Introduction to Art - First Drawing

Assessment / Fall 2010 > AR 101 – Introduction to Art

FIRST DRAWING

DRAWING EXERCISE: ANYTHING THAT THE STUDENT WANTS TO DRAW
MEDIUM: PENCIL AND/OR PEN AND BOND PAPER
DATE: AUGUST 20, 2010
COURSE: AR 101 - INTRODUCTION TO ART
INSTRUCTOR: MR. RAFAEL A. PULMANO
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA-FSM (NATIONAL CAMPUS) • 2010.3 FALL

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	ASSESSMENT NOTES FIRST DAY ACTIVITY After a brief introduction about the course (and about this instructor), followed by the distribution of copies of the syllabus, the students were instructed to draw anything that they chose to draw. No lesson about art had been given to them at this point, as this was their 'real' first day in this class. The expected outcome was for the students to be able to demonstrate their inborn talent in drawing before they begin their formal study in art. The students were given the assurance that no drawing would be considered good or bad, beautiful or ugly, and that no one was expected to turn in a perfect work. They only had a few minutes to think and decide as to what subject to draw, and they had about 40-45 minutes to complete and turn in their works. They were then instructed to pass around and share their drawings with their classmates. This was a pretest. A comparison of these initial drawings with subsequent ones, such as their drawings in pen and ink approximately two months later, will show how much progress the students have made in this course. EXCERPTS FROM ART STUDENTS' JOURNALS During the first week of class in art, I was really scared because this was the hardest thing to me. I really didn’t know how to draw. When our teacher told us to draw our first drawing, I did but it looked like an elementary drawing. I think that I can become an artist one day if I study hard or keep on drawing. I hope that my instructor will help me and teach me how to draw. I am so glad that I am finally taking this course. In my entire life, drawing was one of my favorite hobbies. Since grade school, I already knew how to draw, and since then, I went crazy over drawing. Every where I went or everything I touched, I tended to draw things, things like flowers, houses, trees, and many simple things... Our teacher told us to draw something that we wanted to draw. He said anything that came to our mind. First thing that came to my mind was to draw my name in different style, in a large size. When we finished, my teacher told us to stand up and tell him why we chose that thing to draw. For me, I said I chose to draw my name because every time in my life when there’s nothing to do, I like drawing my name differently. It was really fun to draw whatever we wanted, and didn't have to mind whether my drawing was perfect or not. I wish this class will always be fun and exciting for the remaining part of this semester. Well, one thing I didn't really agree to that we did in class was, showing my drawings to the other students. I usually draw things to myself and not let other people see my drawing because, to me, my drawing looks like it's been drawn by a kindergartener. But I guess getting this kind of feelings is one thing I'll learn to let go when I finish this class. During the first week of instruction, I didn’t really focus in that class because I was not interested in being an artist and I thought that I would change it to music, but it was full. For the first time, I really didn’t know how to draw. But within that week, I did learn something, I learned how to do a simple drawing. That class, I can now say that it's fun and I can become an artist if I really try hard. I didn’t know how to draw things at first, and I didn’t want any of my classmates to see my stuff because I was afraid they might laugh at me. But wrong, I realized that it's part of life if we don’t know how to do it the only key is keep trying, doing more and more stuff will make you better. During the first day of class, I was wondering what it would be like showing my drawing to others. I felt embarrassed to share my work with other students however, I tried my best to understand the matter. As the instructor explained everything and gave good reasons why we were doing this, I began to feel confident in my drawings. Throughout the first week of class I felt great about my work and hoped that I could improve more. The beginning of the semester wasn’t really promising because at first, they had announced that there was no instructor available to take the class and that the previous instructor had gone for vacation or something but didn’t get a chance to return. That really had me worried. Then they informed us again that they would look for someone available to take that position. After receiving the information, I started to think that this person who would take up the class ... may not have professional experience in the field. That again had me worried. During our next meeting, there was relief. They informed us that there was one person available to take the class but the class would be held at 5 to 6 o’clock in the evening. Some of the students were not comfortable with the time but it was not a problem with me as long as the class was on the way. The only thing that bothered me was to ask myself whether this person was any good. During the first day of instruction, my worries paid back. There was an instructor in the classroom and by the time he introduced himself to the class and what skills he had about the course, without looking at the board, he drew an image of a cartoon character. That caught my attention and had me believe that he has professional talent in what he had volunteered to teach. I felt good knowing that.