Syllabus and Materials

ART 104 – Life Drawing @ Mercer County Community College

Kyle M. Stevenson, professor

Office: ET 124, email: stevensk@mccc.edu, or kylestevenson@yahoo.com

Office hours: TBA

Course blog: www.professorkylestevensonlifedrawing.blogspot.com ________________________________________________________________________

Course goals and objectives:

The student will be able to accurately perceive a 3- dimensional human form in space and then translate that perception into line and tone while not losing awareness of said line and tone.   The student will also use developed skills to render the human form in believable proportion, exploring a variety of drawing practices, media and techniques. 

As students, you must attend all classes with proper materials.  You will participate in critiques and slide discussions.  You will be asked to complete a series of outside of class assignments.  Finally, you will submit a portfolio of drawings done during class for the end of the term.

Text: Figure Drawing; the Structure, Anatomy, and Expressive Design of Human Form, by Nathan Goldstein, cheapest Edition, Prentice Hall

Evaluation

50% of your final grade will come from the average of the outside of class projects, plus quiz grades.  Each project will be done in your sketchbooks and may include several parts.  

*Note: each quiz will be related to the content of whatever project is due, and will be worth the same as a project.

20% of your final grade will come from your end-of-term portfolio.  We’ll discuss portfolios as the time comes.

10% of your final grade will come from class participation.  This includes overall improvement, attitude, discipline, promptness, participation in critiques/discussions, etc.

10% of your final grade will come from the Museum Visit Paper.

10% of your final grade will come from the Artist Presentation. 

Attendance

For the afternoon class you are expected to attend no fewer than 26 out of a possible 28 classes.  For the evening class, you are expected to attend no fewer than 13 classes out of a possible 14 classes.  The value of this class comes primarily from time spent with the model.  If you are not drawing from the model whenever you have the opportunity, you will simply not develop or improve.  More than two unexcused absences for the evening class, and more than three unexcused absences for the afternoon class at the end of the term will result in your final average dropping a full letter grade for the first, and a third of a letter grade for every additional absence.  If you show up to class late, leave early, or take inordinately long breaks it will cost you half of an absence each time.

Finally, as we all come to this class with different experience, ability, and confidence, it is essential that you treat me, each other, and this class with respect.  Failing to do so will result in your dismissal from class.

Required Materials

-drawing board and clips—large enough for an 18x24 inch pad

-18x24 “Sketch” pad*

-18x24 “Drawing” pad* (not bristol)

-hard bound sketchbook-8.5x11 (it may already be used, but at least half must still be blank)

-pencils—try soft woodless, graphite crayons, 4H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B—an assortment

-1 box (at least 25 sticks) soft vine charcoal

-a mechanical pencil .08 size or larger (for metalpoint)

-at least 1 kneaded eraser

-one box of soft compressed charcoal

-workable spray fixative (Krylon brand is the most ubiquitous)

-Conte crayons-black, white and red—soft

-Fine point Sharpie or Micron .08 Pen (or equivalent)

-2 sheets light gray 19x25 Canson mi-tientes paper

-2 sheets dark gray 19x25 Canson mi-tientes paper

-2 sheets black 19x25 Canson mi-tientes paper

-at least one sheet of 22x30 Arches Cover or Rives BFK (for the final week of drawing)

-glue stick(s)

-portfolio folder large enough to comfortably fit 18x24 paper

-bottle of black Higgins India ink

-bamboo brush—about the thickness of your finger and bristles should be about an inch long

-support materials for water media

*replace as needed