Drawing I (Fine Arts 041-11) Spring 2004

Drawing I (Fine Arts 041-11) Spring 2004

Smith Hall A-401 Tuesday and Thursday 1:00m-4:00pm

Professor Paul Reuther (reuther@gwu.edu, 202-994-8656)

Office A103: hours by appointment

Course Description

This course is primarily designed to introduce students to the discipline of drawing from life in a variety of media, prior

study in drawing is not requisite. The practice of drawing from life implies close observation and active response to things

in the physical world, the relationship of these objects one to another, and the spatial context in which they exist. The

main focus of study will be the human figure; correspondingly, the basic principles of figure anatomy will be presented in

brief lectures. Ongoing discussion of relevant art historical and contemporary ideas pertaining to drawing and related arts

plays a fundamental role in the studio. The work of many artists from the Italian Renaissance to the present day will be

presented in slide lectures. Two visits to the National gallery will be scheduled to view and discuss drawings in the most

direct manner possible.

Required work for the course may be broken down as follows:

I. Drawing Studio (20 meetings): In the classroom students will draw from the life figure and still life in a variety

of media.

II. Homework (6 assignments): 1 to 2 hour homework projects will be assigned (handouts)

III. Sketchbook (20 assignments): A record of preliminary studies (handout)

IV. Critiques (4) : Student led critiques

V. Museum visits (1 or 2)

VI. Midterm Project (1) Three (3) drawings and critique

VII. Final Project (1): Suite of drawings and critique (handout)

Progressing in the coursework, it is expected that students will achieve increasing confidence and competence in their

drawing ability, while developing meaningful critical judgement and the capacity to articulate their views effectively. For

students continuing in fine arts study, this course should provide opportunities for portfolio development.

Attendance

Attendance will be taken each class meeting. A good attendance record in this course means arriving in class prepared to

begin working at 1:00 p.m. and to continue working until 4:00 p.m. The instructor may take attendance at any point during

class time.

Due to the nature of studio arts courses it is not possible to make-up time missed, however the absent student is responsible

for work assigned during her/ his absence

Three (3) unexcused absences will be allowed. Additional absences will result in a lower grade for the course. It is advisable

to remain in contact with Professor Reuther as attendance and other issues arise.

Grading

The following are factors in grading assessment:

· Presentation of work: all work submitted for a grade must include name, date, and assignment title in legible written

form

· Attendance, promptness, and time management

· Class participation: level of involvement in class discussions and critiques

· Preparation of materials for assignments: coming to class prepared

· Positive work practice: includes maintaining an organized portfolio/ folder of work completed for the course and

cleaning up one’s area after use*

· Comprehension of assignments

· Completion of assignments: late work will affect grade adversely

· Proficiency in execution of assignments

*Note: The drawing studios are multi-use areas: it is important to maintain a safe and clean working environment. Take

your rubbish with you and be responsible for your own work and materials

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to course; discussion toward a definition of drawing; preliminary remarks on composition and

pictorial structure; useful tools for developing accuracy and control in sighting; rule of thumb; construction lines;

vertical, horizontal, and center alignment; thumbnail sketches; viewfinder

13 January Introduction, course materials

15 January Making Marks, Rendering, Handling

Materials, Measurement, Proportion (mixed media) Still-Life

Week 2: Slow drawing: using paper collage, drawings will be produced in which the picture plane will be treated as a

seamless unity. Continued exercises in proportion and accurate sighting, composition and pictorial structure,

implied spatial effects in limited media; primer on values

20 January Paper Collage (mixed media) Still-Life

22 January Paper Collage (mixed media) Still-Life

Week 3: Fast drawing: searching for essential graphic information in rapidly executed gesture drawings: specifically

the action/ movement of the subject seen/ conceived in its entirety and the basic relationship of part to whole;

coordination and facility of hand and eye

27 January Gesture/Croquis (charcoal) Figure male

29 January Gesture/Croquis (charcoal) Figure female

Week 4: Approaching form in broad, simplified terms, constructing a picture from the general to the specific;

figure to ground relationship; “responding to spirit and substance before detail and surface”

02 February Shape-Mass-Structure (charcoal) Still-life

04 February Shape-Mass-Structure (charcoal) Figure male

Week 5:

10 February NGA Visit (old master/ European drawing)

12 February Shape-Mass-Structure (charcoal) Figure female

Week 6: Lines don’t exist in nature but are “indispensable” in drawing; contour blind and sighted; the function of line

as a means of structure and form; the expressive possibilities of line; lost and discovered lines; the subtlety and

power of edges; the significance of a varied line; line and human anatomy

17 February Line (charcoal, pencil) Still-life

19 February Line (charcoal, pencil) Figure female

Week 7:

24 February Line (charcoal, pencil) Figure male

26 February Line (charcoal, pencil) Figure female

Week 8: Consideration is given to the inner forces objects: their "structural condition", weight, and solidity; surface

attributes of objects de-emphasized

02 March Volume and Planes (charcoal, pencil) Still-life

04 March Volume and Planes (charcoal, pencil) Figure male

Week 9:

09 March NGA Visit (20th C. and later/American)

11 March Midterm Critique 3 drawings and sketchbook

Week 10: ------ SPRING BREAK MARCH 15~19 ---------

Week 11: Approach to the form of objects as a function of light effect; duality of light effect in creating and dissolving

form; surface form; gradation and tonality; modeling; rendering

23 March Light-Value-Modeling (mixed) Still-life

25 March Light-Value-Modeling (mixed) Figure female

Week 12: Final project drawing for remaining meetings

30 March Open Drawing/ Final Project Male Figure 1 0f 3 consecutive

01 April Open Drawing/ Final Project Male Figure 2 0f 3 consecutive

Week 13:

06 April Open Drawing/ Final Project Male Figure 3 0f 3 consecutive

08 April Open Drawing/ Final Project Female Figure 1 0f 3 consecutive

Week 14:

13 April Open Drawing/ Final Project Female Figure 2 0f 3 consecutive

15 April Open Drawing/Final Project Female Figure 3 0f 3 consecutive

Week 15:

20 April Critique / Final Project I

22 April Critique / Final Project II

Week 16:

27 April Make-up Day