SUNY Cobleskill Homepage

Introduction

Supplies

Markmaking

Components of Art

Line

Composition

Shape

Figure/Ground

Texture

Value

Space

Perspective

More Perspective

Still More

The end of Perspective

Color ~ Hues

Color ~ CMYK

Color ~ HVS

Atmospheric Perspective

Color Schemes

Color Interaction

Repetition

Typography

Gestalt

Supply List

Supplies may be purchased from any source of your choice... Bring ALL supplies with you on Tuesday, 1/31.

Prices, below, are approximate.

(H) Harmony Acres Flowers & Crafts

108 Union Street (between Cobleskill Library and Mart Cleaners)

NOTE: Click on "View larger map" to see store location

(W) Walmart

Walmart has changed their inventory; some of the supplies may not be available as listed below.

Walmart is located in Cobleskill, Oneonta, Amsterdam, Albany, Schenectady, and many other locations where it has destroyed local small businesses.

(B) Bookstore at SUNY Cobleskill

 

The List

  1. Sketch Pad At Least 11 x 14
  2. (H) Sketch pad 11x14 (300 series) 12.49
  3. Two Watercolor pads Strathmore 400 12 Sheets   9 x 12
  4. (W) One Bienfang Bristol Board Paper Pad, 9 x 12  20 Sheets   $6.47

       OR     

     (H)   One Strathmore Bristol, smooth 9 x 12  $7.39

  5. 12” Steel Ruler (cork on the back)
  6. (W) C-Thru Ruler Co Flexible, Steel Ruler, 12” - 18"  $3.49 - $5.49

    (H) $4.29

    (B) 18" $6.00

  7. Compass
  8. (H) $1.39

    (B) $1.49

  9. X-Acto,  #1 knife #11 blade
  10. (W) X-Acto Craft  #1 Knife with 5  #11 blades  $5.97

    (H) X-Acto #1 Knife with 1 #11 blade, $3.67

    (B) X-Acto #1 Knife with 1 #11 blade, $$3.19

  11. Black, disposable, 0.4 mm line width… or extra-Fine… or XF, technical pen(s).
  12. (H) Micron Pen .35mm 2.89

  13. Glue Stick(s)
  14. (W)   Elmer's School Glue Stick disappearing purple, 6g, 2pk  $0.50

    (H) $.98

    (B) $2.38

  15. Eraser “set” of 3 erasers: Kneaded, Art Gum, White Plastic if you can find them as a set...
  16.    OR     

    one Gum eraser AND one Kneaded eraser

    (H) Kneaded & (H) Gum $.98 each

    (B) Kneaded & (B) Gum $.98 each

  17. Camel Hair brush set of 4 brushes
  18. (H) $5.99

     

  19. Masking tape ¾”
  20. (B) $2.59

    (H) $2.39

  21. 18 color Watercolor set
  22. (H) 18 color Aquarelle set $8.79

  23. India Ink

    (H) Black India Ink $4.29

  24. Rags and/or paper towels

 

  1. BRING TO NEXT CLASS!!!     Assorted, miscellaneous (used and otherwise) markers and other arty things... crayons, pastels, colored pencils, twigs, sponge, etc.... that you may already have.  AND a bottle of India ink.


  2. Some sort of a box (Fishing tackle box, tool box, “Art box,” etc.) or fabric bag (Price Chopper bag?) to carry supplies

 

First Homework Assignment:

Name Plate:  Create a personal nameplate, plaque or identifying object.
Create a nameplate that can sit at your workspace.   Your name must be prominent and legible. 
Go past that and aim to express something of who you are.  Make this object a distinctive and unique expression of a distinct and unique person – design it to reflect you.  

Goal

Identify yourself, express who you really are, introduce yourself to your classmates and teacher.   Aim to make this as graphically interesting as possible.  Engage our attention.  Make us remember!

Required 

Your (preferred) name must be legible from at least 15’ away. Your actual name must be legible from 3’ (or more) away.

Materials, Size   

You may use any materials.  (Any safe materials…pyrotechnics & live animals are discouraged.) 

Physical

The nameplate must be able to sit/stand on your desk. It must be able to survive the semester.

Dimensions 

Your nameplate must be no larger than 12” wide by 6” high AND no smaller than 6” wide by 4” high. If it unfolds, blossoms, or inflates for actual use, you must be able to set it up in less than one minute.)

Process Goals

Explore your own traits and graphic/formal/material preference...what look is you?
Assess the technical/craft skills you have right now to manipulate tools and materials.
Identify the problem boundaries and goals.
Conceive, refine, and create a simple design that reflects you.

Suggestions

Sketch lots of ideas...quickly. There is no "right" answer to this. Give yourself lots of options — require yourself to create 20 possibilities in 10 minutes. (really...you can do it.)
Then step back and see which ones seem more "right" than the others.
Refine, combine, revise as needed — sketch more.
Then clean up several of the best concepts as best possible — take them to the next level of clarity, detail and completeness.
Remember that your idea is more important than your skill...but push your craftsmanship as far as you can in the intentionally short time you have to do this.

 


Type Legibility:
Your job is to create type that allows your name to be read from a distance of 15'.
How do you create — or protect — type readability? There are few hard, fast rules on type selection. Many varying traits alter readability. Below are issues that influence readability, and thus type selection and layout. Note that a problem in one area can often be compensated for by improving another area.
Type size: bigger is easier to read (from a distance)
Type face/design: ornate/complex faces are tougher to read -- simple letterforms, closest to the most familiar letter-shapes, are most readable. Script is frequently the most likely to distort classic letterforms.
Type weight (boldness): bolder faces tend to be more readable...until the boldness begins to distort the basic quality of the letterform.
Type-Background Contrast: The greater the contrast (color, texture, light/dark) between letter and background, the easier to read. Common black-text-on-white offers the most contrast, but much less contrast can support adequate legibility. Subtle contrasts need other traits to compensate (such as a very bold typeface.)
Type Spacing: Very tight line-spacing or tight letter-spacing will interfere with readability. On the other hand, extremely wide letter-spacing will also "break up" words, making them awkward or impossible to read.
Busyness/Clutter of Background: If the background behind/around the type is not constant/even (all one color or simple), then the textures, shapes and colors of background elements can interfere with reading the distinct shape of the letters.
Clarity/Focus/Sharpness of Letterforms: This doesn't occur often. However, a soft-edged letterform loses readability, while sharp edges are most easily readable. Basically, a blurred shape is, obviously, a less distinct and less recognizable shape.
Regular vs. Irregular Baseline: Most type is positioned along a nice, steady, straight line — the baseline. If, however, type is allowed to flow along a curve or is allowed to jumble up and down, readability will drop. Also type arranged vertically is more difficult… in fact, any baseline other than a horizontal one will decay readability. 

Nameplate is Due at the beginning of next class.

 

Also, BRING TO NEXT CLASS (1/26):     Assorted, miscellaneous (used and otherwise) markers and other arty things... crayons, pastels, colored pencils, twigs, sponge, etc.... that you may already have.  AND a bottle of India ink.