GEOS 14
Drawing Science Winter 2024

Drawing Science is for anyone curious about the expansive intersection of art and science. This fun, rigorous course is flexibly designed for every experience level. Students will learn how to analyze and draw via direct observation of fossils, bones, plants, taxidermy, and more. We will explore where and how the sciences overlap with the creative process. We will discover where and how art and observation assist in the field and in the studio, benefiting visual communication, imagination, and even play. Students will observe, draw, and explore their art materials 15-17 hours a week. The remaining 3-5 hours will be spent on reading or viewing material for in-class discussion; related materials are at the intersection of art/science/eco-theory. Students will primarily work in a dedicated sketchbook using graphite, colored pencils, pen, and watercolors. This class is 90% DIY, hands-on, and analog but we will spend some time exploring the role of technology in drawing from simple but uncommon tech (mirrors, black mirrors) to more common but complicated tech (cameras, tablets, etc.). We will briefly explore AI as a tool for drawing and the potential ethical dilemmas presented by that specific technology. This is a studio class meeting three times a week for four hours each class. Most drawing will be done in class with an expectation of additional weekly drawing time being completed as homework, alongside readings/videos. Class time will also include one-to-one discussions with the instructor about ideas, progress, and final projects. We will take one investigative field trip to the College’s art museum. The course will culminate in an exhibition of student work.