SPRING 2025 INTRODUCTORY DRAWING ART 120 D001 30264

Professor Marsha Pels Monday 10:10 am – 2:15 PM (4 hours; 3 credits)

M: 347 432-5134 EM: [email protected] Do not use CSI email
Office Hours: Please make an appointment via my personal email

Studio Art Course Description

The course focuses on drawing as a primary tool of vision and perception and as a means of
apprehending the world around us. The essentials of perspective, anatomy, proportion and
drawing from observation are followed by an analysis of contour, composition and contrast.
Students will work from the landscape, still life, the human figure, photographs, memory and
their imaginations. They will grow proficient using the mediums of Charcoal, Pencil and Conte.

Learning Objectives
To improve your confidence and proficiency when drawing
To introduce students to the safe and environmentally aware usage of materials and equipment
To expand your knowledge of drawing uses and how it can be applied to different disciplines
To acquaint students to the principles of proportion and perspective and how to measure them
To sensitize students to the degree of detail or simplification required by a given drawing
To familiarize students with basic anatomy when students are required to draw the figure
To initiate students to line, contrast and contour to create the illusion of 3-dimensional space
To explore historical precedents with artists of the past and the present

Homework (only on the large paper)

Drawing 1: Due February 10

​ One Point Perspective Looking Out Your Window in Charcoal
​ Reference Wayne Thiebaud
Drawing 2: Due March 3
​ Compose a Still-Life of 5 Objects in Pencils
​ Reference David Hockney
Drawing 3: March 24
​ Group of 3 Figures Interacting with Each Other in Black, White, Grey Conte​ ​
​ Reference Robert Longo
Drawing 4: Due April 7
​ Self-Portrait in Imaginary Landscape in Conte
​ Reference Frida Kahlo
Drawing 5: Due April 28
​ Dream or Nightmare in Whichever Medium You Prefer
​ Reference Salvatore Dali
​
Museum Field Trip Paper TBA Due April 21
Write 3 Page typewritten paper describing your overall experience, an artwork you liked and
one you didn’t like: cite artist, title, date & material(s) of each
10 Pencil Sketchbook Drawings Completed for Final Critique May 19

​ 2 Landscapes Concentration Perspective Due February 18

​ 2 Interiors Concentration Perspective & Contrast Due March 10
​ 2 Still-Lives Concentration Contour & Contrast Due March 24
​ 2 Pairs of Figures Embracing Concentration Composition Due April 7
​ 2 Drawings of an Animal in Its’ Habitat Concentration All of the Above Due April 21

Your Two Best Drawings Chosen for the Final Critique on May 19

Materials
CSI provides an 18” x 24 Newsprint Pad, Vine Charcoal Sticks & an Eraser
By February 10 bring the following materials to class, but buy the Sketchbook immediately:
Strathmore 400 Series Heavyweight Drawing Pad 9 x 12 BLICK Reference: 10296-1023 $8.93
General’s Sketchmate Drawing Set BLICK Reference: 22926-1009 $7.54
Conte Paris Crayons 3 Drawer Value Set Assorted Colors (18) $16.99
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/conte-a-paris-crayons-3 -drawer-value-set
Krylon Workable Matte FIXATIF BLICK Reference 21703-1003 $8.17
Tube to store Drawings; standing mirror for Self-Portraits & a big clip

Requirements
​ Arrive to class on time
​ Be prepared to work throughout: bring all your materials to class every week
​ Two absences allowed & then your grade decreases accordingly
​ Participate in class Discussions and Critiques
​ Lateness & disrupting the class are serious issues: no cellphones

Grading Criteria
Evaluation of your work is based upon the creative merits of each assignment, the amount of
effort put into it and if it is submitted on time. Your success will depend on your ability to put
your understanding of the required concepts into your drawings. Late work marked down.

75% Class Sketchpad, Sketchbook, Homework, Field Trip Paper

15% Attendance
10% Artistic Citizenship & Participation
​ A Exceptional
​ B Very Good
​ C Average; Fair
​ D Below Average; Poor
​ F Failure; No Effort

Bibliography (on Reserve in the Library under my name)

Edwards, Betty. ‘Drawing on the Right Side of The Brain’ Current edition
Peterman, Stephen & Sara Elands. ‘The Sketchbook Project World Tour’ ​
​ Princeton Architectural Press. 2015
 Raynes, John. ‘The Complete Guide to Perspective’ North Light Books. 2005
Charles, Victoria & Carl, Klaus H. ‘1,000 Drawings of Genius’ Parkstone Press 2015
​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ Introductory Drawing Schedule

January 27
Introductions, Discuss Syllabi, Supply List & One Point Perspective Discussion
One Point Perspective Upstairs Hallway in Charcoal
Homework
Watch Julie Mehretu ‘Politicized Landscapes’ https://art21org/watch/library
Read Handout Perspective; Terminology & Instructions

February 3
One Point Perspective Classroom Window in Charcoal
Discuss Handout & Video
​ Homework
​ Drawing 1 One Point Perspective Landscape Looking Out Your Window in Charcoal ​
​ Reference Thiebaud
​ Watch Kerry James Marshall ‘Now & Forever’ https://art21org/watch/library
Read Handout ‘Perspective Geographical’

February 10
Three Object Still Life in Pencils
Critique Drawing 1
Discuss Handout & Video
​ Homework
​ Watch Kara Walker ‘Starting Out’ https://art21org/watch/library
​ Read Handout ‘Pencils & Charcoal’
​ Sketchbook
​ 2 Landscapes Showing Perspective

February 18 ON A TUESDAY
Window Frame Still Life in Black White, Grey Conte
Discuss Handout & Video
Look at Sketchbook
​ Homework
​ Watch Esteban Cabeza de Baca ‘Time Travels’ https://art21org/watch/library

February 24
Complicated Still Life in Limited Palette Conte
Discuss Video
​ Homework
​ Drawing 2 Compose a Still-Life of 5 Objects in Pencils
​ Reference David Hockney
​ Watch Nancy Spero ‘Becoming an Artist’ & ‘Protest’ htpps://art21org/watch/library​

March 3
Portraits of Classmates in Conte
Discuss Video
Critique Drawing 2​
​ Homework
​ Watch Sarah Sze ‘Emotional Time’ https://art21org/watch/library
​ Sketchbook
​ 2 Interiors Showing Contrast
​
March 10
Self-Portrait in Pencil
Discuss Video
Look at Sketchbook
​ Homework
​ Watch Rafael Lozano-Hemmer ‘A Crack in the Hourglass’ https://art21org/watch/library
​ Prepare for Mid Term Critique: 2 Homework Drawings due, 4 Sketchbook Drawings due

March 17
Mid Term Critique with Professor
Self-Portrait in Conte
Discuss Video
​ Homework
​ Drawing 3 Group of 3 Figures Interacting with Each Other in Black White, Grey Conte
​ Reference Robert Longo
​ Watch Kiki Smith ‘Printmaking’ https://art21org/watch/library
​ Sketchbook
​ 2 Still Lives Showing Contour
​ Read Handout ‘Proportions and Anatomy’

March 24
Portraits of Classmates in Conti
Critique Drawing 3
Discuss Video
Look at Sketchbook
​ Homework
​ Watch William Kentridge ‘Extended Play’ https://art21org/watch/library
​
March 31
Model Session 1 Neil Concentrating on Gesture & Proportion
Discuss Handout & Video
​ Homework
​ Drawing 4 Self-Portrait in Imaginary Landscape in Conte
​ Reference Frieda Kahlo
​ Watch Hank Willis Thomas ‘Bodies of Knowledge’ https://art21org/watch/library
​ Read Handout ‘Oil Pastels’
​ Sketchbook
​ 2 Pairs of Figures Embracing Showing Composition

April 7
Drawing in the Cafeteria: Concentrating on Composition
Critique Drawing 4
Discuss Handout & Video
Look at Sketchbook
​ Homework
​ Watch Raymond Pettibone ‘Drawing with Marcel Dzama’ https://art21org/watch/library

April 14
Spring Recess
Field Trip TBA: Bring Student ID
Homework
​ Three Page Field Trip Paper

April 21
Model Session 2 Neil Concentrating on Composition
Field Trip Papers Due
​ Homework
​ Drawing 5 Dream or Nightmare in Whichever Medium You Prefer
​ Reference Salvatore Dali
​ Watch Vija Celmins ‘In Time’ https://art21org/watch/library
​ Read Handout ‘Cross Contour’

April 28
Model Session 3 Louisa Concentrating on Drapery
Critique Drawing 5
Discuss Handout & Video​
​ Sketchbook
​ 2 Drawings of an Animal in its’ Habitat

May 5
Landscape on Campus in Conte
Look at Sketchbook
​ Homework
​ Prepare for Individual Critique next week
​ Bring Sketchpad, Finished Sketchbook with 10 Drawings, 5 Homework Assignments​
​ ​
May 12
Self-Portraits in Conte
Individual Critique with Professor: We choose your Two Best Drawings for the Final Critique
May 19
Final Critique
Party
Clean-up Studio, Take your work & supplies home