NSSCO Art and Design 6149 study plan

Set up a timed observation routine: complete three 20-minute still-life drawings from direct observation using only line, and log start and end times for each

Draw a simple object (cup, bottle, or shoe) from three different angles and annotate where the ellipse of the rim changes with eye level

Practise sighting and proportion checks by measuring one object against another with a pencil and recording the ratio in the margin of each study

Build a personal reference sheet of ten observational errors you keep making (foreshortening, tangent lines, weak ellipses) and note the correction for each

Render form using a single light source: complete two tonal studies of the same object, one in graphite and one in charcoal, showing cast shadow, core shadow, and reflected light

Draw a seated or standing figure from life or a mirror in three 10-minute gesture poses, then one 30-minute sustained study that fixes proportion

Apply linear and atmospheric perspective by drawing a corridor, street, or row of desks with a consistent horizon line and vanishing point

Critique your week 1 and week 2 drawings side by side and write five specific improvements you can already see

Construct a 12-step colour wheel in paint and label primary, secondary, and tertiary hues accurately

Mix and paint a value scale of at least seven steps in three different hues to show how each hue darkens and lightens

Paint three colour-scheme studies of the same simple still life: complementary, analogous, and triadic

Record in writing how each scheme changes the mood of the composition, citing specific areas of each study

Complete one sustained still-life painting from observation using a limited palette of no more than five colours

Demonstrate edge control by painting one study where hard and soft edges are deliberately contrasted in at least three areas

Apply a ground or underpainting and document with photographs or notes how it affected the final colour temperature

Compare your finished painting against your week 1 tonal drawing of a similar subject and list three transferable lessons

Sketch and annotate three design ideas for a small functional craft object (bowl, container, or vessel) showing front, side, and top views

Build one maquette or model in card, clay, or found material, and record the making process in four labelled stages

Test structural soundness by loading, handling, or using the object and note where the form failed or held

Evaluate the finished object against your original sketches and identify two changes you would make in a second version

Redesign an information poster for a real local event, applying a clear hierarchy through scale, weight, and spacing

Set a short block of text in two contrasting typefaces and annotate why each choice suits the message

Produce three thumbnail layout variations before committing to one final, and keep all thumbnails as evidence of decision-making

Check legibility by viewing the poster at arm's length and at three metres, then adjust any element that fails either test

Build a timeline of eight artworks or movements from different periods and regions, noting date, place, and one defining visual characteristic of each

Write a comparative analysis of two works from different periods, focusing on how materials and context shaped each one

Practise visual analysis by describing one unseen reproduction in structured form: subject, composition, colour, technique, and probable purpose

Connect one historical work to your own week 4 or week 6 work and explain the specific influence in writing

Select and sequence your strongest work from weeks 1 to 7 into a coherent portfolio that shows development rather than isolated pieces

Write an artist's statement of at least 200 words that explains your investigation, your decisions, and what you would explore next

Annotate each selected piece with a short caption linking it to a goal from an earlier week, so the portfolio reads as a journey

Rehearse a five-minute spoken walkthrough of the portfolio and time it, so you can present the work confidently