Art 100: Introduction to Drawing
Summer 2016
Room 704A, 8:00 AM – 11:35 AM
Instructor: Jennifer Donovan
Email: jdonovan@swccd.edu
Website: www.swcart100.blogspot.com
Course Description
In this introduction to Drawing you will begin to explore the possibilities of expressing yourself through two-dimensional space and image making. You will learn to orchestrate relationships of material and process with form and presentation. Drawing asks us to experience and creates a physical thing, an image, in a way that may suggest a feeling, embody an idea, elicit an intuition, and represent something else altogether.
In this course we will deal directly with processes that make up the foundations of our visual world; representation, structure, perception, spatial interaction, manufacturing, conceptual and visual elements, such as line, shape and form, space, texture, color; and principles such as repetition, variety, rhythm, balance, emphasis, economy, etc.
Dynamics
This course will consist of 7-8 different projects, most of which will be based on the same image, meant to introduce you to diverse aspects of visual elements, principles, materials and methods. All the projects will be graded individually and then together as a portfolio. There will a required visual analysis of an artwork you saw during this semester in an art museum outside of class time.
General Course Objectives
Throughout the course, the student will design and create images that demonstrate an understanding of the formal and conceptual aspects of drawing. Through these exercises and projects, the student will learn to gain hands-on experience with diverse techniques and brains-on experience with two-dimensional problem-solving skills. At the same time, the student will have the opportunity to give conceptual and critical approaches and to discuss an image analytically and formally.
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate the development of hand-eye coordination in the completion of drawings and the application of value scale, color theory and design principles.
- Apply a synthesis of drawing techniques to interpret and illustrate ideas related to social and cultural experience.
- Illustrate form, in a full range of media, rendering three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface applying a value graduation scale.
- Design, construct and render representational three-dimensional forms applying the theories of linear perspective and two-dimensional design.
- Identify, evaluate and apply the basic elements of design and composition as it pertains to drawing and illusionist devices.
Evaluation
Each project will have a different process and time span. You will be graded numerically between one and 10, based on the following factors:
Cleanliness and Presentation: Is the presentation of the image thoughtful? Have you considered how it will hang on the wall? Does the frame or mounting surface add to the overall experience of the image? Have you erased extra marks or remounted the image for a cleaner presentation?
Followed Instructions: Have you carefully read through and attended to each instruction for the project? Is your paper the right size? Are you using the correct technique? Are you using the correct materials?
Resolved Problem: How have you attempted to orchestrate the many aspects of a project with each other. If you ran into difficulties, were you able to resolve them within the projects guidelines? Did you have to try a new technique or practice to get the desired results?
Use of Materials: How well have you familiarized yourself with your materials as instruments and the range of experimentation acquired for the guidelines of each project. Have you invested time in mastering the materials before using them? Have you experimented with different techniques?
Attention to Detail: Apart from following directions, have you considered every aspect of the image? Are the colors, the composition engaging? How well have you mined the image for information? How well have you integrated concepts from lecture into your practice?
Note: Experimentation is encouraged! Making good art takes time, thought, planning and the allowance of some extra time for mistakes. Though we will be working on projects in class, it is expected that you will spend time outside of class to develop and complete projects.
Grading
Projects 40%
Final Portfolio 15%
Homework 20%
Movie Quizzes 15%
Museum Paper 10%
Projects: Each project will be worth 10-15 points. To be considered on-time, they should be mounted and presentable before class on the day that they are due, unless I have already specified that class day as a wrap-up class. You will be required to keep all projects for the final portfolio, they should be handled with extreme care so that they are presentable for the portfolio.
Museum Paper: You will be required to write visual analysis of an artwork you saw during this semester in an art museum outside of class time. We will go over the guidelines for this papers in class, and they will be made available on the class website.
Final Portfolio refers to all of your projects handed in at the end of the semester together in a portfolio. This is an opportunity to re-do any projects that received a less than favorable grade, as they will be graded a second time for the portfolio. Students can earn 5 points by submitting an artist statement with their portfolio.
Homework refers to work assigned during one class for the next.
To receive a letter grade of "C" you must maintain regular attendance, complete assignments and participate in class discussions and critiques. An "A" in this course will require that you far exceed the minimum expectations for both quality and concept. Your work should show a developed understanding of visual concepts, elements and techniques, excellent craftsmanship, exceptional creativity and the ability to discuss your work and the work of others.
Grade Sheets:I will personally respond to each of your projects with a rubric and comments that explains your grade breakdown and offers suggestions.
Extra Credit: Students may hand in extra credit projects throughout the semester if they feel that their grade needs a boost, or if they find themselves particularly interested in doing outside research/practice on topics that relate to class. This may include, but is not limited to: handing in extra work that deals with class content; researching designers, artists or particular movements and writing about their work; visiting a local art venue and writing a response paper (2-2.5 pages); presenting to the class; completely re-doing a work that came out less than satisfactory, etc. Each extra credit will go towards your grade in the area that needs it the most. There are some more ideas on the website. All assignments have to be of “B” quality or higher to count as extra credit. 10 extra credits would take the place of one project.
Critiques: Class critiques are very important and will be held at the beginning of class on the due date of each project. Presentational choices and craft shall be subject to critique as part of the work. Your participation in the groups critiques is important, and required. If your work is not complete for the critique, your grade, on that assignment, will be lowered by one full letter grade for each day it is late.
Attendance: Don't miss class. Don't arrive late or leave early. You are expected to come to class on time, ready to work and with all necessary supplies and materials. If you are more than 10 minutes late, or if you leave before I declare class officially over, I will count you absent (but you may still participate in the class).
After 2 unexcused absences a student may be dropped from the class.
The only qualifying excused absences are: family emergencies, established religious holidays and illness with a doctor's note indicating that you needed to stay home on that particular class day. Even for excused absences you will be expected to make up class time. You are responsible for catching up.
All field trips are required and will form part of your grade.
*Disability Support Services: Please notify the instructor within the first two weeks of the semester if you are challenged by a learning disability. The instructor and the college will attempt to provide reasonable accommodation of your special needs. DSS is in Room 422. Their phone: (619) 482-6512 email: DSS@SWC.CC.CA.US
*Academic Cheating and Plagiarism constitute violations of academic honesty whether perpetrated actively or passively. Disregard for written or verbal instructions on course work may, at the discretion of the professor, represent academic cheating. All suspected violations on course work will result in action taken against the parties involved, and will be documented in writing with the Dean of Student Activities and Dean of the School of Arts and Communications. Sanctions may include no-credit on the assignment in question, course failure, or, or formal charges of student misconduct. Formal charges can result in academic probation, suspension, or expulsion. Specifically, neither any use of downloaded texts from the Internet, or quotation from a book or article without proper citation nor evidence of thought and comprehension is also plagiarism. However, if you do cite properly, downloaded information is perfectly acceptable. For guidelines on what constitutes proper and improper use of others’ ideas, please ask me. Also visit the Writing Center, a Reference Librarian, or any instructor here if you have any questions about effective research and proper citation methods.
In general, teachers like to see evidence that a student has thought about the subject, and understands what he or she puts into a paper. A good rule of thumb is: Any and every idea you learn, whether read, saw on TV, or heard in conversation, anywhere, needs to be cited. This is called “giving credit where credit is due.” Another rule: If you don’t understand completely what an author says about your subject, you had better not use it. When I find a student using ideas without proper citation, I give a warning. If they do it again, after being warned, I give an F. In the past, many students have failed the whole course because I caught them copying parts of their papers from books and the Internet. If they had cited their sources, most of them would have passed.
Academic Success Center Referral: To further your success, reinforce concepts, and achieve the stated learning objectives for this course, I refer you to the Academic Success Center learning assistance services. Upon request for tutorial services, you will be automatically enroll in NC 3: supervised Tutoring, a free non-credit course that does nor appear on your transcripts. Services are located in the ASC (420), the Writing Center (420D), the Reading Center (420), Math Center (426), the Library/LRC Interdisciplinary Tutoring Lab, MESA, specialized on-campus School, tutoring labs, the Higher Education Center, and the San Ysidro Education Center. Online learning materials and Online Writing Lab (OWL) are available at www.swccd.edu/~asc.
Website:
The website is a place to which you can refer for the class schedule, syllabus, and assignments. It also includes links to other resources, images from lectures, and student work. I will be updating it throughout the semester, and I encourage you to use it.
Lab rules and collective studio duties requirements:
-Your participation in regular weekly clean up is mandatory. Missed group clean up will affect your overall standing in this class.
-You must clean up after yourself in the studio area where you have worked. This must be taken care of after each work session whether it is during the class of after class hours.
-Do not use lacquer thinners of toxic fixatives indoors.
-Do not use any tools or equipment you are unfamiliar with unless you have been instructed in their use.
-Health and Safety Regulations: any improper handling of oil based inks, turpentine, mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, etc. may be fatal for your health, other students and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary that you read health and safety instructions before using certain materials and equipment.
Supplies:
Text: I will hand out texts throughout the semester, these are required reading and are related to lectures, presentations, and the class projects. You will be required to get or purchase photocopies, newspapers and/or art magazines.
Materials: Most of your materials will be included in the supply kit offered at Blick Art $91.79 including tax), a Blick representative will be in class on Wednesday, 6/8 to sell kits. You may pay in advance by phone, or bring cash (exact change) or a credit card on Monday. You may also go to the store to purchase it. If you have to delay the purchase please see me. If you already have many of the supplies, check with me to see if it would be better to buy the items separately.
1844 India St., San Diego, CA 92101. Phone: 619.687.0050. They are open M-F 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm and Sun 11am-6pm. The store is 3 blocks from the County Center/Little Italy (green line) trolley station. If additional materials are needed, you will be notified in advance.
Materials:
Required:
- Sketch Board
- Steel Ruler, 18", cork back
- Canson XL Newsprint, 100 pgs
- Strathmore 400 Series PAD/14"x 17"
- Drafting Tape, 1/2"
- Bamboo Sketching Pen
- Elmer's Rubber Cement
- Bamboo Brush, Size 16
- Staedtler Mars Lumograph Drawing Set
- Natural Graphite Stick
- Blick Pastels, set of 12
- Conté Crayons
- Char-Kole Squares, Box of 3
- Willow Charcoal, Box of 12
- Alvin Student Series Soft-Sided Portfolios
- Mars Combi Plastic Eraser
- Higgins Calligraphic Non-Waterproof, Pigment-Based Ink
Suggested:
- Box to transport materials
- Scissors
- Prismacolor pencils: Ultramarine blue #902, Lemon yellow #915, Crimson red #924, White #938, Black #935
- Plastic/glass jars for ink and water or saran wrap.
- Apron, smock or baggy T-shirt to protect clothes (this can be left in the classroom)
Tentative Schedule:
Week 1: Shape, Texture & Value
Stamp Grid Drawings
Week 2: Line
Contour and Gesture Drawing
Week 3: Putting it all together
Still Life Drawing (wet media)
Week 4: Value & Space
Still Life with dry media and mixed media
Week 5: Linear Perspective & Chiaroscuro
Architectural Drawing
Week 6: Color
Week 7: Color
Last Day of Class
We will meet and critique work on the last day of class. The museum assignment will be due (unless you hand it in earlier) with your portfolio, along with any extra credit that you want to hand in.
You may turn in unwanted materials at this time. If you know that you will not use them in the future, I will lend them out to other students.