Course code:
The ability to make careful observations and record them through sketches is an invaluable tool for artists, scientists, and other curious and creative people. Maintaining a sketchbook can be both a professionally useful and personally rewarding practice. This multidisciplinary course will encourage students to develop a regular sketchbook practice using animals as the focus of study. It is intended for any student who wishes to improve their sketching and observational skills, gain an understanding of animal anatomy, and learn about local animal life. Students will draw from museum specimens, taxidermy mounts, and live animals using a variety of media and techniques suitable for field sketching. Class will take place in the Dorr Museum and at field sites within Acadia National Park and Hancock County.
This course will meet for two three hour sessions per week. The first session will include a lesson about a particular animal taxon, followed by sketching exercises using museum specimens and mounts as references. In the second session, students will draw from live animals in the field. Students will also spend approximately nine hours per week outside of class on additional field sketching assignments, readings, and research.
Evaluations will emphasize participation and student growth rather than artistic ability. Our focus will be on practice and learning to effectively record observations, not on creating polished illustrations. Prior experience with drawing is not required.
Prerequisites:
None.
Always visit the Registrar's Office for the official course catalog and schedules.