info@michaeljryan.com
AR 220: DRAWING WORKSHOP: BEGINNING •
CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO • FALL, 2006
Marina Middle School
Mondays: 6:30-9:30• 9/22-10/20• 5 classes
Instructor: Michael Ryan
email: macryon@gmail.com
Course Overview: This course is an introduction to the concepts of basic drawing. Through exercises, demos, and discussions we will study the intellectual/philosophical concepts of drawing as well as practice the basic mechanics. Lessons will engage a variety of techniques and approaches of different material and media (graphite, charcoal, etc.), we will experiment with different methods of mark making (line, gesture, shading, etc.), while learning about perspective, composition and posture. Drawing is seeing. Many of us do not exercise our vision to its full potential and capability. Much of what we do in class will be to train our eyes, truly examine objects and the space they occupy. This requires us to slow down and observe carefully. Drawings take time to develop. The skills and methods that create a strong drawing also take some time to develop. But with practice and discipline of the lessons and exercises introduced in this course you will leave with the tools you need to create solid drawings.
Basic Materials: Please bring to class: Rough Newsprint Pad 18x 24 or larger. All purpose drawing sketchbook 9x 12 or larger. Compressed charcoal #s 3B, 4B or Extra Soft. Vine charcoal: (ten to twelve sticks - soft). Charcoal pencils 6B and 2B. Kneaded eraser. Conte crayon, black, #2B (or softest). Ebony pencil or Graphite drawing pencil (4B or 6B recommended).
I will inform you of additional materials, as needed.
Meeting 1Warm up: drawing exercises- lines and circles,
Introduction to course/Discussion: Slowness, blind contour and regular contour drawing, Line value and cross contour.
Continue contour and line value exercises, introduce shading and value zones.
Meeting 2Warm up, negative space and intro to perspective.
Exercise incorporating negative space, line value and shading.
Exercise using eraser as drawing tool.
Meeting 3Warm up, 1 point perspective (possibly two point, depending), imaginary landscapes.
Exercise on 1 point perspective of hallway.
Meeting 4Introduction to volume and gesture. Working with the figure. Exploration of mark making (what makes your perspective unique).
Begin work on final project: handout.
Meeting 5 Complete final project and critique.
This schedule is subject to change