsmanship.

9.  Final cast or skull drawing: The student will have his or her choice of an animal skull or a cast drawing as subject matter.  This drawing should be a representation of your best skill level.  This drawing may need to be done outside of class time depending on what point you are on your list of drawings.

 

EXTRA CREDIT DRAWINGS: Any drawings that you do outside of class during this semester will be given extra credit points as long as they apply to what was taught in the class.

 

Please label your drawings on the front, in the lower right hand corner, with your full name and the title of the project as outlined below, in a legible manner.

 

All drawings are worth 20 points each and will be graded on draftsmanship and the fulfilling of the particular assignment.  There are 240 drawing points possible and other points available through extra credit.  The scale may change depending on how rapidly we are able to get through the projects outlined.

 

TENTATIVE GRADE BREAKDOWN:

 

One point perspective             20 pts

Two point perspective             20 pts

Shaded ball drawing               20 pts

First old master copy              20 pts

Second old master copy          20 pts

Photograph copy                     20 pts

Still life drawing                     20 pts

Skull or cast drawing              20 pts

4 Homework master copies    80 ptsTotal                                        

240 pts

Other outside of class drawings - extra credit points

 

The instructor may choose to save the best drawings for the annual student show held at the end of the year. 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLIES:

Three or more ordinary no.2 office pencils

3H, HB, 2B, and 4B drawing pencils

Pencil container

Kneaded rubber eraser

Pink eraser

18"X 24" Strathmore Regular surface drawing pad

18 “ ruler

Drawing board (may be provided)

T Square (may be provided)

Triangle (may be provided)

Cold press illustration board (may be purchased later in the course)

Mat board (for final presentation of your best work in the student show)

Odorless Workable Matte Fixative in an aerosol can (do not spray in the classroom – Spray on the dock downstairs)

 

DRAWING CLASS EVALUATION FORM

Name:___________________

 

Attendance: Four absences will result in a 20 point deduction in your final grade point total.

Perspective drawings: 20 pts each __________

1.  One point perspective   _________          

comprehension of perspective             1          2          3          4          5

craftsmanship (neatness)                     1          2          3          4          5

visibility (dark lines)                           1          2          3          4          5

2.  Two point perspective _________

`                       comprehension of perspective            1         2          3           4          5

craftsmanship                                      1          2          3          4          5         

visibility                                              1          2          3          4          5

 3.  Ball and Value scale __________

Craftsmanship                                     1          2          3          4          5

Value transitions                                 1          2          3          4          5

Comprehension of lighting                 1          2          3          4          5

Master copy drawings: 20 pts each __________

4.  First old master copy (double size) _________

                        Proportion (Accuracy)                        1          2          3          4          5         

Value scale (lights & darks)                1          2          3          4          5

Line Quality                                        1          2          3          4          5

5.  Second old master copy (double size)________

6.  Homework old master copy ________

7.  Copy of photograph __________

Craftsmanship                                     1          2          3          4          5

                        Value handling                                    1          2          3          4          5                     

Accuracy                                             1          2          3          4          5

8.  2nd Homework old master copy __________

Drawings from life: 20 pts each _________

9. Still life drawing _________

Block in                                               1          2          3          4          5                     

Composition (fill format)                    1          2          3          4          5

Proportion                                           1          2          3          4          5

Value handling (light & shade)           1          2          3          4          5

Craftsmanship                                     1          2          3          4          5         

10. 3rd Homework old master copy __________

11. Skull or cast drawing ___________                                

12. 4th Homework old master copy _________

Final Grade: ____________

 

 

DUE DATES WILL BE POSTED  - Basically one drawing is due every 1&1/3 weeks.

 

Two perspective drawing (projects 1&2) --------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________     

 

Two old master copies - double size and 1st homework old master copy (projects 3, 4 & 5) --------

_______________________________________

 

Ball/Value Scale and Photograph copy and 2nd homework old master copy (projects 6,7, & 8)

_______________________________________

 

Still life drawing and 3rd Homework master copy (projects 9 & 10) -----------------------------------

_______________________________________

 

Skull or cast drawing and 4th Homework master copy (projects 11 & 12) ----------------------------

_______________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

SUGGESTED SEQUENCE OF DRAWING STEPS FOR ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE OF HALLWAY

 

1.  SQUARE   Draw a fairly small square or rectangle (about 3” high) to represent the end of the hallway.  You should position the square according to your position in the hallway.

 

2.   VANISHING POINT   Draw a Vanishing Point within the square according to your position in the hallway.  You could put the V.P. right in the middle of the hallway (square) if the concept of correlating your position in the hallway to a dot within a square is too difficult.

 

3.  CORNERS OF HALLWAY  Line up your ruler from the Vanishing Point to the corners of the hallway and draw a line representing the corners of the hallway, from the corners of the square, outward.

 

4.  HEIGHT OF DOORS  Set the height of your doors according to the height of the door at the end of the hallway by running a guideline to the edges of your square and drawing a guideline from the Vanishing Point through that contact point on your square outward.

 

5.  SET TILE SPACING  Set tile by using equidistant marks on your ruler placed between the converging orthagonals of your hallway floor.  The end of the ruler against one orthagonal (vanishing line) and the mark representing the number of your tile at the other orthagonal.  Draw dots at the equidistant markings on your ruler to represent the number of tile on your floor.

Draw the radiating lines of your tile by placing your ruler from the Vanishing Point through the dots and drawing a line from the bottom edge of your square outward.

 

6.  SET HORIZONTAL SPACING Set the horizontal spacing lines between tile by drawing a diagonal line from the distant corner of your hallway across the tile lines at approximately a 45 degree angle.  At each point where your diagonal crosses a radiating tile line, draw a horizontal line  across the floor between your floor orthagonals. 

 

7.  DRAW IN THE DOORS   Draw in the doors  in your hallway using the guidelines set for the height of the doors.  Draw in any other wall furnishings or furniture in the hallway such as benches, chairs, tables, bulletin boards, etc.

 

8.  BRICK LINES   Draw in brick lines on the wall in the same way you did the tile on the floor except that when you draw the vertical lines between the bricks you will skip every other space to indicate the staggered effect of brick laying.

 

9.  INSETTING DOORS AND HALLWAYS   To inset a door or a hallway, you simply draw horizontal lines away from the visible corners of the point of inset to the inset object. 

 

10.  DRAWING  FURNITURE  Remember that drawing a table is just like drawing a box in space.  The legs are formed from the corners of the box.  A rectangular trash can uses the same concept.

 

COMPLETELY CONFUSED?  YOU SHOULD HAVE WATCHED THE DEMONSTRATION CLOSELY.  SEE THE TEACHER FOR HELP ESPECIALLY IF YOU ADDED THE CLASS LATE AND MISSED THE EXERCISES.  I MAY HAVE TO RE-TEACH YOU. GASP!

 

SUGGESTED SEQUENCE OF STEPS FOR DRAWING A TWO POINT PERSPECTIVE OF THE REAR OF THE FINE ARTS BUILDING.

 

1.  Make sure your paper is secured to your drawing board with tape so that it doesn’t move while using your T-square, triangle and ruler.

 

2.  Draw your horizon line lightly across the page nearer the bottom of your paper and place your vanishing points on the extreme right and left edges of your paper.   You will be looking up at the Fine Arts Building and will therefore place the horizon line low, since it represents your eye level.

 

3.  Draw a vertical line somewhere near the center of your paper that extends mostly above the horizon line, representing the center projection of the building.  You see five projections of the  Fine Arts Building from a position near the air conditioning units

 

4.  Draw from the top and bottom of your vertical line to the vanishing points on each side of your paper.  You will have a diamond shaped drawing at this point.

 

5.  Draw vertical lines to cut off the sides of your center projection at the appropriate points where the next projections of the building begin.  You can erase the orthagonals (vanishing lines) from your side verticals to the vanishing points or just not draw them in.

 

6.  Draw the next projections of the building in exactly the same manner as the first remembering that they have to be connected to the first projection.  That means that you will have to start them by drawing lines starting at the side verticals by aligning your ruler from the opposite vanishing point through the very top and bottom of your side verticals and drawing away from the center outward and upward.  You will then draw verticals representing the nearest point of the next projections of the building.  They will be slightly shorter than the center vertical because they are slightly further away from you if you are positioned at a 45 degree angle from the Fine Arts Building.  These side projections will just be lopped off versions of the first diamond shape you drew.  It really is a simple concept. All lines that are not vertical run to the vanishing points.

 

7.  The final side projections are done in exactly the same manner.  If the building is done correctly you have five taller vertical lines that represent the building projections with the top and bottom orthagonals running to the vanishing points on each side of your paper and all the lines meet at the indentions and projections.  All the vertical lines are points at which the planes of the building change and therefore the orthagonals change directions at those points.  All the taller verticals representing the projecting edges of the building that are closest to you have orthagonals that diminish on the right side to the right vanishing point and on the left side to the left vanishing point.

 

8.  Once you have this accordion shape drawn on your paper, all other lines are drawn just like the top and bottom of your building projections.  Every time you meet a vertical line, you draw to the opposite vanishing point.  Draw the flashing at the top of the building first with a line that nearly parallels the top of the building. Remember that all lines run to the vanishing points.  Set the tops and bottoms of your windows with an accordion line that runs all the way across your forms.

 

9.  To indent your windows, which are all on the left planes of your projections according to reality, you should start by drawing a line from the upper left hand corner to the right vanishing point.  You need not draw the whole line but just the corner of your window will do.  You can then draw the top of your actual window by drawing to the right vanishing point and then the vertical where those two lines meet.

IF YOU ARE TOTALLY CONFUSED BY NOW, SEE THE TEACHER.  IF NOT, YOU ARE NEARING COMPLETION OF YOUR BUILDING AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING. 

 

DUE DATES – DRAWING I

 

1.  ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE -  Sep 2nd                                                              1____

 

2.  TWO POINT PERSPECTIVE  AND                                                                   2____

     1ST HOMEWORK MASTER DRAWING – Sep 16TH                                        3____

 

3.  SHADED BALL DRAWING AND                                                                    4____

     SECOND HOMEWORK MASTER COPY-  Sep 30th                                        5____

 

MIDTERM GRADE/ DATE OF WITHDRAWAL  Oct 9th

4.  FIRST IN CLASS MASTER COPY – Oct 16th                                                   6____

   

5.  SECOND IN-CLASS MASTER DRAWING COPY AND                               7____

     THIRD HOMEWORK MASTER COPY – Oct 28th                                          8____

                                   

6.      PHOTOGRAPH COPY DRAWING –  Nov 11th                                             9____

    

 7.  STILL LIFE DRAWING AND                                                                          10____

     4TH HOMEWORK MASTER COPY DRAWING –Nov 25th                            11____

 

8.  SKULL OR CAST DRAWING – Dec  10th                                                       12____

 

   

 

                                                                                                            TOTAL           _______

 

Each drawing is worth a 20 points apiece – 240 total.  Please record your score by the number of the drawing.

To calculate your grade, divide your total by 240.  The result will be a percentage – 90% and above = A etc.

To get an A in the class, you must have at least 5 drawings with 18 or more points and a total score of 216 or above.

Exceptional drawings can receive more than 20 points.  Extra credit drawings are also accepted as long as they are within the context of the class.  NO DRAWINGS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL.