Drawing  - FNAR 113

Roberto Mannino

Wed. 9:30 – 12:30

Intro

All introductory studios in the Department of Fine Arts present students with the basic techniques, materials, and theoretic principles specific to each media so that the student can learn to express ideas and feelings in a non-verbal manner. Students participate in artistic production through the experience of drawing

Creativity is sensory-cognitive-affective and moves from knowing to doing to interpretation and evaluation of ones own production and that of others. Students demonstrate competency in a medium by producing an ongoing body of work in weekly, monthly and semester periods of time.

Critical thinking through visual inquiry via doing will be refined as student skills improve and make analysis of complex artistic relationships possible.

Learning Objectives

·         Study, create or participate in the creation and performance of some form of artistic expression as a means of exploring human experience and understanding the creative process

The focus of any introductory studio course is to explore the various media available to the student, the specific techniques which accompany that media choice, and the principles which guide creativity when utilizing such media. Recognizing the intrinsic qualities particular to the medium will enable the student to make critical commentary  when observing works produced within that format and make informed judgements about the success of such art work.

·         Assess formal qualities of artistic production

Introduction of the basic elements of line, shape, value, color, texture and space as they come to be used expressively and as formal structures in diverse media will allow for students to actively engage the artistic principles which guide those elements. Through the study of balance, emphasis, repetition, scale and composition, students will be able to critically appreciate and evaluate non-verbal images and objects.

·         Demonstrate visual literacy

Through the ongoing production of a continuous body of work produced in a specific medium, students will demonstrate their understanding of the relationship between art elements, the artist to audience and their own personal creative choices as a vehicle for expression. Through weekly, mid-term and final critiques, increased understanding of the unlimited possibilities of visual communication will evolve and lead to the ability to make aesthetic judgments of art.

·         Acquire critical and technical vocabulary enabling students to describe and analyze artistic production

Through in class discussions, demonstrations of media specifics  and lectures  students will acquire the knowledge to recognize the intrinsic technical qualities which separate the different media. This basic understanding of vocabulary particular to each medium informs class comments and evaluation during group and individual critiques. These occur session to session, at mid-term with plenary groups and at final

·         Evaluate works of art in light of aesthetic and historical precedent

All introductory studios in the Department of Fine Arts have a writing component which asks students to critically compare works of art in the medium research a specific artist or movement, respond to an exhibition currently on view in a major museum, on site in Rome or review and question an artistic manifesto. Students are encouraged to use the vocabulary of the medium, its qualities and the artistic principles which are evident in the artist’s choices. 

Skills

·         Understanding of the characteristics of line, shape, color, value, texture, space and ways they are used expressively in two and three dimensional works of art

Because the main thrust of the introductory studio is focused on doing, students will produce a continuous body of work which employs the mechanics of the specific media and evaluate appropriate use of the design principles of composition, value and tone, balance etc. to test and evaluate their effects in finished work

·         Ability to use the elements of the media to create unique works of art 

Students are asked to apply the skills of formal principles and the techniques appropriate to each area as they develop ideas and make decisions regarding the content and explore meaning in their work.

·         Ability to form evaluative judgments about art in general (specific media in the specific) 

Students learn to appreciate and understand multiple solutions to  single problems through  the discussion of media manipulation and class critiques, which is the primary form of  feedback in a studio group dynamic.

·         Ability to articulate formal and artistic ideas and intentions to others 

Students use verbal skills during class dialogs and are part of the departmental   participation policy in fine arts. Written skill in writing assignments which require a student  to utilize the vocabulary and language of the medium and through the work itself   demonstrate an understanding of concepts which have been presented throughout the  course. 

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Topics

This course will introduce drawing as an instrument to explore visual representation of reality.

Emphasis will be given to the analysis of the visible and to gain self-awareness in the act of drawing. The aim is to learn how to “see” things the way they truly are in front of our eyes before transferring them on paper, and to organize our visual perceptions on the picture plane with the best media choice.

Elements of portraiture, composition and anatomy with b&w drawing techniques will be demonstrated in studio and further articulated in outdoor and museum work.

The course will introduce various techniques applied to representation on paper; subjects will range from indoor studio still-life to outdoor sketching, life drawing and site visit to Museums in Rome.

·         Line

Contour drawings will deal with mapping of areas, defining outlines and edges of masses with a single line.

 An organized network of lines around any 3D form will help create a structuring scaffolds that will enhance its inner geometry.

 A gesture drawing session will be dedicated to exercise with repeated large and fast strokes, trying to gain control in the sequences of pressure changes, with variation of speed and direction.

·         Tone

Sequences of multi-layered cross-hatching passages in the etchings and drawings of masters like Piranesi and Rembrandt will be subject of close examination to gain control on this tone rendering method.

Eraser drawing will introduce reverse drawing techniques, from dark to light.

·         Texture

Frottage and rubbings are printmaking derived techniques that will expand the range of possible texture rendering, importing various patterns from different sources.

·         Anatomy will be the focus of attention during Life Drawing classes.

Assessments

Work in progress will be subject of review during class hours.

A selection of works produced in the Semester will be discussed  in the Final review.

By-weekly mandatory drawing assignments will be illustrated in class. Extra hours to complete drawing assignments are requested.

All students have to produce a series of drawings, a suite of at least five drawings inspired by an artist work or a specific Museum in Rome. The suites should be displayed in sequence and it should clearly suggest .

Students will fold and bind folios into their own book on which to draw on, and compose it as an Artist book.

Freedom of size, paper color, technique, subject matter, as long as it ‘holds’ together, that its meaning is coherent to its design. 

The Art Studio will be locked after class; you will be able to get keys from the entrance desk and sign up your entry time; you must return keys at desk and lock the studio door after you leave.

Grades will be based on the following factors:

·         Portfolio of life drawings and assignments:                                  60%

·         Drawing suite                                                                               20%

·         Artist book                                                                                   20%