Exploring Art Assignments

Instructor
Julie Pone
Terms
16-17 Semester 1
16-17 Semester 2
Department
Art Department
Description
Within the course of a semester, we will be studying the Elements of Art and Principles of Design through various hands-on projects. The exploration of media includes, but is not limited to, pencil, ink, watercolor, colored pencils, acrylic paint, collage, oil pastel, linocuts, plaster and clay. In addition to creating art, this class will also touch on Art History, as we will be discussing the social, cultural, and historical roles of art across the world. Throughout the semester, we will hold class-wide critiques and write artists’ statements in order to describe, interpret and evaluate the value of our own works and the works of others.
 
For grading policies and classroom procedures, please see the course syllabus

Files


Assignment Calendar

Upcoming Assignments RSS Feed

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Past Assignments

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Assignment

JUNE Sketchbook 

Assignment 1: four thumbnail sketches for final exam painting (brainstorming activity)
Assignment 2: Optional - extra credit
 
Sketchbook assignments should fill the entire page, and include color and/or value (shading) techniques.
Exploring Art students are required to complete sketchbook assignments for each month. Some months will have two sketch assignments, while other months will have one, more in-depth assignment.  Each student will be required to turn in his or her sketchbook at the end of each month for grading.  Other drawings, project ideas, and class notes can be contained in the sketchbook as well. Students will be given some time to work in your sketchbook during class. These entries are graded on effort and execution of the assignment.

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Assignment

Final Exam Painting - In Class Project

(will be graded as part of final exam grade)

 
Elements and Principles Cheat Sheet and student examples found in attached files

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Assignment

FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 

see attached files
 
 

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Assignment

May Sketchbook 

Assignment 1: Choose an unusual viewpoint (from a hot air balloon, an ant’s perspective, etc.) and draw everything you see from this position.
Assignment 2: Create an observational drawing of the contents of your desk drawer. If you are in school, draw the contents of your locker or backpack.
 
These three drawings should be three separate entries on three different (full!) pages of your sketchbook.
 
Sketchbook assignments should fill the entire page, and include color and/or value (shading) techniques.
Exploring Art students are required to complete sketchbook assignments for each month. Some months will have two sketch assignments, while other months will have one, more in-depth assignment.  Each student will be required to turn in his or her sketchbook at the end of each month for grading.  Other drawings, project ideas, and class notes can be contained in the sketchbook as well. Students will be given some time to work in your sketchbook during class. These entries are graded on effort and execution of the assignment.

Due:

Assignment

MAY BLOG

Use this webpage to complete your blog! This is required work for all Exploring Art students. Please respond to all parts of the blog. Remember to RESTATE THE QUESTION so it is clear what you are answering.

To complete this assignment, you may: 

1. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, print it out and submit to Mrs. Pone on or before the due date.

2. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, copy and paste your response to an email to Mrs. Pone at [email protected] and send on or before the due date.

or

3. You may write NEATLY in your sketchbook and submit to Mrs. Pone with your sketchbook drawings at the end of the month.

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(Use .pdf file below for images of Any Goldsworthy's artwork)

MAY Blog
Andy Goldsworthy is an environmental artist who creates art with only the objects that surround him in nature. Goldsworthy states that he makes art because he cares so deeply about the environment; thus, his artworks have no negative impact on the natural world it inhabits (i.e. he does not use glue or foreign objects that will deteriorate or litter the landscape).

Goldsworthy’s environmental artworks do not have a distinct message; however, all of them seem to glorify the beauty in nature, creating a sense of wanting to preserve it. His artworks usually mimic organic forms in nature such as spirals, circles and eggs and are made from natural materials such as rocks, sticks, leaves and snow when it is available.

While making these sculptures, Goldsworthy usually runs into obstacles in nature, such as harsh winds, changing temperatures, and incoming tides throughout the day. These obstacles are welcome by Goldsworthy, as he feels the natural tensions and balances in nature will inevitably destroy his sculptures over time; thus providing a life cycle to his artworks.

Goldsworthy’s art also reflects the human attitude toward the environment and how little most people seem to care for it. Many people find his work not only beautiful, but a profound message in environmental preservation. Other people look at his art only for the visual experience of it and gather no meaning at all. Some people think that what he does is not really art because he is using found objects in nature and simply rearranging them.

Because most of his works are impermanent and cannot be displayed in a gallery, photography remains the easiest way for the public to view his work.

Please answer the following questions:

Some people believe that what Andy Goldsworthy does with nature is not really art because he is not making anything, but rearranging what is already there. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Do you think your experience with Goldsworthy’s artwork would be different if you saw his actual sculptures in nature? Or as photographs in a museum? Would you like his sculptures any more or less?

What messages do you think Andy Goldsworthy is trying to convey in his artwork?

Compare and contrast the artists Banksy and Andy Goldsworthy. Do you see any specific similarities and/or differences? What are some connections that you could make between each artists' artworks and/or processes?

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Assignment

Recycled Magazines - In Class Project

 
Tips and project requirements found in attached files

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Face Vases - In Class Project

 
Vocabulary, Notes, Tips and Slideshow found in attached files

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Assignment

Tunnel Books - In Class Project

 
Art History slideshow and project ideas found in attached files

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Assignment

April Blog

Use this webpage to complete your first blog of the semester! This is required work for all Exploring Art students. Please respond to all parts of the blog. Remember to RESTATE THE QUESTION so it is clear what you are answering.

To complete this assignment, you may: 

1. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, print it out and submit to Mrs. Pone on or before the due date.

2. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, copy and paste your response to an email to Mrs. Pone at [email protected] and send on or before the due date.

or

3. You may write NEATLY in your sketchbook and submit to Mrs. Pone with your sketchbook drawings at the end of the month.

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Jeff Koons, "Three Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Two Dr J Silver Series, Spalding NBA Tip-Off)", 1985 Sold for $3.7 November 2011.


“How much is that?” or “How much is that worth?” are popular questions students ask, especially when teaching contemporary art. As an art teacher, it is often embarrassing to admit that the piece in question recently sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. (In the case of the above, Jeff Koons’ “Three Ball Total Equilibrium Tank” sold for 3.7 million dollars a few years ago). Inevitably, students will then exclaim something along the lines of, “What?! That is outrageous! How can three basketballs in a fish tank cost more than our house?!”

But it is important to talk about the cost of art vs. what art is worth or why people value art differently. While it will not make it easier to explain a seemingly random collection of objects that sells for half a million dollars, it certainly gets us to think from the opposite end of things.

So this month, here are some questions that may encourage you to think differently about the price, cost, and even the value of works of art.

Please answer the following questions:
1. How do you think artists come up with prices for their work?
2. What kinds of things should an artist consider when pricing a work of art?
3. As a student, if you had to price a work of art for your first group exhibit, how would you decide on that price?
4. What makes certain works of art cost so much more, or less, than others?
5. Describe the relationship, if there is one, between cost and value.
6. Is there a work of art or particular object that you would consider “priceless”? If so, what makes this object hold such enormous value?

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Assignment

April Sketchbook 

Assignment 1: Draw a hope (short term goal: like getting your license, earning an A on your English paper, winning your race at the track meet...)
Assignment 2: Draw your biggest fear
Assignment 3: Draw your dreams for the future (long term wish: Becoming an Art Teacher :) Owning a beach house, traveling the world)
 
These three drawings should be three separate entries on three different (full!) pages of your sketchbook.
 
Sketchbook assignments should fill the entire page, and include color and/or value (shading) techniques.
Exploring Art students are required to complete sketchbook assignments for each month. Some months will have two sketch assignments, while other months will have one, more in-depth assignment.  Each student will be required to turn in his or her sketchbook at the end of each month for grading.  Other drawings, project ideas, and class notes can be contained in the sketchbook as well. Students will be given some time to work in your sketchbook during class. These entries are graded on effort and execution of the assignment.

Due:

Assignment

Zentangles - In Class Project

 
Vocabulary, Notes, Tips and Slideshow found in attached files

Due:

Assignment

March Sketchbook 

Assignment 1: Design an album cover for your favorite musician or band. This can be an original artwork or your own interpretation of an existing album artwork.
Assignment 2: Create a dwelling from an fruit or vegetable. (Like Sponge Bob's pineapple!) Draw the outside of the dwelling on one page. On the next page draw the inside of the dwelling as if the fruit were cut in half. Things to think about - what rooms are essential to a home? How can you make these rooms unique to your fruit or vegetable? Where is your home located? (Under the sea, on a tree, in a fruit bowl in the kitchen?)
 
Sketchbook assignments should fill the entire page, and include color and/or value (shading) techniques.
Exploring Art students are required to complete sketchbook assignments for each month. Some months will have two sketch assignments, while other months will have one, more in-depth assignment.  Each student will be required to turn in his or her sketchbook at the end of each month for grading.  Other drawings, project ideas, and class notes can be contained in the sketchbook as well. Students will be given some time to work in your sketchbook during class. These entries are graded on effort and execution of the assignment.

Due:

Assignment

March Blog

Use this webpage to complete your first blog of the semester! This is required work for all Exploring Art students. Please respond to all parts of the blog. Remember to RESTATE THE QUESTION so it is clear what you are answering.

To complete this assignment, you may: 

1. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, print it out and submit to Mrs. Pone on or before the due date.

2. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, copy and paste your response to an email to Mrs. Pone at [email protected] and send on or before the due date.

or

3. You may write NEATLY in your sketchbook and submit to Mrs. Pone with your sketchbook drawings at the end of the month.

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See .pdf file attached

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Assignment

Paper Collage - In Class Project

 
Student Examples and Slideshow found in attached files

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Assignment

Layered Linocut- In Class Project

 
Vocabulary Notes and Linocut Slideshow found in attached files

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Assignment

February Blog

Use this webpage to complete your first blog of the semester! This is required work for all Exploring Art students. Please respond to all parts of the blog. Remember to RESTATE THE QUESTION so it is clear what you are answering.

To complete this assignment, you may: 

1. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, print it out and submit to Mrs. Pone on or before the due date.

2. Type your answer in Microsoft Word, copy and paste your response to an email to Mrs. Pone at [email protected] and send on or before the due date.

or

3. You may write NEATLY in your sketchbook and submit to Mrs. Pone with your sketchbook drawings at the end of the month.

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To kick off your blogging experience for the semester, we are going to talk about...

ART!

... are you surprised?!

But not just about a particular artwork or artist, a specific time period or movement in art; this September blog is going to let you tell me what art means to you.

The word "art" is a term that can have many different meanings to different people. To some, art means paintings, drawings, and sculpture – these are VISUAL arts. For others, art means theater, dance and music – these are PERFORMING arts. The dictionary defines art as “the quality, production, expression or realm of what is beautiful, appealing or more than ordinary significance.” Another definition is “the manipulation of nature”. More commonly, both visual and performing arts are defined as a means of which to express one’s ideas, emotions, and personal values.

Please answer the following questions:

1. In your opinion, what is art? What makes art beautiful? What makes art good?

2. How are artists able to express ideas, values and/or emotions through VISUAL art?

3a. Have you ever expressed yourself through art? How? Did you express yourself through a VISUAL or PERFORMING art?

If your answer to question 3a is no, please answer:
3b. If you have not expressed yourself through art, please give an example of an artist who has. You may choose research a VISUAL artist on the internet, or talk about an image you have seen in the classroom or media center. Please list the title of the artwork and the name of the artist, then explain what you think the artist is trying to express. How does the artist use color, shape, symbols, etc. to express emotions, values and/or ideas?

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Assignment

February Sketchbook 

Assignment 1: Design a mural for our school hallways. Things to think about: What makes public art different than personal art? How will your classmates perceive your design? What kind of message do you want to send to current and future Bordentown Scotties?
 
 
Sketchbook assignments should fill the entire page, and include color and/or value (shading) techniques.
Exploring Art students are required to complete sketchbook assignments for each month. Some months will have two sketch assignments, while other months will have one, more in-depth assignment.  Each student will be required to turn in his or her sketchbook at the end of each month for grading.  Other drawings, project ideas, and class notes can be contained in the sketchbook as well. Students will be given some time to work in your sketchbook during class. These entries are graded on effort and execution of the assignment.

Due:

Assignment

Revisioning A Memory - In Class Project

 
Vocabulary Notes, Brainstorming worksheet, Grid Drawing Practice and Surrealism Slideshow found in attached files

Due:

Assignment

Sketchbooks - In Class Project

Students will be creating a sketchbook cover using collage techniques, then hand binding pages using bookbinding techniques. Sketchbooks will be used throughout the semester as a brainstorming guide, collection of notes, drawing practice, and technique workbook.