Drawing Everything

The long tradition of transcribing with fidelity what the eye sees onto paper provides the backdrop for this course. This transcription engages processes that are both mental (perception, choice, awareness) and physical (the body which draws, the tools and materials). Breaking down into two ‘moments’ -mental/observation, and physical/drawing- will allow students to refine both. The transformation into visual language that is drawing offers a chance to look more closely at what we believe observation to be, and to study our patterns of seeing, and both question and reinforce them. While we greatly benefit from drawing as an observation of forms, the capacity to project geometric form has as well at its disposal the tool of perspective. Various exercises will help students in both forms of transcribing: observation and construction (through perspective). Perspective will be one third of this class’ contents. The class will demand that students sharpen their drawing skills through frequent sketching trips to Museums in Paris.