Self-portrait from observation
graphite on 18 x 24 drawing paper
Intermediate Drawing
Montgomery College, MD
2012
Standing Figure from observation
charcoal on 18 x 24 drawing paper
Drawing and Imaging (Foundation)
Parsons School of Design, NYC
2018
Four gesture studies with accents of shadows and light
charcoal on 18 x 24 drawing paper
Foundation Drawing
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
2008
Seated Figure with inkwash
ink on paper
Intermediate Drawing
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
2008
Beginning Still-life Drawing
graphite on 18 x 24 drawing paper
Drawing and Imaging (Foundation)
Parsons School of Design, NYC
2021
Intermediate Still-life drawing with Squash
graphite on 18 x 24 drawing paper
Drawing and Imaging (Foundation)
Parsons School of Design, NYC
2024
Micro-Macro (Adobe Illustrator Drawing)
Assignment: students use one ‘macro’ photograph (of architecture, a room, or a similar spatial structure) and two to three close-up, hi-res ‘micro’ photographs of smaller objects to create a synthetic, invented space in Illustrator. The smaller objects are drawn to appear resolved at 300% zoom and then ‘embedded’ within the larger spatial framework.
In a prerequisite assignment, I teach a specific Pen-Tool method to prevent students from using Image Trace functionality. In this image, the room is the ‘macro’ image, and the poster, one of the figurines, and the self-portrait in the mirror are ‘micro’ images, all drawn from separate photo sources of different environments.
Drawing and Imaging (Foundation)
Parsons School of Design, NYC
2022
Digital Surrealism Drawing Project
graphite on 18 x 24 drawing paper
Assignment: I break students up into three groups, and ask them to collaborate and instruct a model to pose for a photograph. One group comes up with a pose, one group arranges props, and another group arranges lighting. Students then take multiple photographs of the model not knowing what the next steps are.
Students are then asked to warp, distort, or otherwise manipulate their strongest photograph in Photoshop, and then print the photo at 8.5 x 11. Students then use a grid to enlarge the photograph in an 18 x 24 drawing of it.
In the drawing, 30-50% of the final work must be improvised and invented from imagination. The assignment is meant to emphasize chance, process, improvisation, and to explore an ‘aimless’ project where the next step is never clearly outlined in advance.
This is a late-in-the-semester project, where students have already learned a lot about Photoshop, some of the essentials of drawing, and there is a social classroom dynamic where they can enjoy the collaborative aspects of the assignment. I encourage students to lean in to their ideas and push the drawings as far as possible.
Drawing and Imaging (Foundation)
Parsons School of Design, NYC
2021
Photoshop Collage
Assignment: ‘Story of a Thing.’ Students are asked to create a digital, photo-based collage that tells the story of an object of personal importance to them. The primary Photoshop tools at use are Layer Masks, Layer Distortions like transparency and warping, and color filters. All the photographic input must be generated by the student (no found imagery or internet imagery). Students are encouraged to generate an extensive photo library and consider camera angle, lighting, and texture early on in the assignment.
This student’s object was a box, a gift from a friend who turned out to be untrustworthy. She wanted the final image to express a feeling of instability, tension, and drama which she associated with this box.
Drawing and Imaging (Foundation)
Parsons School of Design, NYC
2022
Photoshop Collage
Assignment: ‘Story of a Thing.’ Students are asked to create a digital, photo-based collage that tells the story of an object of personal importance to them. The primary Photoshop tools at use are Layer Masks, Layer Distortions like transparency and warping, and color filters. All the photographic input must be generated by the student (no found imagery or internet imagery). Students are encouraged to generate an extensive photo library and consider camera angle, lighting, and texture early on in the assignment.
This student’s object was an analog camera (all of the images in this collage are heavily distorted photographs of the camera or parts of it). They wanted to create an image that expressed the energy, joy, and excitement that they felt when using the camera, as it was their primary creative outlet.
Drawing and Imaging (Foundation)
Parsons School of Design, NYC
2022