Monument

Each student will make a large sophisticated drawing from a small object of their choosing. These drawings will be a way for the student to refine their focus and to experiment and develop skills that we work on in class on a large scale. The objects should be composed in such a way that the object feels “monumental” or larger than life. We will go through various stages, critiques of thumbnails, and discussions to develop your drawings.

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Each drawing should be 36” x 24” (two sheets of 18 x 24 paper is fine) and done using charcoal.

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Bring your item to the next class so that we can discuss it and make sure that it will be a visually interesting object to draw. If you are unsure feel free to bring more than one. Consider whether or not it would be interesting in regards to the specific assignment. Complex Tools such as a wine opener would be a good example of an interesting object. Review the examples attached to this slide show for ideas. Tools often make a good choice, things with faces do not.

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Paper will be provided for each student. The drawings will be about 4 x 2 feet. The drawings should be done in charcoal, using both vine and compressed.

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• 40% of your drawing should reach full refinement, including shading/ rendering.

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• 15% should be the beginning basic search including your searching lines, implied or guiding lines, and gestures. Show your thought process as you begin a drawing.

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• The rest of the drawing should be a finished contour drawing that is in full proportion and measurement with line weight and quality highly considered.

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• These drawings should have a “see-through” aspect to them. I would like you to imagine that you can see though the tool and draw the object as if it is made of a see through material. This will help you develop structure and proportion. Think industrial or technical drawing.

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These percentages may be throughout the drawing, you need to decide what needs to be done to draw in and lead the viewer through the entire picture to create an interesting well balanced composition.

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This should be a measured well composed drawing using all the skills discussed in class. Drawings are due October 21.

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Grading Rubric:

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Content

-ability to create a believable, though not necessarily realistic, space

-creative use of observed elements, lighting, and rules of perspective

Formal Aspects

-composition, focal point, interesting arrangement of positive and negative spaces, movement, variety and rhythm, contrast

-ability to create illusion of depth and volume through use of light/ shadow and perspective

-correct observation of forms

Craft

-quality of mark, carefully layered charcoal to produce a wide range of value

-contours and edges are varied, according to lighting situation, and they describe a solid form (no wavy walls if they should be straight )