Sketchbook 2015

Objective

Each week throughout the semester, you will complete and turn in a sketchbook assignment. The purpose of the sketchbook is to explore different ways of viewing ordinary shapes and objects, learn how to self-motivate when you feel like you’ve run out of ideas, to loosen up when it comes plotting out ideas, and simply to get in the habit of putting pencil to paper.

Assignments

Your assignments will be listed below, and your sketchbooks will be handed in at the beginning of class each week.

Sketchbook 1 (Due 8-28). Create 10 Different Sketches of Images Representing each of these three motifs: Fire, Water, Death. (30 total) Then, create 10 different sketches which combine one of each of these motifs into an interesting and provocative composition with a 2 to 3 ratio (12×18, 2×3).

Sketchbook 2

Sketchbook 3

Sketchbook 4 (Due 2-16): Create 20 distinct monograms and/or ciphers using each of your initials (look up the difference) and some imagery relevant to yourself and your family. These should include depth, varying thickness of letters, overlapping and patterns. These should each be between 1 and 2 inches. See some of the more elaborate ones here, and search vintage book plates and monograms.

Sketchbook 5 (Due 2-23-16): Fill up 3 pages in your sketchbook with imagery seen around the city, including buildings, people, type, signage and anything else you see. Here’s an example of what I’m generally looking for, but yours needn’t look like this in style or content, it should just be visually rich and full of content seen personally in the city.

Sketchbook 6 (Due 3-1-16): Using your characters from the previous project (Doppelgangers), create 20 different layouts with a 3:4 ratio that present a clash between your two characters. Explore as widely as you can, giving a variety of layout options for your poster project (Part 2). Number these sketches, because they will be turned in and should be done before class starts.

Sketchbook 7 (Due 3-8-16): No Sketchbook Assignment

Spring Break

Sketchbook 8: (Due 3-22-16): Based on the instructions given for your family monogram project, sketch in moderate detail at least 15 images which are motifs representing yourself and your family specifically.

Sketchbook 9: (Due 3-29-16): No Assignment

Sketchbook 10 (Due 4-5-16): Sketch out a scene that you see regularly (such as your bedroom, the view from your window) in moderate detail and filling a page in your sketchbook. On the next page, recreate the same scene using only circles, squares, triangles and straight lines (no cross hatching), and using only positive and negative space (so no smudging or burnishing).

Sketchbook 11: (Due 4-12-16): Create 3 sets of 12 sketches (36 total) of collections of imagery relevant to Amarillo, created in icon form. With each set, you will focus on a different approach to presenting Amarillo. For example, for one set, you might reference the Food of Amarillo, and show imagery of twelve common foods to be found here. Then, for another set, you could do Landmarks of Amarillo, and then show images of 12 different landmarks in town. Experiment with different enclosure shapes as your create these items; they don’t all need to be circles housing your imagery.

Sketchbook 12 (4-19-16): No Assignment. Keep working on your project.