Course Syllabus
Course: ART 2430
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New MediaDepartment: Visual Art
Title: Digital Drawing and Painting
Semester Approved: Spring 2024
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2028
End Semester: Fall 2029
Catalog Description: This studio course introduces students to drawing and painting using digital methods. Investigations will include idea generation; preliminary and finalized sketching; observational and conceptual drawing and painting; direct and indirect processes; input, output and storage; and transferring analog skills to digital methods. Both analog and digital components will be utilized to experiment with the digital tools and techniques available to visual artists. This course will culminate with a curated final portfolio of digital and printed works. Students should complete ART 1110 and ART 1120 before taking this course. A program fee is required.
Semesters Offered: TBA
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 3
Justification: This course is intended to provide students with the skills to produce digital artwork that can be used for a variety of visual arts genres, including, but not limited to animation, graphic design, game design, and fine art.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Material Proficiency: Demonstrate a proficiency in materials and techniques—Strategies will be taught working with both analog and digital mediums and include idea generation; preliminary and finalized sketching; observational and conceptual drawing and painting; direct and indirect processes; input, output, and storage; craftsmanship; transferring analog skills to digital methods; navigating the Macintosh operating environment—Mac (i)OS; and developing skills in digital imaging software and hardware. These skills and proficiencies will promote confidence in future endeavors in the field. This will be assessed through quizzes given throughout the semester and through a final portfolio of completed digital and printed works.
Principles of Concept: Demonstrate an integration of conceptual principles—Through the exposure to a variety of digital drawings and paintings by contemporaries in the field, students will develop a sensibility that allows them to communicate their own unique concepts as they apply them to digital drawing and painting. This will be assessed through quizzes given throughout the semester and through a final portfolio of completed digital and printed works.
Historical Context: Demonstrate a fluency in historical content and context—Students will be exposed to an array of historical artworks from the fields of drawing, painting, illustration, and animation in both analog and digital formats. This process is designed to inform students of the broad development and context of digital drawing and painting and its influence on society and contemporary art. Artistic influence and imitation is a revered and healthy part of the creative development of art students. This will be assessed through a final portfolio of completed digital and printed works.
Critical Theory: Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze a work of art—Students will develop an ability to critically analyze works of art through verbal critiques of the work of their peers and professional artists relating to the relationships between technology, form, and content. This skill will foster a greater ability of students to be critical of their own work within the creative process. Students will demonstrate their ability to analyze works critically through short verbal and written critiques.
Creative Process: Demonstrate the application of the creative process—This course teaches strategies for cultivating creative practice, expressing ideas, solving problems creatively, engaging with challenging concepts, and experimenting with digital drawing and painting methods. Through hands-on studio projects, students will engage the digital design process into their own practice. This will include the process of THINKING about the design parameters, LOOKING at what others have created prior, and DOING—applying what they have learned. Utilizing a sketchbook to record and develop this process will be highly encouraged as part of the process. This will be assessed through a final portfolio of completed digital and printed works.
Content:
Course topics and learning tasks include idea generation; preliminary and finalized sketching; observational and conceptual drawing and painting; direct and indirect processes; input, output, and storage; craftsmanship; transferring analog skills to digital methods. Both analog and digital components will be utilized to experiment with the digital tools and techniques available to visual artists.The artistic genres, major figures, and movements covered in this course will be representative of a ranging variety in gender, nationality, language, identity, perspective, and background. Where disparities may exist in these genres, major figures, and movements, questions or issues of representation will be addressed in class discussions and/or assignments. Discussion of representation and diversity are highlighted as significant aspects of digital drawing and painting as they relate to access, voice, and audience.
Key Performance Indicators:
Each student will be evaluated upon the completion, artistic merit, conceptual application, innovation, and level of craftsmanship of each creative studio project. Quality craftsmanship in both analog and digital work will be expected. All work will be cataloged in an online digital portfolio which will be assessed during finals. Quizzes will also assess each student’s understanding of formal elements and principles including, material proficiency, principles of concept, historical context, critical theory, and the creative process. A final assessment module will prompt a written response to each of these areas as they pertain to their final studio project. Also, through attendance at and participation in various opportunities for lecture, demonstration, research and critical analysis, students will gain an informed ability to critique, ultimately enhancing their own work and the work of their peers.
Comprehensive portfolio of original digital and printed works 70 to 80%
Written critique and analysis of contemporary artwork 5 to 10%
Quizzes 5 to 10%
Attendance + participation in class discussions, activities, and critiques 10 to 15%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
No textbook is required for this course. Supplemental readings may be provided.
Each student will be required to have access to an iPad and Apple pencil or comparable stylus. Students may check out an iPad and Apple pencil from the SCVA Digital Media Program if needed. Students will need to purchase the Procreate app and have a USB 3.0 flash or external hard drive (32 GB minimum). Additional materials and supplies to be determined at the discretion of the instructor in addition to what is provided through the course program fee.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will include applied, hands-on studio projects, class discussions, oral and written critiques, demonstrations, and slide lectures, as they apply to the principles of time-based media. These teaching methods are tailored to accommodate unique learning styles that will integrate with a variety of rigorous experiential, creative projects. This course fosters a collaborative, co-intentional learning experience that encourages students to consider themselves partners in creating and maintaining a respectful and supportive learning community through their work, critique, and conduct. The exchange of ideas and feedback is emphasized through discussion, critique, and collaborative projects. This exchange is also encouraged outside of class as students are invited to work together informally. This interactive and participatory endeavor cultivates artists who value each other as well as the creative process and helps them discover that collaborative learning experiences are rich with potential, as student colleagues inspire, stretch, trust, and support each other. It also prepares students for the highly collaborative and creative industry where diverse ideas and areas of experience are combined to problem solve. Prompts for discussions and projects are designed to promote a wide range of visual interpretation and the inclusion of various conceptual insights, including but not limited to, age, ethnicity, culture, gender, and religion. Visual art, in its essence, promotes inclusivity as students explore unique personal concepts.This course will culminate with the final project where, in addition to the final product, students will critically write and speak about their unique creative process as well as the other four outcomes. Integrating written and verbal critical analysis into the studio practice promotes a conscious awareness, enhancing the quality of current and future creative ventures.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 15
Optimum Class Size: 15