Art Beginning Syllabus

Dr. Deaton

 

Art beginning is an introductory art class for students with little to no prior experience in the visual arts.  In art beginning students will be introduced to a variety of artistic media, they will study artists and movements, art in various cultures, and will gain basic foundations of drawing, painting, and design. 

There will be 5 main units with a pre-unit to cover artistic foundations.  The pre-unit will focus on concepts of applying media to paper.  The first unit will focus on color theory and application.  The second unit will focus on basic drawing skills and techniques and will cover a variety of media.  We will study still lifes, perspectives, and value.  The third unit will cover a comprehensive overlook of art history from ancient art to modern day.  Students will give presentations and create books.  The fourth unit will focus on figure drawing and the human anatomy.  We will also do some portraiture and simple computer graphics.  The fifth unit if time allows will be a time for self expression and creativity allowing students to show me their strengths and interests.  As this is a foundations course we touch on all the main components of art and projects are very guided.  There is room for some artistic interpretation but mainly we focus on comprehension and mastery of skills in this course.  This course is designed to enhance your skills as an artist’s not to be an easy A.  Your art will be graded based on effort and whether project requirements are met.  While talent is not required motivation and effort are. 

There will be major assignments made up of projects, tests, and 1 oral presentation. There will be minor assignments that include classwork, homework, and quizzes.  Students will also participate in group critiques at the completion of projects.  There will also be one oral presentation during the art timeline lesson.  Students will be required to keep a sketchbook for home and class work.  The sketchbook will be graded as individual homework/classwork grades. 

             Students will be given a participation grade.  This grade is based on the student’s participation in class discussions, instruction, and their ability to clean up the class room and their workspace.  Participation is also based on student’s ability to manage their time well.  Students who do not use class time wisely, who wander out of their seats, cause distractions, or otherwise make no progress during class time will lose points on participation.

 

Grade Percentages:

            60% Major Works: Projects, tests, and presentations.

            40% Minor Works: Class work, quizzes, homework, and participation.

 

There will be specific due dates for every project and homework.  For every day a project is late it will result in a 10-point deduction on their final grade.  If absent from class students will be given 1 extra day per absence (up to 5) to complete and hand in work.  If work is never handed in it will result in a zero, no exceptions! Homework can only be turned in the day it is due.  Incomplete work will receive no higher than a 50.  Work that is wrinkled, bent, torn, etc will not be accepted.

Bathroom passes will be given out at the beginning of each nine weeks.  Students can only use those passes to leave the room.  Once a student has used their passes they will not be allowed to leave.  Homework passes can be earned during class activities. 

 

Class schedule of projects:

Project One: Folders with elements of art/principles of design

Pre-Unit: Foundations of Art

Project Two: Surface techniques and Mandalas/Radial designs

Project Three:  Operational Formats-Art forms in Nature

Unit Two:  Drawing

            Project Four: Pencil still life’s with masks

            Project Five: Still life’s on blue paper

            Project Six: Skulls on tissue dyed paper

            Project Seven: Stick drawings

Unit One: Color Theory/Painting

            Project Eight: Painted still life

Unit Three: Art History

            Project Nine: Studying Artist and Movements

Students will create a timeline and give a brief oral presentation.

Project Ten: Art timeline books

Unit Four: Figure Drawing/Portraiture

            Project Eleven: Gesture drawing with mixed media

            Project Twelve: Segmented full figures

            Project Thirteen: Pencil Portraits

            Project Fourteen: Photoshop Portraits

Unit Five: Perspective:

Project Fifteen: Design your dream room (perspective drawings)

            Project Sixteen Design a house (outside perspective drawing)

Unit Five: Independent Study

            Project Seventeen: Independent work on an original composition

            *Students will write a formal analysis of art they create

 

 

Class Expectations:

          In order to be successful in class students must turn in work on time and completed.  To be successful students also must be present for and participate in instruction.  There is NO EXTRA CREDIT for students who do not complete and turn in assignments.  The student is always responsible for their experience and grade in this course. 

 In this class I want students to think for themselves.  They will be given assignments that vary from very specific requirements to open ended compositions.  I want to create a positive learning environment in my room that encourages creativity and freedom of expression.  Every student’s personal interests and styles will be encouraged and nurtured.  Students are expected to be on task, to participate in class discussions and critiques, and complete assignments on time while meeting all requirements.  Students are to be respectful, courteous, and responsible for themselves, their assignments, and classroom materials.