ARTE 151 Foundation Drawing

Joshua Butler
Office: 204
Phone #: 248-1798
E-mail: jobutler@mesastate.edu
Course Description: Drawing utilizes basic 2-d design fundamentals and is necessary for other art and
design disciplines. The act of drawing disciplines eye-hand coordination, refines visual problem solving
skills, and is the main process through which artistic ideas are generated, explored and refined. This
course emphasizes the development of perceptual drawing skills using traditional drawing media. The
images that are produced in this course will be a necessary part of the sophomore review for Studio Art
majors.
Required Text: none
Required Materials: See list below
Course Objectives:
Develop strong perceptual drawing skills
Understand basic compositional principles as related to drawing
Explore a variety of media and techniques
Class Conduct: The following is necessary in order to develop a positive studio environment.
Timeliness and good Attendance
Respect, Honesty, Integrity, and Involvement
NO cell phones
NO distracting Loud conversation
NO FOOD
Drinks with screw-on tops only!
I-pod type devices are permitted during work time and at appropriate volumes only
The Instructor Initiated Drop Policy will be used if a student is continually late, absent, or disruptive.
NOTE: In coordination with Educational Access Services, reasonable accommodations will be provided
for qualified students with disabilities. Please contact EAS at 248-1856, or in person at 1020 Elm Ave.,
across the street from Monument Hall. Please meet with the instructor the first week of class to discuss
accommodations for this class.
Performance Assessment: Your final grade will be based primarily on the quality of your artwork as
demonstrated in homework and in-class work, as well as your attendance and involvement in class.
Your improvement, involvement, passion, and willingness to explore new methods and ideas will also be
taken into account.
The skills that we are learning are basic and straightforward. It is relatively easy to see how well these
skills are understood in the work. Comprehension of these skills will be learned in class (attendance and
involvement) and then demonstrated with drawing tests, and homework.

ARTE 151 Foundation Drawing

BASIC DRAWING CONTINUED
Homework will be assigned at the beginning of each week and turned in at the beginning of the
following week so you have the weekend to undertake the assigned task. Each drawing will be assessed
by you for your practice and then by me for the assessment. The work will be awarded a letter grade
based on a 50 point scale. Based on these assessments, these drawings may be reworked in order to
improve the evaluation (midterm and finals). LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
Attendance: You must be here to learn! You are allowed only three absences. After three your final
grade drops letter for each following absence. Do not come to class late! Each days lecture will start
at the designated time. If you come to class after the lecture begins, you will be counted tardy. Three
tardies equal one absence. Chronic tardiness will result in a failing grade or an automatic drop from the
class. Involvement means that you are giving a sincere effort. Excessive chattiness and or laziness will
result in a tardy or absence.
YOUR FINAL ASSESSMENT WILL LOOKS LIKE THIS:
In class work
Homework scores
Attendance and involvement score
Your improvement over time and willingness to take risks and explore new ideas will also be taken into
account
Final Portfolio: You are expected to keep your artwork in a portfolio for individual critiques that will be
held periodically and at finals. For studio art majors this portfolio will be necessary for the sophomore
review.
Note: I am not a believer in grade inflation or handing out high marks to improve ones self esteem.
Average quality of work, attendance, and involvement will receive average C marks. Grades of
B (above average) and of A (superior) can be earned by going above and beyond average and will
be rewarded when clearly merited.

ARTE 151 Foundation Drawing

Week by Week Outline:
Week 1:

Intro, Syllabus, Materials and mechanics, the sprit of collaboration, demo

Drawing from a still-life..
HW: using the 18X24 newsprint and whatever drawing material you like, draw a self portrait.
Week 2:
The intuitive gesture, the search for information, collaboration with subject matter (basic still life)
blind contour, contour, line location, direction, sensitivity, quality, and variation
HW: Create a contour line drawing using plant life or landscape as your subject matter.
Week 3:
Drawing and design: rule of 3rds, +/- shape, and thumbnail sketches, cropping (organic plant life)
Design: +/- shape (organic and geometric shapes)
HW: Pos/Neg shape and contour line study of kitchen utensils still life
Week 4:
Intuitive perspective (clock and sight -measure) planes, and sight measure (boxes)
Intuitive perspective with ellipses (boxes and circles)
HW: Intuitive perspective line drawing of 3-5 cups, saucers, cans, mugs
Week 5:
Perceptual grid and proportion 2-day thumbnails first, then on good paper (Ladders, boxes, and bottles)
Perceptual grid and proportion 2-day on good paper (Ladders, boxes, and bottles)
HW: Finish this drawing in the drawing room-spend 2 or more hours perfecting it
Week 6:
Cross contour line drawing and the description of the direction of planes-geometric shape
Cross contour-striped cloth draped over forms
HW: finish this drawing in the drawing room-spend 2 or more hours perfecting it
Week 7:
Architectural spaces-interior
Architectural spaces-exterior
HW: draw a picture of the interior or exterior of your living space. EXTRA CREDIT: do a quality perspective
drawing looking down and out from the balcony of the ACB building
Week 8:
Surreal interior/exterior on good paper day1
Surreal interior/exterior on good paper day2
HW: Finish this drawing in the drawing room-spend 2 or more hours perfecting it
Week 9:
NO CLASS
diffused light and using value pattern as a part of composition
HW: make up week: re-do or make up any incomplete homework drawing
Week 10:
Begin Oblique Light Study balls and cubes (the rules of light, edges, chiaroscuro...)
Begin Oblique Light Study balls, cubes, bottles, and other.....
HW: Use your knowledge of contour, cross contour, and perspective (interior/exterior), light/shadow and create
your own fantasy bird-house

ARTE 151 Foundation Drawing

Week by Week Outline Continued:
Week 11:
Oblique light continued (black, white, and gray forms)
Oblique light continued (draped fabric)
HW: stage a high value contrast contrast, low key photo of you and or friends in costume, crop the photo, and use
it to create a low key drawing that uses tenebrism
Week 12:
Plaster busts-Oblique light 2 day drawing
Plaster busts-Oblique light 2 day drawing
HW: Create a self portrait from a reflective surface
Week 13:
Plaster busts-Direct light 2 day drawing
Plaster busts-Direct light 2 day drawing
HW: head and shoulders Self portrait using a mirror and Charcoal on paper
Week 14:
Portraiture-full frontal
Portraiture-3/4 view
HW: Ask a good friend to sit for you and draw a portrait of them (2-3 hours total)
Week 15:
Portraiture-profile
26 -28 NO CLASS-THNKSGIVING BREAK
HW: Finals Week Make up week for those who need it!
Week 16:
Working from a live model day 1
Working from a live model day 2
HW: Put together your foundation drawing portfolio due Friday by noon
Week 17: FINALS WEEK

ARTE 151 Foundation Drawing

Required Materials: In addition to the materials below you should have access to a mirror, a
digital camera, and a printer.
!!! Your student fees have been used to purchase a variety of artist quality papers and other items.
You are responsible for obtaining the following supplies.
Quantity

Product

Paper:
1 pad

Strathmore 300 series rough newsprint 18x24

Drawing Media:
2
1 set
2 sticks
1

woodless graphite pencil

charcoal pencil: soft, medium, hard
Cante crayon: Sanguine Watteau or Bistre
white charcoal pencil

Tools and Accessories:

1
1
1
1
1
1
1 can
1
1

Steadtler Mars white plastic eraser LARGE

x-acto knife or hand held razor blade
Handheld pencil sharpener
Soft gum eraser
Kneadable eraser EX-LARGE
Sandpaper sharpener
LOW ODER Workable Fixative
1x50yd Masking tape
24x26 artists sketch/tote board or hardboard for a drawing board