Course Syllabus

Summer 2025 | ART-2211-VO01S - Painting I

Synchronous Class

Synchronous courses are delivered through a combination of online and regularly-scheduled Zoom sessions. In synchronous classes, students must attend Zoom sessions and actively engage with each other and faculty in course activities and discussions.

Faculty

Michelle Smyth
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Dana Lee

General Education Requirements

VSCS 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

In this course, students explore beginning painting strategies in oils or acrylic. Emphasis is on process and investigation of various spatial structures in both representational and nonrepresentational modes. Students develop a formal vocabulary, visual sensitivity and manipulative skills. Recommended prior learning: Drawing I or Introduction to Studio Art.

Essential Objectives

1. Demonstrate technical skills used in creating paintings including surface preparation and the proper use of brushes and/or knives.
2. Select and employ painting techniques including but not limited to ebauche, grisaille, scumbling, impasto, glaze, wash, wet-into-wet, dry brush, and spray techniques.
3. Explore color theory, as well as values, form, light and shadow relationships, perspective, composition, and design.
4. Examine and discuss the historical, social, and cultural context of paintings with an emphasis on global or cultural diversity.
5. Explore the environmental impacts of conventional painting materials and the use of sustainable alternatives.
6. Demonstrate the environmentally safe use and disposal of materials.
7. Create and display a portfolio of paintings.

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-2211-VO01S 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.

Methods

Class Zoom sessions will include: instructor demonstrations, studio work, exploratory art stations, video demonstrations by other artists, guided research, a mid term critique and final critique, discussions, and short writing assignments.

Evaluation Criteria

Assessment/Evaluation Criteria

40% Projects & Critiques- major project assignments (key examples of your progress), museum/gallery write- up, midterm and final critiques

40% Homework- readings and written responses, small paintings to prepare for larger projects, discussion forums

20% Class Participation- discussions, work during class time

Grading Criteria:

A: Excels in all areas: Overcomes challenges, applies great: effort, craft and thought in work. Contributes strongly to group critiques and discussions, shows great growth from beginning to end of course. Completes more than assigned work. Work reflects excellent understanding of concepts.

B: Shows average effort: Addresses challenges, applies good effort, craft and concepts in work. Contributes to group critiques and discussions. Completes all assigned work. Shows consistent growth throughout the course. Reflects clear understanding of most concepts.

C: Demonstrates minimal: Class effort, craft and concepts in assignments. Participates infrequently in critiques and discussions. More than one unexcused absence or is often tardy. Some incomplete assignments, takes some risks in response to challenges in work and/or instruction. Demonstrates basic understanding and execution of concepts and technique.

D: Shows poor effort: Meets few assignment objectives. Rarely participates in class, incomplete assignments. Poor attendance and/or tardiness, Shows little grasp of concepts and techniques.

F: Demonstrates very little effort: Work does not meet expectations. Many absences, Negative or problematic class participation. Incomplete or missing assignments

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

General expectations: You will be evaluated on your portfolio of work (projects) at the mid-term and end of semester. Weekly art making assignments will be assigned along with accompanying reading and brief writing reflections. Assignments will have a specific set of objectives that must be fulfilled. Students will be required to keep a sketchbook for: in-class exercises, planning sketches for projects, and notes.

*Each week you may have a list of found objects to gather for assignments. I will provide options. They will be readily available household objects such as: shampoo bottles, boxes, shoes, pots and pans, photos, newspapers, or magazines. Please view this list early so that you have what you need for your assignments.

3-Credit Synchronous Course Time Expectations:

• 2 hour weekly Zoom class- attend and participate
• 30 minutes a week of Canvas interaction during week
• 15 minutes of material set-up and prep time for Zoom class
• 3-4 hours of art making and homework per week

Class Canvas Site: Details about weekly homework assignments, due dates, project grading rubrics, handouts, and resources will be on the course Canvas site. **Check this site regularly.

Class Culture: We will work to maintain a safe space that respects all learners. Cell Phones should remain off during the class time. During studio work time students are expected to work diligently and use their time wisely.

Attendance: Art studio classes involve working time and discussions that cannot be duplicated. Students are responsible for missed assignments and class work. Students will need to make arrangements to contact the instructor to obtain this information.

Attendance will be considered as part of the final grade for the course. Students will be expected to arrive on time, remain for the duration of the class, and attend allclasses. If an absence is necessary, students are requested/required to notify the instructor before the class begins.

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

Apply Now for this semester.