Steve Martin interview

Using Watercolor pencils

http://painting.about.com/od/usingwatercolorpencils/ss/water_pencils.htm

Why Use a grid?

Why Portrait Drawing Using Grid Lines is The Best Practice?

1. It is a proven technique since the Renaissance period. Famous artists using grid system to transfer scale drawings will help to produce portrait art work, that look natural and without distortion. Michelangelo gridded the Sistine Chapel, in fact he got his students to do it for him.
2. This is definitely not cheating. Drawing using grid lines is not the same as tracing or projection. There is no originality in tracing and does not help a beginner as a stepping stones. You will be comfortable, if this is just a simple school assignment. However, you will not be able to develop good drawing skill.
3. The purpose of using smaller squares helps the artist to isolate shapes of subjects, thus making it easier to define and draw accurately. Logically thinking, any shapes appear within a small square grid will not mean anything. And that is the main reason to makes drawing less complicated and help focus on smaller scale of shapes. Have you been troubled about where should be the starting point of the portrait drawing? Use grid lines, anywhere can be the starting point.
4. Another name for drawing using grid lines is called graphing technique. Its helps to make it easy to enlarge or reduce a drawing based on photograph. To enlarge the portrait, simple make the grid on your drawing paper of a larger scale than the one on the photograph. Bear in mind that you only use 3H pencil to draw the square grid very lightly on the paper.
5. Do you want a distorted portrait drawing? Proportionality is one of the key element in portrait drawing, and using grid lines will definitely guide the artist strategically. Eventually, portrait should resemble the real person, their features and facial expression.
6. Develop a strong skill in drawings before one is able to paint. This is true! With lot of practice, justification to draw accurately comes in hand when you start painting a photo portrait.
7. It is still a piece of natural art work, even with the aid of grid. Though shapes are define in a smaller squares, you are still using free hands to draw. As your skill improve, you may just focus on using this smaller grids for drawing the eyes.


Above information taken from the following site:

http://photoportraitpainting.com/why-portrait-drawing-using-grid-lines-is-the-best-practice/

Create another grid drawing, but this time choose another person or subject matter. You may also be more creative in the project by changing it in some way like Chuck Close did .
Chuck Close did one image using his thumbprint

Halation

http://www.acolorbox.wordpress.com/halation-explained/

Drawing Supplies List

Arts 4B

Cloth Portfolio Bag
Drawing Pad 18x24 Strathmore-4008
Color Pastel Pad 18x24 Strathmore-403186
Blending Stump #3 Proart 698723
Artgum Eraser Sanford 70542
Kneaded Eraser Sanford 70547
Pink Pearl Eraser Sanford 70548
Prismacolor Pencil Set 12 count Sanford 03596
Workable Fixative Krylon 1306
Black India Ink Higgins 44201
Brown India Ink Higgins 44116
Sable Flat Brush 1" Princeton PX4350W
Watercolor Pencils 24 count Reeves 8920124
Alphacolor Pastels 12 count WBC 105007

Greensheet for Arts 4b

Barbara Allie, Instructor
De Anza College
http://arts4b.blogspot.com/

Classes meet twelve weeks (September 20-December 10) unless otherwise indicated. Holidays - Friday, Nov. 12, and Thursday, Nov.25-Sunday,Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Weekend

ARTS 4B: Intermediate Drawing (Lecture/Laboratory)
* 3 Units
* Hours: Six hours lecture-laboratory.
* Materials Fee: $3.00
* Repeatability: (Any combination of Arts 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D may be taken up to six times, not to exceed 18 units, for the family of courses.)
ARTS-004B-01 Monday and Wednesday 03:30 PM-06:15 PM

Prerequisite: Arts 4A. Advisory: English Writing 211 and Reading 211 (or Language Arts 211), or English as a Second Language 272 and 273; Arts 8.
Course Description:

Please check blog often for due-dates of all assignments and other important information,
Advisory: Arts 8; English Writing 100B and Reading 100 (or Language Arts 100), or English as a Second Language 24 and 72 (or English as a Second Language 4).
Six hours lecture-laboratory.

GAINING COMPETENCE in any art form is to a large extent a matter of cumulative experience. It takes time and regular application. An advantage of a studio course is that a student can observe the progress of projects being worked on by the other students. For these reasons regular and punctual attendance is expected. Three absences are considered excessive. If personal circumstances force you to drop, it is your responsibility to initiate the procedure.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is a An intermediate drawing course focusing on the creative interpretation of subject matter utilizing a variety of experimental, as well as traditional, techniques and media. drawing class in the practice of using drawing for creative interpretation of subject matter. Using a variety of experimental as well as traditional drawing techniques and media will be used. Combining theoretical elements and practical experience students will explore in various drawing mediums such as ink, charcoal and pencil. Students should also gain knowledge of line, shape, value, perspective, proportion, volume, and composition.

CLASS PROJECTS:
There will be approximately 1-2 projects every week, with lecture/discussion at the beginning of every class. There will also be several in class assignments, and students are expected to keep a sketchbook. A class schedule of assignments and due dates are to be posted on the blog. Please check it daily for updates.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: “Drawing as Expression, Techniques and Concepts” by Sandy Brooke ISBN 0-13-194058

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the terminology, materials, and techniques used by artists to create fine art, illustrators and other design professionals.
2. Explain basic concepts of drawing using line manipulation and composition using traditional materials.
3. Plan and produce effective drawings using art concepts such a line, value, and shape.
4. Create basic drawings from concept through creative conclusion.
5. Learn how to evaluate drawings from a professional perspective.
6. Understand color as it relates to drawing.

Methods of Evaluating Work:
• Assessment of student’s ability to solve drawing assignments imaginatively.
• Application of drawing skills and course information. Are you using the course information in your work?
• Drawings that demonstrate an understanding of various elements and principles of composition.
• Assessment of student’s command of basic drawing techniques in the use of various media.
• Portfolio of all course work.
• Growth! Are you improving and developing new ideas and skills?
• Final project (to be discussed at length toward the end of the quarter).
• Late submissions.
• Failure to submit assignments.
• Effort, neatness, professional appearance, working diligently and with focus and creativity
• Attendance and punctually
• Attendance is very important. Plan to arrive on time and remain for the entire class period. Please come and discuss any more than two absences with me.)
• Punctuality and handing in all required work on time.
• Participation in critiques
• Class participation: sharing ideas in class discussions and critiques, alertness, following instructions, being respectful and cooperative in the classroom, helping with clean up)
• Sketchbook (completely filled)
• Points will be deducted if you fail to bring required items to class.
Point system:
1,000 possible points
Sketchbook= 150 points
Class Projects= 500 points
Final Project= 200 points
Test = 100 points (the tests may be written or special drawing assignments)
Class participation and attendance = 50 points. You will get one free absence, but after that points will be deducted. 25 points deducted for leaving class early and tardiness. I will also give students one free late card, but after that points will be deducted.

GRADING
Your earned grade will depend on the effort you put into class participation, assignments, quizzes, and your final project. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the designated date. I will not accept late assignments unless accompanied by a doctor’s note.

1000 points – 800 = A
800 points – 600 = B
600 points – 500 = C
500 points – 400 = D
400 points – 200 = F