Brief description

Module Title: Drawing 2: Challenging the Norm
Experimental Approaches to Drawing

Academic Year: 2002/3

Co-ordinator: Paul Croft

Other Staff: Simon Pierse, Chris Webster, Judy Macklin, Jo Hounsome

Semester: 2

Course Delivery: Lectures: 2 Seminars: 3
Tutorials: 6hrs Practical Study: 66hrs

Assessment: Portfolio: 100%

Brief Description

The purpose of this module is to build upon the experience of self-directed work gained and developed in the previous module Drawing 1. Coming at this stage of art practice in Level 2, the module represents an opportunity for both consolidating and expanding working practice and enables the student to become more self-reliant and responsible for developing their own work.
The module places strong emphasis upon the development of a ‘personal statement’ and requires the student to produce a body of work related to an identifiable theme or line of enquiry over a sustained period of time. As such the module provides opportunities for testing both technical and conceptual aspects of working in preparation for the development of work in the final year.

As in Drawing 1, the main focus of the module is therefore dependent upon initiating research into subject matter or a range of subject matter that is pertinent to the student’s interests and experience while at the same time developing appropriate technical competence in the medium. Students are encouraged to think laterally and to make links with work that they are completing in other modules such as in Illustration, Painting, Photography and Printmaking – or indeed in modules in other subject areas if this is appropriate.

While not mandatory, the subject matter chosen and developed for Drawing 2 should in some way support or inform the work completed in these other modules. Drawings made over the course of the semester are seen as independent statements, but they can also act as initial research for ideas developed in other areas.

As in Drawing 1 students are encouraged to challenge their own established mode and patterns of working – expanding the boundaries and definitions of what constitutes drawing by undertaking a programme of critical experimentation with the medium and in relation to a defined problem or intent. Students are encouraged increasingly to take risks in their work and to expand the limits of their experience in drawing.

The module requires the submission of a series of drawings or images that exploit the practice of drawing within the creative process. As such students are encouraged to see drawing as a means to an end enabling work to be developed using either conventional media and techniques or alternatively incorporating such media as photography, film, collage and use of computers. Students are asked to compile a logbook of information and material that is both pertinent to their self-directed study and also relevant to their practice of drawing. Consequently the module places equal emphasis upon conceptual issues as well as the technical aspects of drawing.

Opportunities occur throughout the module for the students to discuss their work, both on an individual and group basis. Students are encouraged to become critically aware of their own working development and to contextualise this within historical and contemporary practice.

Whilst not mandatory, to enrol for this module students should ideally have completed Module AR20310 Drawing 1
Syllabus

The module is largely self-directed and students are advised that a minimum of six hours per week working in the studio will be required for each of the projects. Additional research and drawing should be completed within the student’s own time – either at the studio or at home.
The discipline of working in a studio space has a number of benefits. First it enables the tutor and other members of staff to talk with you about your work outside the allotted tutorial times. Secondly it creates a situation in which you can work alongside, encourage and discuss the work of your peers. Thirdly a positive group ethos and a sense of independence and mutual interdependence as a body of students fosters a healthy, productive and competitive environment and a forum for cross fertilisation of ideas.

In addition to weekly tutorials a short series of lectures and seminars are organised as follows:

1. Group Seminar: Pushing the Envelope
Group seminar to introduce the module, outlining structure and content. Students are asked to consider in what ways they would develop their current practice of drawing. Issues of scale, media, mixed media and alternative approaches are discussed.
Students are encouraged to identify a subject, theme or concept that will be used to underpin their research. Wherever appropriate students are encouraged to make links with work being developed in other modules.

2. Lecture: Approaches to Drawing 1
Lecture outlining the approaches to drawing used by different artists – looking at the artists’ intentions, use of media and relationship to work completed in other media.
   
3. Lecture: Approaches to Drawing 2
Lecture outlining the approaches to drawing used by different artists – looking at the artists’ intentions, use of media and relationship to work completed in other media.

4. Group Seminar: Review of Subject Matter and Research
Students are asked to make a short informal presentation of their work completed to date - detailing the research and strategies that have been used for the development of the project in relation to techniques and media used.

5. Group Seminar: Resolution and The Finished Drawing
Students are asked to make a final presentation of their work completed detailing how images will be resolved and presented for assessment. The concept of ‘The Finished Drawing’ and the status of independent drawn statement will be discussed in relation to other media. Evaluation of project work and information concerning assessment procedures.

Skill Development

The module will assist the development of the following academic and transferable skills:

· Subject Specific Skills – Research: use of sketch books, notebooks, photography, photocopying, computer programmes, writing and drawing to record, investigate and develop images and ideas
· Subject Specific Skills – Drawing: employing a range of materials, tools, techniques and approaches to develop skills of drawing
· Associated Subject Skills – Photography and Painting: use of photography, film and painting as appropriate
· Self-directed project work: through research and production of a portfolio of drawings and associated material
· IT Skills – Photoshop: use of scanning, computer manipulation and drawing tools
· Oral discussion and presentation – developed through tutorial and seminar contact
· Self-management – time management in completion of self-directed project work

Assessment

Portfolio Component (100%)
Assessment of the module is by portfolio submission at the end of the semester. The portfolio should include a minimum of six completed drawings or images that clearly identify with the theme or line of enquiry chosen by the student. All work should be supported with a logbook containing research material pertaining to the subject and to the practice of drawing.

Conditions
Portfolio Assessment must be passed. Failed assessment requires resubmission of a new portfolio of work.

Bibliography

Bean, Jacob 17th century Italian Drawings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 1979

Currie, Stuart Drawing, 1400-1600: invention and innovation. 1998

Godfrey, Tony Drawing Today: draughtsmen in the Eighties, 1990

Hockney, David David Hockney: a drawing retrospective, 1995

Lambert, Susan Reading Drawings: An Introduction to looking at drawings

National Gallery of Ireland Master European drawings from the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. 1983

Rowell, Margit Sigmar Polke: works on paper 1963-1974. 1999

Wadley, Nicholas Impressionist and Post Impressionist drawing. 1991

Walker Art Gallery Twentieth century British drawings and Watercolours in the Walker Art gallery, Liverpool. 1969

Aims

The module should enable you to:

A develop research skills of drawing, sketching, photography, recording and writing
B develop knowledge and experience of a range of media, tools and approaches   
C develop a programme of research and self-directed work that gives expression to personal ideas and concerns
D develop work that demonstrates a line of enquiry and experimentation in a logical way
E develop a self-critical approach to creative working
F express opinion and criticism of other student’s work
G develop awareness of contemporary and past exponents of relevant art practice
H develop a self-critical approach to creative working

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module you are expected to be able to:

1. Produce a portfolio of drawings or images that clearly demonstrate the development of a subject or concept that is of importance to you (A, B, C, D)
2. Capable of completing visual research using a range of media, tools and techniques as seen in supporting sketchbooks, logbooks and files (A, B, C, D)
3. Identify your own art practice within the context of your peers, contemporary and historic traditions of drawing (E, F, G, H)
4. Develop a critical and selective approach to creative working (G, H)

Relation to Assessment
Objectives 1,2, 3, are assessed by the submission of portfolio and logbook
Objectives 3, 4 are also observed through tutorial and seminar contact