CC2, Week 7 (Monday Class): Composition, Part 3

Arrange your 8 1/2" x 11" paper vertically. Draw your 1" border and letter your name in the bottom right-hand corner, as always.  On the first sheet, sketch five equal thumbnail shapes as indicated below. Read the paragraph under each example, then replicate the image. Use grey markers if you prefer.

Arrange your 8 1/2" x 11" paper horizontally. Draw your 1" border and letter your name in the bottom right-hand corner, as always.  On the second sheet, sketch five equal thumbnail shapes as indicated below. Read the paragraph under each example, then replicate the image. Use grey markers if you prefer.

Arrange your 8 1/2" x 11" paper vertically. Draw your 1" border and letter your name in the bottom right-hand corner, as always.  On the third sheet, sketch five equal thumbnail shapes as indicated below. Read the paragraph under each example, then replicate the image. Use grey markers if you prefer.

This week's sketchbook exercise:

Choose only one of the two linear thumbnails. Read the description explaining why the composition is weak. Redesign the composition, first by exploring possibilities by way of 4 small thumbnail sketches near the top of your sketchbook page, then by completing a larger sketch in the remaining space on the same page. Use values. You may make any adjustments you feel are needed to the positions and relationships of the figures in the composition (i.e. moving arms, legs, the distance between them, etc.) but keep in mind the implied interaction between the figures (i.e. they are looking at/talking to each other). Maintain that aspect of their interaction in some way in your redesign.

CC2, Week 6: Composition, Part 2

Instructions: turn your 1st sheet of paper to horizontal format, draw your one inch border and letter your name in the bottom right hand corner as always. Sketch all 12 of the thumbnail diagrams below, reading the accompanying descriptions carefully. You may add the grey values with your grey markers instead of shading with pencil if you prefer. 

Instructions: turn your 2nd sheet of paper to horizontal format, draw your one inch border and letter your name in the bottom right hand corner as always. Sketch all 9 of the thumbnail diagrams below, reading the accompanying descriptions carefully. You may add the grey values with your grey markers instead of shading with pencil if you prefer. 

Instructions: turn your 3rd sheet of paper to horizontal format, draw your one inch border and letter your name in the bottom right hand corner as always. Sketch all 12 of the thumbnail diagrams below (one row for "Movement," one row for "Values"), reading the accompanying descriptions carefully. You may add the grey values with your grey markers instead of shading with pencil if you prefer. 

Instructions: turn your 4th sheet of paper to vertical format, draw your one inch border and letter your name in the bottom right hand corner as always. Sketch the 4 thumbnail diagrams below, reading the accompanying descriptions carefully. You may add the grey values with your grey markers instead of shading with pencil if you prefer. 

This week's sketchbook assignment: choose two objects from around the house and arrange them in an environment. On the left side of the page, sketch them in a composition that demonstrates all the weakness shown in the first sketch above. On the right side of the page, sketch them again using all the strengths of balance, scale, movement and values.

CC2, Weeks 4 & 5: Composing a Letterform Alphabet from Observation

This is a two-week assignment you will do on your own. We will not meet in class this week or next week.

You will need three sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Work either vertically or horizontally, but be consistent on all three pages.

Divide each page into nine equal spaces (to do so quickly, fold one sheet into thirds vertically, then again into thirds horizontally).

You may use a ruler to draw the grid that divides the space into nine equal sections.

Now look for man-made objects in your surrounding environment that contain letterforms. NOTE: Do not simply copy a letterform alphabet from the internet - any images copied from online sources will receive a zero.

Draw one letterform in each space. The first page should look something like this:

After drawing the object in line, use pencil shading or grey markers to add values to each letterform composition. Complete the first 13 letterforms this week and submit them to the drop box.

NOTE: Because this is not a typical in-class drawing exercise, you have all week to complete the first half of the alphabet. The drop box closes at the start of next week's class.

CC2, Week 3: Sketching Type in a Layout

You can try reproducing these layouts by observation and calculation OR drag Layout Page 1 and Page 2 (below) off this blog to your desktop and print them out.

Each one should fit on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. Once you've printed them, you may use pencil or markers (or both) to reproduce them.



You can trace through the pages by using a light table, a glass coffee table with a small table lamp placed under it, or by taping the pages to a window.

But don't just reproduce the exercises - study what they are telling you about how to organize a good vs. bad layout.

Due at the beginning of next Wedneday's class.

Week 3 sketchbook assignment: Choose any person (real or imaginary) and sketch their head in perspective in a layout includes the type of a magazine cover of your choice. For example, you could sketch your own face on the cover of TIME magazine or sketch a favourite video game character on the cover of Playstation magazine. NOTE: If you choose an imaginary character, you must do a "realistic" interpretation - not a cartoony version.

Due in the Week 3 Sketchbook Drop Box at 1 p.m. on July 21st.

CC2 Week 2: Drawing a self portrait in perspective

Start by opening Photobooth on your MacBook and taking a photo of yourself. Try not to look straight into the camera. Tilt your head up or down a little and turn your head a bit to one side so we can see a bit of the profile of your nose.

Print out the photo on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, tape a piece of tracing paper over the photo and start working on a construction drawing of the head as we learned in class this week.

Once you've completed the construction drawing using basic shapes and applying the rules of proper proportion to establish the location of the facial features and the planes of the face and head, tape a new piece of tracing paper over top and begin a clean line drawing on a new layer. Use both the construction drawing and the photo to help you draw this clean line artwork. DO NOT simply trace the photo!

Continue refining your line drawing...

When you're satisfied that you've completed enough of the line drawing to give you an accurate linear portrait sketch, scan or take a photo of the three layers and upload a jpeg to the Drop Box on eLearn. The sketch is due in the Dropbox Monday July 14th at 1 o'clock..

CC2, Week 2: Sketching Type, Part 1

For this week's exercise you may use a ruler. I recommend you download the jpegs in this post, print them out and place a thin sheet of paper over them and trace each of the three exercises.

Complete all the pages at home and bring them to class to hand in at 11 a.m. on Wed. July 9th. If you don't have tracing paper, just use regular printer paper. Use a light table (if you have one) or a small light placed under a glass coffee table. In a pinch, a brightly lit window will do.

In each case, replicate as accurately as possible all the lines and letterforms in each of the three exercises.

Hour One: Draw the grid, then the letter forms on the same grid.

Hour Two: Draw the grid, then the letter forms on the same grid.

Hour Three: Although it's not shown below as it was in the two examples above, by now you should have the general idea: Draw the grid, then the letter forms on the same grid.

This week's sketchbook assignment (Due in the Dropbox on Monday July 14th at 11 a.m.):

Read this article about Herb Lubalin.

Google Image Search Herb Lubalin's logo designs.

Look specifically for "Beards" , "Mother & Child" , "Families" and other Lubalin "typographics"

Choose any word you like and design a "typographic" logo that visually describes the subject of your word.

CC2: Independent Study Assignment #3

Note: This assignment is handed in in person during our Week 14 class time. Late submissions will be handed in to the Late Submission Dropbox during Exam Week.

Here are some layout mock-ups of spreads from last year's Target Christmas catalogue...

You will design a spread for the Target Spring catalogue using an Easter theme. You may choose any subject matter that appeals to you (eg. food, electronics, clothing, etc.) using the 11" x 17" paper provided. You may design two pages side by side or a single image that crosses the gutter.

There are four sections to complete for this ISA...

Part 1: Rough sketching/exploratory drawing to be done in your sketchbook, due on the ledge at the start of class during Week 14.

Part 2: Thumbnails to be done on one side of the 11" x 17" paper provided in class during Week 13. (Minimum of three, with values and type indicated for marks - more than three for full marks - on this section).

Part 3: Finished comp to be done on the other side of the 11" x 17" paper provided in class during Week 13. Work with the paper in horizontal (landscape) position, draw the image area (1" border) and draw all visual and typographic elements neatly. Indicate values with either pencil shading or grey markers (or both). Render larger type elements - use greeking for smaller elements.

Part 4: Tape the thin layout bond provided in class during Week 13 over your finished comp and explain your design strategy using words, arrows, diagrams, etc.

Important: This assignment is due at the end of class time during Week 14. You do NOT have to work on it in class, however no assignments will be accepted in person after class time ends - late assignments must be placed in the Late Submission Dropbox on eLearn.