Overview
This lecture introduces the concept of art mediums, focusing on drawing as an art form, its history, materials, techniques, and notable artists who shaped its perception.
What is an Art Medium?
- An art medium is the material or form used by artists to create artwork.
- Traditional fine art mediums, according to Vasari, are painting, sculpture, and architecture.
- Modern additions to mediums include photography and drawing.
The Role and History of Drawing
- Drawing was historically considered a preparatory step, not a fine art itself.
- It was used for sketches, plans for paintings, sculptures, and architectural blueprints.
- Today, drawing is recognized as a fine art with intrinsic value.
Notable Artists in Drawing
- Leonardo da Vinci used drawing to study nature, anatomy, and invent machines.
- Da Vinci wrote in mirror writing, possibly due to being left-handed or to keep ideas secret.
- Edgar Degas is known for pastel drawings, especially of dancers and intimate human moments.
Drawing Materials and Techniques
- Drawing surfaces are commonly hot press (smooth) or cold press (rough) paper.
- Mark-making tools consist of pigment (color), medium (material), and binder (holds to surface).
Graphite Pencil
- Made of graphite pigment and clay medium; can be erased.
- Pencils range from hard (H, more clay, lighter) to soft (B, more graphite, darker).
- "Number 2 pencil" refers to a specific graphite-clay ratio.
Metalpoint
- Uses a treated paper and metal stylus; popular in the Renaissance but rare today.
Charcoal
- Made by burning wood without oxygen; can be vine (lighter, more erasable) or compressed (darker, less erasable).
- Charcoal pencils offer less mess.
Chalk: Conte & Pastel
- Chalks use alumina as the medium and come in various colors.
- Conte is limited to red, black, brown, and orange.
- Pastels offer a full color range; often used on toned paper for highlights.
Ink
- Ink is wet and permanent; cannot be erased.
- Used with brushes, quills, or markers.
- Markers revolutionized illustration, comics, manga, and graphic design.
The Value and Variety of Drawing
- Drawing does not require perfection; it is valuable for studying, expression, and creativity.
- Modern drawing extends to street art, installations, and digital forms.
- Notable artists like Van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso used drawing expressively, not just realistically.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Art Medium — The material/form used to create art (e.g., pencil, charcoal, ink).
- Pigment — The substance that gives color to an art material.
- Medium (in materials) — The substance that holds or carries pigment (e.g., clay in pencils, water in watercolor).
- Binder — The component that fixes pigment to the drawing surface.
- Hot Press Paper — Smooth-surfaced paper made with heat.
- Cold Press Paper — Rough-surfaced paper made without heat.
- Graphite — Carbon material used as pigment in pencils.
- Metalpoint — Drawing technique using a metal stylus on treated paper.
- Charcoal — Drawing medium made from carbonized wood.
- Conte — A form of chalk with limited color, often red.
- Pastel — Colored chalk medium with a wide color range.
- Toned Paper — Non-white paper used to show highlights with lighter media.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Draw someone you see every day to observe them differently; this is an ungraded assignment but can be shared with the instructor.
- Watch the posted video on William Kentridge's charcoal drawing process on Canvas.
- Prepare for the next lecture on painting.