1st Semester/Week 2 (Due Week 3)
PROJECT SHEET
Blind Contour/One-Hour Self-Portrait
Problem (what):
Using line (ie, no tone) and looking in a mirror (at yourself not at your paper while you are drawing and your conte is moving), do a full-page (size-as), one-hour head and shoulders blind contour line drawing of yourself on 18 X 24” newsprint paper using black conte. Use the entire picture plane. Use a vertical frame of reference (also known as portrait format). A linear drawing can employ tone in the quality of line as long as it is done sensitively and for a reason, ie; a soft, furry tonal line could be used to express a furry surface like velvet but you would not use tone to fill in the space between lines, ie no tone used to fill in the shapes like hair if your hair is dark, etc.
Objective (why):
One objectives behind this drawing is to have you draw from a model (yourself) so you know how important it is (and how it feels) to stay still. Another goal is to have you show you understand how to use quality line both technically and creatively. You will be required to use the some Visual language & Vocabulary when you put your drawings up and participate in a class critique of your work.
Something else you should aim for is creativity. Think about what you’ll wear before you begin drawing. Who are you? Do you have props which you can find to wear which you might want to incorporate into your self-portrait (a special hat, a t-shirt, or jewelry). Brainstorm ideas, think outside the box … incorporate ‘variety’ and harmony (differences with similarities) -> show us you’ve any patterns you’ve discovered. Remember you don’t have to draw everything you see – you can chose what goes into your drawing and what you want to eliminate. How can you use some of these ideas to design what you want to say in this composition you are making of yourself.
The objective is not: to make a ‘pretty picture’ nor a drawing you think looks like you necessarily – forget any preconceived ideas you have about what you look like (it is not how you think you look but rather this is to be exploration on paper where you try to find out how you look) so whatever you do – do not even think about using a photograph to draw from. Get yourself a glass of water, cup of tea or coffee and relax - really stare at yourself in the mirror for awhile before you begin drawing. Put your drink a chair beside your drawing pad – you don’t want it to spill on your drawing.
The idea here is to learn to use a controlled line one that begins as a meticulously slow but confident one – a line that shows you understand the tactile nature of surfaces that your conte is passing over. It is about showing you feel and can articulate edges sensitively using a variety of lines to make a quality drawing.
A purpose behind the exercise is to also introduce you to the ‘whole brain’ experience - the focus and concentration required to do this will inevitably flip you into the right-side experience. You also need to center in on lighting and on placement and size and proportions – these are left brain considerations that you need to work with as you move through the assignment.
To do all this you will need to concentrate 100% while looking at yourself (again – not at the paper) and on your eye-hand co-ordination while the conte is engaged with the paper. Sharpen your conte beforehand – test drive it on another sheet first. And begin!
Materials: Mirror, single light source, timing device, black conte (sharpened), 18 X 24” newsprint paper, Week One Handouts and Week Two Handouts, Evaluation Sheet (and Marking Codes).
Strategy (How To):
1. Find a good mirror you can prop up so it stays in the exact same place throughout the duration of the drawing. Make sure you can see your shoulders and your head.
2. Find a moveable light you can test at different angles - create a single side-light source by turning out all the other lights in the room - make sure it (and you) can remain in place throughout your drawing (mark your own spot + tape where your light and mirror are).
3. Set your alarm (or a timer) so you can draw without looking at the paper non-stop for 15 minutes in complete silence and without interruption – break for 5 minutes (or so), draw again for another 15 minutes, etc until you have drawn for a total of 60 minutes. Begin drawing at the same place you left off before break. Look down at your page once before beginning so you know where to place your conte, then look back up at yourself and begin drawing. Draw life-size so that your head and shoulders take up the entire page – to get a physical idea of this you can put the page beside yourself to visually see what this looks and feels like. Remember to use a vertical frame of reference for the drawing (portrait format) not a horizontal (landscape format)
StudyTime:
45 minutes - review handouts for next week and Read Project Sheet – make notes
60 minutes - 15 minutes X 4 drawing (with three 5-minute breaks or longer)
15 minutes – self-evaluation (put marking codes on back), name on homework, etc.
2 HOURS TOTAL (approximately + spend time reviewing notes taken in your 1st class)
NOTE: You should plan to spend about the same amount of time doing work at home as you spend weekly in each class. (If this takes you under 3 hours then you are doing well).
SUPPLEMENTAL: If you don’t know who Ingres is you need to go on-line or into library!
Research more on gestures – visit the Library and take out some books in the Drawing Section.
Bring to Next Class:
Completed Blind Contour/One-Hour Self-Portrait
3-ring binder (with blank paper) and pencil
See Materials List to bring to class unless otherwise specified (soft black conte, 18 X 24”newsprint pad, kneadable eraser, x-acto knife, sandpaper block, baggie for shavings), masking tape, homework with evaluation sheet (Marking Codes) & wear dark old clothes – we will get dirty!
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