2D Intro - Visual Journal / Sketchbook Information

Fall/Spring 2016

WHY keep a Sketchbook?

Most artists keep sketchbooks. In them, they experiment with ideas and collect drawings of
things around them (direct observation) and things that they enjoy. Sketchbooks are like visual
diaries for artists. Artists often use them for planning and developing their work. They are
essential to creating powerful art works and often becoming the basis for award winning work!

The most famous sketchbooks are those of Leonardo da Vinci. His sketchbooks are filled with
drawings, diagrams and written notes of things he saw and ideas he came up with.

Picasso produced 178 (!) sketchbooks in his life time! He often used his sketchbooks to explore ideas
and make compositional studies until he found the right idea or subject for a larger painting.

I didnt realize until I was in college that sketchbooks are for more than just making drawings! They
can be a journala diary of my thought process something I can refer back to for more ideas later. I
used to just draw in sketchbooks, NOW: I draw, paint, write, collage, and attach anything that gives
me an idea or expresses who I am as an artist and person! Pictures, photos, poems, lyrics, etc

If you want to be an artist, or get accepted into an art program in college, its a good idea to start keeping a
sketchbook/visual journal around with you all the time! You can draw, write and MAKE IT YOUR OWN!
Later on, return to your sketchbook when youre looking for ideas and youll find YOUR works of art!

Sketchbooks are due the first day you attend my class each week.
Late work will NOT be accepted! AGAIN LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED!
Missing assignments will be recorded as zeros, dont go there! Remember, practice
makes perfect!
IF you are absent, be prepared to show the sketchbook assignment on the first day
of your return.
***It is YOUR responsibility to be sure it is given to the teacher to be graded!!***

Sketchbook Guidelines (HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED)

Assignments must be attached to your sketchbook to be graded. Loose assignments and assignments on
notebook paper will NOT be accepted.
FILL THE PAGE! Each composition should touch the edges of your paper Composition is key!
3D objects are allowed even encouraged think about a relief, collage, etc
Unless otherwise noted, ALWAYS include a wide range of values (even in color work) and think about
contrast!
ALWAYS think about the elements and principles of art in your work, what do you want emphasized?
Spend AT LEAST 30 minutes to 1 hour PER ASSIGNMENT ( have I mentioned that practice makes
perfect)
o Drawings from observation are MANDATORY meaning you should LOOK at the object(s)
while you are drawing themtry NOT to draw from memory direct observation is key!
I want your sketchbook to be a storehouse FULL of pages to trigger your creativity and ideas!

Each Page should include 3 distinct parts:

COLLAGE: Somewhere in the work should be direct visual transfers, such as cut and pasted images or
xerox copies, newspapers, magazine images, and use the internet to find things that interest YOU!
TEXT: IN WORDS: Somewhere in the work should be words incorporated, YOUR writing about the
visuals, WHY is it important? WHY is it good, or bad? WHAT does it say about you?, quote, lyrics,
text, letters, etc
DIRECT OBSERVATION DRAWINGS: Somewhere in the work there should be some kind of sketch,
drawing, or painting responses from YOU from LIFE. Maybe you will make a composition from the
ideatranslate the idea into your own visual styleI want you to EXPERIMENT with media!
A GETTING STARTED helper:
Begin by collecting interested images from magazines and keep them in a large envelope or shoe box. Once
youve gathered a good collection, whenever you need to journal an idea, go and select an image. Paste it
into the sketchbook and write about it. What do you think drew you to the image at this particular time in your
life, the aesthetic a-ha!? What message does the image mean for you? What other images does this call to
mind? What memories, hopes, dreams does it evoke? And move on from therelet your imagination soar!

Fall/Spring Visual Journal Assignments:

Required to use Drawing and/or Painting, Text, and Collage and ALL assignments are 1 page (vertical or
horizontal) compositions

****Due in your first art class the week of: (no late journals accepted)
August 15: Who Am I?
August 22: When I was younger
August 29: Kitchen items Be creative!
September 5: Labor Day! No journals due this week
September 12: Whats in your closet?
September 19: Free Choice or a still life of everyday objects
September 26: Draw something you bought this week
October 3: Your favorite food
October 10: Fall Break! No journals due this week
October 17: I have learned to love
October 24: What are you scared of?
October 31: Halloween! No journals due this week
November 7: Free choice or When I grow up
November 14: Im thankful for
November 21: Thanksgiving! No journals due this week
November 28: self portrait
December 5: a favorite childhood toy
December 12: Celebrate! (and you will present your favorite 2 works to the class for a test grade)

Visual Journal Grading Rubric:

A+ = 100 / A- =95
B+ = 90 / B- =85
C+ = 80 / C- = 75
D+ = 70
Incomplete = 50
No Work = 0
As = excellent quality: successful composition with a broad range of ideas and techniques
Bs = good quality: did what you were asked, tried something new, could apply creative thinking
Cs = average/weak quality: unclear content, could have put a broader range of ideas and
techniques into play
Ds = poor quality: bad craftsmanship, weak concept, didnt meet requirements

No late journals will be accepted!