return to Visual Concepts syllabus

NOTE: on days we have critiques begin hanging your work as soon as you enter the classroom. Always bring your sketch book, and the tools, and materials that is required for that class. Check the calendar for the current assignment.

The calendar is flexible and subject to change depending on progress by the class as a whole. Through out the semester I will assign exercises that may not be included in the list.

Introduction to VC I, syllabi and course expectations; review the materials list.

Bring to next class all your tools that you have purchased at this point. Purchase your tools, materials as soon as possible. After each class you ought to make entries into your journal regarding what was discussed during class. Begin making preliminary drawings as often as possible.

Assign Project 1: 4 GEOMETRIC / ORGANIC COMPOSITIONS Create 30-40 thumb-nail drawings in your sketch book based on Bauhaus and Purism principles. Working from your thumbnail drawings further develop your ideas on a 16 X 20 sheet of paper. REQUIRED. *Hand in thumbnail drawings September 14. Due Septemeber 21

Bring your drawing, paper, sketchbook, cutting and measuring tools to next class.

September ..................... 6 Tu

Slide lecture on Bauhaus & Purism archetectural form. View other artists works that explore architecture and landscape space.

Thumb-nail drawings in class expercises.
What is a thumbnail drawing? [1] [2] [3] advanced [4] [5] [6] [7] search under thumbnail drawings using IMAGE Google.
.....................
8 Th


Introduction to perspective. One point, two point and three point.
Perspective systems: 3 point perspective [1] ground plane [2] horizon line [3] levels [4]
balance [5]

 

September ..................... 13 Tu

Demonstration: cutting and pasting.
Demonstration of drawing techniques; thumbnail, scale, gesture, contour, etc. The mechanical vs the organic line..
.....................
15 Th
Review thumbnail drawings- more refined towards the final project. Hand in for grades.
 

September ..................... 20 Tu

Critique PROJECT 1: hang work up on the crit wall as soon as you walk into the classroom. Make sure your name and assignment parts are well marked on the back.

Assign PROJECT #2: Typography as an Abstraction within the grid Create 30-40 thumb-nail drawings in your sketch book based on typographic principles. Working from your thumbnail drawings further develop your ideas onto a 16 X 20 sheet of paper. REQUIRED. *Hand in thumbnail drawings September 27. Due October 4

.....................
22 Th

The grid concept and the golden mean and golden section for creating proportion. Begin thumbnail drawings. Next class bring materials for working on the rough drafts; using cut paper, glue, drawing tools.

September ..................... 27 Tu

Review thumbnail drawings. Begin rough drafts for the final- cut paper and drawing media; ink wash, pencil, markers.

Work in class.
.....................
29 Th

Lecture: asymmetrical patterns, negative space can be used as positive space while being introduced to the rhythms and consistencies. Review status of thumbnails and work in class.

OCTOBER ..................... 4 Tu

Critique 16 X 20 rough draft compositions. Work in class.

.....................
6 Th

Critique Project #2 : Hang work up first as soon as you arrive in the classroom.

Assign Project #3- part 1: Warner Bros. PROJECT Introducing Images as Composition and Content Create 30-40 thumb-nail drawings in your sketch book based on assignment principles. Working from your thumbnail drawings further develop your ideas on a 16 X 20 sheet of paper. REQUIRED. *Hand in thumbnail drawings October 11. Due Oct 19.

OCTOBER ..................... 11 Tu

Hand out cartoon characters. Begin searching for media images, similar to cartoon.

.....................
13 Th
Slides of artists works demonstrating collage.
Thumbnail drawings due

Critique the 1st portion of Assignment #3.
Assign Project #3- part 2: PHOTOMONTAGE Warner Brothers Introducing Images as Composition and Content Sketch books: create 12 compositional thumbnail concepts (four per page). secondly, working from your thumbnail drawings further develop your ideas on a 16 X 20 sheet of paper. REQUIRED. *Hand in thumbnail drawings October 28.

OCTOBER ..................... 18 Tu

Critique thumbnail drawings.
Continue working in class on thumbnails. Work on developing a visual rhyme between a fictional and non-fictional images.

.....................
20 Th

Hang next assignments in the hallway.
Any time left work on assignments in class. Intro to color.

OCTOBER ..................... 25 Tu

Rough studies due.

Discuss Project #4. Materials, color theory, next part of the assignment.
view artist works that relate to appropriation and pop culture. Alternative spray techniques will be explored.
Bring the following to class; pump spray bottle, tooth brush, small piece of screen, x-acto knife, drawing tools, glue, brush, black higgins ink, 16X20 sheet of good quality white paper, flat items with complex shape, masking tape. Bring with you your photocopy pieces to begin exploring compositional tests.
.....................
27 Th
Critique Project #3- part 2
You need to hand in photocopies of the thumbnail drawings for a grade.

top

November ..................... 1 Tu

Color theory lecture.

Assign Project #4 Exercises in Relativity Color :: Figure ground
magazine gray scale exercise. Bring to next class a photocopy of the grayscale.

.....................
3 Th

Critique exercise -
Excercise with gray scale in photoshop, print piece.

November ..................... 8 Tu

Critique Project #4
Assign Project #5- Boundaries

MID-TERM Grading Period.

One on one meetings.

.....................
10 Th

Mid-term 1 on 1 meetings - work in class on Color Composition Boundaries

November ..................... 15 Tu

Crique Project 5
Assign Project 6  Transparency
work in class on next assignment using color aid paper.

(Nicole Shiflet will cover the course while I am out of the country.)

.....................
17 Th
Assign Project 7   Value, intensity
Work in class- Value, intinsity

(Nicole Shiflet will cover the course )

November ..................... 22 Tu

Work in class // Value, intensity

(Phil Davis, will cover the course)
.....................
24 Th

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November ..................... 29 Tu

Critique Project 6 & 7 - discuss the photograph to be used for the final assignment.
Assign Project 8   COLOR COMPOS ITION FRAMING LOCAL COLOR
Purchase a throw away camera by next class. Color systems, demo using a digital camera as a testing tool.

December
.....................
1 Th

Lecture on found color, walk tour in and around the department w/digital camera.

December ..................... 6 Tu

Critique Project 8
Assign Project 9   COLOR COMPOSITION Optical Blending collage

8 Th
Work in class

December ..................... 13 Tu

ROUGH Drafts due for critiques
Last day of normal classes. REworked assignments and papers are due.

....................

December 15 .....................

FINAL CRITIQUE specific time set by UMBC: http://www.umbc.edu/registrar/F05finalexam.html Section 0101 (9-10:50) 8:00am-10:00am TuTh 8:30 Section 0201 (11-12:50) 10:30am-12:30pm