Friday, January 6, 2012

Course Syllabus

Just in case you happen to misplace your syllabus, here is a copy:
ART 201 – Introduction to Painting  – 3 Semester Hours
Fall 2011
Tuesdays 6:30-9:00 PM, Dickey Fine Arts 130
Bethel University
Instructor:  Jason Cole
Office Hours:
E-mail: colej@bethelu.edu

Course Prerequisites/Co Requisites:
ART 111, 112

Course Description:
Introduction to Painting will focus on the basics of painting: materials, techniques, craft, and mediums.  The subject matter will include still life, landscape, figure, media experimentation, and exploration of individual creative expression.

Course Goals:
The student will:
1)     Experiment with a variety of mediums, including acrylics, oils, and mixed media on paper, canvas, and panels.
2)     Learn to use elements and principles of design in the creative process.
3)     Maintain a sketchbook to be used for personal exercise of in-class techniques, research, and as a depository for ideas and notes.
4)     Utilize value (grey scale), temperature, local color, impasto, and mixed media in painting.
5)     Produce a body of work to be submitted for critique.

Relationship of this Course to Content Area Knowledge and Skills:
This course is not used to address TN Matrix knowledge and skills.

Text:
None

Course Objectives:
The student will:
a)     Develop problem-solving skills.
b)     Strengthen self-disciple.
c)     Develop perceptions and articulation of brushwork, composition, and color in painting.
d)     Observe, research, and learn from the work of other artists.
e)     Explore the painting genres of still life, landscape, and figure.
f)      Develop and enhance his/her proficiency in the vocabulary of the artist.
g)     Actively engage in constructive critique.

Units of Study:
Unit 1     Familiarization with tools & materials
                Still Life
Acrylics: Value Studies (black, white, and various greys)
Acrylics: Tonal (warm/cool tones), thinly painted
Acrylics: Optical (local) color (mixing colors as you see them)
Acrylics: Landscape (optical or reverse color)

Unit 2     Oil Glaze
Oil Glaze: Thin washes over acrylic value studies

Unit 3     Mixed Media/Personal Experimentation
Series of six thematically-linked personal paintings that experiment with mixed med

Final Critique

Required Reading:
Various articles and printed materials that will be provided by the instructor.

Suggested Reading:
Mayer, Ralph. The Artist's Handbook. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking, 1985.
Stephenson, Jonathan. The Materials and Techniques of Painting. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1989.
Powell, William F. Color Mixing Recipes: for Oil and Acrylic: Mixing Recipes for More than 450 Color Combinations. Laguna Hills, CA: Walter Foster, 2005.

Methods Of Instruction:
Lecture, discussion, in-class work, outside assignments, sketchbook, critique.

Course Requirements:
In addition to in-class assignments, there are three requirements of this course:
1)     A personal sketchbook/journal is an important requirement of this course.  It is a depository for ideas, visual observations, and written responses to anything (in-class or outside).  Include research of paintings/painters of special interest, techniques, subjects, methods, media, processes, master studies, reproductions, etc.  Thumbnail sketches of intended compositions, experiments with mixing color, and any visual stimuli—found material, snapshots, Xerox prints, etc.—should also be included in the sketchbook.
The Sketchbook will be submitted and graded at midterm and finals.
2)     A series of out-of-class assignments is required for the course.  Students will produce six homework paintings over course of the semester.  These works will be identical in composition and done on the same size of gessoed paper (no smaller than 22” x 30”).  The composition may be done from a still life that you set up at home or from a single drawing done from life.  No self-portraits or working from photographs.  These assignments will be done in the following order:
a.      Values: Grey scale. January 24
b.      Tones: Warm/cool tones, thinly painted. February 14
c.      “Good” & “Bad” color (2 paintings).  February 21
d.      Impastoed complimentary colors. March 20
e.      Mixed media/experimentation April 24
3)     A written report is required for the course.  The report will cover two artists:
a.      A painter of your choice will be selected and researched.  Choose this painter because you admire the style, manner, media, concepts, etc.  Choose an artist you really like.  Research will include biographical information, a statement of why you admire his/her work and how it has influenced you, and at least one color reproduction of the artist’s painting.
b.      Attend exhibitions of work by living artists at area galleries or art museums.  Choose one artist with whose work you connect and research as above.
This paper will be completed in a formal manner, well researched, cited, and compiled in a binder.
REPORT IS DUE NOVEMBER 17!

Attendance Policy:
o    There are no excused absences.  If you miss FIVE classes you will immediately fail the course.  There will be no exceptions.  The reasons behind the absences are not important.  Nine absences means too much information and work has been missed for anyone to legitimately pass the course.
o    If you are unable to submit an assignment on its due date because of an approved scheduled university extracurricular activity, that assignment can be submitted at the beginning of the next class without penalization.
o    If you are having trouble with the course or have problems outside the class that are affecting your performance please talk to me about it so that we can work out a solution.  Do not wait until it is too late.  I will be glad to help you in any way I can.
o    Lateness is not acceptable.  It is disruptive and frankly disrespectful not only to me but to your fellow students to enter the classroom in the middle of a lecture, demonstration, or critique.  Three late arrivals to class will count as an absence.
o    All students will work for the entire class period.  The class runs from 1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.  Students will not leave the classroom unless excused.  I am tolerant of discussion among students during class to a point.  However, excessive talking, walking about or leaving the room will be noted in my grade book and counted against your final grade.
o    If you miss an assignment because of lateness or absence get it from another student. If you then have questions come and see me.

Methods of Assessment/Evaluation/Grading System:

Each assignment will be collected on a specific due date and time.  Persons not handing in work on time will be penalized one full grade.  (See the exception rule above.)  The work will be graded and returned as soon as possible.  At times it may be necessary for me to hold some of the work for exhibitions or photographing.  In cases like this, I will notify you.

Sketchbooks will be reviewed at midterm and finals.  It is expected that you are making extensive use of your sketchbook throughout the semester to practice and drill yourself on skills as well as experiment.

Final grades reflect accomplishment in three areas:
o    In-class work (30%)
o    Outside series (25%)
o    Artist report (10%)
o    Sketchbook (20%)
o    Class performance/participation/attitude (15%)
Final grades will be determined by:
o    Completion of all assignments.
o    Consistency of effort
o    Development of skills in seeing and thinking.
o    Presentation and craftsmanship.
o    Participation in critiques and discussions.
o    General attitude.
Individual assignment grade definitions:
o    A - Excellent. Assignment is completely and creatively fulfilled.  No significant problems.
o    B - All aspects of assignment are completely fulfilled and well done.  A few problems remain to be solved.
o    C - Work fulfills the requirements of the assignment to the letter and is generally successful.  Work is completely finished.  Craftsmanship is acceptable.  Some problems remain to be solved.
o    D - Work is not yet completely finished or has obvious technical or conceptual flaws.
o    F - Unacceptable in technique or craft or concept (or any combination of these).
o    X - Assignment not handed in.  This assignment may not be re-submitted.
Final letter grade definitions:
o    A – The student earning an A has shown great effort and near-perfect success in all aspects of the class.  Only students absolutely excelling far above expectations will be awarded this grade.
o    B - A very good job.  The person earning this grade has worked very hard; has pushed his/herself to go beyond the mere fulfillment of each problem and has shown strong advances in technical and conceptual skills.
o    C - The student earning a C has fulfilled the requirements of the course, has a positive attitude, worked hard, shown growth in skills and thinking, and did an overall good job.
o    D - Below par.  This grade indicates that the student has obvious difficulties with basic drawing skills and/or trouble in fulfilling the requirements of the class for some other reason.
o    F - This grade indicates a severe problem in one or more of the following categories:  lack of interest, bad attitude, failure to complete assignments, excess lateness, or absence. 

Clinical/Laboratory/Field Experiences:
None

Critical Thinking Statement:
Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.  In this class we will raise vital questions and problems, formulate them clearly and precisely; gather and assess relevant information, by using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively.

General Requirements:
o    In the interest of developing an appreciation of quality materials and maximizing the life span of your work, students will put pay great attention to craftsmanship.  Submitting damaged or underworked assignments, or paintings executed with inferior materials, will result in a lower grade.  Respect and protect your work if you expect anyone else to do so.
o    All work that is handed in for grading must have your name PRINTED unobtrusively on the back.
o    All students are expected to participate during critiques.  Failing to engage in discussions will be noted in the gradebook.
o    Prohibited from my classroom: Cell phones (you may have it pocketed, but silence it and DO NOT ANSWER IT), any device with headphones, tobacco of any kind, drugs or alcohol, Internet social networking sites, laziness.


Materials & Supplies:
Supports
o    Sketchbook (at least 9”x12”)
o    Primed and stretched canvas (dimensions for individual assignments will be discussed in class)
o    Artist’s panels (dimensions for individual assignments will be discussed in class)
o    Artist quality paper (22”x30” or larger)
Ground
o    White acrylic gesso
Palette
o    Disposable palettes, plastic or wood palette, sealable jars or containers
Brushes
o    Bristle
o    Filbert or bright
o    Flat
o    Optional synthetic, sable, fan
o    2” or 3” housepainters brush
o    Palette knife
Solvents/Detergents
o    Paint thinner, turpenoid
o    Lava soap (bar or liquid)
o    Brush-cleaning soap
o    “Mr. Clean Magic Erasers”
Mediums
o    Damar varnish
o    Linseed oil
o    Odorless paint thinner
o    Acrylic gloss medium
o    Acrylic matt medium
o    Acrylic modeling compound
Suggested Tube Colors
o    White, black, blue (cerulean, pthalo, ultramarine, cobalt), cadmium yellow (medium, light), green (pthalo, sap), cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ochre, sienna, umber, quinacradone violet.
Miscellaneous
o    Drawing board
o    Graphite and charcoal drawing pencils & compress charcoal
o    Rags, old clothes, gloves (for sensitive skin)
o    Masking tape, scissors, adhesives




Artists to Consider
Alberto Giacometti                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Richard Diebenkorn                         
Janet Fish
Gwen John
Paul Cezanne
Vincent Van Gogh
Jean Auguste Dominque Ingres
Rembrandt Van Rijn
Georges Seurat
Egon Schiele
Susan Rothenberg
Henry O. Tanner
Romare Bearden
Mary Cassatt
Jennifer Bartlett                               
Jack Beal
Maurice Sendak
Franz Kline
Pablo Picasso
Wayne Thiebaud
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Henri Matisse
Sylvia Plimack-Mangold
Katsushika Hokusai
Kent Bellows
Catherine Murphy
Jenny Saville
Utagawa Hiroshige
Giorgio Morandi
Winsor McCay
George Harriman
Bill Waterson
Winslow Homer
William Hopper
        Albrecht Durer
        Paul Cadmus
        Honore Daumier
        Theodore Gericault
        Charles Francois Daubigny
        Franciso Goya
        Raphael
        Sidney Goodman
        Peter Paul Rubens
Lovis Corinth




Month And Year Of Syllabus Revision:
August 2011

Bethel University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with documented disabilities.  If you have a diagnosed disability or fi you believe that you have a disability that might require reasonable accommodation in this course, please contact Sandy Louden.  Bethel University Policy states that it is the responsibility of students to contact instructors to discuss appropriate accommodations to ensure equity in grading, experiences and assignments.

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