Reminders for next week--TTh, April 1 & 3!

The written portion of your "Landscape of Contemporary Figuration" assignment is due on Tuesday, April 1st! "...write a one page paper explaining what you have gathered on how your artist has contributed to the contemporary context of figuration.  You can explain their content, style, methods, etc." Turn in a minimum of 1 page typed, double-spaced. Your final drawing will be due on Tuesday, April 15th!


Additionally, we'll be working in INK on both Tuesday and Thursday of the week, (Tuesday April 1st and Thursday April 3rd). Come to class both days prepared with your ink, a brush(es) and containers for water and for mixing different values to work with (I can explain how to do this if you don't know how....yogurt cups, ice cube trays, small palettes, plastic/styrofoam cups, plastic shot glasses, etc. all work well as containers). Be sure also to have your nicer quality drawing paper (NO newsprint) to use in class while working with the ink. You're welcome to bring in nicer watercolor paper or a smaller watercolor pad if you already own these items, otherwise your drawing paper, i.e. Bristol pad, will suffice.

Schedule post-Spring Break

Week 10:

3/25- Model (ELLEN), introduce Landscape of Contemporary Figuration

3/27- Model (ELLEN)

Week 11:

4/1- Model (JAY)--INK!!, Landscape of Contemporary Figuration papers due

4/3- Model (JENNY)--INK!!

Week 12:

4/8- Model (ELLEN)

4/10- Model (ELLEN)--Color media

Week 13:

4/15- Landscape of Contemporary Figuration drawings due, introduce Figure at Full Scale, Model (JENNY)

4/17- Model (JAY)

Week 14:

4/22- CRITIQUE Figure at Full Scale, introduce Expanding the Narrative

4/24- Model (JENNY)--Projector exercise

Week 15:

4/29- Model (JAY), 1^st part of Expanding the Narrative due

5/1- Model (JENNY)

Week 16:

5/6- Model (JENNY & JAY), Selection of at least 10 in-class Figure drawings due

5/8- Final drawings for Expanding the Narrative due, FINAL CRITIQUE

LANDSCAPE OF CONTEMPORARY FIGURATION (papers due Tuesday 4/1, final projects due Tuesday 4/15)

LANDSCAPE OF CONTEMPORARY FIGURATION

In this assignment we will explore contributions to contemporary figurative work.  You will choose a name of a contemporary contributor to figuration. Many of these artists have both figurative and non-figurative works.  Briefly research all contributors:

Lucian Freud 

Francis Bacon
Allison Schulnik

Mary Reid Kelley

Trenton Doyle Hancock

Jenny Seville 

John Baldessari 

Gerhard Richter 

Kerry James Marshall

Dana Schutz 

Neo Rauch 

Marlene Dumas 

Elizabeth Peyton 

Luc Tuymans 

Wengechi Mutu 

Peter Doig 

Alex Katz 

Tim Eitel 

After you pick your contributor, then you must research their work.  The Art Library at Art Building West is a great resource.  Locate images of some of their figurative work using either the library or credible online resources.  (Some of them work in ways other than figuration, it is your job to determine this in your research). Additionally, several of these artists have Art21 segments on PBS (these can be found on www.pbs.org/art21/).

Proceed to write a one page paper explaining what you have gathered on how your artist has contributed to the contemporary context of figuration.  You can explain their content, style, methods, etc.

Then choose one particular figurative piece of theirs to work from.  Re-stage the context of the piece to the best of your ability (have a friend take a photo, take a photo using your friends, etc.) and make an interpretation of the piece.  Emulate their style of mark-making, style, composition, abstraction, etc.  The piece should be at least one 30"x22" image, however, you are also permitted to make several small drawings.

Remember that color might be a useful element, but perhaps your piece would be best interpreted in charcoal.  If you have any questions on approach, please ask me.

On Tuesday, April 1st your one page write-up will be due along with the piece you chose.  Bring these materials to class to present to me.

On Tuesday, April 15th the final project will be due.

John Baldessari

Wengechi Mutu

Gerhard Richter

 Marlene Dumas

Neo Rauch

3/4: SELF PORTRAIT due Tuesday 3/11

SELF PORTRAIT

DUE TUESDAY 3/11

The best subject to practice a portrait (from life) is yourself, as it is comfortable to be meditative for a period of time on yourself as a subject.

For this assignment, I want you to add in narrative information to the drawing by changing the reflective surface in which you look to draw your own portrait.  

No mirrors.  When drawing yourself, choose a different reflective surface to look into for information. These surfaces could be, but are not limited to:

1) Window

2) Television screen

3) Computer monitor

4) A drawing/painting that has glass in front

5) Display case

6) Webcam

7) etc etc etc

Think of what narrative information the reflective surface can and will add, since you will be at times will be focusing on just seeing yourself in the surface, but at other times will be noticing different shapes/imagery that are being reflected upon/from your surface.  Add other visual information that you see fit to create a narrative in your self-portrait.

The objective is to become more familiar with drawing the head/shoulders of the figure, but also to reveal a story in your drawing.

Materials:

Good quality drawing/watercolor paper, AT LEAST 30"x22"

Any combination of materials

3/4: Portraiture in Eight Parts

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8S6WX-p8zmBNHJJVWNPLTNmbG8/edit?usp=sharing