SUMMER INTENSIVE STUDIES
PARSONS PARIS
SUMMER 2014
Course title: Explorations in Drawing
Course #, CRN: 1657 PNPA 1800 – C1
Semester, year: Summer 2014
Course meeting time: Monday – Friday, 9am-3:50pm
Classroom: Room 500 and On-Site
Faculty name: Jeanne Verdoux
Contact information: verdouxj@newschool.edu
Faculty Bio
Jeanne Verdoux is a French artist and designer living in New York. She grew up in Paris where she studied graphic design at Ecole Nationale des Arts Appliqués. She received an MFA from The Royal College of Art (London). She has received numerous artist awards including: Villa Medicis “Hors-les-Murs,” The Bronx Museum AIM program, NYFA Mentoring Program for Immigrant Artists, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Swing Space Residency. Verdoux has exhibited her work in Paris, New York, Boston, Montréal and Shanghai. Her work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Time-Out NY, The Boston Globe and The Village Voice. Jeanne Verdoux is an assistant professor at Parsons New York.
www.jeanneverdoux.com
Catalog Course Description
This course introduces students to the practice of drawing and its use in the design process, and as a fundamental practice integral to all the media arts. Traditional and non-traditional elements, approaches, methods, and theories of drawing will be explored. We will approach drawing as a way of thinking, as a critical tool and as a means for observation, storytelling and representation. This course is recommended for students who are building an art and design portfolio for college admission and for those interested in strengthening their drawing skills.
Course Description
This is an intensive drawing course in Paris. The goal is to develop eye, hand and mind coordination, plus an understanding and enjoyment of methods and materials. Students will learn to observe the world in a new way and communicate their impressions on it by drawing. Drawing is taught as an essential language for all forms of design and visual arts. The first week concentrates on the use of lines. The second week focuses on value, composition and perspective. The third week will explore non traditional drawing media. There will be short lessons, discussions on classical and contemporary artists, still life drawing, figure drawing and composition exercises in the studio. Numerous visits of Museums, exhibitions and public places around Paris will support the learning process and allow students to work outside the studio. Guest artists will visit the classroom to present their work and lead workshops. There will be daily critiques and exchange of ideas where students will be encouraged to talk about their work and the work of their fellow students. Discussion and reviews are a lively part of the course and all are required to participate. Outside class time, ‘home work’ assignment will be collecting observations and drawings in a sketchbook on a daily basis. Students of all levels are welcome and the course will be helpful and challenging to all regardless of previous experience or skill level.
Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a good understanding of both the tools and techniques necessary for drawing still and live subjects
2. Evaluate a drawing’s objective and subjective content by engaging in group-discussion
3. Respond to constructive feedback in order to rework and resolve drawings
4. Demonstrate the ability to initiate personal and creative approaches in developing two-dimensional art forms
5. Develop a sense of analytical observation of the environment
Sketchbook
Throughout the course, sketchbook(s) will be used as the repository for assignments, notes, ideas, and developing concepts/ideas, and collecting inspiration, pasting collected elements. Students will be ask to make a minimum of two sketches daily in their sketchbook outside the class time (between 4pm and 9am the next day).
Documenting the work
All the work completed in this class and its process of development will be documented on the class blog, in sketchbooks and in student’s personal portfolios that will be submitted at the end of the semester for evaluation.
Class blog
The class blog address is: Portfolio.newschool.edu/drawinginparis
It is a great place for families to follow remotely what students are doing during the class.
Work Presentation
All work completed both during class-time and onsite must be kept for the duration of the class. Nothing can be thrown away, including sketches.
Class Participation
Full participation during class-time is essential. Students are encouraged to actively participate in all class sessions, discussions, and critiques. Being organized and on-time is essential to the success of this class.
Morning meeting
Every day will start with a group morning meeting. Students will be invited to share information, questions and impressions or any news they can share. The agenda of the day will be presented.
Critiques
During class there will be informal critiques addressing work-in-progress and structured critiques. Students are expected to talk about their work and the work of their classmates in an objective and professional manner, offering advice and constructive criticism. Learning to both give and receive constructive criticism is one of the most valuable aspects of art education.
Clean Up
Whether they are in class or working on site, students are responsible for cleaning their work area of refuse and material mess. Be respectful of your work, others and the facilities.
Course Policies and Expectations
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend classes regularly, arrive promptly, and comply with the standards stated in course syllabi. Students who must miss a class session should notify the instructor and arrange to make up all missed work as soon as possible. Full participation is essential to the successful completion of coursework and enhances the quality of the educational experience.
Faculty members may fail any student who is absent for a significant portion of class time. In the three week program excessive absence is defined as missing one and a half days of class. For example, one entire Monday (9am – 4pm) and half of Tuesday (9am – 12pm). Attendance is closely monitored by instructors to ensure that students maintain consistent attendance. Faculty members will be responsible for recording attendance on a shared google doc created by the program and shared with all faculty. This shared doc will be essential for maintaining accurate communication among faculty, students and the coordinators.
Lateness is defined as missing 20 minutes.
After missing one full day of class, the instructor will reiterate the attendance policy with the student. After one and a half days of absence the student will be required to check in with Thaddeus Radell to discuss continuing in the program and they will be issued a dismissal warning. In the event of another absence or lateness, the student may be asked to leave the program. No refund will be issued, and housing must be vacated.
Lateness:
Classes begin promptly at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day. Students are always expected to be on time for class. Arriving on time means arriving in time to start, with all equipment ready, at 9am. Students arriving after the start of the class will be marked late. Two late arrivals will be marked as one absence.
Evaluation and Grading
Final grades for this class will be evaluated upon attendance, class participation, class preparation, apparent growth in skill level, quality and integrity of in-class assignments, and the overall amount of effort put into the work.
A Work of the highest level in all aspects
A- Work of very high level
B+ Work of very high technical competence with potential
B Work of very good technical competence
B- Work of reasonable technical competence, but with some problems of creative ability and skills
C+ Competent work with better than average skills
C Average work
C- Below average work, difficulties with skills, creative ability, and finish
D Work that is far below average, exhibits very poor skills, and little creative imagination
F Work that is unacceptable, incomplete, and displays a lack of characteristics mentioned above.
