Drawing day

Thursday is drawing day at Newcastle Art School, for my class anyway. Since I am totally addicted to both taking photos of my camera phone and blogging at the moment, I thought I would share my first proper day with you. This is the view from outside our drawing studio. It's not very often that people get to see the tops of the buildings along Hunter St, but there are some amazing facades up there.


In the mornings we do Life Drawing, which was from plaster cast rather than from "life" today because we're baby drawers, still learning our techniques.

These were the first two sketches that I did, which the teacher wasn't really too fond of, but I wasn't either so that's fine ;) My drawings tend to be very styilsed, I draw an interpretation of what i see rather than drawing what is really there, so I really loved experimenting with charcoal, line weights... still a bit dodgy though, so I'll spare those for now.

The nose that I drew.

The afternoon class is General Drawing.

This is a contour study of the marble bust on the table. I'll quote what I wrote down as the teacher explained it:

Contour drawing is a delicate study of the detail of the object, a linear description. There is no shading or form, only lines that describe a change of plane or direction or detail.

Draw as slowly as you possibly can, know everything about the object. Give each line your full concentrated effort so that you don't have to revisit it.

We tried this without looking at the paper at all (this guy) for a ten min sketch, then we sketched again for longer, looking at the paper for about 25% of the time. Then we sketched with our left hands (me not looking at the paper because I'm ambidexturous).

A book recommendation from our teacher Pete, apparently the BEST drawing book EVER... and having had a brief read through it over the break, I have to say it looks pretty awesome. Going to borrow it from the library first chance I get.... which leads me to my next news of awesomeness, the library there? Amazing. ALL art books *drroooll*

So yeah, that was my first proper day. Very exciting. Drama when I arrived home too, this was the view from my verandah. A house that was being demolished caught fire, no one was in there luckily, so I guess it just made things happen sooner.... very exciting for everyone in our street though, such a massive crowd of gawkers checking out the action. Sooo tired, off to get chinese food and chillax at Bennys. Guitar hero anyone?

-Emmeline

Why I can't wait for Wednesday...

So that I can write a lesson timetable for Emerald Arts, I'm researching on the interwebs to see if I can find out when I'll be at TAFE. This is what I have found so far, it definitely stirs the butterflies:

The Newcastle Art School specialises in studio-based fine arts training for professional artists. Based at Hunter St Campus, it has fully accredited courses, facilities and staff.

The Newcastle Art School is located in a series of historically significant buildings and it has been Newcastle’s central art school since the late 19th century.

Courses are also offered at our Singleton Campus and at Ourimbah on the Central Coast

Our fine art courses are studio-focused and involve significant face-to-face teaching with student teacher ratios of around 15-1. The facilities are well-equipped with the latest technology as well as the traditional tools and equipment of the artist.

Students are offered a range of studio electives including Painting, Sculpture, Photography and Printmaking alongside core studies in Drawing, Art History and Theory, Professional Practice and Digital Imaging.

Staff of the Newcastle Art School are highly qualified and professionally recognised artists with strong reputations as artists and teachers.


Facitlities:

Drawing studios each of which can support over 15 students for research, experimental drawing and life drawing. The studios are backed by an extensive store of idiosyncratic objects, plaster casts and zoological specimens


Painting studios with full ventilation and painting racks

Printmaking facilities for screen printing, etching, relief printing, lithography.

Our printmaking area includes full extraction and dedicated rooms for acids, screen cleaning, screen exposure, graining and other facilities alongside the studios
Design room

Photography Lab including Analogue (wet) darkroom, alternative process areas and Digital Photography lab equipped with G5 Macs and large format printer and scanners
Sculpture facility includes general purpose space, metal fabrication area for welding and casting, woodworking space and external area

Dedicated Arts Library

The Front Room Gallery is a purpose built public art gallery and flexible delivery centre for exhibition practice and professional practice


And this is the course that I will be doing:

The Certificate IV is offered part time. It is effectively the equivalent of the first year of the Diploma of Fine Arts. Students who complete the Certificate IV are eligible to apply to the Diploma at Advanced Entry and complete the Diploma either full time or part time. We encourage students to attempt to complete the courses at half pace, completing the Certificate IV in 2 years and the Diploma in 2 years more.

Approx 12-15 hrs per week. Subjects include Drawing, Art History and Theory, Design Principles, Portfolio Presentation, Digital Imaging, Exhibition practice, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking and Photography.

Entry and applications: HSC or Certificate III or equivalent or over 20 years of age

You must complete and application form and submit it by the 31st October. Late applications will be accepted but priority will be given to on time applications. Applicants must also submit a portfolio, complete a drawing test and attend an interview at a specified time.