All students are asked to obtain large format Moleskine sketch-books (13.5 x 21 cm). These can be obtained from Nota Bene on Park Avenue. These notebooks will form the basis for students' written and graphic analysis of sites visited, and the assignments. You are free to work in pencil, pen, watercolour, pastel, ink, conté, charcoal ... the choice is yours, but travel light and be selective. This is not a studio art course; rather it is an opportunity to use drawings as a tool for understanding architecture and place. Make quick sketches, draw rough plans, sections ... sometimes you will work quickly, other times slowly. Get into the habit of writing down your thoughts, of describing what you are seeing. These notebooks will be examined at the end of the course not for their artistic perfection (although if you draw every day for four weeks you'll be very pleasantly surprised by your work at the end) but for the depth of exploration, creativity, and critical thought.

Students are also encouraged to try some watercolour painting during the course. An elaborate kit is not necessary; rather a few basic colours (blue, Payne's grey, yellow, red, burnt siena or umber... no more than 7 or 8, no pre-mixed green, and no black), a few brushes, a small palette, some masking tape and paper are all that is required. Moleskine watercolour notebook (same format as the sketchbook), which ideal for this work.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Greece is a fantastic country for photography; the light in the morning and especially the late afternoon is beautiful for taking pictures. The midday sun is harsh, but can nevertheless be used for interesting photos. Students with digital cameras will need to figure out how to store their photos. An iPod, or other portable hard drive is ideal; otherwise, multiple memory cards can be used, or photos can be downloaded every few days to CDs at internet cafés (bring a few CDs with you ...) For those students with regular cameras, it is advisable to purchase film, and lots of it, in advance. You will want to take more photos than you think, and it is more expensive to buy film in Greece, especially at sites frequented by tourists.

Both black and white and colour photography can be tremendously beautiful in Greece. Don't be afraid to record details, faces, textures, the light on a wall, the landscape, the simple scenes and amazing sites of this wondrous country.