Homework Assignment #1, due Monday, January 23rd

PLEASE NOTE: We will not have class on Monday, January 16th in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

EXPLORING CUBIST SPACE:

This is a two-part assignment that is designed to demonstrate the core concepts of Analytic and Synthetic Cubism. The first part, due next week, will explore the Analytic phase, and the second, due the following week, the Synthetic. It may be helpful to keep the literal meanings of the two words in mind here: Analysis means, literally, to break things apart into pieces, while synthesis means to bring things together to form a whole.

In part one of the assignment, you will be exploring multiple views of a single scene (a tabletop still-life) using Cubism's characteristic angles, lines, and "wedges." Your task is to make four separate drawings that will then be brought together to form a coherent whole in part two. Be sure to complete all four drawings this week, since if you don’t you will not have the materials necessary for next week’s homework.

Begin by making an arrangement of objects on a tabletop which you can easily walk around. Choose objects that aren’t too ornate or complex so that in your drawing you can easily simplify the shapes. Next, set up a light source that casts interesting shadows on your objects. The stronger the contrasts between light and dark, the more effective your drawing will be.

To prepare for your four drawings, fold one of your large sheets of sketch vellum in half width-wise, cut or tear (neatly!) on that dividing line, then do this again with each of those two halves. The result should be four identical rectangles, each measuring 9” x 12.”

Select four different points of view on your arrangement of objects (example: front, back, one side, and top). Each view should differ substantially from the others (you don’t want to be making the same drawing four times, in other words). Using the same simplified, geometric approach we practiced in class, draw your still-life from each of these views, with one drawing on each piece of paper. Concentrate on capturing the essentials of each view (the large shapes, the dark/light contrasts) rather than the details. Next week, you will be bringing all these views together to form one single Cubist drawing/collage.

Drawing materials: You may use either charcoal or conte crayon for this assignment.