Project: Evolving Drawings

The idea of this project is to take a drawing through a process of photocopies and reworking, creating a collection of drawings showing a progression of evolution from the first drawing into something completely different.

1. On an 8.5 x 11" paper, draw an object in any media you'd like.

2. Take this drawing and photocopy it.

3. Take this photocopy and draw on top of it. You can use white-out, paint, collage, charcoal, ink, whatever.

4. Take this drawing and photocopy it. There are also features such as contrast and zoom on the copymachine to utilize.

5. Repeat this process until you have 10 drawings that are part photocopied, part drawing.

Throughout this process- begin thinking about the idea of time and transformation in the drawings that you are making. There will be a literal sense of this happening through the process, with evidence of the last drawing in the latest one- but also maybe the images you select to draw reflect this process. Is there a story, will there be a flipbook/animated quality to your series? Or, maybe you will you just begin the process and let the imagery come to you as you work?

I don't have any student examples, but take a look at Jenna Weiss's show at Grizzly Grizzly from a few months ago. She used this same process to create a series of abstract mixed media works.

*Note: For our class, you should start with a representational drawing, and mainly keep it representational as this is an observational drawing course. However, abstract elements and compositional strategies can be added, and your objects/figures that you draw can become abstracted through the process.


http://theartblog.org/blog/wp-content/uploaded/Jennaweissandxeroxes.jpg

After you have completed 10 drawings, take your favorite and blow it up to 22 x 30" or bigger (it will be more fun to work even larger). You can do this using the oversized black and white printer at Kinkos or Staples. Take this larger copy and rework that as well.

Artists to check out, from Andrea's visit- Shahzia Sikhander

http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/sikander/

Artists to check out, from Andrea's visit- Paula Wilson

http://www.bellwethergallery.com/artistsindex_01.cfm?fid=440&gal=1

Artists to check out, from Andrea's visit- Nancy Spero

http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/spero/

Collage (Shape and Pattern): Mickalene Thomas

Collage (Shape and Texture): Aaron Wexler

http://www.aaronwexler.com/

Project 4- Assembling Meaning- Collage (Part 2)

This project builds off of the last collage. We will use 30 x 40" paper for this drawing. If you can't find paper already that large, then take two 22 x 30" sheets and connect them at the edges (don't overlap them). If there is a deckled edge, just use a ruler and blade to cut it straight, butt up the two edges and tape on the back.

Once you've prepared your paper- use a pencil or vine charcoal to draw in shapes from your collage. Carefully observe the images, scale them up to the larger paper and do a contour drawing of important elements from your collage image. Here's an example:




The end result could look like figurative silhouettes or be just abstract shapes, but please observe and draw these shapes proportionately and descriptively.

From here, it's up to you to interpret the original collage into a new image. You can collage and draw within these shapes. Play with flat vs 3 dimensional forms. Use line drawing as well as value. Try textures, patterns, and colors.

Bring this outline drawing, along with drawing materials and scrap papers to the next class for in-class studio work. We will also be creating collage materials through rubbings, monoprinting, and marbling to use in this project.

Group Drawings from Still Life

Project 3- Assembling Meaning- Collage (Part 1)

This project explores collage in contemporary image making as a way to construct an image from multiple sources. Select two or three of the listed words or a pair of binary words.

Binary Oppositions
beautiful / grotesque
here / there
now / then

open / closed

mind / body
rational / emotional
feminine / masculine

Create your own pairing from these words
gender
, humor
, stupid, distorted, expansive, anxious, 
absurd, 
intense, 
ordinary, 
superficial, obscure, 
outcast, 
popular, serious, 
history, 
political, 
heritage, 
horrific

Think about the relationship between these words and how you can convey your idea visually. It can realistic, surreal, abstract- however you'd like to get your idea across.
________________________________________________________________

Collect collage materials: magazines, newspapers, images from the internet, photocopies, etc.. Then create a collage on an 18 x 24" sheet based on the text using collected imagery.

Look up this list of collage artists:
Richard Hamilton, Christian Holstad, Robert Rauschenberg , Marcel Duchamp, Judy Pfaff, Paula Wilson, Mickalene Thomas

and below are some images of a few for inspiration:

Wangechi Mutu


Hannah Hoch




John Stezaker

Max Ernst




Scott Treleaven

Project 2: Cornell Box Drawing (Part 2)

Use the box as a reference image to make a drawing. Refer to it at eye-level so that the drawing shows just what is inside the box and none of its outside surroundings. Crop your paper so that it's the same proportion as your box. Use a 22 x 30" sheet of quality paper (at least that large) and draw your still-life as realistically as possible using value drawing with lighting and cast shadows.
Use whatever materials you would like- but remember that sometimes keeping it simple is best. What's most important is an emphasis on good drawing skills- keeping things in proportion and nice rendering to give this work a trompe-l'œil quality. Also try to use media that will work best with the imagery you are using. Look at Kelly's drawing below, where she uses strong black and whites to tell a story with her objects- giving them a dramatic film noir quality.
If you'd like to use color- keep a limited palette. Check out Hayley's work below where she uses pinks and yellows in selective areas.

Hayley Tomlinson

Kelly Colligan

Project 2: Cornell Box Drawing (Part 1)

Create a box to use as a reference for a drawing. Get or make a small, shallow box made of any material and fill it with images, objects, shelves, paint, etc. It can be abstract materials or a figurative narrative in the box. Make sure that there are layers of space, cast shadows, and an interesting composition.

Here are some works by Joseph Cornell as an example.