Creating Art Through the Mind and Pencil
Art and imagination come into play in the art 121 Intro to Drawing class. Next semester there are three classes, two of which are online. The only in-person class in the spring is led by the Assistant Professor of art Aaron Miller. In this art class, people learn basic drawing skills to bring the paper to life.
Miller said, “I think anybody can learn how to draw.” He said it is like any other skill; you must practice it to get better. He said it is like the piano: at first it sounds strange, but once you practice it and hone the simple skills needed to play, it sounds great. In drawing 121, people work on the basic skills like making straight lines and drawing things in perspective. Miller said that they usually work a lot with still life objects for drawing 121.
Miller has been teaching art for over seven years. He said every year and every class is different and unique. Students often form a community within the class. They sometimes do field trips to see art exhibits. One of Miller’s favorite parts of the class, however, is when students show off their final portfolio at the end of the semester. He said it is “exciting how each person has developed.”
Every class usually has three elements within the four-hour time slot. They start with a critique of homework, then a short lecture talking about new concepts, and lastly, they practice drawing. Miller said that he wants people to practice drawing as much as possible during class. He grades drawing pieces not by their potential to go in an art gallery but by if the drawing shows the new skills people are practicing.
In the spring semester, the in-person introduction to drawing class will meet on Tuesdays from 1-5 p.m. in room 118 in the Dickinson building. It is a hybrid class, which means people meet in person and must do things online as well. Its course number is 33479.
Miller said that drawing can take a lot of time and effort, and “you never end your process of learning how to draw.” But if you like to draw or just want to learn more, Miller said that the class is a lot of fun and a great community. You learn a lot about the basics of drawing and have fun while doing it.
Stop by the Dickinson building to see examples from other drawing 121 classes. It brings the hallways to life as worlds of imagination hang across the walls. From shapes, teapots, and Pokémon creatures, the mind can fashion anything onto the page.
