Death of the Author: D2 Read & Response

The article on Death of the Author draws parallels between Barthes monumental essay and its impact on art. This short essay summarizes how artists began challenging the relationship between creator, the experience and the participant. The focus of this particular writing deals with the idea of the "master artist" and notions of grand identity within art.

Consider reading Roland Barthes 1967 essay to better contextualize the relationship between this literary concept and artistic interpretations. http://artsites.ucsc.edu/faculty/Gustafson/FILM%20162.W10/readings/barthes.death.pdf

Please read and research then post your personal response as well as two images, in the same format as the previous posting. Be careful to make sure the works you find reflect the approach to art described in the article.

Thanks,
Brandon

due Tuesday 2/19
10 points

10.21 If you didn't already know...no classes

See some of my favorite snow paintings by Benjamin King.

http://www.benjamin-king.com/works1.html

Activist Art: D2 Read & Response

The short-essay on Activist Art presents a climate in which particular artists submitted their practices to callings of "greater conviction". The article discusses the messages of these artists as well as the means by which they made an impact.

Please read and research this movement then post your personal response as well as two images, in the same format as the previous posting. Please be careful when finding work that describes itself as "activist". Be careful to make sure the works you find reflect the approach to art described in the article.

Thanks,
Brandon

due Tuesday 2/19
10 points

Deconstruction Project: Drawing #3

Hello Drawing 1 Students,
In preparation for drawing number three, lets consider where we've come from.

Our first drawing in this series was a contour line drawing. This drawing was intended to loosely familiarize ourselves with the imagery and consider foreground and background with a sense of democracy. The use of continuous line was difficult because there was very little frame of reference in beginning it. In other words, many students found their proportions to be inaccurate pretty early on in the drawing but this failure in accuracy was important to acknowledge.

Our second drawing is our Geometric Drawing or our Planar Drawing. Once again, this image forces you to equalize the negative and positive space through the use of a limited range of flat shapes. The flatness of the image leads one to grapple with the nature of form and consider three-dimensionality in a new light, with the intent to simplify. Each drawing took the complex image and broke it down to its most basic compositional elements and force you to generalize both the figure and the values.

Once both studies are accomplished, you will be ready to begin your third drawing, an accurate rendering of the masterpiece. This image is intended to be accurate in every way possible from depiction of figure and value to the textures within the picture. To begin this drawing one must consider the additive nature of drawing, the building up of the image. When beginning the drawing you should start with a loose gesture, a light and fairly quick rendering of the image that places the figures in the space with attention to proportion and angle. This part of the process is crucial for future steps.

The next step in the process will be to establish greater detail within the drawing, distinguishing figures and correcting things while you work. This step will also include basic flat value tones. Filling the space with the most general and simple values will make filling more detailed values easier.

Lastly, address detailed values, complex gradients and textures. This part of the drawing is easy to cut corners on because it is the last step, but it is the most crucial part to making the image believable.

Please e-mail me if you have any questions about this outline for moving forward. Remember we only have time to work on the third drawing during one class period which means you will need to work outside of class.

Thanks,
B.

Neo-Expressionism: D2 Read & Response

Hello Drawing 2 Students,
Please read the article on Sculptor's and their drawings. Review the essay on Neo-Expressionism. In order to understand this movement in relation to Expressionism, consider researching both. What were the unique qualities of their works? What brought about the cynicism of critics of the Neo-Ex? What aspects of the movement had/have resonance?

After reading, please post your personal response as well as two images, in the same format as the previous posting, that are examples of the ideas expressed in this article.

Thanks,
Brandon

due Tuesday
10 points

Class Preview - Feb. 5th

Drawing 1 Students,
Be prepared to continue pursuing the Deconstruction Project. We will begin our second drawing in a series of three Masters Studies. The first drawing was a contour line drawing focused on training the hand and introducing you to the image. Tonights drawing will be a geometric drawing that will employ four shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle).We will discuss this more tonight.

Drawing 2 Students,
Prepare to continue our hallway drawings. Please be prepared by reading the information on drawing visual perspective. Please don't forget to submit your response to the Drawing and Sculpture essay.

Thanks,
B.

Sculptor's Drawings: D2 Read & Response

Hello Drawing 2 Students,
Please read the article on Sculptor's and their drawings. Consider how drawing has changed throughout history and how it informs other disciplines as well as circumvent them. How does this alter the way we see drawing? Please investigate the drawings of the artists mentioned in the article and then find parallels to their three-dimensional work.

After reading, please post your personal response as well as two images, in the same format as the previous posting, that are examples of the ideas expressed in this article.

Thanks,
Brandon

due Tuesday
10 points