ART-107, Art Explorations, Beginning Painting
Instructor: Rosalie Beck
ART 78 W 7-10:30
Spring 2015, 15 weeks, 3 Credits Email:
Final Exam: Mailbox: MIT 371
Catalog Description:
A special topic course in Visual Art for non-majors- Beginning Painting
Course Description:This course is an introduction to painting, considering styles of several different movements in art, including realism, impressionism, expressionism as well as Contemporary approaches to color and painting. Class time will include individual attention, class discussions, and critiques.
This course is designed to help you begin to understand the basic elements and materials in the art practice of painting. We will use acrylic paint to learn about mixing color, and creating spatial illusions on a 2 Dimensional surface. Compositions will be focused on painting from life. Beginning painting techniques will be taught through demonstrations, visual examples, and in-class exercises (actual paintings). A number of subject matter will be introduced so there is a variety of material to paint from. Students will also learn about contemporary artists working with paint.
Each section of the course will be based on historical, conceptual and aesthetic uses of painting and color approaches. Content will be introduced by slide lectures and provide the basis for paintings executed in class and outside of class.
The final project
The final project for the course will involve research on the student’s part into a chosen artist. (With instructor guidance) Students will research the artist’s methods, cultural and historical context and artistic expression. This research will form the basis for a short a short written paper and presentation on the artist. The student will also complete two paintings- a copy of one of the artist’s works and an original piece based on the research into the artists methods and intentions..
Special Note: This course does not count for Intro to Painting, ART 243. Art majors focusing in Painting should not take this course. However, non-art majors and art majors focusing in other mediums can, and we are happy to have you. If you have questions about this, please talk to an advisor.
Course Objectives:
•·Apply basic color, design and drawing concepts to painting
•·Demonstrate the ability to critique work objectively
•·Develop a vocabulary for the analysis and understanding of art
•·Understand and gain sensitivity to materials and tools used throughout the semester.
Course Schedule: Students will find the weekly up-to-date schedule of lessons and homework on the D2L site. Things happen, and therefore this may be a fluxing document, so check it often if you need the latest information.
Grading Policy Students are evaluated according to their demonstrated degree of understanding of the concepts and techniques covered and their ability to successfully apply this understanding to their paintings and to critiques. I will let you know your grade at least four times during the semester (quarterly). This grade is a progress report to let you know how you are doing. Final grades are based on in-class paintings, assignments, the meeting of deadlines, attendance, growth in understanding of concepts, positive contribution to discussion, and use of in-class work time. A "C" grade reflects average work that demonstrates understanding of the ideas explored in the course and competence with materials and techniques. An "A" reflects exceptional work.
Criteria for Evaluation:
The final grade will be determined by the combined achievements in the following categories:
Participation10%
In Class Assignments40%
Homework Assignments50%
Including Final exam project
Grades will reflect the following:
•·The extent to which the paintings solve the visual problem given.
•·Proof of understanding of topics introduced and/or addressed
•·The willingness to explore new ideas and techniques.
•·The demonstrated competence with the media and general craftsmanship.
•·The degree and quality of participation in class critiques and discussions.
•·The completion of all projects by the designated deadline.
•·Attendance and the productive use of in-class work time.
Projects:
Assignments will be presented in class and you will have some in-class studio time to work on revisions with my help. You will then be given an out of class assignment which correlates with what we are doing in class You are generally given a week from start to finish of a project. Projects can take about 3-4 hours of work out of class.
There may be given at least one quiz covering vocabulary and other lecture topics.
There will be a 1-2 page paper (exhibition response) guidelines given later.
There may be some classes planned outside of the classroom. Information and arrangements will be given later.
Course Policies and Procedures
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. Due to the nature of the course content and structure it is in your own best interest to attend class. Two or more absences will lower your final grade. Habitual tardiness, excessive breaks, and leaving class early will be counted as class absences. An absence may be excused only under special circumstances (hospitalization, death in the family, etc.) As soon as you know you will be missing class, please contact me. Leave messages at
Tardiness: Since the class generally begins with announcements, new information, critiques, etc., tardiness is inconvenient, annoying, and disruptive to the rest of the class. Tardiness is noted in the attendance book and will affect the final grade.
Outside-of-class Work and Missing Assignments: There will be an assignment given each week to be completed outside of class. These projects are an important part of the overall experience of the class and will require approx. 4-5 hours of your time each week, No student will pass this course unless all assignments are turned in.
Email Protocol: Email is going to be in important way for all of us to communicate, so in addition to the D2L site, be sure to check your email often. If for any reason you will not be in class, or for any other reason you may want to get in touch with me, such as in order to make an appointment for an office visit, please email me at
I will also be emailing you at your uwm.edu addresses for a variety of reasons, and it is your responsibility to read and respond (if necessary). When addressing me through email, please be professional (i.e. full sentences and minimal slang).
Texting not allowed in class except for breaks.
For important University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee policies: