WHAT IS THIS CLASS? 
In this class "Beyond" Drawing" we will use drawing as a jumping-off point for more complex, idea-driven activities! There is a lot of flexibility of media within this class, as we will be exploring ideas and theme development.  We will be creating two zines.  One will be a CLASS ZINE, where each member of the class will come up with an idea for the theme and we will vote on the theme/ title, then each person will create one page.  The other will be a PERSONAL ZINE, where each class member will make their own zine, 5-10 pages in length (your choice) and choose their own theme.  Size and other specifications are laid out in detail below.

WHAT IS A ZINE?
A zine is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via photocopier. Zines are the product of either a single person or of a very small group, and are popularly photocopied into physical prints for circulation.  

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US SINCE WE ARE MEETING REMOTE?
You probably do no have a photocopier at home...if you do, that's pretty amazing!  What we are going to be doing, is using the computer to share our images with each other.  We'll be using zoom to meet 1-2 times a week to check in with each other.  We'll be sharing screens to see each other's drawings, whether you are taking pictures of your drawings and sharing your screens (I will show you how to do this if you don't know how, it's super easy),  sharing images of your digital drawings, if that is the media you choose to explore, or a combination of different media.  When we are done, you will send me your files and I will send them to a printer, and share them with you digitally.  The plan right now is to have governor's school print the CLASS ZINES and mail a copy to you.  You obviously will have your original work on hand, but we will have the opportunity to talk about editing by hand versus with the computer, and sketching by hand versus with the computer.

WHAT WILL WE EXPLORE?
Under the umbrella of zines, we will talk about and explore the following:

  • brainstorming vs. sketching (what are the differences?) 
  • subject matter + form = content
  • representational, nonobjective, and abstracted imagery
  • wet media, dry media, digital media and combos
  • collaboration
  • layering materials
  • command + Z
  • conscious vs. subconscious thinking (do you think in words or images?)
  • logic vs. intuition
  • failure (how do we define it? why are we afraid of it?)
  • what are your resources? what are your limitations?
  • getting outside your comfort zone vs. taking risks
  • research and documentation
  • play vs. boundaries

WHAT ARE THE LOGISTICS?
  1. (BEFORE OUR INTRO MEETING) ​Look at the examples of zines (see below).
  2. (BEFORE OUR INTRO MEETING) Write down ideas for CLASS ZINE and PERSONAL ZINE themes.  For example if you scroll below and look at the examples, in the student zine, the voted upon class theme was "Chair Syndrome."  We will vote in class.
  3. (BEFORE OUR INTRO MEETING) Consider: what is your "go to" drawing media?  Why do you choose it?  Has it become a comfort zone?  Do you want to feel comfortable or do you want to challenge yourself with media on a project in this class?  You will be creating a series of drawings, so consider how and how far to get out of your comfort zone.  Does it have to be an all or nothing situation or choice?
  4. (BEFORE MEETING #2) 1 full page of Brainstorming and ideas for CLASS ZINE and PERSONAL ZINE.  ***See handouts at bottom.***
  5. (BEFORE MEETING #2) 4-6 thumbnail sketches for for CLASS ZINE and PERSONAL ZINE.  ***See handouts at bottom.***
  6. (MEETING #3) Start Drawings for for CLASS ZINE and PERSONAL ZINE.
  7. (MEETING #4) Have 2 drawings finished.  
  8. (MEETING #6) Have 4 drawings finished.
  9. (REST OF CLASS) ​Persevere, push, question, edit, change, be open to new things and ideas.  Never think you know everything.
  10. When your CLASS ZINE is finished and ready to submit, it needs to be 11x17" and 300 dpi (***IF YOU ARE WORKING DIGITALLY FROM THE BEGINNING, THEN YOU NEED TO SET THIS UP INITIALLY***).  If the image has photoshop layers, flatten your image, change the file name, and save as a flattened jpeg or tiff.
  11. When your PERSONAL ZINE is finished and ready to submit, it needs to be (no smaller than 8.5 x 11"  each) and 300 dpi per page (***IF YOU ARE WORKING DIGITALLY FROM THE BEGINNING, THEN YOU NEED TO SET THIS UP INITIALLY***).  If the image has photoshop layers, flatten your image, change the file name, and save as a flattened jpeg or tiff.  If you get your PERSONAL ZINE printed for yourself, change the image mode from RGB to CMYK mode for printing.
​
WHAT ARE SOME WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT WITH EXAMPLES OF ZINES AND ARTISTS?
Example of a student zine from Spring 2020: https://www.curlymeg88.com/printmaking.html
https://legun.co.uk/
Tropic Zine on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tropiczine/?utm_source=ig_embed
sinθ magazine: https://www.instagram.com/sinethetamag/
Stuart Patience: https://www.stuartpatience.co.uk/
https://www.heartagency.com/artists/
​https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/general-research-division/periodicals-room/zines
https://www.peopleofprint.com/category/zine/
https://www.instagram.com/hyenahell/?hl=en
https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/burns.htm
https://paulwindle.com/ (Links to an external site.)
Phoebe Gloeckner: https://www.amazon.com/Exploding-Toilet-Tales-Harper-Trophy/dp/0064407020, https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Fried-Rat-Tales-Harper-Trophy/dp/0064407012, and others!
https://lesleypattersonmarx.com/home.html
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d3jxyj/how-to-make-a-zine-vgtl
https://omahalibrary.org/blogs/post/zines-qa/
https://www.omahazinefest.org/ (Also, if you google images of Omaha zine fest because of COVID, there are not really any new images on their website, but there are images on google)

WHERE ARE SOME HELPFUL DEMOS AND RESOURCES I CAN CHECK OUT?
Scanning software for Android phone: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.scan.android&hl=en_US 
Scanning software for Iphone::https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-scan-digital-pdf-scanner/id1199564834
Photoshop alternative for free, no need to download anything: https://www.photopea.com/
​Resize images in photoshop:  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/resize-image.html
Resampling, Image size, and resolution: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/image-size-resolution.html#:~:text=Resampling,)%2C%20new%20pixels%20are%20added.
Change image color mode from RGB to CMYK in Photoshop:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TolrOGUJISg
​​​Figure Drawing poses: https://line-of-action.com/
If you are interested in exploring pop-up book designs: https://www.extremepapercrafting.com/p/pop-up-lessons-how-to-books.html
CurLyMeg88's Youtube Channel (check it out, mostly printmaking, but a lot of it can be done at home):  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6SuCITZyFUcVJICqtn1qQhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6SuCITZyFUcVJICqtn1qQ