Carol Sun Sketchbook

Welcome Students!

Hello and welcome to my art class!

This blog was set up to help you successfully complete your sketchbook assignments. It contains: sketchbook lists, drawing tips, worksheets, classical drawings to copy and deadlines.

Every student in my class is required to complete a set of sketchbook assignments based on drawing from observation. Drawing from observation is sketching an image of what is exactly in front of you. It is drawing objects, people, places from life and not based on one's own imagination. It is really looking closely at something and learning how it is put together and how to interpret what you see onto a piece of paper.

Good drawing from observation is a skill everyone can learn. It requires practice and focus. Some of you have a "talent" for art and some of you may feel you are not so blessed with this gift. But in any case, it is possible for both kinds of artists to improve their drawing.

So work hard and be open to this challenge. I guarantee if you follow my directions and do all your assignments, your drawing from observation will improve quickly!

Happy drawing!

WHY is drawing from observation important?

Every brilliant artist, designer, inventor or scientist can sketch an image to communicate their concept. Even in business today, visually communicating an idea really can help sell an idea.

Drawing from observation will train you to be able to take what you see in front of you and translate it into a image others will understand. Drawing from observation shows that you understand how to interpret the world around you. It also will help you better illustrate what is in your imagination since you can use real world references to support your ideas.

If you are planning to attend a professional art or design college (to study art, game design, comics, animation, illustration, fashion, photography, architecture, product design or graphic design) you will be required to submit an "admission portfolio". A big part of this admission portfolio is drawing from observation. You will be required to submit high level original drawings from observation in a sketchbook and several large format drawings.

Friday, September 10, 2010

SENIOR PORTFOLIO: FALL 2010

ASSIGNMENT
Every student will complete 50 drawings from observation by November 19th. This is so you will have a complete sketchbook to show on November 20th at National Portfolio Day. You will have 10 weeks to complete this assignment.

Do not procrastinate and wait for the last minute to complete the assignment. If you want a really excellent sketchbook that will help you get into your dream school or obtain a scholarship, you must work almost every day and put you best energy into it. Try to complete a drawing a day. If you do draw in your sketchbook everyday, your artwork will also improve and quickly and also you will have a fabulous sketchbook to show off.

See list below for suggested drawing ideas.

REQUIREMENTS
The drawing must be made on letter size paper (8.5 x 11) or larger.
The drawing will fill the entire page and touch 3 sides of the paper.
You may use any drawing material that you enjoy (marker, pen, pencil, color pencil)

DRAWING IDEAS
View of your closet
Pile of 5 shoes
Pile of 4 or 5 baseball hats, all facing different angles
An open bag of athletic gear (show both gear and bag)
What's in the kitchen sink (draw the sink too)?
What's for breakfast (lunch) (dinner)?
An orange cut into 6 pieces on a plate
A toaster, loaf of bread + coffee machine (or coffee or tea pot)
A person sleeping on a _______
A person reading in a _______
A pet sleeping on a chair
A bird cage with bird
Sunglasses, keys and wallet
Your keys and _________
2 remote controls, one sitting on top of the other
4 chairs arranged in a circle
Three quarter view of two toy cars or trucks
Three quarter view of a toy chest with toys on top or spilling out
Two stuff animals and one doll
A hammer and a drill, one sitting on top of the other
A box of tools
A glass with 3 ice cubes and filled halfway with water
Three glasses with ice cubes, put one if front of the other
My backpack, MP3 player and headphones
A houseplant (close up)
Two or three houseplants in a window
My hand holding a fork
2 bare feet
My t-shirt hanging on the back of a chair next to a window
The view from my window
A detail of a window, fire escape and brick wall
A street corner
My corner store (bodega)
Fire hydrant and sidewalk
A street lamp and traffic light
Close up of a brick wall and window (or door)
Park bench and tree
The playground
The laundry room
An office or shop
Elevated subway station (big view or details)
A close up of a stroller
A bowl of Christmas ornaments
A crumpled piece of paper
A can of soda that is twisted and crumpled
The back of someone's head (show lots of hair detail)
A self portrait (full length)
A self portrait (neck and face)
Window curtains hanging in front of a window
The inside of a car
The view of the back of the car from the street/outdoors
A tooth brush in a glass and tube of toothpaste next to it
What's inside the medicine cabinet (kitchen cabinet)
People on the train, subway or bus
Draw a close up of a statue or object at a museum
Copy a painting or drawing from a museum
Copy a classical drawing (see Carol Sun Sketchbook Blog) - you may complete 5 per semester

DESIGN LAB + GRAPHIC DESIGN SKETCHBOOK: FALL 2010

ASSIGNMENT
Every student will complete 15 drawings from observation per semester.
See list below for suggested drawing ideas.

For each marking period, every student will submit 5 drawings.
The drawing must be made on letter size paper (8.5 x 11) or larger.
The drawing will fill the entire page and touch 3 sides of the paper.
You may use any drawing material that you enjoy (marker, pen, pencil, color pencil)

DEADLINES
Marking Period 1: Friday, October 8th
Marking Period 2: Monday, November 29th
Marking Period 3: Friday, January 21st

GRADES:
Work submitted more than 24 hours late will not be given full credit.

DRAWING IDEAS
View of your closet
Pile of 5 shoes
Pile of 4 or 5 baseball hats, all facing different angles
An open bag of athletic gear (show both gear and bag)
What's in the kitchen sink (draw the sink too)?
What's for breakfast (lunch) (dinner)?
An orange cut into 6 pieces on a plate
A toaster, loaf of bread + coffee machine (or coffee or tea pot)
A person sleeping on a _______
A person reading in a _______
A pet sleeping on a chair
A bird cage with bird
Sunglasses, keys and wallet
Your keys and _________
2 remote controls, one sitting on top of the other
4 chairs arranged in a circle
Three quarter view of two toy cars or trucks
Three quarter view of a toy chest with toys on top or spilling out
Two stuff animals and one doll
A hammer and a drill, one sitting on top of the other
A box of tools
A glass with 3 ice cubes and filled halfway with water
Three glasses with ice cubes, put one if front of the other
My backpack, MP3 player and headphones
A houseplant (close up)
Two or three houseplants in a window
My hand holding a fork
2 bare feet
My t-shirt hanging on the back of a chair next to a window
The view from my window
A detail of a window, fire escape and brick wall
A street corner
My corner store (bodega)
Fire hydrant and sidewalk
A street lamp and traffic light
Close up of a brick wall and window (or door)
Park bench and tree
The playground
The laundry room
An office or shop
Elevated subway station (big view or details)
A close up of a stroller
A bowl of Christmas ornaments
A crumpled piece of paper
A can of soda that is twisted and crumpled
The back of someone's head (show lots of hair detail)
A self portrait (full length)
A self portrait (neck and face)
Window curtains hanging in front of a window
The inside of a car
The view of the back of the car from the street/outdoors
A tooth brush in a glass and tube of toothpaste next to it
What's inside the medicine cabinet (kitchen cabinet)
People on the train, subway or bus
Draw a close up of a statue or object at a museum
Copy a painting or drawing from a museum
Copy a classical drawing (see Carol Sun Sketchbook Blog) - you may complete 5 per semester

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Freshman, Sophmore and Design Lab Sketchbook Guidelines

Each marking period you are required to complete 7 sketchbook assignments. See the list below.

Choose pencil, pen or marker. Use contour line, or shading (value) or stipling. Color or black/white is fine. Use your "viewfinder" to compose your drawing. Your drawing should touch 3 sides of the paper. Remember to have fun.

DEADLINES:
Marking period 1 - October 9
Marking period 2 - November 30
Marking period 3 - January 22

GRADES:
Work submitted more than 24 hours late will not be given full credit.

ASSIGNMENTS
View of your closet
Pile of 5 shoes
What's in the kitchen sink (draw the sink too)?
What's for breakfast (lunch) (dinner)?
An orange cut into 6 pieces on a plate
A toaster, loaf of bread + coffee machine (or coffee or tea pot)
A person sleeping on a _______
A person reading in a _______
A pet sleeping on a chair
Your keys and _________
2 remote controls, one sitting on top of the other
Three quarter view of two toy cars or trucks
Two stuff animals and one doll
A glass with 3 ice cubes and filled halfway with water
My backpack, MP3 player and headphones
A houseplant (close up)
My hand holding a fork
2 bare feet
My t-shirt hanging on the back of a chair next to a window
The view from my window
A street corner
Fire hydrant and sidewalk
A street lamp and traffic light
Park bench and tree
The back of someone's head (show lots of hair detail)
A self portrait (full length)
A self portrait (neck and face)
Window curtains hanging
The inside of a car
A tooth brush in a glass and tube of toothpaste next to it
Close up of a brick wall and window (or door)
Draw a close up of a statue or object at a museum
Copy a painting or drawing from a museum
Copy a classical drawing (see Carol Sun Sketchbook Blog) - you may complete 5 per semester

Senior Portfolio Class Sketchbook Guidelines

The goal of this course is to complete an art school admissions portfolio by the end of the fall semester. This includes:
- sketchbook including 75 drawings from observation
- 6 large format drawings from observation (must include one self portrait)
- 6 artworks which show off your passions, talent and originality
- one college essay
- complete digital portfolio on cd

Your sketchbook will include drawings in a variety of
- media (ink, pencil, charcoal)
- subjects (figure, landscape, close-up, perspective)
- techniques (contour, shading, stiple, wash)

Your sketchbook drawings will show off your ability to focus on the world and how well you can represent what you see. Its very important that these drawings be of a "portfolio" quality. This means each drawing must demonstrate your serious interest in the arts, your intentions to become a professional artist/designer.

DEADLINES:
Weekly: Complete 6 drawings per week.
November 10 : For National Portfolio Day (November 18) you will need 60 drawings
January 5: Complete sketchbook with 75 drawings

ADVICE:
Its important to work on your sketchbook everyday. If you do complete 6 drawings a week and you will be able to complete all your assignments on time and also do a good job. If you try to do it at the last minute you will not be able to do your best work.

SUGGESTED DRAWINGS
View of your closet
What's in the kitchen sink (draw the sink too)?
What's for breakfast (lunch) (dinner)?
A toaster, loaf of bread + coffee machine (or coffee or tea pot)
A person/pet reading/sleeping on a _______
2 remote controls, one sitting on top of the other
Three quarter view of two toy cars or trucks
Two stuff animals and one doll and a toy truck (3 quarter view)
A glass with 3 ice cubes and filled halfway with water
My backpack, MP3 player and headphones
A houseplant (close up)
My hand holding a ________
2 bare feet
The view from my window
A street corner
A street lamp and traffic light
Park bench and tree
A self portrait (full length)
A self portrait (neck and face)
Window curtains hanging
The inside of a car
A tooth brush in a glass and tube of toothpaste next to it
Close up of a brick wall and window (or door)
Draw a close up of a statue or object at a museum
People in a museum environment
People standing on a line (show everything)
Train station with people
Four views of one object on a page

Monday, August 31, 2009

Resources

In this section you will find images of famous classical drawings and drawing lessons worksheets.

You are welcome to use any of these images or worksheets as inspiration, as reference or to "copy".

INSPIRATION
- Discover what is a good composition for this kind of subject
- Understand what kinds of subjects or objects can be represented in a drawing

REFERENCE
- By looking carefully at drawing one can understand how the artist created the drawing
- See how famous artists used drawing to represent an idea or present a situation

COPY
- If you are new to drawing or want to learn a particular technique quickly, you may prefer to learn by "copying" another drawing.
- Try to use the same media and technique as in the original image
- Remember you can only include 5 copy drawings in your sketchbook per semester.

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