Course Syllabus

Spring 2026 | ART-1020-VM01 - Introduction to Studio Art

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Lauren Watrous
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Jennifer Gundy

General Education Requirements

Arts and Aesthetics

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

Students explore a variety of art materials that may include but are not limited to pencil, charcoal, watercolor, tempera, clay, papier-mâché, pastels, and ink. Covers techniques for handling various media. Elements of design and color theory will be explored and used in making two- and three-dimensional works of art.

Essential Objectives

1. Sketch landscape, still life, and figure from observation in at least three different dry media.
2. Produce a variety of two- or three-dimensional artworks, using specific and/or combined media.
3. Create artwork using elements and principles of design.
4. Employ color theory and demonstrate basic application of the color wheel.
5. Apply color media with the appropriate tools.
6. Identify and discuss the medium of specific artworks.
7. Examine and discuss the historical, social, and cultural context of a variety of artwork, with an emphasis on global or cultural diversity.
8. Create a portfolio of mixed media projects and display them in a professional manner.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

ART-1020-VM01 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Integrated: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges the use of AI is an essential skill in today's world. By using genAI for specific purposes, students become equipped with relevant skills and tools necessary to thrive in a technology-driven society. Emphasizing the mastery of generative AI should empower you to harness its potential, enhancing your problem-solving abilities and preparing you for future challenges and opportunities. Be aware, however, that any time generative AI is used at any point in the assignment without attribution it may be considered a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

If you use AI in creative work, please include that information in the presentation and discussion of that work.

Methods

For this class we will have weekly meetings in person:

• Sharing discussions looking together at each other's work, process and progress.
• Instructional demos which will also be explained through written description and still images.
• Exercises or activities from the instructional demos
• Individual subjects(which you will have proposed) for homework
• Videos and slides spotlighting individual artists working in diverse fields throughout the world. *All videos are intended to have closed caption options so if you have trouble viewing the way you need to please let me know.

During the semester, we will have four writing opportunities that are meant to be part of the creative process, do not require formal writing, and can be done by hand (and photo documented) or typed.

• Beginning of semester planning for individual subjects, submitted to the teacher
• A short observational writing exercise called ekphrastic writing to besubmitted to the class discussion
• Midterm reflection, contemplating the semester mid-way, submitted to the teacher
• End term reflection, contemplating your whole semester experience, submitted to the teacher

Evaluation Criteria

This Course uses a total pointssystem tocalculate grades

• ReadCourse Resources: Welcome Letter
• Attendance and class participation, exercises, sharing work, discussion,15 weeks, 10 points each class =150 points
• Homework, 5points weekly/14 wks =70points
• Finalpresentation offinal independent work (which you've accumulated throughout the semester) during our last week of the semester =100 points

Total: 320for an A+ grade

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Full participation in class means that you will:

• Be present at all classes, submitting and participating in discussions, and encouraging observations or thoughts on other people’s work.
• Participating in class exercises
• Watchvideos about artists working in a diversity of mediums throughout the world andcomment on something memorable about what you watched.
• Participate in short creative or reflective writing activities
• Most importantly, conceive an independent project for the semester and work on this for your weekly homework. You will shareprogress on this project everyweek and present this as a body of work or portfolio in our final week of classes.

Missing & Late Work Policy

• Late assignments are not encouraged because participation is the main focus of this class and discussions benefit from everyone present having work to share. Please submit whatever you have by the due date.
• If you do have a late assignment it can be submitted anytime before midterm for the first half of the semester's work and before end term for the second half of the semester's work, to get full credit.
• Please inform me if you are submitting late work so I know to look for it. This is very important so I can give you credit.
• Students who know that they will not have course access for any given week should make arrangements to complete assignments and participation, preferably before the absence so others can see and comment on your work.

• Communication via email or text is key.Please make it a priority to have my contact info offline in case you need to let me know about anabsence or late work

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/student-support/accessibility-services/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.