Visual Arts II

Intermediate

Course Description:

Prerequisite(s): Visual Art I /Teacher Approval Required

This course offers an in-depth study of design through repeated use of the elements and principles of design. Activities further emphasize skills, techniques, craftsmanship, creativity and composition. A genuine interest and dedication to the subject, study and investigation of Art is essential to success in Visual Art II. Students will explore drawing, painting, mixed media, etc. Students will also take part in both written and oral critiques of artwork. Sketchbooks are a weekly to biweekly requirement in Visual Art II. Written tests and reflections are a part of the Art II curriculum.

Supply List

  • 8.5”x11” (or 9”x12”) Unlined Spiral or Hardbound Sketchbook. Sketchbook MUST be bound on and open to the left. Avoid sketch pads bound by tape at the top and sketchbooks with perforations, as these do not hold up very well.

  • Graphite Drawing Pencils – Range of HB to 6B. These usually come in sets.

  • Black Sharpies (Fine and Ultra Fine)

  • Micron or Pitt Drawing Pens (01 - .25mm, 03 - .35mm, 05 - .45 mm)

  • Pencil Sharpener with container attached.

  • Kneaded Erasers

  • Colored Pencils set of 12 or 24 – Prismacolor are recommended. Crayola are decent and affordable, but please avoid Prang and Rose Art.

  • Jerry’s Artarama is the preferred vendor for fine art supplies, located off the beltline at the Wake Forest Road exit (Exit 10). Most supplies can also be found at Michael’s or A.C Moore as well.

Classroom Expectations

  • Be Respectful

  • Be Present

  • Be Productive

  • Be Organized and Clean

Grading

  • 40% - Intermediate Assessments

    • Classwork, Sketchbooks, Quizzes, Etc.

  • 60% - Major Assessments

    • Projects, Tests, Etc.

Sketchbook assignments

Sketchbook assignments will be broken down into 4 categories, rotating weekly. Sketchbooks are due each Thursday unless otherwise noted in the calendar above. Assignment categories include:

  1. Research

  2. Media Exploration

  3. Drawing Prompts

  4. Visual Journaling Exercises

1. Research

Research assignments require students to choose an artist and fill at least one full page or spread with research on the chosen topic, including the following requirements:

  • At least one drawing of the artist’s works. (You may include other printed images as well).

  • Who: A short biography or history of the chosen artist.

  • What: What type of work is associated with this artist? Describe the subject matter and stylistic characteristics of your chosen artist.

  • When: During what time period was the artist most prominent? Include accurate dates if possible.

  • Where: Where is this artist from? In what countries did they produce their artwork?

  • Why: What was the purpose behind this artist's work? Why was this artwork successful?

  • How: What processes did the artist use to create their work? Include media and medium, including any information about process that you can find.

Experiment with media and consider using the media of your chosen artist in your work, if possible.

Be considerate of overall visual appearance of your page and/or spread. Keep your page visually organized, and use appropriately sized drawings and images. Avoid turning in a wall of text on a white page with tiny drawings - this will lead to a deduction in your grade.

Write in your own words, don't plagiarize! The obvious sources are only a google away. Consider using a combination of print and web sources. There are many art reference books available in the classroom for you to use.

2. media Exploration

For Media Exploration assignments, you should fill one full page or spread with experimentation with one specific media. Be creative with different ways that you can use the media to create exciting and varied results. Swatches, thumbnail sketches, etc. are all acceptable, but you must demonstrate a minimum of 10 unique experiments using your choice of media. Make sure to saturate the page with exploration, risk taking and experimentation. Make the experimentation the main part of the page but leave room for annotations and notes; for example, how well did the experimentation go, what do you think you will use in future artwork, what is something new you discovered, etc.

Include a minimum of the following:

  • One full page OR spread

  • 10 unique experiments using your chosen media, varying in application technique, combinations with other materials, etc. Be creative and don't be afraid to try out-of-the-box ideas.

  • 1-2 sentences about each experiment, explaining what you did to create it, what you discovered, what might you use this for in the future, etc.

3. Drawing:

Drawing assignments will require students to demonstrate observational drawing skills and usage of media in response to a specific creative prompt. Each prompt will require a minimum of 90 minutes of focused drawing, but may take longer depending on individual student needs.

Drawing Prompts:

  1. Reflective Surface Still Life

    • Choose any object with a reflective surface, such as a kitchen pots or pans, spoons or ladles, tea pots, coffee pots, fingernail clippers, etc.

    • Draw the object from observation. Focus on accurate proportions and perspective. Pay attention to the shapes of the reflections, and remember to draw what you see.

    • Render your object in a realistic style using your choice of graphite pencils or colored pencils. Use a full value range and clean, consistent mark-making.

    • Fill the entire page (scale your drawing up or down to minimize white space around your object).

  2. Junk Drawer Drawing

    • For this assignment, you will complete a drawing from observation of the interior of the junk drawer in your home. If you do not have a junk drawer, create one with objects you would like to draw.

    • Use an interesting perspective (don’t look directly down from above). Crop, zoom, and move around to think about the best angle for your composition. Take reference photographs and compare compositions before deciding on a specific angle.

    • Render your drawing in a realistic style as 3-dimensional forms. Pay attention to how objects overlap and use accurate perspective.

    • Use your choice of media (graphite or colored pencil recommended).

    • Fill the entire page.


Drawing Prompt #1 Example

Drawing Prompt #2 Example

Visual Journaling page of former CHS Student.

4. Visual journaling

Visual Journaling assignments require the student to respond to a given creative prompt using a combination of visual and written language. Visual Journaling pages should:

  • Fill one full page or spread,

  • Focus on creative usage of visual space and composition,

  • Use a variety of media and techniques,

  • Include thoughtful written response to the given prompt.

Visual Journaling Prompts:

  1. “Daydreams” - What thoughts, ideas, and scenarios flash through your mind throughout the day? Our thoughts can very easily float away from us. Pay attention to these times, and record and embrace these meanderings of the mind that we call daydreams. They seem like whims, but they are peeks and glimpses into what we want and need the most. Pay attention to the fleeting thoughts that pop up throughout your day and document them so that you don’t forget. Where does your mind go when it isn’t actively engaged? What are your daydreams? Do they hold clues about your bigger dreams and hopes?

  2. "Change" - Everything changes. It’s a natural law that objects, people, and situations are impermanent and are always in a state of flux and change. At times, change is lightning quick and takes place in a flash. Other times, change is as slow as continental drift and seems to not be happening at all. How do you react to change in your life? How have you changed over the course of your life? Do you anticipate change and actively participate in the changing world and your changing self? Or do you deny change and passively ride along as things change around you? How open or closed are you to change?

Projects

In Progress...