Art 2&3 - Project details and Homework

Hey guys - your homework is to bring your supplies to class (sketchbooks - minimum 8x10"; no glossy paper, pen, and pencils). Also you need a minimum of 3 duck photos to choose from in class. Color photos only - YOU MUST KNOW THE SPECIES IN THE PHOTO. For a list of species click on the link found in the post from Aug. 17th. Remember to do thumbnail sketches in your sketchbook to determine which backgrounds to use with your ducks.

Thanks to everyone for bringing your email addresses with your parent's signatures. I'm plugging them in on the blog as you read this.

Be ready to paint on Tuesday. See you then - Mr. Kelley

PS - CLICK HERE to see some past Duck stamp winners.

7th grade - Project #1: Value Studies - DUE Aug.31st

Example of finished Project. Rows (top to bottom) = hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, initial, blending

Example of using 1 inch sections to help go from dark to light

Your first project is dealing with Value and Line. As mentioned in class, there are several methods of achieving value with lines. Here are the ways we covered (study these terms and definitions....they will probably show up in a Quiz)




Hatching - The use of one set of parallel lines to create values. Click Here to see examples


Cross-Hatching - The use of multiple sets of parallel lines, which cross over each other, to create values Click Here to see examples




Stippling (Pointillism) - The use of dots, dashes, or points to create value Click Here to see examples




Blending - A method of creating flawless transitions between values by smudging the values together.



Your project is to draw 5 rows on your paper that I gave you in class. Each row should be 1x12 inches. (See example above) Use only ONE shading method in each row. Do not combine shading methods. Start with the darkest values on the left and end up with just white paper on the right. For the stippling row you may use a Sharpie marker to save time (see example). On the Blending row you may use your finger or a Q-Tip to "smear" your lines. I can help you with this in class. Look at the examples given and contact me if you have questions. Remember - the most important thing is to have good craftsmanship; no smudges outside the rows and no creases in the paper. Clean your paper after you've finished shading by erasing all unwanted marks. Good luck.

PS - Bring your syllabus stubs with your parent's signature and an email address. Also bring your Sketchbook, mechanical pencils, and felt-tipped pen. Remember - it's 2pts off your project grade each time you don't bring your supplies to class.

NEW YEAR - Welcome Class

It's a new year and we have a lot to do. I hope that everyone will work hard and take advantage of this class blog - it will be your place to find all updates, study guides, tutorials outside of class and commentary from your peers. Remember to enter your email address in the box near the top to get automatic notices in your inbox whenever I make a new post.

First things first - Everyone needs to have their sketchbooks, pencils, and pens starting Thursday. THESE ARE MUST-HAVES IN EVER CLASS; DON'T FORGET THEM.

Also, 7th graders: I will be bringing poster board on Thursday for you to make your own portfolios. I'll be showing you how to do this.

Art 2&3: be looking for a paper portfolio at the arts stores around town. It's best to use a coupon to make this purchase. Don't get the leather portfolios unless you plan on being an artist for life....they are very pricey. If you really need to save some money, just buy two sheets of poster board and tape them together, leaving one of the longest sides open so that you can put your art in it. Some of you made these last year. Remember: Your portfolio has to be large enough to hold an 18x24 sheet of paper. Have these ready by next week and bring them to class on Tuesday.

Also - here is the link to see the Duck Stamp species. Look up each species that sounds interesting to you and print out three images that you'd like to use. Have the "color" print outs in class Thursday (black and white copies won't help you). http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm#GeneralInformation

If any of you have questions please send them to me through this blog or my email: jaredkelley@bellsouth.net

HOMEWORK - bring signed syllabus stub with email addresses on Thursday.

PROJECTS and HOMEWORK

Example of Egg study for homework

Example of creating a portrait starting with the highlights. Click to enlarge.

ART1&2 - Above you will find examples of your homework assignment and your current in-class final project. First the homework: Draw 5 egg sketches. You should setup your egg on a flat surface under a light source, like a desk lamp. Tone your sketchbook paper like we have been doing in class using the side of your pencil and a paper towel. Now erase the highlights on the egg and the light areas of the background. Move onto adding darker shadows until you have a finished egg study which resembles the egg you set up to look at. You need 5 different egg drawings. Make sure you have crisp lines for the edges of the egg and shadows.

You'll also see an example of the portrait drawings you are doing in class. I have posted a few images of a preliminary sketch I recently did for a client. The methods I am teaching you in class are the very methods that I use in my own art which I have found to be the most effective. You'll see that I tone the paper and then erase the lights and highlights in the face to begin. Afterwards I begin adding the darker shadows until satisfied. I sometimes add very light pencil marks after erasing the highlights to clarify the facial features. This is similar to how you completed your hand drawings a few weeks ago using the picture plane.

ART3 - Continue working on your striped fabric drawings. Gentleman: Suzanna has showed you how it's done. Her drawing is looking great and all because ..... she's actually working on it. As I mentioned in class, if there are any of you who would rather take a written exam as your final rather than doing this project I will allow you to do so. The condition is that you spend your art class time in the office studying for the exam or working on assignments for other subjects. The exam will be roughly 25 questions and I will make sure you have a study guide beforehand. It will only be worth a maximum of 45% of your "project" grade. You must let me know before the 14th if you wish to take this route.

Homework Due March 31

ART 1&2 - STUDY for Quiz. The quiz will consist of these items:

• The 5 perception skills of drawing consist of - the perception of edges, the perception of spaces, the perception of relationships, the perception of lights and shadows, and the perception of the whole.
• The forms in a composition which are the subject matter and which catch the viewer's eye first.
• The basic unit is a simple shape which is used to begin a complex drawing and which can be used to figure correct proportions and placement.
• The particular shape of a drawing or painting surface. The length and width of a drawing or painting surface.
• A contour is always the border (edge) of two things simultaneously.
• Composition consists of three parts - 1:positive shapes 2:negative spaces 3:format

Study these items and be ready for the quiz. We will be working on self portraits in class.

ART 3 - continue working on your still life projects. Bring all supplies to class (charcoal, white conte, and red pastel pencils, paper, and photo reference.) You will lose 5pts from your final project grade for not bringing your materials to class starting on March 31st.

Homework Due March 3, 2010

ART 1&2 - Your homework deals with negative space. As we discussed in class, negative space are the areas in a piece of art that are not the primary focus. They are the areas that are easy to ignore while you look at the subject of the art. Your assignment is to find trees around your property that have lost their leaves and you are to draw in your sketch book ONLY the negative spaces found between all the bare branches. This sketch should fill your sketchbook page. Below is an example of how to do this.

Step 1: find a good section of trees that have no leaves so that you can easily see the branches. You can choose to draw the most interesting section of the tree(s) if you'd like. Notice how the image above is cropped so that the branches fill the whole format. I don't want to see the trunks of the trees; just the branches and where they intersect.
Step 2: Now that you have found the section of the tree that you'd like to draw in your sketchbook, visualize the negative areas in your mind. Pay close attention to every "open" space between the branches; these are the negative spaces which you will be drawing. I suggest focusing on the medium to large sized branches and ignoring the "twigs".


Step 3: In your sketchbook, begin drawing the negative spaces as they appear in the trees you are drawing. Take your time and make sure that every negative space that you draw is accurate in shape and size to the real thing. You should have something similar to the example above. Notice that you will begin to "draw" the tree without really drawing the tree.

Step 4: After you have drawn all the major negative spaces and filled your sketchbook paper, you may choose to go back into your drawing and shade the negative areas. This will add contrast and further separate the trees from the background which you drew. Good luck - Mr. Kelley


ART 3 - We are starting our still life drawings on Wednesday. You are to bring one object to class from your home which represents your personality. It must be small enough to carry to school and large enough to be easily seen in the still life setup which I will have in class.

Homework Due Feb. 24, 2010

ART 1&2 - Your homework is to purchase a mirror for self portraits. You can find $1 mirrors at the Dollar Tree. IT MUST BE LARGE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SEE YOUR ENTIRE HEAD IN IT WHILE HOLDING IT AT ARM'S LENGTH. Dollar Tree, and even Dollar General, has mirrors that are this large. Write your name on the back with permanent marker and bring to class on Wednesday.

ART 3 - No homework. New project discussion will be next class.