Actions Panel
Art for the Healer at Fleisher Art Memorial
Date and time
Location
Fleisher Art Memorial
719 Catharine Street Philadelphia, PA 19147Description
Art for the Healer: Training the Eye through Visual Art & Design
July 11-August 1, Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (four evening sessions, plus one visit to the Rodin Museum)
Free for Jefferson students; registration required by June 30.
Jefferson’s Office of Student Life & Engagement-Humanities is pleased to offer a special visual art course designed for health professions students, in partnership with Fleisher Art Memorial. Taking place on Fleisher’s campus (719 Catharine St), the five-week workshop will serve as an introduction to the visual principals and elements of art and design. Emphasizing observation, the course introduces students to technical skills in different media while encouraging intuitive self-expression. Lessons are tailored to serve health professionals by addressing goals of increasing empathy, strengthening crucial perceptual skills, and studying anatomical structures.
The majority of class time is devoted to inquiry-based exercises that provide hands-on experience with graphite, ink, paint, and clay, and encourage learning through play and experimentation. Additionally, students are exposed to the ideas and works of artists past and present through presentations, a field trip to the Rodin Museum, and supplemental readings. No previous art experience is required; all are welcome.
Learning Outcomes
-Students gain familiarity with universal elements (shape, line, form, space, value, color, texture) and principles (emphasis, balance, harmony, contrast, rhythm, movement, proportion, variety) of visual art.
-Students learn the basics of manipulating graphite, ink, paint, and clay.
-Students hone observational skills, with the goal of improving patient observation and image-reading.
- Recognizing subtle shifts in color, value, and pattern
- Truly seeing vs. assuming what is before your eyes
-Students become more acutely aware of typical body proportions, and gain familiarity with the visual aspects of particular anatomical structures, including the hand and head.
-Students engage in thoughtful consideration of their peers’ artistic decisions through group critiques.
-Students gain insights into historical and contemporary artists’ works through presentations, a field trip to the Rodin Museum, supplemental readings, and guided discussions.
-Students express emotions, arising independently or through empathy with subjects, through visual language.
Course Outline
Classes will take place on Fleisher Art Memorial’s campus: 719 Catharine St, Philadelphia, PA 19147.
July 11-August 1, Tuesday evenings, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Tuesday 7/11: Observation and Line
-Slow, focused observation: pencil contour drawing
-Intuition & experimentation: large-scale ink drawings
-Critique/group discussion
Homework: Smartphone Photo Assignment—Discovered Line
Tuesday 7/18: The Body: Gesture & Proportion
-Figure drawing
-Empathizing with the subject: capturing gesture
-Seeing shape and proportion, drawing the model in proportion
Homework: Reading TBD
Tuesday 7/25: Visualizing Form
-Clay modeling from a bust and/or skull
Homework: Smartphone Photo Assignment—Portrait
Tuesday 8/1: Emotion Through Color
-Recognizing subtle shifts in color and in value: acrylic color studies
-Exploring how visual elements express emotion: creating an abstract painting based on a piece of music
Homework: Reading TBD
Session Date To Be Determined: Rodin Museum Visit
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In line with our mission, all Office of Student Life and Engagement programs are only open to matriculated Jefferson students unless otherwise noted. Thank you for your understanding.
**Important note** In the event you can no longer attend the workshop and need to cancel, please inform the Office of Student Life and Engagement by July 10 at the latest so your space may be made available to another student. Any cancellations after 5 p.m. on July 10 or no shows will result in a $25 hold attached to your student account.
For more information, please contact Megan Voeller, Director of Humanities, Thomas Jefferson University, at 215-503-9050 or megan.voeller@jefferson.edu.