S sual Arts I WFHS 2015-2016
Visual Journal/Sketchbook Assignment
Why keep a Sketchbook or a Visual Journal?
Sketchbooks are meant to improve drawing skills, develop ideas, and are used to establish technical growth in artists and art students. Visual Journals are more personal and often help students better connect with their artwork, thus improving artistic ability. Whatever you choose to call it is fine for this class, but the goal is to develop your overall creativity and artistic technique. Through my scholarly research and personal experience, I have concluded that personal artmaking (journaling/sketchbooks) is the best way to improve these skills.
Historical Background
Most artists keep sketchbooks. In them, they experiment with ideas and collect drawings of things around them and things that they enjoy. Sketchbooks are like visual diaries for artists. Artists often use them for planning and developing their work.
·The most famous sketchbooks are those of Leonardo da Vinci. His sketchbooks are filled with drawings, diagrams and written notes of things he saw and ideas he came up with. Many of these works are still used today as reference in the medical and scientific fields of research.
·Picasso produced 178 sketchbooks in his lifetime. He often used his sketchbooks to explore ideas and make compositionalstudies until he found the right idea or subject for a larger painting.
·Through personal experience, I realized that sketchbooks are for more than just drawings! They can be a journal…a diary of my thought process – I can refer back to for more ideas later. I used to just draw in sketchbooks, NOW: I draw, paint, write, collage, and attach anything that gives me an idea or expresses who I am as an artist and person! Pictures, photos, poems, lyrics, etc…
You too can do this process of visual journaling and will learn how to develop visual ideas through this assignment.
How to “mine” for ideas and getting started:
“Mine” for items in your magazines, purse, book bag, locker, and various places within your personal space. Put them in a large envelope or shoebox. Once you have gathered a good collection, you can now choose from one of these items to get started. Paste in into the sketchbook and write about it. Move on from there…let your imagination soar!
Each page should include 3 distinct “parts”:
- Visual Ideas (mine box): Somewhere in the work should be direct visual transfers, such as cut and paste or collaging, think about using Xerox copies, newspapers, magazine images, and the Internet to find things that interest YOU! Attach images you have mined for previously.
- Your Response: IN WORDS: Somewhere in the work should be words incorporated, YOUR writing about the visuals, WHY is it important? WHY is it good, or bad? WHAT does it say about you? quotes, lyrics, etc…
- Your Response: VISUALLY: Somewhere in the work there should be some kind of sketches, drawings, painting responses from YOU. Maybe you will make a composition from the idea…translate the idea into your own visual style…I want you to EXPERIMENT with media!
Guidelines and Rubric
All sketchbooks are due on Friday’s.Late work will NOT be accepted. A few guidelines are listed below as reminders.
- Sketchbooks are required to be with you in class everyday, even if the weekly assignment is in-progress or incomplete.
- If you are absent on a Friday, be prepared to show the sketchbook assignment on the first day of your return.
***It is YOUR responsibility to be sure it is given to the teacher to be graded!!*** - Assignments must be attached to your sketchbook to be graded. Loose assignments and assignments on notebook paper will NOT be accepted.
- FILL THE PAGE! Each composition should touch all edges of your paper.
- Be sure to include all three parts of the assignment for each page-drawing, writing, and visual attachments
- 3D objects are allowed – even encouraged – think about a relief, collage, etc…
- Always think about BALANCE and where is the EMPHASIS? What should we focus on as a viewer?
- Spend AT LEAST 30 minutes to 1 hour PER ASSIGNMENT (have I mentioned that practice makes perfect)
- Drawings from observation preferred-LOOK at the objects when drawing them. (no trite or symbolic images)
- Unless otherwise noted, ALWAYS include a wide range of values (even in color work).
- You can work on these in class when waiting on a new assignment or completed your work.
Each Friday you will get one of the following marks as feedback. At the end of 5 weeks, a summative grade will be given for the sketchbook assignments.
up to 20 points = excellent, went over and above, successful-includes all three aspects of the assignment
up to 15 points = did what you were asked, tried something new, good work, could use some verve with design-includes all three aspects of the assignment
up to 10 points = lacking, could have put more effort and thought into work
0 points = no work, no effort, absent and showed no work upon return
You can mess up as much as you want as long as
you fill the page and trytry again.
Bring your notebook and visual journals to class EVERYDAY.
You will be able to complete class assignments in these sketchbooks as well.
Sketchbook Prompts(use the prompts or “mine” for an idea)
#1 Due: Friday, August 14th When I close my eyes… (+printed sketchbook prompts stapled in sketchbook)
#2 Due: Friday, August 21st Home is where the heart is...
#3 Due: Friday, Aug 28thLivin’ on a prayer
#4 Due: Friday, Sept. 4thFallen Angel
#5 Due: Friday, Sept. 11th Milton Glaser or other Twin Towers Artist
These 5 entries will be for the 1st Sketchbook project grade …1 missing will hurt your grade!
#6 Due: Friday, Sept. 18th I think about that time when…
#7 Due: Friday, Sept 25thHysteria
#8 Due: Friday, October 9th Chuck Close or photographer artist (1900-current)
#9 Due: Friday, October 16th Rejoice in those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
#10 Due: Friday, October 30thFree Choice
These 5 entries will be for the 2nd Sketchbook project grade …1 missing will hurt your grade!
#11 Due: Friday, Nov 6thCharles Schulz or Norman Rockwell or Artist of Americana
#12 Due: Friday, Nov. 13th November Rain
#13 Due: Friday, Nov 20thAdam Rex or Contemporary Artist (1980-2000)
#14 Due: Friday, Dec. 4thHaters gonna hate
#15 Due: Friday, Dec. 11thFree Choice
These 5 entries will be for the 3rd Sketchbook project grade …1 missing will hurt your grade!
#16 Due: Friday, January 8th Michelangelo or Other Italian Renaissance Artist
#17 Due: Friday, January 15th Where my dreams take shape
#18 Due: Friday, January 22rd Paradise City
#19 Due: Friday, January 29th The practice of art is to make your soul grow.
#20 Due: Friday, February 5th Free Choice
These 5 entries will be for the 4th Sketchbook project grade …1 missing will hurt your grade!
#21 Due: Friday, February 26thEvery rose has its thorn
#22 Due: Friday, March 4thLove Bites
#23 Due: Friday, March 18thTell me a story
#24 Due: Friday, March25thShare a personal conviction
#25 Due: Friday, April1stFree Choice
These 5 entries will be for the 5th Sketchbook project grade …1 missing will hurt your grade!
#26 Due: Friday, April 15thFrida Kahlo or ShepardFairey
#27 Due: Friday, April 22ndMy twisted…
#28 Due: Friday, April 29th Welcome to the Jungle
#29 Due: Friday, May 6th Stop! In the name of…
#30 Due: Friday, May 13th Free Choice
These 5 entries will be for the 6th Sketchbook project grade …1 missing will hurt your grade!
Give your sketchbook to your mother and ask her to put it up in a safe place. Go back and look at it again in a year. You will see how much you have grown as a person and an artist! Never throw it away!
1