Foundation Drawing

Like many art programs in the late 20th century, Winthrop University’s Foundation Year included two semesters each of 2D Design, 3D Design, and Drawing. The intent was to “level the playing field,” ensuring that all students would be prepared to enter their various concentration areas with a common grounding in the requisite skills and knowledge. While some students came from exceptional programs like the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, a two-year residential program with intensive preparation in visual arts, others had little or no formal art education. By the end of the first year, students had to pass a foundation review to go on to ceramics, sculpture, painting, printmaking, or photography. My approach to Drawing I was to start with the most basic elements, including freehand drawing of straight lines, circles, and ellipses of varying eccentricity, moving on to 1- and 2-point perspective, composition, principles of light and shade, and use of different drawing media. To encourage their individuality and develop their personal interests, students kept sketchbooks with reflective writing and drawing, along with sources of inspiration from art, music, dreams, and more.

Examples of art by students in the Foundation Drawing course at Winthrop University.