CURRICULUM REVIEW: INTRODUCTION TO ART

This pre-foundations course offers initial experiences into art terminology, principles and techniques. Especially prepared for non-art students or those with limited previous experiences, the semester topics offer primary introductions in drawing, painting, graphics and art history. Topics were always varied and open to change and were all not covered in the same academic year. Student work stressed personal interpretations of the concepts presented, good organization and originality.

A. DRAWING: INTRODUCTION TO ART PRINCIPLES (10-12 weeks)

Objective: Understanding LINE as the basic Element of all art composition; interpreting line structure in various materials; Line formations in two and three dimensional design.

• Simple Collage---expressing an idea in any style with with collage materials; cutting, gluing and general 3D techniques; learning good craftsmanship; idea management and expression. See: Simple Collage and Evaluations
• Line As Obstacle---parallel line movement forming pattern variety; collage "obstacle" shapes; observing design rules of organization and shape insertion; choice of media. See: Obstacle Line
• Line As Movement---converging lines in a flowing pattern display; observing design rules of joining and line separation; thick and thin line control; pencil drawing. See:Line As Movement and Evaluations
• Contour Drawing---focal exercises in learning to see; direct drawing from objects and photographs in "blind" and timed sketches; groups compositions; summary problem (final graded work.) Pencil, ball point pen and fine marker. See: Line contour
• Textural Drawing---Creating 25 visual and actual textures in pencil; simple shapes using textures as area definitions; learning to use India Ink and pen points; practice of 6 shapes with transparancy and ink textures; division of the the 10 previous shape drawing by 2 background lines for "changeover" design"; completion of work with solid black, white and ink textures. See: Textures
• Line Filigree---a continuous line design using a word of 6 to 8 letter forms; creating actual and visual textures, learning color systems; completed in multi-media. See: Word Filigree
• Grid Drawing---learning to enlarge a small drawing to a larger one; letter design and textural applications.
  See: Letter Grid Part 1
• From Small to Big View---abstracting a small grid area, enlargement and redesign as a painting. See: Focus

B. INTRODUCTION TO COLOR, 2 and 3D: (4-5 weeks)

Objective: Basic color structure and blending using only the primary colors; color vocabulary.(5 weeks)

• Color Relationships---Primary, secondary, triads, neutrals. Simple shapes to categorize each. Part 2: sketches for a final drawing expressing 3 different color organizations. See: Color
• Colored Pencil Blends---Layer technique of color blends with primaries; Applications. See: Color Study 2 and Evaluations
• Cube Design---(3 weeks) Relating color, pattern, shape and line design to a cube form; sketches based upon symbolic shapes of suggested "themes"; 12 best shapes selected from 24 "idea" sketches; cube paper planned and 6 final drawings selected for development into the cube form; color layout planned; final rendering in colored pencil and marker; cutting and forming the cube. See: Cube and Evaluations

C. PATTERN DESIGN (3-4 weeks)

Objective: introduction of "Repetition" in pattern development; color, line, shape and texture applications; multi-media.

• Block Design---Sketches; study of various pattern arrangements; 3" or 6" blocks with same or multi-media materials; completion on half or full size posterboard. See: Many Arrangements as a start.
• A Planned Symmetrical Repeat---Symmetry, pattern and rhythm in art; creating "unit" designs and grouping them together in different relationships; practicing different trial organizations; selection of 1 practice and developing its format into 6 planned repeated sections. See: Collage Pattern
• Development with varied media and color relationships. See: Arrangements
• Unplanned Symmetrical Repeat---A creative approach to pattern design" which is not expected; learning to control and change the result in an early state; beginning with a corner design. See: Animation.....how it begins.
• Planning out several possibilities; selecting one and developing out the "accidental" plan; completion of work in tempera with 1 color classification choice. See: Samples Group 1 and Evaluations

D. Ink Drawing (2 weeks)

Objective: Learning to use ink pens; line and area coverage; design emphasizing neutral rather than color definitions; creating ink textures. See: Changeovers

• Positive And Negative Space---Practice sketches; creative line and shape textures; a contour design of 10 large shapes selected from practices; overlapping contours to suggest "transparency"; use of 2 background changeover lines; solid black, white and texture contrasts. See: Changeover 2 and Evaluations

E. WATER COLOR PAINTING (3-4 weeks)

Objective: Handling a free-flowing medium; learning brush controls, textures and color transparency.

• Control Practices---View film on techniques; small practices on washes, flat blends, wet applications, and crayon resists.Water Color Basics
• Object Rendering---In class practices with simple objects; painting in layers; simple techniques.
• Application---Abstract Design--understanding principles which change realism to altered abstractions; sketches; different painting techniques applied to individual sections. See: Modifying Shapes
• Water Color Weaving---Multi-color painting and black wash rendering of the same design; studying various weaving warps and preparing one of them; splicing paintings for weave inserts.Water Color Weaving

F.Collage (3 weeks)

Objective: to create a composition which integrates line, color, texture, shape and mixed media in a layered construction.

• 5 Layer Collage---Composing a "theme" design of 5 large shapes arranged in a unique way; practice plan indicating organization and materials to be used for each shape; design transferred to final board; background painting and individual construction of all shapes for final placements. See: 5 Layered Collage

G.PARABOLIC DESIGN (5-6 weeks)

Objective: Precise linear drawing involving geometric shapes, angles and curves and created line movements; both two and 3 dimensional constructions.

• Parabolic Curves---Designing curves from angular straight lines; point placements and connections; precise math measurements; estimating approximate measurements; See: Parabolic Line
• Parabolas Within A Square---Creation of a 10" square which incorporates various sizes of angles and curves of the practiced shapes. See: Squares
• Curves--measuring formula; including a tangent curve; connecting a bent curve to a straight line; (2 days) See: Curves
• Complex Curves---Drawing a curve that moves in different directions (2 days)See: Practice Curve
• Circles--compass measurements and division of circles into connection points; variety of pattern constructions with different line extensions; Summary design of 1 large circle with 3 patterns in colored pencil.)
• Free Form Circles---Invented, free-formed "crazy circles" which wraps around itself inside or outside of the contour; small practices to study line progressions and directions of movement without getting lost. See: Free Form Circles
• Interpretive design---A naturalistic or abstract drawing of choice; all shapes to be interpreted into the best relative parabolic curves expressing them; 20 or more units; completed in colored pencil or gel pens.

H. RELIEF SCULPTURE(2-3 weeks)

Objective: Building a 3-dimensional design using parabolic constructions emphasizing line.

• Surface Relief ---Paper relief cutting forming various pattern and shadow interests. See: Relief 1
• Linear Relief Sculpture---Sculpture which "rises" from the background; "wall" attachment for added height; choice of design style; planned to exact size with appropriate points; design applied to final board and construction with colored string; optional collage applications. See: String Relief

I. GRAPHICS (3-4 weeks)

Objective:Introduction into duplicated design with a variety of crayon printing processes

• Relief Cuts---Simple cutting to create surface reliefs; shape practices;inventing cuts; learning to organize shapes into pattern design repeats. See: Repeated Relief Cuts
• Relief Cuts For Rubbings---(1-2weeks) creating surface reliefs with "double cuts"; straight, curved and combination cutting; pattern arrangement on fan folds; review of color study; single, reversal and multi-color printing. See: Graphic Introduction
• Duo-Prints---sketches for a drawing which emphasizes line, texture and solid areas; large color block prepared with all colors except black; colors transferred with ball point pens making a color print and an incised print from the color block; optional crayon resist. See: Double Prints

J. CULTURAL STUDY (3 weeks)

Objective:A selected country for art history, style of design, and interpreting those characteristics in a contemporary theme.

• Egyptian Art Characteristics---Importance of symbols, border design, art "rules" for display, role of story-telling and communication. See: Characteristics of Egyptian Painting
• An Egyptian Fable---The story of "Nut's Children"-story telling with rules and hieroglyphics. See: A Fable
• Paint Like An Egyptian---Sketches for 3 scenes of everyday life; border design; personal "symbols" for story hieroglyphics; figure drawing practices; layout plan and final enlargement; completed in water colors.
See: Student Applications
• Print in Hieroglyphics---Using a Hieroglyphic alphabet, print out words and build up borders; create translations.
See: Hieroglyphics

K. LETTERING ( 2 weeks)

Objective:Introduction to Word Design for students with limited English skills; shape formation and simple exaggerations for creative design; application for practice and experience.

• Symbols---Word characterization by development into a symbol with our without descriptions; quick time applications for all levels. See: Funwords
• Letter Formation and Reformation---Acquaintance with basic forms and simplification into new shapes.