Totems

Learning Objectives:
Students will demonstrate skills developed in previous drawing course/s. Using objects that are personally meaningful, students will be able to create an individual still life that is creative, engaging, and drawn with technical accuracy. Students will exhibit technical accuracy through realistic drawing.

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Materials:

  • Newsprint
  • Archival White Paper (26″ x 40″)
  • Sketchbook
  • Charcoal
  • Graphite

Sketchbook Mini-Assignments:

  1. 5 different compositions with your chosen objects
  2. 5 graphite studies of different textures; smooth, rough..
  3. Gather all materials required for still life.
  4. Bring in methods to attach objects together in a vertical format (screws, hot glue gun, tape, wire).
  5. Draw 5 different, engaging compositions using your objects in your sketchbook.
  6. Read Lucian Freud: Some Thoughts on Painting and respond to the reading in your sketchbook.

Project:
Students will select objects that exhibit a personal history or meaning. These objects should be arranged in a vertical fashion, much like a totem. Make sure to focus on good, dynamic composition. It does not matter how much the objects mean to you or how well they are drawn if the composition is lacking. Use different elements such as wire, tape, drawing to help pull the viewer’s eye around the composition.

Once the totem has been created, you should work out compositional elements through gestures on newsprint. Choose some of the best elements from your gestures and rework the gestures onto your archival sheet of paper. Continue to work on your drawing, paying close attention to technical accuracy. Your drawing should not look like a sketch. These works should be incredible in terms of interesting composition and technical proficiency. You do not need a background with these drawings, but you can use one of you’d like, however, it should not be “made” up.