ART 210
Visual Concepts I
[0260] 0101 TuTh.......2:00pm- 3:50pm (FA 110C)
[0261] 0201 TuTh.......5:00pm- 6:50pm (FA 110C)

Steve Bradley, Associate Professor of Visual Arts
Fall 2003, FA 110C , Office #219-C, t:# 5-2721
office hr: Tuesday 12:00-1:00 pm & by appointment

Requirements Attendance Grading Materials Assignments Calendar

Visual Concepts I (VC I) introduces the concepts, theory and fundamental practices of art. Students will learn basic studio skills including: perception and notation techniques; storytelling; and verbal analysis and criticism. Assignments, critiques, and demonstrations will stress a formal and critical approach to art making and perception. Students will develop a vocabulary for the analysis and understanding of visual art in 2-dimensional and narrative forms. We will use both "traditional" studio tools, electronic and imaging techniques.

Course Objectives:

VC I will introduce the basic design principles, perception and notation techniques, personal & universal narratives, and concepts of time. Students will learn basic studio skills including: perception and notation techniques; storytelling; and verbal analysis and criticism. Assignments, critiques, and demonstrations will stress a formal and critical approach to art making and perception. Students will develop a vocabulary for the analysis and understanding of visual art in 2-dimensional and narrative forms. Throughout the semester, slides, video, and audio tapes of visual artists works will be utilized to facilitate the students' understanding of the development of conceptual ideas and the employment of various materials. The Macintosh computer will be a utilized as a designing tool.

Course Requirements:

Consistent attendance and active participation in all discussion and critiques is essential. Critiques in VC I will be fundamental to the development of a working artists' vocabulary. One critique session is planned per week. Students will maintain a sketchbook/journal. Texts are also an important component of Visual Concepts I, and each student is required to read and respond to the required text "Believing Is Seeing", course handouts, and reserve materials. We will explore the UMBC library and learn how to use Victor and various electronic networks. Students will be required to make a visit to an art center, gallery or museum in Washington DC, Philadelphia, NYC, or Baltimore. The visit will produce a reflective and critical paper addressing the artwork that you have experienced. Papers must be typeset on a typewriter or computer. A one-on-one portfolio review will take place at mid-term, and at the end of the semester. All VC I students are required to obtain an Email address at UMBC by the end of week three. The purchase of basic studio materials is fundamental to the completion of the course (see below), though some materials may be shared or improvised.

Attendance:

VC I is a very demanding course. Handouts, critiques, and demonstrations will contribute to each student's formal technique and critical faculty. Interaction and collaboration with your peers will be an important aspect of the learning process. Please note that three or more unexcused absences will result in failure of VC I. During the Drop/Add period the instructor will call attendance at the start of every class, thereafter attendance will be called intermittently. Please do not arrive late or depart early from class meetings, there simply is too much material to cover in each class and it proves to be disruptive and disrespectful to all of us. Two unexcused late arrivals or early departures will be marked as the equivalent of one absence. Absence from a class is not an excuse for skipping a tutorial, reading assignment, or project. You are fully responsible for completing work.

Required test: 2D Launching the Imagination, Mary Stewart, UMBC bookstore
Other requirements:
Library Research:
Reserve readings.
WorldWideWeb
Victor
Internet Account-- email address
Library card (I-D) validation

Grading:
Work must be completed on time and in full satisfaction of each project goal. Late work (assignments handed in after the start of in-class critique sessions) will be automatically downgraded by one letter grade unless the instructor has been directly consulted in person or by telephone contact. An Incomplete can only be assigned to students with a passing record unable to complete work due to some unforeseeable serious illness or personal tragedy. Non-allowable excuses include foreseeable job assignments or work from other courses. Students must assume responsibility for preparing all necessary incomplete status paperwork for faculty signature and for submission to the department.
A Outstanding participation, attendance, and mastery of formal and conceptual skills.
B Above average assignments and mastery over tools, materials and conceptual facility.
C Average execution of assignments, participation and attendance.
D Well below average work, attendance and participation in critiques
F Unsatisfactory work, attendance and participation in critiques

Assignments: 40%
Sketchbook journal, paper, and responses to readings 30%
Course attendance and participation 30%


materials- list

Supplies: (@ required, ** optional)
Maryland Institute Bookstore, 1200 W. Mt. Royal Avenue, Baltimore, 410-669-9200
Pearl Art and Craft Supplies, 12266 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-816-2900
Utrecht Art and Drafting Supplies, 1250 I Street, NW, Washington, 202-898-0555
Visual Systems, 1009 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, 410-625-9000


@ Portfolio, at least 23" x 31" x 1.5" (cheap to expensive options)
@ Toolbox (fishing tackle boxes are far less $$$ than "art bins")
@ Masonite sketch board, 23.5" x 26 - for home/studio use
@ Illustration board: hot (smooth) and cold (slightly rough for wet media) press, single or double weight, 5 of each, 20" x 30" sheets
@ Black paper 3 18" x 24", Canson charcoal paper is fine. Don't buy construction paper!
@ Artist papers (variety): Rives BFK, Lenox 100, Arches Cover, Fabriano, etc. Approximately 22" x 30", purchase a variety (at least 3)
@ Bristol sheets 2 ply, plate surface, 5 18" x 24"
@ Hardbound black sketch book 11" x 8.5" for journal and thumbnails
@ Acrylics, 2 oz. tube or jars: Liquitex, Windsor & Newton or Utrecht: Napthol Red; Ultramarine Blue, and Hansa Yellow, Titanium White and Ivory Black (or the equivalents)
@ Permanent pens, Sharpie markers, Rolling Writer, Uniball, etc.
@ 2H, 2B, 4B and 6B pencils (1 each)
@ Erasers: kneaded, Art Gum, pink pearl, Staedler Mars white plastic (1 each)
@ Brushes: synthetic water media "flats" or "brights". Select sizes: #4, #6, #10
@ Utility knife with a retractable blade and with at least 10 extra blades or Olfa break-off blade knife equivalent in size to a utility knife
@ #1 X-acto knife with at least 10 extra # 11 blades
@ Tacks: box of 50, aluminum or plastic.
@ Ruler: aluminum 12"
@ 24" aluminum T-square
@ Compass: inexpensive "pencil compass" or student grade Staedler Mars
@ Glues: rubber cement, Elmer's, glue stick, etc.
@ Rubber cement pickup
@ Tapes: white artists' and Scotch #811 Removable Magic Tape 3/4"
@ Magnifying lenses -- approx. 2" diameter or larger
@ Color print film: Kodak Gold 100, 200 or 400 ISO or equivalent
@ 3 Macintosh format 2HD 2 MB 3.5" floppy disks
** Tracing paper, sheets or 24" roll, may be shared with several students
** Thesaurus and dictionary
** Inks: Higgins, Windsor & Newton, etc. black waterproof India Ink, and a variety of primary colors (Luma or Windsor & Newton): red, blue, and yellow
Other materials may be required. Some materials can be found at home such as: jars, cans, plastic bottles, cotton rags, pins, film; art and non-art papers, pigments, inks, crayons, markers, pens.