The Dynamics of the Natural World: Patterns of Animal Locomotion (10 credit points)

Special Information

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicative tools, materials and equipment:

• Drawing medium (at least three to begin the course)

• Graphite stick, conte crayon, black marker pen, coloured biro pens, soft pastel (1 red, 1 yellow, 1 blue), oil pastel (1 white, 1 black, wax crayons, black drawing ink

• Eraser

• Scissors

• 1 A4 soft cover stapled Sketchbook and 1 hard backed (A3 or A4 size)

• Images cut out from newspapers

• Acrylic paint - Cadmium red, crimson, cadmium yellow, lemon yellow, cobalt blue, ultramarine, viridian or phthalo green and titanium white

Content of Course

1. Finding starting points - Automatic drawing and mappings.

2. Create small test pieces fusing sections of drawings from wk 1 with cut out contours from some of following secondary source material- maps/isobar chart/sonar scanning etc.

3. Sea: Drawing the sensation of the movement of marine mammal as they are tracked through the ocean.

4. Air: Exploring Scale in mixed media drawing: using bird migration maps , land formation maps and isobar charts.

5. Land: Exploring colour and textures in land mammal migration using geological maps.

6. Group discussion of work to date and scope for research and focus of personal project.

7. Student begins personal project based of animal, maps or weather informed by work made in previous weeks.

8. Personal project.

9. Completion of final series .

Teaching method(s)

The teaching will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Over the course, students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor.  Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

For work required to be undertaken after the class hours are complete, the course tutor will set students a ‘directed study plan’ which can be undertaken without the need for specialist workshops or access to models.

Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists or designers and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness of the sculpted figure in visual culture. Students will be expected to demonstrate how the research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks or visual journals and practical outcomes.  The Directed Study Plan will include preparing evidence of research and practical work to form an appropriate presentation for assessment.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a work ethic in the sketchbook that conveys personal interpretation of the scale and spectacle of natural phenomena in the natural world through dedicated self-directed study

• Employ a mixed media approach imaginatively, to produce a range of works that demonstrate subtle infusion of primary and secondary sources to good effect.

• Develop and present a coherent series of related artworks which considers the potential of using abstract natural patterns as a vehicle of expression of movement and energy in the natural world.

Sources

Core Readings

• MEHRETU,J,2007,Julie Mehretu:drawings, New York,N.Y: Rizzoli International Publications

• GIACOMETTI,A,1965,Alberto Giacometti, Garden City, N.Y: Distributed by Doubleday

• CALAME. I, Ingrid Calame,2011, Edinburgh : Fruitmarket Gallery

• WINTERS,T, Terry Winters: computation of chains, 1997, New York: Mathew Marks Gallery

• PARTENHEIMER, J, Jürgen Partenheimer : discontinuity, paradox & precision,2008,Birmingham: Ikon Gallery: Bonn: Kunstmuseum Bonn

• ROTH, D Dieter Roth : diaries,2012,Edinburgh Fruitmarket Gallery

•  DURY,C, Chris Drury: silent spaces,1998, London: Thames and Hudson

• McKEEVER, I ,2010, Artists’ laboratory: Ian McKeever: Hartgrove paintings and photographs, London: Royal Academy of Arts

Web Sources

http://museum.stanford.edu/diebenkornsketchbooks/

http://www.in-terre-active.net/

http://www.marymorrison.co.uk/

https://uk.pinterest.com/portico_/architect-perry-kulper/

Assessment

Details of the Art and Design assessment requirements can be found on the short course website. Please click on the following link for more information: Submission and Assessment Information

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.