Course Materials

See the Supply List

Course Description

Prerequisites -- None

We will be drawing from life using various combinations of subject matters, modalities, and media, while investigating contour and proportion, mass and value, and gesture and composition.

Course Objective

To learn to translate a three dimensional, multi-colored objects on a two dimensional, black and white surface via observation.

Course Policies

Final Grade (100%) = Midterm Grade (33.3%) + Projects/Critique Grade (66.6%)

Midterm Grade = During the first, and least structured part of this class, your grade will be based on your and my collaborative assessment of your efforts, and your successes.

Projects/Critique Grade = Projects will be evaluated according to my patented secret-system of evaluating the aspiring artist. (Just kidding! Your grades will for a large part be based on the amount of effort that it looks like you put in to your class and homework. Honest enthusiasm goes a long way!)

Grading Scale = This is not how English or Economics teachers grade. I can't look for your punctuation errors, or bad mathematical equations-- Visual art exists because words are often inadequate. I can only accompany you, tell you stories, and occassionally guide your hand as you transform yourself into a working artist.

A = For each assignment, I expect that you will solve the problem and demonstrate commitment in terms of time, imagination, and craftsmanship. During critique, you will struggle to articulate your assessment of the artworks presented.

B =

C = Poor quality of craftsmanship, evidence of a hurried job or a halfhearted attempt to solve the problem. During critique you are unprepared to discuss your strategy for creating the drawing.

D =

F = Missing course work. I do not accept late projects without previous arrangement.

Regarding the "I" -- As a semesterÕs grade, the ÒincompleteÓ will only be given in cases of medical, or family medical emergency, or financial hardship, and only then when the proper documentation is supplied to your advisor, and I recieve a written request from them on your behalf.

Attendance --- Students may miss a maximum of three class meetings without any penalty

Lab Fee

The art department charges a lab fee to be used for expendable materials used throughout the art facilities. I will use ours to purchase a limited variety of large, fine papers for your final projects.

Lab Safety and Cleanliness Policies

Art materials can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Please follow the directions on the product and exercise common precautionary sense. i.e. Aerosol cans are to be sprayed only in properly ventilated areas (the classroom, hallway, etc. does not qualify.) A cleanup moniter will be appointed if necessary.

Assignments/Responsibilities

Show up with your supplies. You will have classwork each day, and one homework assignment most weekends.

Course Content and Outlines

Project schedules will be handed out as needed.

Academic Honor Code

Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code. The Academic Honor System at the Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility to: (1) Uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the students own work, (2) Refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the University community, and (3) Foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the University community.

Go to http://www.fsu.edu/~union/honor.htm for the full text.

Americans With Disabilities Act

Show Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should (1) register with and provide documentation to the student Disability Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accomodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class. For more information about other services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the Students with Disabilities Resource Center:

Dean of Students Department
08 Kellum Hall
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4400
850/644-9566
(TDD) 850/644-8504

This syllabus and other class materials are available in an alternate format upon request

Additional Information

artist - Able to isolate basic equations from all of the incoming visual stimuli (Art, Design and Visual Culture. Malcolm Barnard, St. Martins Press, NY, 1998, p.2)

visual Art / culture - material artifacts, buildings and images, plus time based media and performance - ... produced by human labor and imagination, which serve aesthetic, symbolic, ritualistic or ideological-political ends, and or practical functions, and which address the sense of sight to some effect. (Art, Design and Visual Culture. Malcolm Barnard, St. Martins Press, NY, 1998, p.2)

intuitiveness - a sense of immediacy and purpose with the media, pushing, pulling and stretching of an idea into form

open-mindedness - learning how the principles work so you'll be alert for your own discoveries

intellectual work - intake of new information, relate past experiences to solving of present visual problem, and to develop new problems to solve

design - endow optical sensations, or images, with meaning