Monday, November 22, 2010

WEATHER

WEATHER-
the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.The term is very broad and may include definitions beyond the one presented here. Please consider all possible definitions as it pertains to the atmosphere, actions caused by the atmosphere, etc.

Below are examples of various artist whose work encompasses the concept of weather or a similairity to the concept.


Walter DeMaria


James Turrell


James Turrell


Mark Rothko


Jackson Pollack


Julie Mehretu


James McNeil Whistler


Turner


Claude Monet


Claude Monet


Vija Celmins


John Constable

Inspiration from the concept of weather can be diverse, from the trace of weather on the landscape, to the photographic documentation of the temporal, to the prognastication technology, to the forecast format.





Consider a statistical , a atmospheric/ psychological, diagramatical, or documentary perspective. Examples might include: an almanac, weather on your date of birth, recording the weather for 10 days, a singular tree documented through various weather, weather affecting the city, weather changing the pyschological feeling in one location, radar images, storm tracking etc.

The first step in this project is to gather inspiration. With the ten zip- lock bags you have been given, collect inspirational samples. May include sketches, a drawing a day of a particular tree, photos, newspaper clippings, charts, a weathered stone, articles, leaves, recording tide marks, etc. Try and stretch out your normal mode of brainstorming. Remember, the final artwork must be a drawing- it is up to you to decide the format, location, materials, to best express your idea.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH

EXTINCTION-In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms (taxon), normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the group (From Wikipedia)

Our project is to use this theme in regard to the human race. What would it be like to be the last person on Earth? What would it mean to be the last example of the human race? Is it a post- apocalyptic environment? Do you try and prolong your life by any means necessary? Is it a cosmic Joke?

There are multiple ways to approach this theme. Some inspiration in movies and art are below.

Book of Eli Click here

I Am Legend click here

The Road click here

Dana Shutz, a contemporary artist create a series of painting about this topic. You will notice a distinctive voice or perspective in regards to this theme of a person all alone. Click here to see images

IDEATION AND INVENTION

So far students have developed the skills, sensibilities and competencies that allow them to objectively view, analyze, and represent three-dimensional reality through the practice of drawing. Now they are equipped to apply this knowledge into the realm of the imagination. In this open-ended exercise students will work with the instructor and propose their own individual project program and work plan. This is the first opportunity to apply their knowledge of drawing practice and conventions, in a more creative manner. The standards of evaluation will be tailored individually and determined by the success in accomplishing the particular project objectives as agreed by student and instructor.


In this portion of the course we will explore the process of inspiration and concept, method, and finished drawing. Through this process the goal is to expand the boundaries of drawing while seeking to find personal voice. Below are several examples of artists approaching drawing and ideas from different perspectives.


Below we see Mark Lombardi creating a drawing diagraming a conspiracy theory or the flow of information. His concept is not traditional but uses drawing as a method to track his ideas.


Mark Lombardi

Mark Lombardi

Robert Rauschenberg made the example below by ERASING the drawing of DeKooning, a Abstract Expressionist painter. The idea of 'un drawing' is unique.


Robert Rauschenberg

Cia Gou- Qiang , below, uses the unusual material of gunpowder to maek his drawings. Some are representational, others more process imagery.


Cia Gou- Qiang

Below we see Dane Patterson mixing highly skillful drawing with absurd subject matter. Dane create these 'performances' and photo documents them. He then makes these intense drawing of the event.

Dane Patterson

Dane Paterson

Monday, November 1, 2010

Cinematic Space in Perspective

Some inspiration for our cinematic perspective drawing.

Inception Trailer click here

Tron click here


Wednesday, October 20, 2010

ANATOMY- TRUNK

The strength of all figure drawing comes from a mixture of formal skill and anatomical knowledge. Understanding the human body, interior as well as exterior, is essential. Through out history many cultures have preoccupied themselves with depicting the human form. Western Civilization Art reached its investigative height during the Renaissance, also a coinciding focus of science and art. Below is an example of Leonardo DaVinci's Vitruvian Man. This is a clear demonstration of the need to make sense of the human form- in this case the perfection of human form and its relation to the perfect language of Geometry, the perfect circle and square. The figure is inscribed with its proportions measured and reach touching these shapes. Also note Leonardo's proportions for the figure using the measure of a head.

In 1747 we see the example of one of the most accurate representations of the human skeleton in the work of Bernard Siegfried Albinus- Corporis Humani. The following three examples are taken from Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters, Robert Beverly Hale. Here we see the human skeleton displayed not as static, but as if in motion. All bones and structures are presented in fine proportion, accuracy and rendering. Of specific interest is the TRUNK, or the area composed of the Cage and Pelvis. Please note the volume and form of each of these structures and how the artist represented them using line and value. Below is the Ventral position.

The Dorsal Position.

The Lateral Position.

The following four examples are taken from Human Anatomy for Artists by Andras Szunyoghy and Dr Gyorgy Feher. Below is an example focusing on the trunk. Note the relationship of the shapes, proportions, and location of the cage and pelvis. Also see how the top of the cage tapers and slips up into the shoulder girdle (a horizontal ring composed of the clavicles and scapula.) Notice the hollow in the pelvis as it completes the volume of the cage.


Below is an example of just the Cage (or Thorax.) It is important to note the volumetric shape of this structure (the space inside is loosely egg shaped). Again we see the taper at the top, and the opening at the bottom. All ribs radiate from the spinal column and MOST attach at the sternum, some being short arcs others being long loping arcs. It is important to note that these ribs are not cylindrical curves, but thick flat curves, and in most cases with flex joints (look just to the left and right of the sternum to see a plane shift at that junction.)


Below is the Dorsal View of the Cage. Here we see the spinal column and ribs reaching around to the front. Again we see a plane shift on these flat rib shapes- they are not round rings, but a segmented arc (think about breathing and how important it is for some flex to happen.)
In this and the last example note how the artist presented the sense of volume inside the cage, through the ribs we see the continuation of each rib but it recedes through value shift and line (possibly atmospheric perspective!)


Below we see the Dorsal trunk (back) focusing of the shoulder girdle. Note the shape and form of the scapula, where it lies on the cage, the angle at which it rises to meet the clavicle on the front.

Below is an example of the Pelvis take from The Human Figure, Jon H. Vanderpoel. Here we see a good description of contour line as it relates to the undulating form of the pelvis. Notice the butterfly shape of the structure and the hollows within. Important landmarks are the ilium crest (upper most point of the pelvis, the semicircular shapes) and the Ischium (rings at the bottom) and the Sacrum (on the backside the area around the Coccyx)

Here is an example of the Spinal Column (Human Anatomy for Artists) illustrating the three views and most importantly the gentle S- like curve. Notice the shapes of the vertebrae, cylindrical in front and wing protrusions in the back. Also observe the relative size of the vertebrae big to small top to bottom.
Another Example from John Vanderpoel illustrating the angles of these forms with the body. Note how and where they open and constrict on opposite sides.