Listed below is a tentative schedule of topics and reading assignments by week. Follow the project links for more detailed descriptions of project objectives, materials and grading criteria.

See the Important dates table on the syllabus for a listing of withdrawal, vacation, final exam and portfolio due dates. Check it often to keep yourself on track.

Lesson Sequence
The sequence of the lessons listed below build on each another. Lessons are designed from simple to complex. They begin with drawing individual objects with just line, then adding volume by adding values and finally drawing those objects within space in a still life setup. Once you have some level of mastery of drawing simple shapes you are then asked to use your imagination and combine ideas or concepts and visual forms to create illustrations.

 

Week	Topic/Assignments	Readings
Week 1	Introduction. Syllabus and course content. Using line to define space. Contour drawing.	Chapters 1-4
Week 2	Intuitive gesture drawing: line and mass. Focusing on implied lines, drawing looking only at the subject matter, capturing the character of the shape. Seeing the whole rather than the details. Line, mass, scribble gesture drawing. Sustained gesture. Scribble drawing of objects. Drawing through the form.	Chapter 11
Week 3	Structural drawing of objects. Foreshortened circles. Organizational lines, the perceptual grid. Intuitive Perspective. Sustained gesture drawing from still life setup.	Chapters 5, 6, 8
Week 4	Composition and Design. The Golden Mean. Negative Space Drawing	Chapter 7, 9
Week 5	Critique negative space drawing. Intro to Space and Volume: value studies using various media including charcoal, conte, toned and gray papers. Basic shapes value study. Composing a well-designed drawing. Charcoal, toned paper and eraser.	Chapter 13
Week 6	Critique Basic Shapes drawing.  Still life value study using toned paper, charcoal and eraser.
Week 7	Critique Still Life value study. High key value study using black paper and white conte.	Review Chapter 11
Week 8	Fruits and Vegetables value study using gray paper, charcoal, and white conte.	Review Chapter 13
Week 9	Linear perspective drawing, multiple points. Value and texture through line. Perspective and Texture Drawings in two media with an influence by M.C. Escher.	Handouts and Chapter 14, 15
Week 10	Continue with perspective project value drawing in pencil.
Week 11	Perspective drawing using crosshatching and stippling. Creating values and texture with line and/or dots.
Week 12	Continue work on perspective crosshatched or stippled drawing.
Week 13	Portrait and figure drawing from life and black and white photographs.	Handouts
Week 14	Portfolio of all assigned projects due for review. Continue work on portrait drawing. Introduction of final project. Continue work on portrait.
Week 15	Work on Final Project: development of a theme, drawing as illustration.
Week 16	Last class. Complete work on final project.
Final	Final project presentation – see syllabus for time and date.