Second 4 Out-of-Class Hours Deadline:
Fri., May 17th
NO EXCEPTIONS
Hard copy only (no photos or emails). Don't wait until the last minute;
turn them in early if you can.
All Art Classes:
Drawing 1
This is the most advanced drawing class we offer at Vista Heights. It introduces advanced drawing techniques and is intended to prepare you for higher-level art classes offered at the high school. To the left, you can see some of the projects we could be doing throughout the semester.
If you really enjoy drawing, this is the class for you. You will learn some new tricks and techniques, work with different black-and-white media, and create some projects you will be able to include in your art portfolio or hang on your wall. As an advanced class, there is a higher level of rigour, but the things you learn will help you become better at drawing and understanding the process.
Important Documents
I hope you'll want to continue taking art classes when you move on to Westlake next year. Click on the blue button below, where you will find a list of the art classes offered at Westlake (go Thunder!) as well as brief descriptions of each class. For more information, please check out the Westlake art teachers' web sites by accessing the school web page by clicking here.
Basic Class Info.
Grades are based on the following weighted scale:
Assignment % of grade
Projects 70 %
Out-of-Class Hours 10 %
Quizzes 10%
Participation 10 %
Student work is graded
based on:
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following directions
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showing effort
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completing work on time
Students will expand upon previous art knowledge and fundamental art skills within these four basic areas:
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Aesthetics (I like it/I hate it)
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Art Criticism (It's good art/It's bad art)
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Art History (artists, genres, advancements in art)
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Art Production (making art)
Since this is a higher-level class, you will be expected to produce higher-level work. Simply doing "good enough" is not good enough if you expect a good grade. Keep in mind that there is no substitute for time (see the quote by John Wooden on the Homepage). In other words, the difference between good work and great work is very often a result of putting in just a little more time and is directly related to the effort and dedication you put into it. It should go without saying, but I expect to always see your very best work. I want you to be proud of every drawing you do.
Some Helpful Links
*Some links may take some time to load.
Drawing Aids
Drawing the Face
Generic Project Rubric
Each assignment will receive a grade based on the following criteria. Particular attention will be given to effort and following instructions.
1. Use of space. Does the subject take up the majority of the space on the page? Is there a proper balance between positive and negative space?
2. Accuracy. Is the subject accurately represented? Are the proportions correct? Is it evident that the artist drew what he/she saw and not what he/she thought he/she saw?
3. Quality of line. Do the lines that are visible show care and attention to detail? Is there a variety of line: thick and thin, light and dark, etc.? When the assignment asks that there be no lines showing, do the lines disappear?
4. Quality of value. Where the subject is smooth, is the value applied smoothly? Where the subject is textured, is the texture appropriate and accurate? Does the picture include black, white, and at least three shades of grey? Are there proper gradations on rounded surfaces? Are all 6 degrees of light represented in the picture?
5. Quality of presentation. Is the paper still smooth and wrinkle-free? Is the picture smudge-free? Are there no marks on the back of the paper (except for the student’s name)?
Figure Drawing
Cartooning
Basic Composition
Out-of-Class Hours
For all of my art classes, I require students to complete 8 hours of out-of-class practice. This is ideally a way to practice what is being learned in class. The time spent practicing will be recorded on a practice log, which will be handed out in class. This counts for 10% of a student's grade. To see a sample log, please click on the
yellow button below. Note the arrows, indicating some very important requirements for this assignment.
Please take the time to read through this document carefully to make sure it is completed properly for full credit. Note that there are many activities that are listed at the bottom of the sheet that will count for these hours, as well as some that will not.
Make sure the log has:
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the student’s name (first and last, printed clearly)
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the proper items filled in legibly
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the hours totaled correctly
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the hours signed by a parent
Some More Important Information About Hours
1. Unsigned hours will not be accepted.
2. If I have any question about the authenticity of a parent signature, I will call home to confirm that it was signed by the person indicated. If it has been determined that the signature has been forged, the assignment will receive a zero.
3. The first 4 hrs. are due at midterm. If they are not turned in by the deadline, this assignment will not show up on their midterm grade, but students may turn it in late for partial credit.
4. The second 4 hrs. (the ones due at the end of the term) will not be accepted late FOR ANY REASON. Dates are posted on the class calendar, on the board in my classroom, on the calendar hanging on my wall, and on this web page. I will also remind students in class leading up to the deadline. Turning them in early is possible and highly encouraged.
5. I will only accept the hard copy of the Out-of-Class Hours log that you receive at the beginning of the term. I will not accept notebook paper, phone calls, scans, photos, or e-mails. If you lose your Hours Log, please come and get a new one from the classroom
Recommended Books
Looking for an AMAZING book about drawing the face and hands?
Click here
If you click on the image above, it links to an on-line pdf document of what is arguably the gold standard in learning to draw the face and hands. It was written by an artist named Andrew Loomis (1892-1959), and his techniques have been used by artists and art teachers for generations. The book is conveniently divided by gender and age.
The one limitation this book has is that it does not address ethnicity. Keep in mind that all of the rules he outlines will still apply generally, and some of the proportions and shapes of specific facial features may change based on the subject's age, gender, and ethnicity.
How about a beginner's guide to figure drawing (that doesn't use nude models)?
A Very Good Art Resource
Here's a great video describing the process of drawing from life and organizing your sketchbook.
Click on the book
Another Very Good
Art Resource
I found an amazing art resource on the Internet recently, and I thought I would post it here for you. Keep in mind, that no matter what site you go to, there is the potential for links to take you where your parents might not appreciate. I can only vouch for the site itself.
I am linking to this site because it offers some very valuable resources for someone who is serious about art and is looking for ways to improve. I even used some of the author's material in a couple of the links to the above.
The link above will take you to the Amazon web page where this book is for sale. If you wish to patronize a different store, it is sold on many other web pages. Just do a search for the title: Drawing People for the Absolute Beginner by Mark and Mary Willenbrink. Price varies by web site.
Let's face it. If you've ever tried to find instructions on figure drawing, you quickly find out that it's very difficult to find a book (or web page) that doesn't have drawings or photographs of nude models in it. This book is the exception. It covers the most important concepts in figure drawing while being sensitive to those who want to avoid seeing nude models. I can recommend it as very good beginner's guide for junior high and high school student artists (and even adults) who are interested in learning how to draw the human figure.
If you would like to learn more about charcoal portraits, this book is a great resource.
Click on the book
Charcoal portraits are some of my favourites, and Nathan Fowkes is one of the premiere artists in that genre. In How to Draw Portraits in Charcoal, he goes through the process step-by-step and shares some amazing examples. If you're interested in this book, one place you will find it is at the link you can access by clicking on the book cover, above. Again, this is a link to Amazon, and you are free to find it through other sources.
