Course Syllabus

Spring 2023 | ART-1020-VM01H - Introduction to Studio Art

Hybrid Class

Hybrid courses combine online instruction with limited in-person meetings throughout the semester. Hybrid courses can take place in standard or accelerated formats.

Faculty

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

General Education Requirements

Arts & 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. Apply color media with the appropriate tools.
4. Create artwork using elements and principles of design and color theory.
5. Employ the color wheel and demonstrate basic application of color mixing.
6. Identify and discuss the medium of specific artworks by characteristic appearance.
7. Examine, discuss and critique art work, including some reference to the art historical, social, and cultural context.
8. Design and complete individual projects.
9. Create a portfolio of mixed media projects.
10. Display finished works in a professional manner.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

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

*** This is a low cost ($50 or less) textbook or resource class ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

My main interest is in everyone having creative time and space to work. I believe creative work is a different way of thinking and being and this class can be a place to gather skill as well as a counter-balance to the other ways we work in life.

In the beginning of the semester I like us to try some drawing and painting practices that encourage our creative and observational brain. I like to do this through a combination of photo references and working from life, exercising our hand and eye to grow in confidence. I encourage you to balance this work with your own interests by adjusting the assignments to better meet your needs. I value everyone entering this class, each with different lives and perspectives. I believe we benefit from these differences and I'm here to support you.

Each week we will meet and participate in the class discussion sharing of our homework and studio time. Attendance is key in my class so be sure the day and time work for you and have your homework ready for the class deadline. I will maintain a consistent weekly assignment schedule for home work meaning there are no heavier homework weeks unless you decide to put more work into certain assignments. Midterms and Finals will consist of a personal reflection, a short writing time and a group sharing of work done throughout the semester. Independent projects will include researching and creating your own painting assignment over a number of weeks.

I am always here to help with questions or concerns and to ensure your safe and happy participation in this class.

Evaluation Criteria

Over the course of this semester I want everyone to feel they understand how points are accumulating toward your final grade. My hope is that you will prioritize each assignment for yourself and fit the work into your life in a healthy way conducive to real growth and learning. I grade for participation, so if you hand in the assignment you get full marks and if you show up to class you get full marks. I work with people when you need to miss a class, please let me know ahead if at all possible. I try to keep the grading simple. I grade based on participation and engagement in class and through homework. 10 points for attendance and 10 points for homework. If maintaining a certain Grade Point Average is important for your educational goals, you should be able to track how you are doing throughout the semester from the weekly grade book and the following grading scheme. The points come from 20 points per week over the 15 weeks (total 300 points for an A+ semester).

Please Note:

- You are in charge of keeping track of your homework and handing it in on time. If an assignment is unclear please let me know and we will walk through it together.

- Every week, I ask that you are present in-class with your homework. I expect you to let me know before hand if there is a class you are not able to attend unless the circumstances are an emergency.

- Please check course site and e-mail regularly

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

Attendance is key in this class. Participation in class and on assignments is what I prioritize in my grading.

Missing & Late Work Policy

This class meets on Tuesdays from 11:45-2:30pm either online asynchronous or in person on the following dates1/24, 2/14, 3/14, 4/4, 5/2. Attendance is key in this class. Participation in class and in assignments is what I prioritize in my grading. In other words, I am not grading based on "quality of work". Everyone's work is going to be different and I do not have the same expectations for any two people. I want you to have the depth of exploration you want to have for yourself and I will do whatever I can to help facilitate that. If homework is turned in late the problem becomes the workload for you and ideally I don't want you to get behind. I think it detracts from how well you can benefit from each week's offering. Therefor, I also design regular weekly assignments that are reliably the same time commitment so you can get into a rhythm. If you run into trouble keeping up I am always here and I ask you write or call me and I will always work out a plan with you. Communication with me or your advisor, however hard it can be in the moment, is the best way I can help you through the semester. Your safety and wellbeing are my first priority.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
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