ART 282:
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER ART
Instructor: Tiffany Holmes




Falsified self-portrait by Rebecca Gorski, fall 1997.

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Syllabus

Orientation to ART 282: Examine syllabus/ Explore student expectations of class
Class discussion: The Virtual Tool: How does Photoshop "simulate" an artist's studio? What are the characteristics of "digital" art?
Workshop: Exploration of Photoshop toolbox: pencil, paintbrush, airbrush, eraser, crop tool
Assignment: Set up your e-mail account, read handout (Holtzman, excerpt from Digital Mantras). Read through first assigment, Exercise #1.
You MUST bring one floppy (Mac-Formatted) disk to class.

1/29 THURSDAY

Class discussion: Holtzman question: What kind of mark, if any, is unique or "idiomatic" to the computer?
Workshop: How to open a new document in Photoshop, save with a particular file format, etc.
IN-CLASS GROUP PROJECT: Collaborative Markmaking
Assignment, Exercise #1: Create three composite images from the results of your in-class project. (Size:320x240 pixels)

2/3 TUESDAY

Class discussion: Critique Exercise #1/ Slide presentation focusing on abstraction
Demonstration: Exploration of Photoshop toolbox: rectangle marquee as a crop tool
Assignment, Exercise #2: Create a large abstract work using art tools and filters. You will pick the subject for this work at random in class. Then create four smaller images using the crop tool. See handout for details.

2/5 THURSDAY

Class activity: Blind contour portraits (analog)
Workshop: Digitizing analog images using the scanner
Assignment: Exercise #2 due TUESDAY.

2/10 TUESDAY

Class discussion: Critique of abstract works, Exercise #2
Workshop: Exploration of Photoshop toolbox: magic wand, fill tool, etc.
Assignment, Exercise #3: Digitally "paint" and alter the blind contour sketch to reflect a particular feeling or emotion. (Due 2/17)

2/12 THURSDAY

Workshop: Digitizing analog images using the scanner
IN-CLASS PROJECT: Using a histogram to correct for contrast/brightness
Assignment: Exercise #3, digital blind contour portrait, due TUESDAY

2/17 TUESDAY

Class discussion: Critique of blind contour portraits, Exercise #3
Workshop: Exploration of Photoshop toolbox: rectangular marquee, lasso, magic wand, etc. [SELECTION TOOLS]
Assignment for 9/29: Building an image library on your EZ disk: Scan in 2-4 images of familiar tools.(Examples: pencils, paintbrushes, rulers, hammers, chisels, etc.) Read through Exercise #4.
Reading for Monday: The Reconfigured Eye (handout)

2/19 THURSDAY

Class discussion: Where is technology heading in the 21st century?
Workshop: Using layers (floating selections, creating new layers, restacking). Also using layers to change scale or distort.
Assignment: Exercise #4, Millenium Project, creating a tool for the 21st century OR creating an artifact of the 20th century

2/17 TUESDAY

Class discussion: Critique of Exercise #4, Millenium Project
Workshop: Slide presentation, Surrealism
Assignment: Exercise #5, Self-Portraits

2/19 THURSDAY

Class discussion: Review tenets of surrealism and apply to assignment
Workshop: Layers (floating selections, creating new layers, restacking)
Assignment: Exercise #5, Self-Portraits

2/24 TUESDAY

Class discussion: Critique of Exercise #5
Workshop: Using layers to change scale or distort
Assignment: Bring an object to class that has undergone metamorphosis.

2/26 THURSDAY

Class discussion: Examine objects brought to class. Define metamorphosis. What does the word mean and how could it be applied to an artistic project?
Demonstration: Using GifBuilder to animate still images
Assignment: Midterm project

3/3 TUESDAY

Workshop: Midterm project

3/5 THURSDAY

9:00-10:00---MIDTERM LAB PRACTICAL (Exercise #5)
Workshop: Midterm project

3/10 TUESDAY

Class discussion: Critique of MIDTERM PROJECT
Assignment: Bring an item to class that presents text with images in a surprising way.

Class discussion: Language and its application in art (slide presentation and examination of student items)
Workshop: Review use of text tool in Photoshop
Assignment: Exercise #6: Letter/word transformations (present sketches in notebook for Tuesday)

3/17 TUESDAY

Class discussion: Examine sketchbook work
Workshop: Using the Actions palette to record a series of actions
Assignment: Exercise #6: Letter/word transformations (present in GifBuilder)

3/19 THURSDAY

Class discussion: Critique of Exercise #6: Letter/word transformations

SPRING BREAK, MARCH 23-27

3/31 TUESDAY
Class discussion: What makes a piece of printed matter visually interesting? Discussion of analog printed matter: postcards, CD covers, gallery invitations, etc.
Workshop: Using text in QUARK
Assignment: Exercise #7: Text and Image in Quark

4/2 THURSDAY
Workshop: Importing pictures in Quark
Assignment: Exercise #7: Text and Image in Quark

4/7 TUESDAY
Class discussion: Critique of Exercise #7: Text and Image in Quark
YOU MUST PRINT A HARD COPY YOUR PROJECT!

4/9 THURSDAY
Class discussion: Looking at artist's books, digital and analog
Assignment: Exercise #8: Artist's Book (due Thursday, 4/16)

4/14 TUESDAY
Workshop: Using Director to create an artist's book
Assignment: Exercise #8: Artist's Book (due Thursday, 4/16)

4/16 THURSDAY
Class discussion: Critique, Exercise #8: Artist's Book

Class discussion: The World Wide Web: Where are the best art sites?
Workshop: Using search engines to locate art sites/ Interpreting HTML code
Assignment: Find one art-related site and write a paragraph reviewing it. (Exercise #9)

4/23 THURSDAY

Class discussion: Exploring art on the web: students' picks
Workshop: Creating a WWW document at UMBC using HTML scripting
Assignment: Exercise #10: Creating your own gallery page for on-line display
LONG-TERM FOCUS: Final Project due 5/12; begin generating ideas.

4/28 TUESDAY

Workshop: Uploading files to go on-line
Class discussion: Final project
Assignment: Bring written proposal and scanned images for final project to class on 4/30

Individual conferences: Final project

5/5 TUESDAY

Workshop: Final Projects

5/7 THURSDAY

Workshop: Final Projects

5/12 TUESDAY

Begin final critiques.

EXAM WEEK----Final segment of critiques TBA (hand in final project on disk plus a hard copy of the artist's statement)