STUDENT ARTWORK EXAMPLES

Click to expand image and see project description.

Rhea
2025
Course: Intermediate Drawing
Project: Reference Spectrum

Reference Spectrum Project:
The idea of abstraction as a spectrum is introduced, from literal to abstract. Students collect three references and make a new work, with each reference on a different region of this spectrum: one reference is used literally, one abstractly, and one from somewhere in the "middle" (open to their interpretation).

Burnt Out

Jami
2025
Course: Intermediate Drawing
Project: Metaphor Still Life

Metaphor Still Life Project:
I like to necessitate student interaction as much as possible for the first project of the semester, as this one does. Students are randomly given a word on a slip of paper (words like FAMILY, MORTALITY, ACADEMIA, EMBODIMENT, PRECARIOUSNESS) and paired with a partner. They then interview their partner about their word and create a still life meant to metaphorically represent, discuss, or question their partner's response. Students are limited to achromatic materials of their choice, illusionistic representation, and 18"x24" paper. Title as an important part of a work is explored.

The Red Line

Morgan
2025
Course: Intermediate Drawing
Project: Massive Collection

Massive Collection Project:
Students choose a single subject and draw the subject at least 40 times. Every 10 drawings, there is a check-in and questionnaire where students are asked to notice patterns (mental, material, or physical); whether it's appropriate to expand the subject matter; and if there are cliches they are either purposely leveraging or that could be rethought.

Meeting Myself (Again)

2025
Course: 2D Fundamentals
Project: Iteration

Iteration Project:
Students were asked to do an initial work—materials and content their choice—and, after extensive critique, were asked to iterate on the work, with the only rule to investigate an aspect of the original work and not copy.

This student began with a painting on his identity as a trans man, which became a sculpture about manhood made from his grandfather's vintage silk tie collection.

Reference Spectrum
2025
Course: Intermediate Drawing
Project: Reference Spectrum

Reference Spectrum Project:
The idea of abstraction as a spectrum is introduced, from literal to abstract. Students collect three references and make a new work, with each reference on a different region of this spectrum: one reference is used literally, one abstractly, and one from somewhere in the "middle" (open to their interpretation).

Sticky and Jaden
2025
Course: Intermediate Drawing
Project: I'm Sorry, Now Fight

I'm Sorry, Now Fight Project:
Students are given different compositional armatures and asked to create two graphite drawings—fully tonal and illusionistic—of two subjects. Their compositions must be intentionally incomplete. They trade drawings with a partner and complete the composition, but can only use colored pencil and draw in line. An exercise in bravery and trust as much as composition.

Picking (Year 19)

Lilia
2024
Course: Visual Thinking: Drawing Fundamentals
Project: Metaphor Still Life

Metaphor Still Life Project:
I like to necessitate student interaction as much as possible for the first project of the semester, as this one does. Students are randomly given a word on a slip of paper (words like FAMILY, MORTALITY, ACADEMIA, EMBODIMENT, PRECARIOUSNESS) and paired with a partner. They then interview their partner about their word and create a still life meant to metaphorically represent, discuss, or question their partner's response. Students are limited to achromatic materials of their choice, illusionistic representation, and 18"x24" paper. Title as an important part of a work is explored.

Chelsea
2025
Course: Intermediate Drawing
Project: Lock In

Lock In Project:
For the end-of-semester project, students are introduced to the idea that, as an artist, one's work/practice is research. Students develop a research topic and question and create an image that is an investigation of that question. This student had birthed a child at the beginning of the semester, and this drawing—a 24"x52" triptych—was the culmination of her thinking about motherhood and loss.

Flowers & GPU

Drew
2025
Course: Intermediate Drawing
Project: Metaphor Still Life

Metaphor Still Life Project:
I like to necessitate student interaction as much as possible for the first project of the semester, as this one does. Students are randomly given a word on a slip of paper (words like FAMILY, MORTALITY, ACADEMIA, EMBODIMENT, PRECARIOUSNESS) and paired with a partner. They then interview their partner about their word and create a still life meant to metaphorically represent, discuss, or question their partner's response. Students are limited to achromatic materials of their choice, illusionistic representation, and 18"x24" paper. Title as an important part of a work is explored.

Thaenne
2025
Beginning Drawing
Project: Balance

Balance Project:
Students take this piece in steps, with the goal to begin to foster a "feel" or intuition for composition without the use of an armature. First, they are given 10 black skewers and asked to organize them to create a sense of balance. They trace the skewers in black ink. They then obscure and collage with white and colored paper and end with observational drawing of still life objects, with each layer still focusing on the feeling of balance.