Art 230: Introduction to Painting
Syllabus

Instructor: Kevin Muente
Office: FAC 413
Office hours: MW 12:00 p.m.-1:00p.m. and TR 12:05p.m.-1:40p.m. and by appointment.
Phone: (859) 572-6012
Final Exam: If we meet on MW's our final is 1:00- 3:00 Wednesday, December 11, if we meet on TR's our final is 10:10- 12:10 Tuesday, December 10.

Required Text: Zen in the Art of Archery

I got into the painting yesterday afternoon. It turned out to be, once in it, a very interesting and very colorful experience. I realize when the abyss appears that it is absolutely necessary to enter it. It's the place where secrets lie. It is the source. -Reflections of Nature, Joseph Raffael

Course Objective

This course will focus on foundation painting skills. We will be learning more about basic composition, color theory, value, and paint application. This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of painting from direct observation so that we can translate the three dimensional world onto the two dimensional surface of the canvas.

We will also broaden your art vocabulary terms so that we can learn to talk about what we are seeing. Several trips to the library and museum will be required. We will also be doing some writing. Writing, like painting helps our thinking processes and the two compliment each other, so there will be occasional journal entries in our sketchbooks.

This semester we will work extensively with color and light, and how it effects still life, landscape, interior space, and other muses for painting.

Class Policies

Attendance

You are allowed three absences during the semester. This includes both excused and unexcused, so save your absences until you really need to use them. Any beyond this will put a downward slant on your grade. No exceptions! Upon missing your fourth class your grade will drop one letter grade, five absences constitutes a drop of two letter grades, and if you miss six classes you automatically fail. If you do miss class it is still expected that you do the make-up work.

Attendance is Agrade neutral. For example, good attendance will not help your grade, however, poor attendance will harm it. Class starts at 9:25: a.m.(TR) or 1:00 p.m.(MW) so please be prompt. If you are late more than three times it will count as one absence, so don't be late! I also encourage you to call to find out what you missed, by talking to me or a fellow student. If you come to class severely unprepared it will count as an absence. Leaving early or cleaning up early will be counted as a late.

Grading

My evaluation of your work will be determined by the following criteria: Timely completion of homework assignments; the quality of your work; individual growth; class involvement; and class participation during critiques. If your homework is late, your grade for that assignment will drop one letter grade for each week it is late. Your homework will be graded on how well you meet the criteria and engage the concepts covered in class. I also allow you to rework homework after a critique to improve your grade. If significant improvement is seen the grade will be raised. Nothing is final until final portfolios are due.

We will have an individual mid-term review to meet and discuss your progress in the class. You will be required to turn in a final portfolio of all in-class and homework assignments.

My grading scale is as follows:

A: Great work! W0W! Superior. Student is enthusiastic and has an excellent grasp of the concepts covered in class. A serious effort is put forth, student engages homework with a degree of technical excellence. Scholarship is evident. Great command of observational skills. Marked improvement. Student shows considerable initiative. Student often does what is asked for exceedingly well. Great involvement in the class, student contributes a positive attitude which benefits the class. Student seeks out and looks at other artists constantly. Participates often during critiques.

B: Above average. Good. Student does a good job on homework. Assignments and in-class work are accurate. Student displays a level of marked improvement, understands what is asked of him or her and responds well to suggestions. Student shows up and is ready and wanting to paint on a constant basis. Student works hard and has a solid grasp of concepts and methodologies covered in class. Can see and correct errors well. Good command of observational skills. Participates often in class critiques.

C: Mediocre. Work is acceptable, but average, sometimes doesn't fully comprehend all the concepts covered in class. Homework has errors. Student may work hard but barely meets assignments and requirements. Student may have some skills but initiative is uncertain. Some improvement is shown. May or may not see errors in their work but isn't very effective in resolving those problems. Student often can't or is unable to make required changes based on instructor's suggestions or instructions. Student may at times not be fully prepared for class.

D: Below average. Work is often late and/or of poor quality. Student has major problems with assignments such as perspective, intensity, value, and proportion. Little or no class participation, student may be late several times, or may have an attendance problem. Student shows little improvement. Can't fix and doesn't see errors in their work. Student doesn't follow directions or requirements of the instructor. Could have some skills however they lack proper motivation or initiative.

F: Failure. Work not turned in or unsatisfactory, excessive tardiness, poor attendance, attitude is a problem and often disrupts the learning process. Missing 6 or more classes.

Outside Assignments

#1: Two black and white value paintings & value scale
#2: Copy a Master painting
#3: Make your own stretcher, & painting
#4: Spiritual still life
#5: Multiple space
#6: Abstraction
#7: Copy a Master painting portrait
#8: Self portrait

In addition to these assignments you will also be required to visit 2 galleries or art lectures, and write a summary of the shows or lectures. The NKU gallery doesn't count. I will give you a list of galleries in the area and will do my best to keep you posted of gallery openings and art lectures in the area.

The schedule in this course is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Note: You may expect at least a solid three hours of homework a week, but you may need to put in more. I will always give you at least 1 week for the assignment so use your time wisely. On occasion you may have to come to the painting studio to do homework and paint from a class set-up.

Material List

Drawing board 18" x 24" Masking tape
Art supply box Bound sketchbook
Acrylic gesso (white one pint) 3" flat brush
Cotton rags Pencils (6b,2b, HB)
Arches or Rives BFK at least 3 big sheets Various round, flat and filbert brushes
Masonite, go in on this with a class mate and share a 4" x 4" piece $6.95 at Lowes
1 yard of canvas (unprimed) 2 Jars or dishsoap dispenser
Odorless Paint thinner/Sil-a-coil brush cleaning kit Liquin
Stand oil piece of plexi-glass for palette
Sil-o-coil can to hold thinner Canvas pad
Plastic Wrap T-pins
Oil paints: Titanium White, Cad Yellow Light, Cad Yellow Deep, Cad Red Med, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Phalo Blue, Burnt Umber, Black

Ivory soap, apron, Q-tips, Damar varnish spray, staple gun, staples, pallette knife, razor scraper, stretcher bars, 8ft quarter round, 8ft 1"x 2" poplar, sandpaper medium grit.
Many of the supplies can be purchased at Suder's, Prince's, Lance's, Wilson's, Michel's or by Mail order.

Class Responsibilities

The student is held responsible for all lectures, demonstrations, discussions, reading assignments, etc. throughout the course. If you miss anything, it is your responsibility to find out what it is and correct the situation.

Disability

If you have any condition or impairment that hinders the full expression of your true ability, please meet with me to personally discuss this in regard to class requirements and performance.

Academic Honesty Policy

Since honesty in the course is required, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the instructor and/or college constitutes a violation. Where applicable, a grade of zero may be assessed in the area that has been violated. This may affect your final grade. You may also want to examine the Student Honor Code at http://www.nku.edu/deanstudents/HonorCode.htm.

Dates to Keep in Mind
Trips to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Wednesday or Thursday, September 11th or 12th.
Last Friday of each month for galleries openings.
Eric Shanes watercolor workshop Tuesday, Oct. 22nd at 1:40 p.m

Kevin J. Muente
Assistant Professor of Art
Northern Kentucky University