info@michaeljryan.com
AR 223: DRAWING THE STILL LIFE
CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO • Spring, 2009
Fort Mason Campus – Room 207
Saturdays: 1:00-4:00• 4/25-5/16• 5 classes
Instructor: Michael Ryan
email: macryon@gmail.com
Course Overview: – This drawing course will focus on the ‘Still Life’. The classes will consist of discussions, demos and exercises. In the studio we will focus on composition, proportion and perspective as well as experiment with lighting, materials and media. As we learn drawing techniques using several different ‘still life’ models, we will also be holding class discussions on the history and future of the ‘still life’. This course will provide the tools and understanding you need to compose substantial still life drawings and paintings while strengthening techniques and methods for all life drawing.
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 1 – Introduction.
Introduction to the Still Life as seen throughout history.
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Studio: Work from Still Life Model. Working with natural light. In these exercises we will focus on composition and perspective.
Meeting 2 –Studio: Work from Still Life Model. Working with Light. In these exercises we will focus on how we see light on the object’s surface. Practice techniques of shading and contrast.
Discussion and Group assignment:
Homework: scavenger hunt. Creating your own still life.
Meeting 3 – Power Point Presentation
Begin Final Project: Work from Still Life Model. Students will compose their own still life and render or whatever in the medium of there choice.
Meeting 4 – Continue Final Project
All day studio.
Meeting 5 – Power Point Presentation
Final Critique and class discussion.