A-315/415: Course Syllabus – Spring ’14

Posted by: Ping
Art-315 Drawing III (3 Credit Hours) is an intermediate drawing course, and an intensification of media exploration with emphasis on conceptual and thematic development.
Prerequisite: Art-215/Drawing II or Art-202
Instructor: Ping Xu
Art-415 Drawing IV (3 Credit Hours) is an advanced drawing course, and a continuation of Drawing III. Individual thematic development is stressed. May be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite: Art-315/Drawing III
Instructor: Ping Xu

Class Meets: MWF / 11:30 pm – 1:20 pm
Date Range: Jan 13 – May 9, 2014
Classroom: OP-2220
Office: Ophelia Parrish (OP) 1231
Phone: 234-5558
Email: pingxu@truman.edu
Office hours:
MWF: 9:30 am – 11:20 am ;
TR: 10:30 am – 12:20 pm ;
Other times by appointment
Course Objectives – Mastery of media, issues of content in a body of work, gallery presentation
  1. Ability to make critical drawing decisions in the service of creative, conceptual, and emotive ideas – particularly within the framework of completing a coherent body of work
  2. Mastery of whatever skills or process, and overcoming of whatever physical or logistical challenge, as becomes necessary in the completion of a personal body of work
  3. Ability to present a drawing framed and ready to hang for gallery presentation
  4. An understanding of the role of drawing in society and contemporary visual art practices.

This course will be conducted as an advanced drawing laboratory. You will at times be required to demonstrate drawing from observation but self-directed creative research will be at a premium.

Project Outline

  • Project-1: Cast Drawing – Drawing from observation / 100 points
  • Project-2: Technical Drawing – Drawing from observation / 100 points
    • P2A: Structural Drawing – 50 points | 70 points (Studio Major)
    • P2B: Digital Line Art – 50 points | 30 points (Studio Major)
  • Project-3: Conceptual Drawing – Drawing from imagination / 200 points

In addition to assigned drawings related to class, students will complete two independent projects. After the mid-term, you will create an “outstanding ambitious independent contemporary body of work” for the “Drawing-from-imagination” project. Each work will be accompanied by a brief artist’s statement (between a paragraph and a page) that undergoes multiple revisions. The body of work will explore a theme of your own choosing and utilize contemporary drawing methods or strategies. You are encouraged to make this work relevant to your major.

“Outstanding” means that the work is praiseworthy in the eyes of your peers, your instructor, and your audience. Such glory may be yours because of your technical virtuosity, your conceptual subtlety, the humor of the work, its sheer beauty, its appeal to more prurient interests, or – more likely – a combination of these and other markers of greatness.

“Ambitious” means that the body of work will be substantial in overall effort and skill. You will be presenting your work several times for in-progress critiques and once for your final. Presenting just one serious new work of about 18”x24” each time, and incorporating revisions throughout the process should earn you a passing grade.

“Independent” means that the body of work is yours, is personally owned and driven by your own curiosity and interests. This also means “Wake up!” you are being asked to make what you want to make!

“Contemporary” means that the work will reflect your own times in terms of content and means by which it is executed.

“Body of work” means that you will create at least two pieces, which strengthen each other when presented as a group.

Textbook of Art-315 & Art-415: No textbook needed

Framing Assignment Due May 2 at 11:30am

Other expectations are as follows:

Class Participation – Involvement in critiques and discussions, attention to lectures, engagement with assignments, careful completion of readings, and individual initiative all constitute important aspects of this crucial element of the course.

Attendance – Being in class is mandatory. Each student could absent one class without excuse only. If you miss the second class your project grade will be reduced 3%. Miss another, lose another 3, etc. Also do not be late (arriving after attendance is called) or arrive unprepared or leave before being dismissed. Doing so twice counts as an absence.  Finally, we will often be pursuing complex projects, and will often need to do work for these projects outside of class. Be sure to do that work on your own time and always arrive for class with plenty of materials and inspiration to keep you occupied in class for the full two hours. Don’t ask to go to the library, work in the computer lab, go sketching, etc unless a lab hour is addressed. However – stay home if you have a fever and do not come to class until you have not had a fever for 24 hours, without the assistance of fever reducing medications.

Distracting Technology – Bring music to share – we can all listen to it together on the boom-box – not on your headphones. Please turn off ringers on phones and refrain from making or receiving phone calls or text messages during class unless it is an emergency. Also, you must ask special permission to open your laptops in class so don’t plan on using them for notes. Please use your sketchbook for note taking – prizes will be awarded for beautiful notes.

You are expected to do your part in keeping the studio in good shape. Begin cleanup 10  before the end of each class, clean off table tops, return furniture, etc.

Disability Services

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Disability Services office (x4478) as soon as possible.

Academic Honesty

In art we “copy” all the time, describing these methods as “sampling, referencing, quoting” and so on. Also, when the goal of an assignment is not to demonstrate your ability to draw from life, you may use various aids such as cameras, copiers, computers, etc. There is a difference between these activities and cheating but if there is any doubt always be sure you fully divulge where your work comes from and how it was done. If I feel you’ve been dishonest in this regard I will give you an F for the course and I will refer you to appropriate disciplinary channels. The repercussions can be very serious. See Truman’s Academic Integrity Policy and Conduct Code at http://conduct.truman.edu/2006%20Approved%20Conduct%20Code%20updated%20Aug%202007.pdf