Painting Program Course List

WATERMEDIA I – ART 220

Watermedia I introduces students to painting via transparent watercolor. Assignments emphasize the use of color in composition, continued development of drawing skills for organizing and depicting form, and exploration of the unique qualities of a transparent painting medium. Technical aspects of transparent watercolor, preparations of paper surfaces and uses of materials are included. Assignments include reference to contemporary and art historical uses of water-based pigments as vehicles for expression.

Pre.: ART 190, ART 100

Topics:
.Uses of materials, various watercolor papers and types of brushes
.Character of pigments: staining, transparent, opaque, granular
.Basic wash and mark techniques: flat + graded washes,
wet on wet, wet on dry, lifting
.Uses of transparent glazes to adjust color and create luminosity
.Creating spatial depth and atmosphere via cool and warm hues
.Limited palettes: merits and applications
.Combinations of hard and soft edges to define form
.Color as gesture
.Layering transparent color experimentally
.Mapping out patterned compositionss
.Composing with atmospheric color and solid form
.Editing and selecting from visual references
.Other formats: diptych/triptych, disorted formats

Compositional approaches:
.Formal and expressionistic Interpretations of subject matter
.Mapping out patterned compositions
.Composing with atmospheric color and solid form
.Editing and selecting from visual references
.Architectural studies
.Other formats: diptych/triptych, distorted formats

Art 245 Introduction to Oil Painting

Purpose:
Introduction to painting materials and medium. Technical aspects of oil
painting including preparation of grounds and use of limited color palettes. This course does not assume a specific skill level in painting. It provides a systematic exploration of oil painting methods, introduces students to basic concepts in oil painting. Students learn about the essential elements of painting through an investigation of the materials and media. Oil painting is the primary vehicle employed, but students receive a comprehensive grounding in the fundamental and technical aspects of painting, including preparation, limitations and application of specific media used in color. The subject matter in this course which can include still life, architecture, landscape. The Class meeting will be specific studio exercises, weekly group critiques of student©ˆs project, slide lectures, demonstrations. Visiting Artist lectures are part of this course.
Six hours lab.

Pre.: Art 100, 190.

Topics:
.Understanding of using variety materials in oil painting
.Prepare painting supports and grounds Represent the optical effects of light, shadow and reflected color in painting
.Manipulate the physical handing of paint to create a expressive surfaces

Suggested Text:
The Materials and Techniques of Painting by Jonathan Stephenson

Assignments:
Normally each project for 2 weeks, each four weeks as one evaluation period. Total 7 projects in this 3 credit hours course.

Art 570 Mixed Medium Painting Workshop

Purpose:
This course is designed to develop an inventive and experimental approach to variety of media in painting. To explore more advanced problems with the emphasis on creative interpretation, to guide students in the process of developing ideas and to build skill with a variety of mixed media in painting. Emphasis is on the relationship between media and technique to demonstrate content. Using found objects/materials, non traditional media in painting, assemblage, understanding composition, and personal expression are all part of the course content. Class time will be used to introduce the student to methods of developing ideas, introduction of materials, discussion of
concepts, and evaluation of completed works. Class exercises and research will frequently be done as preparation for projects that will be completed out of class. Through a variety of methods students will experience approaches to the painting process that should enable them to explore and define personal expression.

Pre.: Art 245

Topics:
.Understanding of the relationship between the formal elements and content
.New approaches of non traditional painting
.The use of research and intensive problem solving to make aesthetic and personal statements
.Exploration of a variety of painting surfaces
.Further development of skill with mixed media in painting

Reading and research topics in Mixed Media Artists:
Joseph Cornell, Donald Baechler, David Wojnarowicz, Sigmar Polke, Robert Raoschenberg, Kurt Schwitters

Assignments:
Normally each project for 3 weeks, each 3 week as one evaluation period. Total 5 or 6 projects in this 3 credit hours course.

Art 572 20th Century Formal Aspects of Painting

Purpose:
This course presents studio projects and assignments which develop a
non-objective approach to color, line, and form. The course also explores the historical sources of modern abstract painting by exploring artistic concepts such as Fauvism, Cubism, Constructivism, Expressionism, etc. A particular emphasis is placed on the development of American painters including Hartley, Dove, O'keeffe, and artists closely associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement in America.

Pre.: Art 245

Topics:
.The object as a composition element
.Structural aspects of the object in gastrula and expressive approaches
.Use of traditional and non traditional media, including color
.Emotive content and express aspects of abstract or cubist imagery
.Research 20th century art movement from cubism to abstract.

Text:
Reading from instructor and topics in Cubism and Expression Abstract

Assignments:
Two Reading Reports - one book in cubism and one book in abstract.
The report is oral presentation to the class.

Project - There are 6 large format painting projects.

Art 615 Figure Painting

Purpose:
Painting from the human figure is one of the established traditions of fine arts. This course presents the demand of recording from direct observation in conjunction with expressing concepts of the human form.

Pre.: Art 255, 245

Topics:
.Refinement of painterly techniques to describe the human figure
.Investigation of formal aspects of figure painting
Development of conceptual ideas as related to figure painting

Text:
Drawing from Life, Clint Brown and Cheryl Mclean
An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists, Fritz Schider
Formulas for Painters, Robert Massey

Assignments:
There are 5 - 6 painting projects in this course.

WATERMEDIA II - ART 620

Students in Watermedia II will do advanced work using water soluble pigments, following the introductory course, ART 220 Watermedia I. Studio assignments will include more ambitious approaches towards composition, color and paint application using enlarged scale, extended series, or more complex technique. Some assignments will be direct and spontaneous, allowing students to complete several works within one studio meeting. Other assignments with more complex process will be completed over several studios. Uses of water-based pigments in contemporary art will be emphasized as starting points for assignments. Slide presentations, required reading and research of current works online and in journals will be included.

Pre.: ART 220

Topics:
.Varied subject matter will be explored while addressing formal structure. Topics will provide practice with using media while providing opportunity for individual expression.
.Grounds and fields: considering relationships between subject and context
.Structural shapes and color: selecting and reducing form
.Gestural approaches: direct responses and uses of color
.Using a reference
.Multiple figures – scale changes
.Open form vs. closed form
.Discordant and vibrating colors

Art 649 Painting Seminar

Purpose:
To achieve demonstrable growth, refinement, and maturity in personal vision and craft in painting. To gain a greater understand of creative and critical issues in painting. This course consists of two components. One in book reading, intensive research project, group discussion in selected topics of art issues, artists and art movement in order to better understand the current demand in the art filed. To produce a more advanced group of painting in challenge traditional approaches. Visiting Artists lectures and critiques are part of this course.

Pre.: Art 570 or Art 572 or Art 615

Topics:
.Awareness of current issues in art
.Ability to articulate ideas in a coherent manner
.Understanding of "process" in relation to painting

Text:
Reading from Instructor and Art Talk by Jeanne Siegel

Assignments:
Two or three research Reports/presentations - short oral presentation to the class. Select two artists and one topic from instructor' list

Book reading - select one book from instructor' list

Studio Project: There are four projects in this course as a studio component

Art 650 Advanced Painting Studio

Purpose:
Individualized studio work in varied painting media. Focusing on strengths and addressing weaknesses in personal work. This course is designed to refine the focus and vocabulary of the student©ˆs personal direction. Experimentation with idioms to promote understanding of creative and critical issues, while encouraging the formation of identities in the student's work. Field trip study, visiting artist lectures/critiques,
library round-table discussions, individual and group critiques are part of this course. To produce a large quantity of painting or large scale
experimenting work is expected in this course.

Pre.: Art 649

Topics:
.Exploration of individual thematic development
.Development of capacity to be self-critical and self-directed
.Understanding of the relationship between the formal elements and content
.Involvement with sustained work on an individual peoject
.The use of research and intensive problem solving to make aesthetic and personal statements.

Text:
Reading from instructor and Current art magazine and other reference
in the Hale Library: Art in American, Art News, Art Forum, New Art Examiner, Flash Art, Sculpture, Asian Art News,etc,.

Assignments:
There are 8 studio projects in this course.

Normally each 4 weeks as one evaluation period and group critique session

Art 652 Senior Painting Studio

Purpose:
Upper level focus on the exploration of painting media for personal
expression. Emphasis on producing a cohesive body of work in preparation for the BFA exhibition. There are Three goals in this course,
1. To explore more advanced problems with the emphasis on creative interpretation and
2. To guide students in the process of developing cohesive ideas
3. To build skill with a variety of color media. Class time will be used to introduce the students to methods of developing ideas, introduce of materials, discussion of concepts, and evaluation of completed works.

Pre.: Art 650

Topics:
.Establish a cohesive idea for the personal direction
.Exploration of painterly techniques relative to expression
.Understanding of "process" in relation to contact and media
.Development of an individual aesthetic
.Build a cohesive body of work

Text:
Reading from Instructor

Assignments:
Required 6 paintings in large format or 12 paintings in variety size.

Program Statement

B.F.A Painting Major Study Plan:

Painting Program Course List:

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