Syllabus

Syllabus : Introduction to Drawing and Design

Spring 2010
Instructor: Celine Browning
Email: cbrownin@gmail.com
Phone: (917) 325-9802
Office hours TBA -- can be arranged by contacting me via e-mail or cell phone

Workbook Requirements

As Richard Sennett said in his recent book, The Craftsman, “making is thinking”. In this vein, consider of your workbook a visual documentation of your thought process. These documentations will form the backbone of all works created in this class. The visual explorations that take place in your workbook will inform the designs for your larger pieces. Be bold; don’t restrict yourself to the confines of pencil and paper. You may use anything in your sketchbook, from lipstick to mud. In addition to drawing, you may cut, glue, paint, rip, scorch, compress.

Your progress will be checked in class and turned in after each project. In addition to general explorations, your sketchbook should contain research for each assignment, as well as detailed drawings and descriptions of your design ideas.



Course Requirements:

· On time with tools out, ready to work at the start of class
· Attendance is mandatory- unexcused absence will affect your final grade
· Completion of all projects and assignments by their due date
· Full participation in all class discussions, presentations and critiques
· At least three hours of work outside of class is required each week
· Workbook progress shown throughout the semester



Tardiness and Absence:

Demonstrations and presentations are an important part of this class, and you must be in class to absorb the information given you. Similarly, you must be on time as all demos will take place at the start of class. There are no unexcused absences in this class. Should missing a class be necessary, students are required to present documentation accounting for their absence.

Three late arrivals will be counted as one absence. More than two absences will result in the loss of one letter grade for each additional absence. Six absences will result in a failing grade.

Each project must be turned in the day that it is due; late projects will receive a 10% grade deduction for each class period they are late (ie, project due on Monday, turned in the following Monday will receive a 20% deduction from the final project grade).

Studio Conduct:

All communal equipment is purchased with student funds. With this in mind, please be respectful and careful not to harm any of the community property. We must maintain a clean and well organized work space in order to work successfully side by side. Please return all tools you use to their proper space in the studio and ensure that you clean all the surfaces you use immediately after you are done with the space.


Grading:

Formal evaluation of your progress will be given in one on one sessions during midterm week. You will also receive evaluation during group critiques. Ass iterated in the course objectives, progress, rather than skill, is the basic unit of measurement for this class. You will not be graded based on the skills you bring to the class, but rather on how well you synthesize and incorporate the information given you into your artistic endeavors. You will be given weekly assignments in your workbook to help kindle your ideas and help you become more comfortable expressing your ideas visually.

· Assignments are collectively worth 40% of your grade (Each is worth 6.6%)
· Projects are collectively worth 40% of your grade (Each is worth 13.3%)
· Your Workbook is worth 10% of your grade
· Attendance and participation are worth 10% of your grade

Each project and assignment will be graded based on the following rubric:

50% Creative design
30% Craftsmanship
20% Effort / Attitude



Required Materials:

· Drawing pencils – 2H, HB, 2B, 4B
· Compressed charcoal (not twig) medium and soft
· Bottle of India Ink
· Various paint brushes (at least one large)
· Pen handle and steel nibs, wide medium and fine
· Exacto knife and box of blades
· 4 large bulldog clamps
· Scissors *
· Cutting mat (self-healing preferred)
· 18” steel ruler with cork back
· Drawing Board (at least 24” x 36”)
· Tape – blue masking *
· Artists’ tape *
· Kneaded eraser and white eraser
· Sketchbook (8.5 x 11) used for this class only
· Newsprint pad, 18” x 24”, 100 sheets *
· Drawing pad, 18” x 24”, smooth white *
· Pad of tracing paper or vellum *
· Pair of flat nosed pliers
· Two spools of 18ga copper wire
· Portfolio, 23” by 31”
· Tackle box for supplies


Most materials may be found in either the Bookstore or in Manny’s Art Supply Store on Main St. Copper and pliers may be found at any hardware store.

I understand that supplies can get quite expensive, and I don’t want this class to be prohibitively expensive for anyone. There are several materials on this list that you may buy with other students and share, but many of the materials are imperative for success in this class. I have put an asterix next to all materials that you may buy with other students and share. If you have trouble affording any materials for this class, please let me know as soon as possible and I will help you find alternative ways to procure the materials.