Drawing III: From Inspiration to Practice

Instructor: Robin Adair
Tuesdays 5:30-8:30pm
10 weeks: September 23 to December 9 (no classes September 30 and November 11)
Location: Online
$387.50 (supplies not included)
Prerequisite: Students are required to have taken at least one Drawing 1 and at least one Drawing 2 from any instructor in the program; and, to have a well-developed familiarity with a range of drawing media, including but not limited to graphite, charcoal, conte, pen and ink, and digital media. If you are unsure whether you have the appropriate prerequisites and/or experience for this course, please contact the instructor, and he will respond on a case-by-case basis.

This course is designed to help individual artists hone their technical skills in Drawing media, as well as create habits and strategies for developing a personal artistic practice. The instructor will help students individualize their trajectory based on specific goals, desired subject matter, and artistic sensibilities. Each class will offer exercises to help students navigate some of the fears and challenges inherent to the creative process. In addition, there will be time set aside for students to give constructive feedback on the work of fellow students.

Note: Due to the individualized nature of this course, class enrolment will be limited to 8.

Syllabus

  • Week 1: Introductions; Discussion about tools and supplies and trajectory of the course; Warm-up exercises
  • Week 2: Discussion: choosing subject matter; Skill development: drawing from observation
  • Week 3: Skill development; Individual work
  • Week 4: Individual work; Class critique 
  • Week 5: Skill development: translating from photo reference, creating a composite from multiple references
  • Week 6: Skill development: mixed-media strategies; Individual work
  • Week 7: Individual work; class critique 
  • Week 8: Discussion: understanding one’s artistic practice as a “body of work”; Individual work
  • Week 9: Individual work
  • Week 10: Individual work; wrap-up critique and discussion

Supplies

Below is a suggested list of materials. Keeping in mind the customized nature of this course, students may bring supplies already owned to the first class. The instructor will discuss alternate or additional tools and materials for each student, depending on individual needs and goals.

  • Vine Charcoal
  • Graphite Sticks
  • Pencils (2B to 8B) Staedtler Mars Lumograph brand is recommended
  • Erasers: 2 kneaded and 1 gum
  • Blending sticks (assorted sizes)
  • Conte (brown, black, and white)
  • Blending stumps (various sizes)
  • Metal ruler
  • 2 bamboo ink brushes
  • Nib pen holder
  • 1 fine tip nib and 1 large line nib
  • Container of India Ink
  • Roll of rice paper
  • Pad of newsprint (18” x 24” or larger)
  • Pad of white bond paper 
  • Bulldog clips (two)