Workshop title: EXPERIMENTAL DRAWING I
Mentor: Full Prof Goran Štimac
ECTS credits: 6
Duration: 8 to 10 days, 60 hours of lectures
Course description:
The workshop introduces the experimental idea about drawing. The basic structure of visual
space is systematically repeating in a series of specially designed exercises from the perspective
of drawing. The exercises of special character (defining CODE) lead students to non-figurative,
and abstract visual space, and ultimately to the objectless visual space. We do not do the
abstraction of the world, but we reject the classical pictorial values, objectivity, narrative,
symbolism, illusion and we focus exclusively on the fundamental ontological assumptions of the
creation of art. Using the language of the analysts we examine the possibilities of primary artistic
process devoid of any semantic upgrades. Drawing comes down to its own materiality. The
element of visual arts does not intend to represent anything else but itself.
After successful completion of the workshop, the students will be able to independently create
their own personal visual grammar on the architecture of drawing and apply new experiences in
the field of personal artistic research.
Development of general and specific competencies – workshop outcomes
Directing students to research, experimental way of thinking about contemporary visual space.
Taking into consideration the fact that the drawing is an integral part of not only the visual and
applied art, but also of theatre, film and video art, the importance of this program is evident. The
program encourages the development of new methods of artistic research and creates the
presumption of departure from the classic. The method of individual presentations of work
encourages students to define their own personal program.
The goals of this course are recognising, defining, and applying personal artistic expression in
arts work.
DAY 1
1)
Introduction
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture: presentation of methods and aims of the program.
The second part of the lecture: free drawing.
Students start the workshop by creating one drawing. They are independent and free to choose
the theme or motive, and the technique of drawing. They carefully think through this first
drawing and slowly build the structure of their drawings. We will try to identify and define the
fears and desires, problems, concerns, and then together to implement new methods of
independent art research.
We participate in a joint discussion of the works.
The required materials, equipment: students' individual choice of materials for the work.
PAUSE
2)
DOT (Portrait)
Duration: 4 hours
Before starting to draw, we negotiate the strategy of making drawings. The selection of the
specific CODE leads us to self-discipline which is very important for the development of a
personal artistic space. Discipline directs attention and perception.
DOT is the element of visual arts that we use.
It is important that a particular CODE is used throughout the whole work.
We use only DOT as the visual element. The drawing is being built as the figurative concept.
Students select their colleague as the model of their drawing. The person they portray does not
have to stand next to them. The person can be distant or out of their direct view. After careful
observation students begin to draw. While drawing they do not have to worry too much about
the resemblance, proportion, scale, the interest is put on the experience of as well as on the
character of the model. It is important to do that freely as possible without interference from the
mind. As they draw, and as the drawing progresses, students move away from the paper, and
they look for the new possible approach.
Students make two drawings. After each cycle of drawing we conduct a group discussion.
The required materials, equipment: white paper for drawing 100x70 cm, ink or tempera, a few
thinner and thicker brushes.
DAY 2
3)
LINE (Space)
Duration: 4 hours
A good artwork does not need an explanation It tells its own language, says it all, speaks in one
go and is understandable to everyone. That is its nature, its character. This makes it universal.
The first part of the lecture:
We look around us and choose what to draw by using the whole paper. A drawing freely comes
out from the format. The paper as an artistic polygon has no boundaries. Students create a black
and white drawing by using LINE as the basic element of visual arts. Through the whole drawing
students use only one type of thin and one type of thick line. They use two different techniques,
e.g. charcoal and marker or ink and graphite, etc.
The second part of the lecture: after discussion we draw another drawing.
Gradually we discover objectless visual space. We strive to realize the structure of that area. The
drawing space is composed of visual elements, as well as of empty space that becomes equally
valuable artistic element. Visual elements are expressed by the very clear visual language, while
vague, insufficiently defined (understandable) elements do not speak clearly. Therefore, the
relations that come out of their interaction become equally incomprehensible. In this case, the
artwork does not speak clearly but requires further clarification.
The required materials, equipment: white paper for drawing 100x70 cm (2 pcs), drawing
charcoal, pastels, graphite, marker.
PAUSE
4)
DOT and LINE (drawing without figurative template!)
Duration: 4 hours
Students determine by themselves what kind of dot and line they would like to use in the
drawing. After defining the CODE, it is important to apply it unchanged throughout the drawing.
This method might get boring, but the students are encouraged not to give up. The goal is to
overcome that feeling. In that way, you overcome your limits, you exercise your will, focus, and
finally you raise your creative capacity. Drawing is not always entertaining, but drawing is the
basic field for thinking and developing creative process. Drawing space is complex, multi-layered,
multi-dimensional, interferes deeply into the subconscious.
We will create two drawings. After each drawing we altogether participate in a joint discussion.
The required materials, equipment: white paper for drawing 100x70 cm (2pcs), drawing
charcoal, pastels, graphite, marker.
DAY 3
5)
SURFACE (hard-soft)
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture:
Students create their drawing (nonfigurative) by combining the constructed, geometric,
regularly designed surface in contrast to the amorphous, natural, accidental or unintentionally
shaped surface. We shall recognise different natures, characters of surfaces, sex, colour,
psychology.
The content of the drawing is no longer a story from our world but it becomes the space, and the
theme. The motive of drawing becomes the drawing itself. In this way, the drawing becomes
realistic, because it lives and speaks its own personal architecture. Now we become the media.
Drawing is not an illustration, but reality.
The second part of the lecture:
Students continue to work after a group discussion and the agreement on the new code.
The required materials, equipment:
White paper for drawing 100x70 cm (2cs), ink, tempera, several brushes, water containers.
PAUSE
6)
STAIN (large-small)
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture:
We use STAIN (large and small) as the only element of visual arts. Do not use any colour or tone.
By choosing STAIN, and emphasising the contrast in size as the only element of visual arts we are
directed to the importance of their relation.
The whole paper is equally valuable and used while creating a drawing. We neglect
figurativeness. The attention is drawn to the essence of artistic expression. Sometimes we move
away from drawing and carefully observe from the distance. In that way, we want to understand
the whole, what happens, which are those elements that change the essence?
The second part of the lecture:
Contrasting the approaches.
We use a STAIN, irregular, amorphous, incidental compared to the constructed, geometric,
deliberate, concrete stain-surface.
We define the exact characteristics of STAIN.
The required materials, equipment:
White paper for drawing 100x70 cm (2pcs), pastels, charcoal, ink, tempera, several brushes,
water containers.
DAY 4
7)
SURFACE - STAIN – LINE
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture:
We use three elements of visual arts: SURFACE, STAIN and LINE.
A drawing (non-figurative) is built by the combination of constructed, geometric, proper,
designed surface, in contrast to the amorphous, natural, random shape, a line (slow and fast).
The content of the drawing is no longer a story from our world, but it is space. The theme-motive
of the drawing becomes the drawing itself, and its very nature. Drawing becomes realistic,
because it lives and speaks only its own real space. Drawing is not an illustration, but reality.
The second part of the lecture:
We build the drawing by the combination of one constructed, geometric, proper, designed
surface, in contrast to the lines and spots.
The required materials, equipment: white paper for drawing 100x 70 cm (2 pcs), pastels,
charcoal, ink, tempera, acrylic, several brushes, water containers.
PAUSE
8)
FREE DRAWING
Duration: 4 hours
In the first part of the lecture students do independently, while in the second part of the lecture
we continue to work after a group discussion.
We start making the drawing by using methods that we practiced during last lectures.
Independently and freely, students choose the theme or motive and the technique of drawing.
Carefully we think through this first piece of artwork and slowly we build the structure of the
drawings.
We participate in a joint discussion of the works.
The required materials, equipment: free choice of the material.
DAY 5
7)
PLANS
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture:
While constructing the drawing we agree to apply three spatial plans:
1. Most distant plan: starting with broad, light, airy, transparent, large elements. Generally,
not defined, without margins, without end.
2. Middle plan: more defined, both in size and in shape, colour, form, intensity.
3. Closest plan: clear, firm, sharp, little, tiny, intense, strong coloristic element or elements.
It is important to distinguish plans clearly. We should carefully pay attention on which plan the
students are currently focused on. This kind of concept of work initially has to be precise. We
develop plans by using an extensive range of relations: large-small, full-empty, transparentsaturated, atmospheric perspective, from large to small, from unimportant to important, from
broad to tiny/clear.
Later, after the repetition or the spread of this principle we can apply the same experience
without following the rules (we can jump, replace, combine plans etc).
The second part of the lecture:
Students start drawing with charcoal. They continue doing different plans with the pen, marker
pen, ink and pen, watercolour and brush.
The required materials, equipment: four drawing papers, 200-2050 g, tempera, brushes, pastel,
charcoal, pencils, ink and pen, acrylic, water containers.
PAUSE
8)
REPLACEMENT
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture:
Time-limited drawing. After 30 minutes of continuous drawing students replace their drawing
with the colleague’s, and they continue to work on the colleague’s drawing for another 30
minutes. At the end, the drawing becomes the artwork of the student who has last worked on it.
The intention is to use given situation, poetry, architecture as inspiration and an opportunity to
create freely. Students are getting used to new, we are familiar with the sense of fear. We need to
use fear, which is, as well as hunger, a natural state.
CODE that we use for the first part of the drawings are LINE and STAIN.
The second part of the lecture:
Students again use the time code, and draw freely for 40 min. Then they exchange their drawing
with any of the colleagues. We participate in a group discussion of works.
Single exposure and presentation of work encourages students to define their personal program.
By looking at the work of their colleagues, students can recognize some of their fears. They can
see places they want to avoid, and see different solutions for the same task.
The required materials, equipment: several white drawing papers, 100x70 cm, soft charcoal,
pastels, graphite, ink, tempera, acrylic, several brushes, pen, ink and pen, markers, crayons, water
containers.
DAY 6
9)
DICTATION
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture:
Dictation-directed drawing in duration of 60 min.
Mentor dictates to students what and how to draw every 5 to 10 min. In that way, the mentor
leads the students how to structure their drawing. It is important for students to approach the
drawing unburdened by what they have learned and what they normally expect from their
drawings.
During the group discussion at the end of the cycle the students witness their common
experience, compare different works they created on the same platform, at the same time, by the
same means. Students realise that the opportunities are far greater than they themselves could
imagine.
Existing situation is always a good starting point. The aim is to use already known in order to
build the new, do not be afraid to change and to meet and overcome the fear of the new. Exercise
teaches creative thinking and practical performance of artistic and research drawings.
The second part of the lecture:
Performing dictation-directed drawing again. We agree on the CODE after group discussion.
The required materials, equipment: several white drawing papers, 100x70 cm, soft charcoal,
pastels, graphite, ink, tempera, acrylic, several brushes, pen, ink and pen, markers, crayons, water
containers.
PAUSE
10)
TEAMWORK (blindfolded drawing)
Duration: 4 hours
The first part of the lecture:
Jointly we prepare the strategy for the project development.
One day in advance, we prepare a primed paper or canvas, which is afterwards set on a large
drawing table and cover with a non-transparent felt.
After the explanation of the concept, students start drawing on the basis of the agreed time CODE.
Participants take turns in drawing according to predetermined rhythm.
Drawing is done blindfolded so that the hands are tucked underneath the fleece during the whole
time of drawing. Upon completion of the drawing (cc. 100 min) the felt is moved, and the
participants for the first time witness the result of composition.
We carry out group discussion.
The second part of the lecture:
Again, students make a drawing. After group discussion, we agree on the CODE.
The whole action is either photo or video recorded.
The required materials, equipment: primed wrapping 200x300cm (2 pcs), soft charcoal, pastels,
graphite, ink, tempera, acrylic, several brushes, pen, ink and pen, markers, crayons, water
containers.
DAY 7
11)
INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW VISUAL ART ELEMENT
Duration: 4 hours
Students begin drawing individually. Each one of them sets the task, his or her CODE.
In the last third of lecture we introduce one common new element of visual arts for drawing.
This new element is unusual, illogical, and strange. In such a way we create new context, we are
entering into new space. Experiment becomes a close working method. It helps us to overcome
embarrassment and fear of new and unknown.
We remember the feelings of unease and fear as litmus-paper that reminds us that we are on the
right track. Maybe something new happens, something we did not plan, but something that we
need and what we want.
Progress implies abandoning the habits, and accepting the unknown.
We conduct a group discussion.
The required materials, equipment: white drawing paper 200-300 g. 50 x 70 cm, ink and brush,
pencil, marker, pastel.
PAUSE
12)
ART INSTALLATION (SPACE CODING)
Duration - 4 hours
We altogether create a group work outdoors.
While doing the group work we would not worry about durability and sustainability of work in
the outdoor conditions. We need to focus our attention to the problem of overcoming the space
with the elements of visual arts.
By looking and exploring the space we live in we recognise certain materials that in a given
moment and a given relation broadcast new energy. These peculiarities such as texture, strength,
endurance, and weight we use in the construction of drawings.
Before drawing, we conduct the debate, negotiate, and agree on the strategy and CODE.
The work on the installation begins with the structural elements of the first plan that later the
elements of other plans are applied to.
We use paper, tape, knife, thin rope, soft wire.
We use the given situation: a building, a wall or other elements of outdoor space like a bench, a
tree, a sidewalk, etc.
The required materials, equipment: lightweight hand tools, knife, paper, tape, thin rope, soft wire,
various found materials, etc.
DAY 8
13)
THE ANONYMOUS ART INSTALLATION (personal space coding)
Duration: 8 hours
Students either alone or in small groups perform an art installation in their personal CODE in the
outdoor space around the city.
a) From the found materials or any material available to the students, they need to try in some
free space to perform a spatial drawing. We can call it also the Anonymous art installation. Do not
worry about the size, durability, visibility of these spatial installations. It is important that you
personally have the experience and the documentation of the work. Once you leave your place of
work and the installation remains, it continues to work, to function anonymously or nonaggressive and unobtrusively. This is personal, intimate work.
b) Choose only one, to you interesting object, and put it in a spatial visual situation that is equally
interesting to you. By setting up this element of yours we change the context of space that in a
way becomes personally coded. Make a few photos of the spatial installation. Do not worry about
the size, durability, visibility of these spatial installations.
Document the work digitally and get ready for the presentation.
Design one new similar project.
The required materials, equipment: students’ individual choice.
DAY 9
14)
GROUP WORK REVIEW AND EXHIBITION
Duration: 8 hours
Group review of all works (spatial drawings, installations, photographs, video, independent
projects).
All students participate in the group discussion and examination of their works.
We put on an experimental exhibition in the hallway.