3-5 Panel Comic

These are due on Thursday, September 30th at the end of the hour. Here's what you'll be graded on.

*Creative, original and challenging character design....out of 10 points.
*Gutters are even and consideration is given to the layout of the entire page...out of 10 points.
*Lettering is centered and evenly spaced. Most importantly, it is easy to read....out of 10 points.
*The inking lines show a variety in thickness and each panel looks like it is 50% black and %50 white...out of 10 points.
*No pencil lines are showing, paper is clean, neat and signed....out of 10 points.

Still Life drawing in Art I

Since last Monday, when we were working on shading the sphere, we have done the following:
1. Plant drawings: a) seeing the negative space b) one continuous line drawing
2. upside down drawing
These exercises are based on Betty Edwards' book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

Today we worked on 4 thumbnail sketches of the still life on your tables. It's easiest if you just fold your paper in fourths and then fill each quarter of your paper with a thumbnail sketch. (A thumbnail is a simple drawing without details that shows where things will be) It is important to do 4 (or more!) sketches so that you don't automatically always use your first idea in your art work. Each sketch should take up the entire space. Use a "view finder" provided in class to get a new point of view.

Monday, September 20th in Cartooning

• create a list of characters
• create a list of situations you might find in a funny newspaper strip
• create a situation: introduction of a new character, an argument, a holiday, etc.
• create a prop/conflict: possibly a hundred dollar bill, a bomb with a fuse lit, etc.

character + setting + situation + conflict + resolution = a story

Next brainstorm visual or verbal gags that could happen in your situation. Write down every idea that you have in your sketchbook.

Without taking out a piece of paper in your sketchbook, fold one of its pages vertically and turn it so the ringed side is at the top. Above the line is where you'll do your rough draft, below the line is where you'll do your finished copy. Finished copy will need to be inked with your brand new pens with all pencil lines erased with your brand new erasers. YOWZA! Tentative due date: 09/30.

Monday, September 20th in Art I

Today we will be working on shading a simple form like a sphere. Without shading, forms often look flat and lifeless. Once you start playing around with shading, things begin to appear more life like. This website has some great directions for getting you started. Today in class we'll watch this video as well. This drawing will be due at the end of class.

Friday, September 17th in Art I

ABSTRACT TIME LINES ARE DUE TODAY!



Artist Boey draws on styrofoam cups and sells them for hundreds.

Is this art? Why or why not?
What do you think about making art on such a cheap surface?
These sell for somewhere between $100 and $500 dollars. What would a fair price be based on?
Who would buy this?

Thursday, September 16th in Cartooning

Today I would like for you to redraw 3 of your 5 "post-it" panels based on Wally Wood's 22 panels. OR any of the tips from my hubby Zander Cannon.

Then, I would like your group to play with the pacing of your comic. What is the minimum number of panels that would make it work? How many panels make it the most enjoyable to read?

Wednesday, September 15th in Cartooning

Today you will have time to finish activity II from yesterday. Make sure you ink it and complete all erasures.

Next I'll give you a number (1-5), and you'll draw 5 panels for one of these scenarios.

1. An astronaut launches his rocket...
2. lands on the moon...
3. and plants a flag.
4. He returns home to much fanfare...
5. but then realizes he has gone to the wrong planet.

Next, you'll get together with some people around you and put together a 25 panel comic.

Tuesday, September 14th in Art I

Just reminding you that your timelines are due on Friday (at the end of the hour) and you need to have used at LEAST 3 of the following 6 supplies:
watercolors (demo on WED)
markers
colored pencils (remember to show light to dark gradually)
collage (glue is in your basket)
black markers
transfers

No more than 10% of your paper should be left white!

Tuesday, September 14th in Cartooning

Today we'll talk a bit about this apple. If you draw one, and write apple next to it, you'll just be labelling it. This isn't something we want to do in comics. But, if you write words like New York, or temptation, or Dr. repellent next to it, you will create a relationship between the word and the picture. This is something WE DO want to do in comics. This relationship doesn't have to be funny though. It could be dramatic, absurd, polital, etc...

Here are two captions for this Wells Fargo caption contest:
"Fashion Rule #13: Carrying a big credit card makes your rear end appear smaller. "–Lady Anon

"Early prototype, just prior to the invention of the wallet." –Chris S. Ervi

Activity I: Find one of your drawings from class. Cut it out and paste it in your sketchbook. Make as many different captions as you can for your work. Think in terms of creating a relationship between the words and the picture.

Activity II: On a new sketchbook page, do a small thumbnail sketch of a drawing with a caption. Once you've decided on a sketch, enlarge it to approx. 5 x 7 size and draw a frame around it. Write at lease 3 captions and choose the funniest one. Ink it.

Thursday, September 9th in Art I

1. Symbolic Time lines... Take a sheet of paper and fold it in 1/2 so the fold divides the right and left sides of your paper.
2. On the right side of your paper, number from 1/10 and write down the 10 most important events that have happened in your life so far. Please keep them in chronological order. This is for your information only, I won't read them, so be honest.
3. On the left side of the paper, number from 1/10 and draw a symbol for each of your life's events. These symbols should not be recognizable. No hearts, crosses, angel wings, or rainbows please. UNLESS, you can make them abstracted by zooming in closer, etc. When you're done with both sides of your paper, tear away the written events and take them home. Keep your drawn symbols in the drawer with your name on them.

Thursday, September 9th in Cartooning

Today we'll focus on sketching 5 separate drawings. We're trying to show movement!

1. a person running
2. a car speeding
3. a ball falling
4. a person staggering
5. a newspaper page blowing in the wind

There will be student examples of these on the Drawing Words website.

We'll also be viewing a powerpoint presentation with a little bit of the history of comics.

Wednesday, September 8th in Cartooning

First, we'll be We'll be looking at the syllabus, talking about class fees AND finalizing a seating chart
Then, please do 2 self portrait comics. Both should fit on a notecard. Use the entire space for each. Sketch in pencil 1st and then trace your lines with a sharpie pen.

Wednesday, September 8th in Art I

We'll be looking at the syllabus, talking about class fees, finalizing a seating chart and this.

1st day for 9th graders

Please take a sheet a paper from the table with the sticks.

DON’T write your name on it.

DO write these things about yourself:

1. favorite color:

2. favorite food:

3. best place to hang out:

4. this year I want to get involved in: