Artist presentation Guidelines

Life Drawing

ARTIST PRESENTATION CRITERIA
Kyle Stevenson, professor

Instructions:
You are to sign up for an artist (sign-up sheet is going around) on a specified date to give a 5-10 minute presentation to the rest of class.  You will need to collect images and know your artist well enough to discuss their work in a conversational manner.  I will not collect a written report.  In order to get an A*, you may not have written notes--it must be completely oral!  Your grade will depend on the quality of your research and image collecting and how clearly you deliver the material you found.

Questions to address when Researching your Artist Presentation:

1. What is the Artist’s Background? (1-2 minutes)
                                    A. Where are they from?
                                    B. What time period were they alive and making work?

C. What Cultural Events/ Environments were affecting their art?

2. Collect 10 to 15 visual examples of their work for us to look at while you are presenting. (3-5 minutes)

A. Use digital images (preferably jpegs, PowerPoint or Google Slides).  

B. If you are using a folder of jpegs, name and number the images in the order you want to present them and save them on a flash drive or arrange to email them to me (NOT to yourself!) 

C. Ideally, get your images to me the class before you present.

D. Your images should be large enough to cover most of a 600x800 pixel screen with a minimum 72 dpi.  Artcyclopedia.com and Google Images are great web resources to start image collecting.

You must know the names and approximate dates of all the works you choose, and be able to elaborate on 1 or 2 of your artist’s most important art works by discussing the important elements contained in each.  Explain why these works were important to history or their career.
           
3. What main elements are important to looking at and understanding their artwork or process (1-2 minutes)?

4. Do you like their work? Why or Why not (1-2 minutes)?

The Rules

*In order to get an A, you may NOT . . .

·          . . . Read from any notes or consult a cheat sheet.

·         . . . Have any presentation slides of only text.  You may support images with text, but the majority of the slide must be the image.

·          . . . Take more than 10 minutes.  I will have a timer and warn you when you are getting close, but you must finish before 10 minutes, not merely stop.

·          . . . Have poor quality images (see above image specs) or inaccurate information.

·         . . . Deviate from the directions in any way.

Breaking any of the above rules will result in a full letter grade deduction per rule broken.

Syllabus and Materials

ART 104 – Life Drawing @ Mercer County Community College

Kyle M. Stevenson, professor

Office: ET 124, email: stevensk@mccc.edu, or kylestevenson@yahoo.com

Office hours: TBA

Course blog: www.professorkylestevenson.blogspot.com ________________________________________________________________________

Course goals and objectives:

The student will be able to accurately perceive a 3- dimensional human form in space and then translate that perception into line and tone while not losing awareness of said line and tone.   The student will also use developed skills to render the human form in believable proportion, exploring a variety of media and techniques. 

As students, you must attend all classes with proper materials.  You will participate in critiques and slide discussions.  You will be asked to complete a series of outside of class assignments.  Finally, you will submit a portfolio of drawings done during class at the end of the term.

Text: Figure Drawing; the Structure, Anatomy, and Expressive Design of Human Form, by Nathan Goldstein, cheapest Edition, Prentice Hall

Evaluation

50% of your final grade will come from the average of the outside of class projects.  Each project will be done in your sketch books and may include several parts. 

20% of your final grade will come from your portfolio(s).  We’ll discuss portfolios as the time comes.

10% of final grade will come from class participation.  This includes overall improvement, attitude, discipline, promptness, participation in critiques/discussions, etc.

10% of your final grade will come from an Artist Presentation. 

10% on your final grade will come from a Museum Visit paper. 

Attendance

You are expected to attend no fewer than 28 classes out of a possible 30 classes.  The value of this class comes primarily from time spent with the model.  If you are not drawing from the model whenever you have the opportunity, you will simply not develop or improve.  More than one unexcused absence at the end of the term will result in your final average dropping a full letter grade for the first, and a third of a letter grade for every additional absence.  If you show up to class late, leave early, or take inordinately long breaks it will cost you half of an absence each time.

Finally, as we all come to this class with different experience, ability, and confidence, it is essential that you treat me, each other, and this class with respect.  Failing to do so will result in your dismissal from class.

Required Materials

-drawing board and clips—large enough for an 18x24 inch pad

-18x24 “sketch” pad -if possible, buy one with 100 sheets instead of 50

-18x24 “drawing” pad (not bristol), more as needed.

-hard bound sketchbook-8.5x11 to 11x15

-pencils—try soft woodless, graphite crayons, 4H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B—an assortment

-1 box (at least 25 sticks) soft vine charcoal

-at least 1 kneaded eraser

-one box of soft compressed charcoal

-workable spray fixative (Krylon brand is the most ubiquitous)

-Conte crayons-black, white and red—soft

-Fine point Sharpie or Micron .08 Pen (or equivalent)

-2 sheets light gray 19x25 Canson mi-tientes paper

-2 sheets medium gray 19x25 Canson mi-tientes paper

-2 sheets dark gray 19x25 Canson mi-tientes paper

-2 sheets black 19x25 Canson mi-tientes paper

-at least one sheet of 22x30 Arches Cover or Rives BFK paper (last week of class)

-glue stick(s)

-portfolio folder large enough to comfortably fit 18x24 paper

-bottle of black Higgins India ink

-bamboo brush—the largest one you can find.

-support materials for water media (cups, paper towels, etc.)