Art-315/415 | Project-3: Conceptual Drawing – Project Brief
Project Objectives
– Mastery of media, issues of content in a body of work, gallery presentation.
- Ability to make critical drawing decisions in the service of creative, conceptual, and emotive ideas – particularly within the framework of completing a coherent body of work.
- Mastery of whatever skills or process, and overcoming of whatever physical or logistical challenge, as becomes necessary in the completion of a personal body of work.
- Ability to present a drawing framed and ready to hang for gallery presentation.
- An understanding of the role of drawing in society and contemporary visual art practices.
This project will be conducted as an advanced drawing laboratory. You will at times be required to demonstrate drawing from observation but self-directed creative research will be at a premium.
We may attempt to examine some of the following topics or directions for the Project-3:
- Landscape drawing
- Vernacular drawing
- Watercolor or Illustration
- Folding Paper or Rubbings
- Color Theory
- From 2-D to 3-D to 2-D
- Perspective and Perception
- Collage
- Collaboration
- Expressive mark-making
- Conceptual art
- Contemporary art history in a nutshell
- Matting and framing the drawing
- Your own body of drawings
- Exhibiting and selling your artwork
- Writing your artist’s statement
- Juxtaposition
- Mail art
- Argument mapping
- Unusual materials
- Political art
- Interactive art
- Digital drawing / Digital inking / Digital illustration
- Critical thinking
- Creative problem solving
You will create an “outstanding ambitious independent contemporary body of work” for the “Drawing-from-imagination” project. The work will be accompanied by a brief artist’s statement (between a paragraph and a page) that undergoes multiple revisions. The body of work will explore a theme of your own choosing and utilize contemporary drawing methods or strategies. You are encouraged to make this work relevant to your major.
“Outstanding” means that the work is praiseworthy in the eyes of your peers, your instructor, and your audience. Such glory may be yours because of your technical virtuosity, your conceptual subtlety, the humor of the work, its sheer beauty, its appeal to more prurient interests, or – more likely – a combination of these and other markers of greatness.
“Ambitious” means that the body of work will be substantial in overall effort and skill. You will be presenting your work several times for in-progress critiques and once for your final. Presenting just one serious new work of about 18”x24” each time, and incorporating revisions throughout the process should earn you a passing grade.
“Independent” means that the body of work is yours, is original and personally owned and driven by your own curiosity and interests. This also means “Wake up!” you are being asked to make what you want to make!
“Contemporary” means that the work will reflect your own times in terms of content and means by which it is executed.
“Body of work” means that you will create at least two pieces, which strengthen each other when presented as a group.
Date Range of the Assignment: March 17 – April 23 (5 Weeks)
Project Due: April 23 at 11:30am :
Framing Assignment Due: May 2 at 11:30am :
There will be a presentation assignment in which you will mat and frame one of your drawings from this class. This will cost approximately $40 – 60. Students will choose from a limited array of frame choices and mat options for consistency in our group display: Frame and mat an 18 x 24 drawing from this class with 3 inch mat (thus total dimension of frame opening is 24 x 30), beveled edge mat or float mount as best suits the work, neutral mat color such as white, grey, or black, using one of the following Dick Blick frames or an acceptable substitute (as determined by Professor):
- Blick Essentials Wood Frame – Black, Natural, or Walnut color
- Blick Gallery Bamboo Frame – Light Bamboo or Dark Bamboo color
- Blick Gallery Metal Frame – Black, Gold, or Silver color
The standard for the grade on this assignment will be how well it would be received in the professional setting of an art exhibit. In short, pretend this is the real world and you have been invited to submit an artwork for a gallery exhibit “ready to hang.”