Synopses & Reviews
Often the finest artists do not make the best teachers. Many frustrated college students of art know this all too well as they suffer through unstructured classes with inexperienced teachers or graduate student instructors. In these situations, it is easy to blame the teachers. But the problem is largely institutional: most students graduating with MFAs from art schools receive little if any instruction in teaching art. If you find yourself in this predicament as teacher or student, this book is for you.
The first book to provide a comprehensive guide for teaching college-level art, The Art of Teaching Art is the culmination of respected artist and instructor Deborah Rockman's two decades of teaching experience. Believing that drawing is the backbone of all of the visual arts, she begins with a complete explanation of drawing concepts that apply to any subject matter, e.g., composition, sighting processes, scaling techniques, and methods for linear and tonal development. She then illustrates these concepts with step-by-step methods that easily translate to classroom exercises. Next, she applies the drawing principles to every artist's most important and challenging subject, the human figure. After an extended section on understanding and teaching perspective that explores illusionistic form and space, the focus of the book shifts to the studio classroom itself and the essential elements that go into making an effective learning environment and curriculum. From preparing materials lists and syllabi, to setting up still-lifes, handling difficult classroom situations, critiquing and grading student artworks, and shooting slides of student artworks, she leaves no stone unturned.
Review
"In thirty- six years of teaching all aspects of drawing to students aspiring to become artists and teachers, I have labored my way by trial and error to conclusions Deborah Rockman outlines so very clearly in her THE ART OF TEACHING ART. With high tuition costs, students have the right to demand sensitive and informed instruction even from teachers just beginning their career. This comprehensive compendium of the arcana of studio teaching is invaluable. The special difficulties of revealing the possibilites and limits of perspective are well presented; insights I thought all my own I find in this book."-R. Richard Gayton, Drawing and Painting Professor, California College of Arts and Crafts
"A much-needed guide to the teaching and learning of important areas of foundation drawing. The book's explication of sighting, scaling, and perspective methods is particularly useful. Also, the emphasis on teaching methods of visual measure and the need for a translation process between 2-D and 3-D seeing is welcome. The focus on these issues will encourage many teachers to go into much greater depth than is the usual practice. Rockman provides enough information and detail to aid teachers in creating classroom assignments and for students to practice these techniques without a teacher. I have always believed that, particularly in art and design, teaching and learning are intimately interrelated activities and that one important way of leaning a subject matter is to teach it. The Art of Teaching Art encourages teachers to be students and students to imagine being teachers." --Bill Fasolino, Foundation Chairperson, Pratt Institute School of Art and Design
"Rockman demystifies the process of perceptual drawing by comprehensively providing practical methods and strategies for measuring visual experience. The book includes lucid explanation of proportion, perspective, composition and metaphor to space. An excellent, clearly illustrated introduction to the teaching of the visual arts, The Art of Teaching Art is a pleasure for artists, students and teachers who are interested in the project of approaching representation of nature. In fact, the well-organized treatment and wealth of information, illustration and defining vocabulary may well become a handbook for professionals working in this arena of the visual arts." --Thomas Cornell, Professor of Art, Bowdoin College
About the Author
Deborah A. Rockman is Professor of Art in the Foundation and Fine Arts Department, Kendall College of Art and Design.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
A Philosophy of Teaching
Drawing as the Backbone of Visual Communication
Chapter 1
Essential Skills and Information
What Every Teacher and Every Student Should Know about Drawing
Sighting and the Use of Sighting Stick
The Principles of Composition: Theory vs. Application
Suggesting Space or Depth on a Two-Dimensional Surface
Line Variation and Sensitivity
Working with Value Structure
The Technique of Scaling
The Golden Section
Setting Up an Effective Still Life
Chapter 2
Teaching Essential Drawing Principles in Relation to the Human Figure
The Human Figure
Gesture Drawing or Rapid Contour Drawing
Enhancing the Illusion of Volume and Space in the Human Form
An Introduction to Portraiture
The Figure and Anatomy
Chapter 3
Spatial Thinking and Visualization
Teaching the Essential Principles of Perspective Drawing
An Introduction to Perspective
Perspective and Cubes
Using Perspetive Grids
Increasing Complexity in the Perspective Environment
Mathematically Precise Cubes in Two-Point Perspective
Constructing Ellipses in One-Point and Two-Poing Perspective
Using Measuring Lines for Regular (Equal) and Irregular (Unequal) Divisions of an Area
Inclined Planes in Perspective
Geometric Solids and Transparent Construction
Three-Point Perspective
Suggested Perspective Homework Assignments
Chapter 4
Establishing the Classroom Environment, Conducting Critiques, and Assigning Grades
The Classroom Environment
Group Critiques
Individual Critiques
Diagnosing Problems in Student Work
Key Questions for Critiques
Grading
Appendix A
Classroom Documents and Other Teaching Aids
Preparing for the Classroom Experience
Determining Course Content
Preparing a Slide Library
Appendix B
Preparing Students for What Lies Ahead
Career Opportunities in the Visual Arts
Building a Resume
Preparing a Slide Portfolio
Writing Letters of Recommendation
Graduate School Checklist
Bibliography
Artist Index
Index