Joan in GE Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 My ds needs more art skills than I can give him. He's had a drawing class and used books on painting, etc and has come up with some nice pieces. But since he's thinking of going into architecture or landscape architecture, he need more experience and some kind of portfolio. The art teacher has a studio where she usually teaches adults who have more time and money than we do...We have enough for about 12 two hour lessons for the year (things aren't cheap here). She seemed open to whatever we want except seemed to want to push acrylics or oils which I don't think would be at all helpful and would be quite costly.. In order to use that time effectively, I thought that if I give her the plans of what I want him to learn, (he would then come home and work on projects for two weeks) then there wouldn't be, what should we say, dawdling time...Plus then I'd have "course objectives etc" and could give a bit of credit... Has anyone ever done anything similar? Could you help? Of if you have done a course to prepare for such a career, could you give some ideas? Thanks, Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerriMI Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 b My ds needs more art skills than I can give him. He's had a drawing class and used books on painting, etc and has come up with some nice pieces. But since he's thinking of going into architecture or landscape architecture, he need more experience and some kind of portfolio. I am glad that you realize that your ds needs _skills_ rather than just a fun experience. Developing skills can be great fun, but lessons do need to be geared toward that objective. You did not say what he covered in drawing. Did your ds learn about line quality? Was he successful in copying shapes of objects as they really look? How effective is his skill at rendering the shading of objects? Most every student could use more practice in this bedrock skill. It is the skill and discipline of _seeing_ that is developed here. LIFE drawing classes that only use pencil and pen are especially good for this. Still lifes, plant life, figure drawing are all good possibilities here. This would be excellent training for architecture. The art teacher has a studio where she usually teaches adults who have more time and money than we do...We have enough for about 12 two hour lessons for the year (things aren't cheap here). She seemed open to whatever we want except seemed to want to push acrylics or oils which I don't think would be at all helpful and would be quite costly.. Experience in different media is indeed part of art training however, I would say that it is secondary to the basic skill of drawing and knowledge of design properties. I imagine that he will pick up skill in ink and watercolor or guash in his architecture studies. In order to use that time effectively, I thought that if I give her the plans of what I want him to learn, (he would then come home and work on projects for two weeks) then there wouldn't be, what should we say, dawdling time...Plus then I'd have "course objectives etc" and could give a bit of credit... Of course, I don't know the teacher or her training. Could she arrainge 12 lessons that included drawing objectives and design elements? Try googling "design elements" to become familiar with what they are. Could you ask her to come up with projects based on these? Has anyone ever done anything similar? Could you help? Of if you have done a course to prepare for such a career, could you give some ideas? 1) Increase drawing skills 2) Develop knowledge of and competency in using design elements 3) Art history or history of architecture are great for seeing how "the greats" have put these all together. You might have ds read "The Annotated Mona Lisa" or the "Annotated Arch" and summarize, make timeline with pictures, etc. This, along with the studio experiences might give him enough for a credit or two. Although I am afraid that it has been a while since I have taught an art course and unfortunately I haven't had one of my own children that was really interested in art, I myself was an art major and I hope that this information and these suggestions are helpful in some way. Thanks, Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 You may also wish to Google something along the lines of "AP art portfolio syllabus." You may be able to find some helpful guidelines. I think that your plan is a good one. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 (edited) I have an artist I am homeschooling, but we do not homeschool art (once dc's needs were great), or the portfolio prep. Maybe if I were an artist... How old is your child, and how serious is your child about art? Edited June 30, 2010 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan in GE Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 TerriKY - He can draw accurately, but probably needs to work on speed. Question for you - you mentioned drawing in pen...is this so they cannot erase anything? We have done lots of art history - for several years now...visit lots of art museums...have an enormous time line where the artists and a sample of their work are placed... I hadn't thought of the emphasis on drawing but it makes sense. The googling of "design elements" is a good idea and I'll do that...all this lingo...it's like fleshing out all the aspects of a light study in physics or something... Kareni - it's a good idea too to look at the AP syllabus. And since Terri says the drawing is so important...I was going to have him do the AP studio art, but with his other AP work and extra math, he just won't have as much time as that requires. Library Lover - Ds is 16, he is pretty serious about this but dh thinks there is no market. So we're in a quandry. But meanwhile, I thought it is good to see if he really has the capacity. Sometimes one's impression is not the same as reality...He'll shadow an architect and a landscape architect this summer. Maybe if he sees all the computer work that is done now, he will think otherwise..but meanwhile, I think it would be cheating him to not give him some art skills that he would get if he were at the private school that his brother attended... Thanks all for helping me! Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 :lurk5: I'm really interested in this as well. I have a want-to-go-to-art-college dd... except she is interested in animation. Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan in GE Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 (edited) Emma, this syllabus 4 from the AP Studio Art samples looks interesting...it's just for drawing (ETA - I've looked more closely and it actually has info for 2 & 3 D too)...the page below has (other) 2-D and 3-D syllabi... Here's the page with all the different AP sample syllabi just for future reference - it makes it so easy to search their syllabi samples. For "design elements" this page has some ideas.... But if those with experience have other suggestions - I'd still like to hear... Joan Edited June 30, 2010 by Joan in Geneva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Wow! Thanks for posting the links. These look very intense... but I know she's going to need a lot more structure in her art in order to pull a portfolio together. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan in GE Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 These look very intense... You should know that for AP Studio Art - I think PA homeschoolers say that you should spend average of 12-15 hours per week, which ds just does not have this year... But have you looked into their courses? They might be right for your daughter. I'm hoping to take out some of the assignments... and hoping anyone with more experience can give advice about which to take out...:bigear: Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 You should know that for AP Studio Art - I think PA homeschoolers say that you should spend average of 12-15 hours per week, which ds just does not have this year... But have you looked into their courses? They might be right for your daughter. I'm hoping to take out some of the assignments... and hoping anyone with more experience can give advice about which to take out...:bigear: Joan Thanks Joan. I haven't checked them out. I actually didn't even know about them. Off to see what they can offer us.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan in GE Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 I would suggest searching under architectural drawing on Amazon. This http://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Drawing-Course-Techniques-Representation/dp/0764138146/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277935984&sr=8-1 is the book that was recommended to me. He might also be interested in the practical drafting book that Timberdoodle sells, and DK has a Story of Architecture that goes into the history and could give you some names of architects to research (Christopher Wren, Frank Gehry, and more). These are all very focused on architecture rather than on general art skills. I wouldn't know so much about landscape architecture, but again I think you could start looking at that specifically, rather than studio art. With my dd, I was trying to push her to try various media, more color, etc. with a focus on fine arts. Not necessarily the same focus at all. Laurel - thank you - especially since I see you are moving this summer! The book on architectural drawing looks great and I have to look at Timberdoodle. We have the DK book and lots of others about architecture (my dad actually is an architect - but the only advice he gave when asked about a syllabus is to do the contour models - he's getting to be elderly). We also visit building for the architecture sometimes - eg by Calatrava, Piano, (Wren I'll have to look at). But it is actually the general skills that this teacher will be able to help with (because I think he needs to increase his general facilities) which is why I would love to hear more about what your daughter did - but I can see you are probably in the middle of piles of boxes! Even if you have a word (or other) doc that you could email me it would be helpful. Many thanks, Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan in GE Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 Thanks Laurel! I've PM'd you... Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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