a final drawing day

Drawing 2 students taking down their final master reproductions

I ask the class what they want to do on our last meeting day, critique or complete their final assignment – the majority (all but 3) want the latter. I’m surprised and pleased – they want to draw.

Drawing 1 students work on a charcoal still life and Drawing 2 students reproduce an old master. Or at least 2 of them do. Jose tries to convince me that his choice of a comic book cover is a master work. And in the comic book world maybe it is. I clarify my definition – but I still let him go with his choice. Jose is studying Psychology, he’s not an official art student, he loves comic book art – why not.

Here are a few class works.

Manny’s Degas

Alejandra”s Gericault

Jose’s Spiderman cover

Tania – Three Glass Bottles

Alexssa – Skull

Adriana – Black Teapot

Lela – Tin Container and Glass Jar

…Summer Break! 

finito

The little dissatisfaction which every artist feels at the completion of a work forms the germ of a new work. – B.A.

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Some students are satisfied with their last drawings of the semester, some are not. It’s the way it goes. Personalities vary, as much as the work.

Drawing 2 students reproduce an old masters.

Crystal’s Matisse is excellent, though she’s not satisfied.

Madame Matisse madras rouge. 1907

Kim working on Degas reproduction

Kim reproduced a Degas …  2X. She has a new twist on the dog ate my homework story. Her cat jumped her drawing table, smudged, and ripped the almost completed pastel. She had photos. I couldn’t help but be amused. The cat still has pigment on her. Kim is able to complete a second drawing in less than half the time of the first. Interesting.

Chuck (below) copies a Leonardo – Self-Portrait. Despite reflection, you can still see detail.  He always does his best to take things to full completion, including framing for critique.

Chuck’s reproduction of a Da Vinci  Self-Portrait

Chuck also works his second to last value study (below) until it is the exact rich surface he desires.  The hours in the piece are many. The graphite finish glows a deep and dark silver, I can’t quite capture in the photo below.

He’s off to ASU next year. Best wishes Chuck.

Chuck’s graphite study of patterns and clothes.

Drawing 1 students in general, took to the markers from the first part of the semester. They loved the control they developed. Usually a class is ready to let go of the Sharpie’s when the time comes. Only one student swore off markers for eternity this semester. Come on Ali, practice makes perfect.

So with that said…charcoal is a challenge, to say the least. It’s not a medium that is easily controlled.  We could have used another month. But all in all some rich, full valued studies do emerge.

Jose’s charcoal skull, in progress.

Sabrina’s study in progress

Andres’ charcoal study of a transparent vase.

Alexis’ charcoal study of transparent jar and opaque t-pot.

Ali’s charcoal study in progress.

Alban and Sharon work with charcoal.

Kyle’s still life in progress.

Michelle’s Creepy Baby still life, in progress.

Last critique of the semester begins…

and it ends.