[chumps]

I think everyone here, no matter how talented he/she may be, sometimes suffers from Big Head syndrome. I know I certainly have many, many times.

Thing is, unless you immerse yourself other talented people, it ALWAYS happens. No matter what you develop a miopic view of yourself and your talents at one point or another.

I just came back from an Artcenter at night course (artcenter.edu) and once again I've been humbled, badly. I know now that I have a long, long way to go. It's depressing and refreshing at the same time.

Just wanted to rant a little bit.

Regards.

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Stroke my ego.

[This message has been edited by chumps (edited May 22, 2000).]

[spooge demon]

ACCD, boot camp for big shot high school artists.

hehehehehe...

They did the same to me.

I just got that Richard Schmid book. I will have to start all over now.

[AliasMoze]

I'm still waiting on my Schmid book from Amazon. Damn the special orders.

[Plop]

Wich book are you guys talking about?

[spooge demon]

Richard Schmid is an painter, does a technique-y (too much IMHO) paintings that look like Thomas Kinkade crap, but way better composed, drawn and painted. The book is well written and practical, I highly recommend it.

In the department of what-is-a-fundamental?,
Schmid says he likes to "lock" one shape, and work out from there, a little at a time. This is totally different from the way most teachers would teach, and is different from what one of his idols, Sargent, advocated.

Pretty different from what I was taught, as well. But I look at the work and I can see real advantages to working this way. Very interesting.

Hey Chumps, what got you down? Which class? I almost flunked out my first term there. Don't hold it against them, it's their job(!)

[chumps]

Spooge> I'm not sure really, but somehow it occured to me that my drawing habits are really inefficient. They get the job done, I suppose, but just not in the best manner IMHO.

The class is 'drawing for illustration', instructor is Mark Strickland (cool guy).

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Stroke my ego.

[spooge demon]

Listen to him. It is a very good class, even though you may not see the application for it. I took the class from him, and to show you what a splash I made, ask him if he remembers me. i guarantee no! I think I got a C. He hated my final project.

Yes, he is a nice guy, and it is good to hear he is still there. His enthusiasm is genuine.

[chumps]

Hmm, small world huh? Craig Mullins right? I will definitely mention you, who knows maybe he will remember. What was your project about?

[spooge demon]

The final project usually involves taking objects that you find symbolically relevant to your life and making a self portrait with them. He might have changed this, or maybe this is the midterm. I did a charcoal drawing of a bunch of trees. He was not impressed

Take Vern Wilsons courses, if you can, and also, BE SURE to take industrial drawing, the 14 weeks of simple shapes. I think they call it Viscom 1 or someting similar, and it is in the ID program. That is the class...

[Sedone]

chumps, I definitely hear where you're coming from. I have a love/hate relationship with art.

[TJFrame]

For those of you who might be interested�

Viscom 1 is the first class Industrial Design majors take. It consists of using charcoal powder, a webril pad, and masking techniques to make grayscale images of mostly primitive shapes. The class focuses on craftsmanship, layout, composition, 1 2 3 read, lighting/shadow/shade etc. Be warned that this class is an exercise in tedium and frustration. Each assignment will take literally an entire day to do. And any small smudge or imperfection ruins the image � there is no erasing rubbed in charcoal without marring the entire image! Having said all that.. the class was very helpful to me and I learned a lot from my instructor David Solon (who actually taught Syd Mead when Syd was going through)

Another great class to have is � you guessed it, Viscom 2! Unlike Viscom 1 which is all about value, 2 is all about line work. Believe it or not you take a small toy or object and make 7 drawings per week with it all term long. Nothing else! You draw that damn thing from every friggin angle, using ghosting, exploded views, in reverse image, in environments, etc. The point of using the same image is to factor out the subject matter and focus on the lesion or technique for that week. You use either a Crimson Red or Indigo Blue prismacolor pencil on vellum for the entire term. The man to get for that class is Gaylord Eckles. He kicks ass. And I�m not just saying that cause he still uses examples of my work to show his new classes

Also Craig, did you ever take Sketching for Illustration with Bob Kato. Its all dark to light stuff. I remember a bunch of my buddies took it and really liked it.


I posted an image from Viscom 2 below. People who took this class beware � it might jar painful memories..

TJ

[Dryfire]

not to jump off of subject but man, that sketch rocks. hehehe, it kinda shows you the whole humbling theme!

[Doc Holliday]

Jesus I wish I would gone to that school instead of School Of visual arts The art center seems to be alot more technical in their methods. Classes at SVA were more "idea" and "Style" oriented with a few exeptions.

PS the best thing in the world is being humbled every once in a while

[This message has been edited by Doc Holliday (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Frost]

TJ - That looks great! Damn, now I really feel like I should jump head first into Industrial Design! The geometry, perspective, I love it!

[shardik]

Doc Holliday
Im supposed to go to SVA next year, but i was concidering switching to accd. what was wrong with sva and why do u wish u went with art center. Can all of u respond to this with y you chose your schools?
**btw that really is a great image **

[This message has been edited by shardik (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Doc Holliday]

Hey Shardik, my main problem with SVA is that they don't focus enough on fundementals. I was lucky to get few really good teachers that really helped me out. The first year consists of drawing and painting classes that are taught by the "Fine Art" department, and if you are from New york you now what that means, forget what you're looking at paint what you feel. Im not talking gesture drawing either. After the first year it gets much better. The second year classes really drive home the basics. I'll give you some advice take the painting classes with Steve Assel and max Ginsburg. They are by far the best teachers in the school. For drawing look into Sam Martine and the high focus drawing program. Another thing is that SVA is a 4-year school meaning that you need to take fair share of academic classes in order to graduate and they really get in the way of your art studies. Sorry for the long post, hope it helps.

PS if your interested in cartooning or comics take illustration department. Same thing with computer art. Both the cartooning and Computer art department really don't get into traditional training.

[This message has been edited by Doc Holliday (edited May 24, 2000).]

[shardik]

thx for the great reply doc...

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Never, ever trust a banana.

[chumps]

Shardik, I'm not familiar with SVA, is the reason you are considering that instead of ACCD because of tuition costs?

Spooge> I mentioned you to Strickland today. While he didn't remember you, he did mention that a "C" is more like a "F" for his classes. Hehe! The great Craig Mullins, a slacker just like the rest of us. Good to know.

I had a much better day in class today. I think the reason I felt so bad the other day was because I was so stubborn and obstinate. It's really hard to change your drawing habits when you've been doing the same old thing for years.

Regards.


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Stroke my ego.

[spooge demon]

I knew it chumps! I remember having about 4 life drawing classes at once with all different styles of drawing. It was very confusing. They tried to get me to quit. probably should have. Then I could have been a lawyer or an investment banker and made something of myself.

Frost, I think that is a great idea to go into ID. You will learn a lot more there. Just supplement that with a lot of figure drawing, you will be far ahead