Overview

Sketching is an important part of making art, even in digital and technological practices! Your sketchbook is a personal creative and inspirational resource as well as a place to explore new ideas and experiment with techniques and best practices. Across the semester you will keep a digital "sketchbook", completing 3 sketches that expand upon an audiovisual technique covered in class. Keep in mind that your sketchbook is a helpful tool for you and your own learning. In this sense, your sketchbook should reflect your interests. Your sketchbook is a place for trial and error, risk-taking, and experimenting with how a technical process can convey critical meaning. As such, sketches are not expected to be polished and functional art pieces on their own, and should rather convey exploration, self-awareness, and curiosity around your interests and art-making processes. You may use this assignment to problem solve technical aspects for studio projects, learn a new skill, creatively expand upon a technique covered in class, or develop your own idea from scratch. After completing your sketch, you will submit a PDF to Moodle that documents your sketch, including its concept, technical goals, and outcomes.

Instructions:

1. Choose a new skill or idea that inspires you. Pair a technical process with a simple concept or subject. Pick from the list of sketching prompts below or explore your own idea.
2. Create your sketch. Experiment with how audio and visuals can be meaningfully combined using software or equipment.
3. Submit documentation in PDF format to Moodle by the due date.

Assignment Breakdown

Sketching Prompts

Prompts are simply ideas to get you started. Get creative! Bring your own ideas and artistic concepts and technical goals. Feel free to modify, expand, or otherwise make use of your "sketchbook" in a way that is most useful to you!

1. Transform an analog source into something digital.
2. Transform a still image into something with movement.
3. Experiment with audiovisual equipment - record videos, take sound recordings, then combine them in software to create an audiovisual.
4. Transform or translate visual into sound, or sound into visual.
5. Create a generative image and/or sound
6. Build a simple color-tone system that relates colour to sound.
7. Create a montage or collage of image and/or sound.
8. Create a simple video or sound mixer that blends video together.
9. Create a visual or sound effect that transforms a video or audio clip into something new.
10. Follow an online tutorial to learn a new skill then meaningfully apply it to your own idea.
11. Develop a technical skill that will be useful for your one of your studio projects. Identify what you need to learn in order to accomplish your idea then seek resources to do so.
12. Come up with your own idea! You are not limited to choosing a prompt from this list. Feel free to discuss your ideas with me!

Submission Requirements

In PDF format, submission are due 11:59 PM via Moodle on the due date.

1 PDF with the following:

• Title of the sketch
• Your Name
• Date
• 1 image that represents your sketch - ie. what was the visual outcome of your experiment? Use an image that conveys the artistic concept
• 1 image of your technical process - ie. a TD network, MaxMSP patch, other audiovisual software, or your digital/analog equipment setup
• 1 link to an uploaded audiovisual file that shows the sketch or experiment in action
• Short reflection on how you arrived at your approach (max. 1 page)
• List of References
• Acknowledgment of the Use of AI (if use of AI was approved and deemed necessary)

Grading Criteria (10 pts per sketch)

1. Sketch has a clear artistic concept that is paired with a technical goal. Technical implementation supports the artistic concept effectively. (2 pts)
2. Sketch demonstrates a strong understanding of how technologies were implemented, made visible through audiovisual documentation, ie. screenshot, comments, video/sound documentation (2 pts)
3. Submissions contain all requested materials and is presented in an organized and legible manner. (2 pts)
4. Written components are well written, clear, and demonstrate strong engagement in self-reflection, development, and exploration of process (2 pts)
5. Sketch demonstrates experimentation and risk-taking in relation to one's learning (2 pts)