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mm-110-02
multimedia
VISUAL CONCEPTS I
WEEK TWO

AWAKEN THE EYE Learning to draw is not so much drawing as much as it is SEEING. These first exercises are designed to help you become confident in the natural world by knowing what you see and how to express it through drawings.

Contour Drawing It is my firm belief that contour, gesture, and modeled drawing are absolutely fundamental modes of working for all artists. Contour; a linear means of defining form. Gesture; the action of the line representing the object or model. Modeled; a tonal means of indicating that forms "push back" into space, creating dimension and perspective. These were and are methods used by old and contemporary masters; and in this sense, I consider them basic or fundamental. Artists will continue to use these modes of working throughout theyıre productive years.

For these first exercises, we just need to concern ourselves with a single object and how to render it with just contour and gesture. Define only outside shape or outline of the object. Take the time to understand the proportions and characteristics that define the object. Keep the drawing focused on the object and the character of the line. Find an object that will invite many possibilities in the line. Understand what happens to the line when you use different media and drawing surfaces. Work freely and with discovery.

FOR NEXT CLASS Three contour drawings on traditional drawing paper. Try to render a different object with each drawing using a different media (drawing tool) with each.

Three contour drawings on non-traditional drawing paper. This could be anything from a section of newspaper, magazine, brown kraft paper, hoagie wrap, corrugated cardboard, fabric, etc. Try to render a different object with each drawing using a different media (drawing tool) with each.

All drawings must be centered on the surface. Try to work at a good size (14"x17" to 18"x 24") with a ruled two inch margin all around. Total of six drawings

Journal Assignment That's it for now. Of cousre there is the issue of the five blind contour drawings and the five gesture drawings which should be entered into your journal... but you already knew about that. I'm sure you've done twice that many already... O.K., I'll stop now.