A + D 419 • Prof. Phoebe Gloeckner
Monday and Wednesday 6:30-9:30
Art + Architecture Bldg. 2043
Gloeckner's e-mail
Gloeckner's web site
School of Art and Design
U of M

• SYLLABUS

• STUDENT COMMITTEES

• SEMESTER SCHEDULE

• STUDENT PROJECTS, winter 05
fall 04

• PROJECT 1

• PROJECT 2

• COMICS RESEARCH PROJECT

DEVELOPING COMICS ENCYCLOPEDIA: ARTISTS • THEMES

• DRAWING WITH INK

• MAKE A PORTFOLIO

• FOLD & TRIM MINI COMICS

• A simple interactive comic

• MUSEUMS

• SCANNING B/W ART

• DIGITAL COLOR

• LARGE-FORMAT PRINTER

• SNAP OUT OF CTOOLS

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Advanced Illustration 419: Comics, Narrative in Art
Winter 2005

Assistant Professor Phoebe Gloeckner
e-mail: phoebeg@umich.edu
Location: Art and Architecture 2043
Time: Monday and Wednesday, 6:30-9:30
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday by appointment
Office: A + A Building 2070

catalogue description

#419, Section1, Illustration: Comics: Shoot the Messenger            Phoebe Gloeckner
Focusing on the freedom of expression and the stigmatization of the artist. In the 1960s, R. Crumb sold copies of his comic book, ZAP!, from a baby carriage he wheeled around San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. The era of "Underground Comix" had begun. Countless titles, such as "White Whore," "Big Bitch," "Gay Comix," "Young Lust," "Anarchy," and "Weirdo" were published by small presses. Topics such as sex, politics, race, and violence were fodder for furious creative activity. Efforts to censor and marginalize comics and cartoonists predictably followed. Some cartoonists were branded "crazy," others "amoral" or "anti-American." In this course, we will consider the relationship of the artist to his/her work. Does the artist have a responsibility to produce work that is socially "acceptable?" If so, what happens when this conflicts with the artist's mandate to be true to her/his own vision? And what are the differences between external censorship and self-censorship? With these questions in mind, students will create narrative comics in various media and will not be censored in any way by the instructor. Emphasis will be on story and artistic craftsmanship.           

assignments and projects:

• You will be assigned 2 major projects. Details to come.

• There will also be occasional smaller assignments, some involving research and writing.

• Class Book: Student work will be collected in a short-run book at the end of the semester. Each student gets a copy and so does the library.

sketchbook or journal

• You should be writing and drawing, cutting, and pasting things into your sketchbook everyday. This is your "lab book" for the class, the place where you "brainstorm," work out ideas, and record your process. Your book need not be a traditional sketchbook. You may prefer a loose-leaf binder.

your class website

• My mode of communication with you (outside of class) will be through the class website. It is your responsibility to check it for updates often. I will also occasionally send group or individual e-mails to you as the need arises.

books and supplies:

TEXTS (have been ordered and will be available soon at:

VAULT of MIDNIGHT
255 East Liberty Street, Suite 215
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 998-1413

(between 4th and 5th, across the street from the post office. The store is below ground level.)

The kind and knowledgable proprietors are Curtis and Liz Sullivan, who will extend a 20% discount on books and comics to my students. So be sure to mention that you are, indeed, a student in my class.

Zippy: From Here To Absurdity by Bill Griffith ($19.95)
ZAP! #00 (4.95)
R. CRUMB'S AMERICA by R. Crumb ($16.95)

TRUE GLITZ by Diane Noomin (out-of-print. I'll be giving you authorized photocopies)

SUPPLIES
Most have been ordered and will be available soon at:
ART WAREHOUSE
217 North Main Street
Ann Arbor MI 48104
734-662-2626

• Loose-leaf binder to store notes and hand-outs (you will receive MANY).
• Portfolio: buy one or make it yourself (instructions on web site).
• Drawing board (optional) with clips or masking tape to attach art.
• Brush for drawing. Recommended: Windsor-Newton series 7 sizes #1 and #2 (about 15.00 each–alternatives, like the Windsor-Newton series 110 may be as little as 3.99 per brush.)
• Brush for ink wash: round sable or good synthetic brush, size #6 - #10
• Ink: Windsor-Newton black India Ink (with a spider on the box). Higgins Black Magic waterproof India ink, is also good.
• Plastic mixing tray for mixing ink washes
• Water jar
• Soft cloth for wiping pens and brushes (chamois is good, as are old cloth diapers)
• Pen holders (one for standard-point dip pen nibs and one for crowquill nibs)
• Standard metal nibs: buy an assortment of flexible and rigid points.
For example:
--Flexible: Hunt 101 Imperial
--Semi-Flexible: Hunt 56 School Round point
--Rigid: Hunt 513EF Bowl Point
(If you can only find nibs in sets, get the Speedball Mapping or Sketching Project Set (both come with an assortment of nibs and a couple pen holders) Both are available at Art Warehouse on Main Street.
• 5 sheets of Strathmore Series 500 vellum or plate finish bristol paper, 3-ply or higher. The sheets are about 20 x 30", available at Art Warehouse on Main Street. An alternative is Rising Artist Drawing Bristol, 3 or 4 ply, plate or vellum finish, 22 x 30" sheets, available at Michigan Book and Supply.
• Drawing pencils. HB, 2B.
• Pencil sharpener
• Staedtler Mars white plastic eraser
• Ames lettering guide
• Erasing shield
• Scanner or access to a scanner
• Printer or access to a printer

Also useful:
• Art box or tool box to protect your supplies while transporting them.
• Pentel automatic pencil (PD347), .7 mm HB leads (office supply store)
• Pentel Clic eraser (retractable) with white plastic eraser refills (office supply store)
• An old shirt or smock
• Assortment of drawing templates
• Ruler, triangle, t-square

your responsibility as a student:

You are responsible for your own development as an artist in the budding stages of your career (now), and forever after. Take this responsibility seriously and get to work.

and as if all this were not enough, I must emphasize that:

• There is no gum-chewing or food-eating allowed in class. Eat your dinner before class. Beverages may be permitted. I think. But you must keep your drinks far away from your neighbor's artwork or computer.
• Your attendance is expected and required. Absences must be excused.
• Late assignments may result in dissapointing grades.
• Be on time.