Week 4/5: Intro to Independent Study Assignment #1 (Due at the start of class, Week 6)

You will be redesigning the current Maynard's candy box below to reflect a Hallowe'en theme.




Step 1.


Subdivide the page into four quadrants with an approx. 1/4" gutter between the quadrants. Sketch four unique designs - one in each quadrant. Again, here's an example of some well done thumbnail sketches from a previous group of students...



This stage constitutes the first part of your sketchbook assignment for Week 4. When done, take a picture or scan this page, save as a jpeg and upload it into Week Four Sketchbook drop box. Please use the naming convention LPeng_MaynardsThumbnails.jpg (but switch out my name for your own name).



Step 2.

Choose what you feel is your strongest thumbnail design and create a full size pencil comp on this page.

Here's an example of a well done pencil comp from the last group of Semester 1 students...


When done, take a picture or scan this page, save as a jpeg and upload it into the ISA #1 drop box. Please use the naming convention LPeng_MaynardsComp.jpg (but switch out my name for your own name).

Both pages must be in the correct drop boxes by their respective deadlines (see our Canvas course page under the Assignments tab). You have one additional week to hand the comp in late - however there will be a penalty of 20%.

Week Two Sketchbook Assignment: Cartoon Family

Use the construction technique from our in-class drawing exercise this week to sketch a group of four people. I chose me and my family. I started with myself, since I'm the tallest in my family, so by sketching the tallest person first, I establish how much space will be used on the page.

Notice that I extended my guidelines across the page. Not everyone in my family is the same height, but those lightly drawn guidelines will help me find their relative height. Next I drew my wife. I started with the square for the head and placed it so I established her height relative to mine.

Next is my oldest son, who is in university. He's taller than his mom, but not as tall as me. As you draw each character, add the little touches that make each character unique. Hair styles, clothing, accessories - all these thing and body language and facial expressions help define each character.

Finally I dre

w my youngest son, who is nearly as tall as me and also an artist (so I gave him a pencil and sketchbook). You can draw any group of four (or more) people, but make sure they are all on the same baseline.

Week Two In Class Exercise: Simple Shapes Cartoon Figure

Begin as always by drawing a one-inch border, but if you feel confident enough to not use your one-inch matte board square, try just "eyeballing it" this time.

Draw a horizontal line across the page 1/2 inch down from the top border. Draw a second horizontal line to create a one inch deep horizontal column. Draw six 1" x 1" squares in the column, equally spaced. Draw six circles in the six squares. using a very light dotted line, divide the circles in half horizontally. Draw two equally spaced dots on the centre line. Draw a line halfway between the two dots and the bottom of the circle. Make this line the same width as the distance between the two dots. Now try some variations, but always keep the two dots on the centre line and the "mouth" halfway between the dots and the bottom of the circle. Add eyebrows in different positions. Draw a second row as shown. Draw six more heads with different expressions, but add a different nose to each face. Complete the rest of the page as shown. You can drag the jpeg in this post to your desktop and print it out to use as a template.

Week One Sketchbook Assignment: Sketch the College

Find a spot somewhere outside with a flat-on view of the college buildings and sit down with your sketchbook. You may have to move back quite a ways to get a good view of the various buildings and surfaces. Do NOT choose a corner location where you are viewing two sides of the building. Spend an hour sketching the various geometric shapes that comprise the college, as well as any incidental elements (cars, trees, etc.) that you see.

Pay close attention to the contrast of values (light and shade) that you see in the scene in front of you and do your best to capture those contrasting values accurately.

CC2: Week 8 Composition, Part 4

Orient your page in portrait format (vertical) draw your one inch image area border. Divide the image area into four equal quadrants. Leave a half inch gutter between each quadrant.

Study these four illustrations. Using pencil shading or your grey markers or a combination of both, redraw all four images as thumbnail sketches.

On a new page, divide the page into four quadrants, as above. Choose one of the four illustrations and create four new compositions using the same elements, but imagine the image is the visual for a magazine cover. As you design your four new thumbnail compositions, add the magazine title. Using greeking, add a header, a footer, three story headlines and a UPC rectangle to each of the four thumbnail designs.

This week's sketchbook assignment: choose one of your four new possible magazine cover designs and sketch a full page comp version. Using the tracing paper overlay provided in class, explain in writing and with diagrams why your improved composition works. Describe how you have applied the principles of composition studied over the last four weeks.

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.