Where we are....

Having the drawing studio designated for the S200, S301, S401, and S405 classes is proving to be very positive change for that part of the program for students in those upper level classes. Today we were able to look at all the work that each person created so far this semester, all hung on the walls at the same time. And although we are still relatively early in the semester, seeing three in-class images from each one in the class was enlightening, and inspiring. It allowed us all to see with a better perspective the approaches to balancing process, media, and idea. It allowed us to see how ideas are formed and how ideas come from the drawing process.

This was one of Shane Doebler's drawings that was created during an off-campus visit to the Falls of the Ohio State Park. He took advantage of the rock formations and the spatial distancing, one of the beautiful qualities of the Falls, to push his process from soft and atmospheric, almost abstract, to distinct and informed. (Click on any of the images to see a larger version)

Sam Chumley's response to the project, "create a drawing based on the element of wind", utilized a heavy rag paper and fine tipped markers to suggest the energy of wind on the landscape. The combination of the marker-marks and the paper texture resulted in a line quality that in some places lacked visibility, but in concept felt windy.

Louise Clausen found a great tree to draw, a mighty Sycamore sensuously rooted into the rocks at its feet. The patches of white under the shedding bark almost appeared fleshy, and Louise capitalized on that characteristic.

Kristin Thompson has an aggressive mark-making approach to her work that is clearly identifiable in any subject she approaches. In this response to "wind", the butterflies almost appear animated by the balance between her subject and her process.

Jessica Elam sat on the edge of a rock slab at the Falls of the Ohio and took in an expanse of the environment, pushing color into color and value into value, until she found this response to that situation. The pastels were initially aggressive, but eventually found a quietness to the execution.

I found Alex Stotts sitting in a valley of rocks looking out toward the river, his hand moving as fast as he was looking, as sensitively as he was seeing. He layered colors and values and was very open to incorporating additional approaches. I can feel that space.

Alex Kennedy's response to wind takes the character, tension, and gesture of line and creates wind. When I asked the class if there was a drawing that truely expressed the element of wind, one person immediately responded to this drawing. I felt that everyone had a similar response.