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DINA PEARLMAN
Office: Vanderlyn Hall VAN 260B
Tel: 845-246-2568
Office Hours: M/F 1-2 pm, T 10.30-11:30pm
Email: pearlmad@sunyulster.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will provide students with a working knowledge of the fundamental principles, theory, and concepts of two dimensional image-making, and an opportunity to develop critical abilities and artistic awareness. Students also gain hands on experience in developing the necessary basic skills and techniques for using traditional and contemporary design tools.
This will be accomplished through class demonstrations and assignments, slide lectures, group projects, reading assignments, and class discussions.
To introduce the fundamental visual design concepts of form, line, shape, value, texture, color, space, and composition as they apply to two-dimensional image making and color theory
To develop technical & observation skills through a series of related assignments
To heighten an awareness of the visual world and develop an ability to utilize the discussed principles and skills
To produce a portfolio of design projects which demonstrate significant growth in all of the above and specifically creative & technical skills, and demonstrate a solid understanding of the visual elements & techniques of two dimensional design
COURSE CONTENT
- It requires hard work, patience, concentration, motivation & self-discipline to develop technical & intuitive skills.
- Studio sessions will consist of exercises designed to increase visual perception & to develop technical skills with various materials and tools. Sessions will be mostly hands-on studio assignments but will be augmented by computer-aided projects.
- Design fundamentals of form, line, shape, value, texture, color, space, and composition will be introduced within the context of specific problems based on observation, imagination and studies of organic & mechanical objects.
- Materials and tools will include both the traditional (paper, paint, glue, pencils) and contemporary (computer-aided design programs).
- Slide lectures will introduce different assignments and illustrate the importance of studying examples from art and design history, from prehistoric mark-making on cave walls to contemporary approaches.
- Group critiques of assignments will take place regularly. You must present your work and critically review your own work and that of your peers.
- Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills will be developed & discussed through each assignment, and individual & group critiques.
- Quizzes: there will be 2 quizzes on the formal vocabulary of design and on verbal definitions of the fundamental concepts of drawing.
- Homework will be assigned once a week and will relate directly to the assignments of that week. You should spend a minimum of 6 hours per week on out-of-class assignments.
Sketchbook assignments will be given in and out of class.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class assignments must be completed on time and be submitted for a grade and a class critique when appropriate.
Project critiques will occur regularly & you are expected to participate fully. They are especially important & in a studio context are the equivalent of an exam. You must attend with your completed projects. Failure to do so will result in an F grade for that project, and late submissions will be graded lower.
Attendance & punctuality is mandatory for ALL classes. This course consists of long hours of concentrated hard work developing technical, conceptual, and intuitive skills, both in and out of class. Regular attendance and punctuality are vital to this process. You must be on time- lateness is disruptive, will affect your grades, and will be counted as an absence after 20 minutes.
Absences: 3 absences of any kind is the maximum allowed. Any additional absences will affect your grade and if you reach 5 you will automatically receive an F. Because of the nature of a studio class where informal discussions and problem-solving happen uniquely in the classroom, you must attend all classes and are responsible for all material covered. Plan your time accordingly. If you miss a class, you are responsible for contacting the instructor as soon as possible to find out how you can make up the class work.
There are no unapproved breaks during this class. Ask the instructor first.
Homework: Students should anticipate spending a minimum of 6 hours per week on their assignments outside of class.
Materials: Students should bring the required materials & a sketchbook to ALL classes, as well as any other required tools & materials. Failure to do so will render the student unprepared and this will affect your grade for that assignment. A separate sketchbook should be kept for this class only.
Portfolio submission: A portfolio of all completed assignments will be submitted for evaluation at mid-semester and at the end of the semester. Students are responsible for keeping track of & storing all their assignments. These assignments should be presented neatly, in chronological order, in a clean portfolio. Orderly neatness is an important part of this presentation, and torn, smudged, dog-eared, or otherwise poorly presented work will not be acceptable.
The Minimum requirement for each assignment will be clearly stated.
Participation: A grade will be assigned for your general attitude, energy, enthusiasm, and participation in class, especially during discussions and critiques.
Quizzes: There will be quizzes on design vocabulary & definitions, at mid-semester and at the end of the semester.
Studio Rules:
Cleaning up after yourself is required, plus a general respect for the studio and the property of the college and your peers, and proper observance of safety & health rules.
No aerosol sprays are to be used indoors. There is no safe indoor area at this time for the ventilation necessary to remove the toxic fumes from spray adhesives, paints, or fixatives. You need to go outdoors to a spot with plenty of ventilation.
No Cell phones, iPods or personal audio devices are allowed in class. One central player may be allowed if appropriate.
Failure to observe these basic studio rules will affect your grade.
GRADES
For an above average grade: Additional time, effort, and enthusiasm in and out of class are necessary for an above average grade. Students who listen, ask questions, work hard, take risks, explore concepts & media, and actively engage in constructive criticism and an exchange of ideas will benefit most from this class and earn an above average grade.
Mid-semester & Final Grades for this class will be based on the following;
70% Quality of assignments overall and evidence of improved technical & creative skills
20% Participation in critiques & group discussions; general attitude, energy, & enthusiasm in and out of class; attendance & punctuality
10% Quizzes
LETTER GRADES
A for work of consistent excellence showing significant growth
B for work of very good quality
C for work meeting the average expectations of the class requirements
D for unsatisfactory work and/ or attendance problems
F Unsatisfactory work and/ or excessive absences
MATERIALS LIST
(Students are expected to buy these supplies & bring them to the second class. The best source is Catskill Art Supply in Kingston which will give you a discount.)
1 Sketchbook, spiral bound, approx. 9x12 inches,, Strathmore or similar quality
1 Plastic eraser
1 Exacto knife with extra blades, #11
Scissors
1 Metal ruler, 12 or 18 inches
I Pen nib holder
C6 Speedball nibs (at least 3)
I bottle black drawing ink (waterproof preferred)
Additional black markers- ballpoint, rollerball, Sharpie
Drawing pencils H, HB, 2B and 4B
Rubber cement
Liquitex basic acrylic color 4 oz. Tubes
Yellow (cadmium light or medium)
Red (cadmium red deep or alizarin crimson)
Phthalo Blue
Dioxaline purple
Mars Black
Titanium white
Acrylic medium, 8 oz. matte
Set of NYLON BRISTLE brushes (about 6 sizes, flat #2,4 & 8 and round #0 & 2)
Mixing palette (disposable palette, freezer wrapping paper or sheet of Plexiglas)
Plastic Palette knife
1 roll masking tape
Ivory soap (liquid- for brush cleaning)
Paper towels or a rag (for brush cleaning)
Water container e.g. ice cube tray, small jar
Tool kit (check out fishing tackle boxes-cheaper than ArtBin brand)
REQUIRED READING: Interaction of Color: Revised and Expanded Edition"
Josef Albers, Publisher Yale University Press;
RECOMMENDED READING: Art Fundamentals: Theory and Practice by Ocvick, Stinson, Wigg, Bone & Cayton. Publisher McGraw Hill
Design and Form: The Basic Course at the Bauhaus and Later, Revised Edition (Paperback) by Johannes Itten, Publisher Wiley
The Elements of Color, Revised Edition (Paperback) by Johannes Itten, Publisher Wiley
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1: 8/26 - 8/28 INTRODUCTION:
General introduction to syllabus, design fundamentals, media & introductory vocabulary. Discuss media & techniques, with set problem.
WEEK 2: 9/2 - 9/4 FORM:
Discuss form & organization in art.Begin form problems: positive & negative use of the elements of
form. SKETCH BOOK and the importance of using one.
WEEK 3: 9/9 - 9/11 SPACE:
Form & organization problems continued, plus introduction of element of space.
WEEK 4: 9/16 - 9/18 LINE:
Conclude form & organization problems.Discuss characteristics & uses of line in art. Begin problems on the physical & expressive character of line.Continue line problems in line value, texture, etc.
WEEK 5: 9/23 - 9/25 TEXTURE:
Continue & conclude line drawings & problems & introduce element of texture
WEEK 6: 9/30 - 10/2 SHAPE:
Discuss the physical & expressive character of shape.Begin problems on the physical & expressive character of shape.
WEEK 7: 10/7 Continue shape problems.
10/9 Yom Kippur. No classes.
WEEK 8: 10/14 - 10/16 MID SEMESTER PORFOLIOS DUE.
MID SEMESTER QUIZ ON DEFINITIONS.
VALUE:
Discuss the physical & expressive characteristics of value.Begin problems exploring the physical & expressive characteristics of value.
WEEK 9: 10/21-10/22 Continue value problems.
WEEK 10: 10/28 - 10/30 Continue value problems.
WEEK 11: 11/4-11/6 Conclude value problems & critique.
WEEK 12: 11/11 - 11/13 COLOR:
Discuss the physical properties of color; begin a color wheel & projects in color value, neutralizingcolor, etc.
WEEK 13: 11/18 - 11/20 Discuss uses of color & begin problems.
WEEK 14: 11/26 - 11/ 29 Thanksgiving Recess, no classes
WEEK 15: 12/2 - 12/4 Conclude color problems.
Review of definitions for Final Quiz.
WEEK 16: 12/9-12/11 Last week of classes. Conclude color problems.
FINAL PORTFOLIOS DUE
INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Exam Week: FINAL QUIZ. INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO REVIEWS.