ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN
COURSE SYLLABUS
DEPARTMENT: Illustration
Prepared by: Mark Strickland, Professor
Trimester, Spring Year: 2012
Course Title: Composition and Drawing
CONTACT
Instructor: Mark Strickland
(626) 251-3074 [cell]
(626) 836-0215 [home]
TA: Jason Hsin
(626) 524-4792 [cell]
CLASS BLOG
http://companddrawmssp12.blogspot.com/
Previous term’s blog (for examples): http://companddrawmsf11.blogspot.com/
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an introduction to compositional figure drawing, learning both traditional methodologies and natural, observational techniques in order to investigate problems of composition. Composition will be taught in terms of depth of field, division of space, movement and balance, of architectonic and figurative elements, objective and non-objective. Composition will be discussed in reference to examples from contemporary and historical illustration, entertainment design, film, animation, drawing and painting, architecture and sculpture. The student will learn about, laws of light and shadow, composition and basic anatomy. Foreshortening is taught with the use of cylinders and spheres, proportion is taught through comparative measurement. Rendering techniques with pen and charcoal will be taught, on mid-tone and white paper. A personal project and notebook will be central to strengthening drawing skills in rendering, dynamic and compositional, The notebook will be used to learnhow to think in viual language through a diversity of research for character development.
COURSE GOALS
For the student to understand composition in terms of relation to the format
sides, depth of field, division of space, balance and movement of representational
and non=representational forms, light, shadow and color. To see compositional
problem solving in relation to contemporary and historical illustration,
painting, graphic design, entertainment design
and architecture.. For the student to gain competence with drawing performance;
he dynamics of the figure, cloth and objects, using the laws of light and shadow
while doing compositional problem-solving.. To develop strong various media,
using tools such as charcoal and ink with techniques that will give student a
foundation for advanced classes.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The student must be punctual to class and attend all classes. All homework
assignments will be due on the posted dates and checked. A portfolio of drawings
will be due, showing competence on all lessons and techniques taught in class.
A personal project will comprise 20% of the grade and will have a 7th week
review, due on 10th week and 14th week deadline. 10th week a sketchbook with 40
pages of research of drawings for personal project, 40 xeroxes and
downloads for research from contemporary or historical illustrators, painters,
entertainment character and background designers, images to create ideas for
costume, character and background. 14th week the student will present their
final project from their character development into compositions
for career possibilities such as storyboard, illustrated novel, 3-sculpey design,
comic book, children’s book or lay-out for illustration/painting. The same
“brainstorm notebook” will be used as a “24 hr. fitness” notebook for
strengthening weakness in drawing, articulation,
composition, anatomy, dynamics, by doing copy studies of contemporary and
historical illustrations, character development designers such as ILM’s creative
director, Carlos Huante, animation, anatomy and composition. Missing these
presentation dates without a doctor’s excuse will constitute an F. Two absences
will constitue a drop in letter grade and tree tardies, one absence.
GRADING POLICY
Grading is based on the following:
1) Punctuality (3 tardies are equal to 1 absence)
2) Attendance ( 2 absences is a drop in the letter grade unless Dr.’s note)
3) Class Participation….10%
4) Homework Assignments, portfolio of drawings) Assignments such as
copying master illustrators, entertainment designers and painters. 40%
5) Technical Competence……20%
6) Midterm (10th wk and Final project 14th wk ( will be assigned by personal interview)….30%
**To be presented on time, recorded each class with role sheet. (Late, two drops in
grade)
COURSE STRUCTURE (Lecture, Seminar, Lab, Exams, etc.)
The structure of the class will be based on traditional and contemporary composition from illustration, painting and entertainment design masters. Observational life-drawing within the studio, with lecture and demonstration for each technique and media being taught. Dynamic drawing is emphasized as a means to understanding composition as dynamic “arrows” be it figurative, architechtonic verses organic shapes. Division of space as composition will be discussed, light and shadow, as movement, 2-d and in the depth of field are discussed with demos with the lectures. There will be a personal interview with each student, asking them to bring in material that interests them; books, downloads and previous work to get to know their personal interests in relationship to the contemporary career they are pursuing in the illustration and entertainment field. The model will be posed with props, such as cloth and chairs, mirrors to reflect visual examples brought in by instructor from books to better understand classical and contemporary illustration, painting and entertainment design as composition.
ASSIGNMENTS AND CLASSWORK
Week 1. An introduction to the objectives of the class, the assignments, the rules, the expectations and the personal project. Drawing Demo showing depth of space within the modelby using cylinders for “hinges” moving each bending part of the body through the space with x/y/z axis on face, chest and pelvis. Skeleton is placed in same pose with model and student draws skeleton inside of model. The composition lecture takes in composition as division of space, 2-d format 3-d format structure, movement, depth of field, light and shadow as compositional elements, architechtonic verses organic elements. Homework is to buy 11 x 14 toned sketchbook and do 10 pages of drawings with 10 xeroxes and downloads for the following week..
Week 2. Composition lecture includes several resources Check homework, interview students, individually. Students draw a 3-d model stage set inside six-sided cube, relating to all sides, low, medium and high, with balance and movement and dynamic arrows . Student is given Xeroxes to copy in notebook for following week, using Carevvagio and “Dynamic Drapery” Hogarth, to break down all movement with dynamic arrows. Must prepare for first 5 minute presentation to class about their project.
Week 3. Check –off compositional homework on roll sheet, student presents class project to class, 5 minutes, showing research diversity and character development drawings. 10 minute demo of dynamic drawing with arrows, tying together figure to other figures and structural elements throughout composition. Assignment to copy illustrator, Dean Cornwell to understand composition as dynamic movement, design in terms of articulation and negative space. Copy Skeleton hand-out and label in notebook.
Week 4. Check-off and discuss homework, drawing class compositionally with Cornwell and Carlos Huante’s articulation along structural lines of gestural movements. Shorter poses, drawing on each student’s board. Homework Animation copies of “Cartooning Animation” from Preston Blair, to understand the dynamic of “drawing through” the form to create movement throughout the composition. Copy muscle chart hand-outs and label in notebook. *Remember, 7th week is the review for the 10th week notebook, checking homework, research, where 28 pages of development drawing will be due.
Week 5. Check-off and discuss homework. Paul Cadmus is introduced. “Not so evident” the relationship between composition and Cadmus’s “analysis of form” topographical
Rendering. Demo of of development of light and shadow on mid-toned paper; in order or process; low-light, midlight, highlight, spark. How to get the “punch” from accents of lights and darks and how they accentuate movement within composition. Homework is to copy 2 Paul Cadmus drawings within an architechtonic 6 sided space on mid-tone paper in notebook. Bring to class mid-tone paper, pen, charcoal, ivory nu-pastel, white prismacolor pencil. Want to see notebooks preparing for 7th week review.
Week 6.Checking Cadmus homework, notebooks, drawing in class on mid-tone paper,. Preparing for 7th week review, making sure of diversity of research and the character development drawings are dynamic, not stiff. Draw on mid-tone paper in class. Demo, low-light, midlight, highlight and spark. Homework is to draw hand and foot in Cadmus style on mid-tone paper with pen and white prismacolor pencil.
Week 7. Cadmus homework , feet and hands is critiqued, in-class drawing in Cadmus style within a 6 sided space with objects and furniture. The pen and prisma pencil are replaced by charcoal and ivory nu-pastel to give a more “painterly” dynamic stroke. Demo on using the 6-b charcoal pencil sharpened as a 1” cone, to use as both line quality and (sideways) to make a dynamic form shadow, e.g. for ribs, tendons and veins. Students notebooks are reviewed and advised what needs to be done for the 10th week presentation. Homework is to do 5-10 pages advised by instructor (some may be detailed and some, e.g. loosening-up dynamic or animation copies), to present the following week to the class to show “getting back on track”.
Week 8. Cloth is studied the first half of the class on mid-tone paper, without model. The second half, model with cloth, showing the dynamic arrows of the cloth within the compositional dept h of field. Student is asked to put name on board if help is needed for the project. Demo with cloth and cloth dynamic with model. Homework is to do a self-portrait with cloth “turban” on head on mid-tone paper with charcoal and nupastel.
Week 9. Midtone self-portrait critiqued, last day with midtone paper and figure. Homework is to finish and Xerox entire notebook for presentation on the 10th week. Sign-up on board for help is recommended. You must have all your character development characters “fleshed-out “ in detail, dynamically and in composition with dynamic costume and background studies.
Week 10. “Career Day!” All Xeroxes from notebook are placed on board, 8am sharp! 9am, critique and discussion begins. 15 minutes per person. Prepare to discuss how you achieved thediversity of research with the assignment. How you achieved your goals. What you are going to do with your finalized characters; ie 3-d sculpey, amount of pages in an illustrated novel, comic book, children’s book, storyboard for animated film. *Other projects may include painting or set background, computer animation or digital development.
Week 11. Demo of “line vocalization” and form shadows to draw anatomically correct while keeping the sensitivity of line quality and flow. Additive and subtractive technique with charcoal using fluidity, analysis of form and light and shadow learned from Cadmus, using eraser. Homework; 5”x12”, two per page, two pages of Compositional studies in notebook using the fluidity of subtractive technique. From handouts that will include copies from contemporary illustration to traditional painting
Week 12. Homework checked. Backgrounds from Sid Mead and contemporary film and animation designers from ILM are introduced. Hand-outs are given. Two models (an extra model for the 2 days without) will be used in a composition with depth of field cloth and a furniture set, pre-arranged with model secretary. Use handouts for background possibilites for personal project and put them into your sketchbook with composition of your characters. Project advise sign-up on board for the final presentation, homework to work on 14th week project and bring in background studies.
Week 13. Composition 6-sided cube as model stand with model drawing into the background of one of the hand-outs compositions from Sid Mead or Star Wars or one of the other hand-outs.
Week 14. FINAL PROJECT AND GRADING; Student mounts all classwork on board, benches and models stands are used to create extra exhibition space. Final project, all class drawings; Cadmus, Xeroxes of dynamic, compositional anatomical, animation studies in notebook.Research showing diversity. Discussion will take the first three hours, 10 minutes per student.Name will be place in front of your work and you will be called by instructor to give and over-all evaluation.
* Grades will be based on grading criteria. 20% of grade will be reserved by instructors evaluation of competency and effort.
DRAWING SUPPLIES
Minimum average Cost (before this Thurs 20% Thurs Fri 30% discount)
1. Standard X-acto knife......................................................…….,5,69
2.Vine charcoal, medium soft...............................................…..,,,1.85
3.Compressed charcoal...................................................……….,....74
4.6b and 4b charcoal pencils...............................................…..,,,..1.15
5.White prisma color pencil.................................................…,,....1.60
6.Sanding block.............................................................…………,,1.19
7.Ball Point pen ……………………..…………………………..,.,,35
8.Three choices of Project Sketchbook midtone grey or tan
A)Craft oatmeal 10x10………………………………………..15.00
B)Oatmeal 81/2X11…………………………………………,,,,19.95
C)Grey 9X12……………………………………………………30.00
9.Masonite Drawing board…………………….………………..,11,99
10.19x24 or 18x23 bond paper stacks of 10………….pads and newprint are OK)
11.Mid-tone pottery green paper (per sheet)………............1.75
12.Small chamois………………………………………………,.3.19
13.Portfolio……………………………………………………….8.00
14.Ivory new pastel………………………………………………1.00
15.Printmaking Paper (per sheet)…………………..........…2.15
16.Kneaded eraser………………………………………………..89
**Supplies used for the first 4 weeks of term, #’s 1,4,6,7,8,9,10,13
FORMAT/FINAL PORTFOLIO and requirements
Paper or plastic portfolio to hold 18”x23” or “19x24” paper to hold class assignments.
These assignments will be reviewed during and at the end of class.
No comments:
Post a Comment