This week, create a first version of your courtyard.  Next week, develop an alternate version, playing with geometric patterns, sun angles, and framed views. In week 3, enrich the meaning with photocollaged context.

1. Prepare

• Download & install Sketchup Pro as a demo, then purchase your student license.
• Get connected to the UO network.
• Try Self-paced Tutorials ("Getting Started") and online Video Tutorials available from Sketchup's Help menu. Get to know essential Sketchup skills.    
• Study example sculptures and paintings for compositional inspiration. You will later be asked to relate your work to an example.

2. Create a concrete base.  Begin with a simple rectilinear platform and use the push/pull function to sculpt a base.  Think of the plastic nature of concrete as you try extruding supports and carving voids that echo the upper structure.   Try selecting and adjusting faces and edges. Creating a family of like forms can give continuity to your design. Save the filename with your lastname and first initial: smithj.skp.

3. Try uploading.  Using a Web Browser, connect to the Andromeda Course Folder and drop your sketchup file to your section of the Student Work folder:

From Windows on the UO network:  Start button > Run > \\andromeda2.uoregon.edu
From a Mac on the UO network:  Finder > Go > Connect to Server > andromeda2.uoregon.edu
From any Web browser: http://andromeda2.uoregon.edu

Login: arch610, Select COURSES or Courses on Andromeda2 > Courses Fall 2006 > Arch610 > StudentWork

4.  Design an expressive wood structure
Create a typical wood stud by drawing a 2" x 4" rectangle and extruding it up 8', typing the dimensions.   The exercise will be easier if you assume uncut lengths and make the first stud into a Component (mouse context menu).  Use as few or as many members as you like.

Experiment with Move+copy, rotate+copy and mirror (scale with dragging inside out) to generate configurations of the wood studs.  Drawing construction lines with the Tape Measure tool can help keep order.  Group (mouse context menu) and save the most interesting combinations as Components.  Try editing down to essentials so that spaces are defined yet the structure is airy and transparent.  You can cross members assuming that the joint details will be worked out later.  You can float pieces to be supported by minimalist cables or threaded rods.

5. Render & Export Images
Find and save interesting views (View menu > Tourguide > Add Page).  

Select File > Export > 2D Graphic.  Save as a medium quality JPG and use the “Export Image Options” to adjust the image resolution, in this case Width/Height to 600 x 400 pixels and make sure that “Anti-Alias” is enabled. Rename your favorite two images according to the smithj01.jpg, smithj02.jpg, etc. convention. Include a plan view that is not in perspective.

6. Post it with your picture

Upload the two images along with a small face photo (~100x100 pixels) to Andromeda2's "Drop Assignments Here" and e-mail your GTF about their location.

For the ambitious:

• Start your own virtual museum by signing up for a Blogger.com account.
• Explore how the digital Sandbox can sculpt the base.
• Create a context for the sculpture by building the whole courtyard, including seating. 

References

ARTISTS
Mary Miss
Jackie Ferrara
Lawrence Halprin
James Harrison, UO Straub Hall Courtyard
Laslo Maholy Nagy paintings

SOFTWARE HOW-TO
Sketchup Video Tutorials
Sketchup User's Guide