Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 110"
COURSE NAME: "Drawing - Rome Sketchbook"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2020

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: James Gardner
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: Remote Learning
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course makes use of the unparalleled resource that is the city of Rome itself; each class meets at a different site around the city. Students work in sketchbook form, creating over the course of the term a diary of visual encounters. Instruction, apart from brief discussions of the sites themselves, focuses on efficient visual note taking: the quick description of form, awareness of light and the development of volume in space. With practice and growing experience, students become capable of producing drawings governed by conscious intention.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course will explore drawing in a very broad sense. Using sketchbooks, to visually record information, students will explore a variety of approaches to observational drawing. The format of the class will be structured around three specific projects, which will encourage students to develop and resolve ideas within their sketchbooks. Some of the basic drawing issues addressed in specific lessons include: thumbnail sketches and planning, the cultivation of line, rendering form in light and dark, creating space and visual drama through various kinds of contrast, practical advice on perspective, specifying point of view and creating atmosphere.

Additional information:

The course involves working from direct observation.

2. The core activity is drawing directly from observation. You will not be able to meet the requirements of the course without working many hours outside of class.

3. The course requires all students to be in regular communication with the professor to discuss their progress and provide feedback.

4. The course is meant to be a framework allowing very free individual artistic choices. The lessons are meant to help students get started, but there is always room for creative alternatives.

5. Students must check Moodle regularly and engage with the contextual material and references. Looking at and reflecting on the work of other artists is imperative to this course.

Materials:

Students buy their own art supplies. You need a sketchbook not less than 24 x 34 cm. The drawing instruments are up to you, but most students begin a variety of pencils, or soft, dark graphite. In addition as, students are encouraged to draw with a variety of unconventional materials - tape, threads, food liquids etc. More information will be provided on moodle.

Art supply stores: Poggi (two locations, one in Trastevere on Via Merry del Val, just off Viale Trastevere, and the other on Via Pie’ di Marmo, near the Pantheon), also Vertecchi, a chain with many branches, including one near Piazza di Spagna. Drawing supplies are also commonly found in stationary stores (cartolerie). Show your JCU student card at Poggi to receive 15% discount.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course makes use of the unparalleled resource that is the city of Rome itself; each class meets at a different site around the city. Students work in sketchbook form, creating over the course of the term a diary of visual encounters. Instruction, apart from brief discussions of the sites themselves, focuses on efficient visual note taking: the quick description of form, awareness of light and the development of volume in space. With practice and growing experience, students become capable of producing drawings governed by conscious intention.

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Completed sketchbook of drawings done over the term	Grading is based on a judgment of the contents of the sketchbook and related work created over the semester. Quantity of work produced is of great importance, since producing a large body of work by itself practically guarantees progress. Commitment, range of experimentation, resourcefulness, inventiveness, expressiveness, acuity of observation, concision, complexity, improvement, spatial clarity, and other aspects of technical skill and artistic quality are also considered.	100

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality shows excellent mastery of the course content along with exceptional levels of technical skill, artistic awareness, originality, resourcefulness, commitment, quantity of work and improvement. There has been excellent collaboration and leadership in group projects, and there have been no attendance problems.
BA highly competent level of performance with work that directly addresses the content of the course, with a good quantity of work produced.
CAn acceptable level of performance: the work shows awareness of the course content, but is very limited in quantity, quality, commitment and skill.
DThe student lacks a coherent grasp of the course material and has failed to produce much work.
FNegligent in attendance, academic honesty, engagement with the course content, or production of work.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance is required.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Introduction to course – What is drawing?

Materials and supplies.

Assignments, expectations and grading.

Introduction to 20/20 project and brief.

Students will be tasked to complete 20 specific drawing exercises related to one single object. Examples of appropriate objects will be uploaded to moodle.

Exploration of Line

With guidance from the professor, and reflecting on previous exercises, students should create a body of drawings which deal with the visual element of line in response to their chosen object.

Exploration of Tone

With guidance from the professor, and reflecting on previous exercises, students should create a body of drawings which deal with the visual element of tone in response to their chosen object.

Final Critique of 20/20 drawing project.

Students must upload an edited selection of drawings from the project onto the moodle forum and critique the work of their peers. Guidance and further clarification will be provided in advance via moodle.

Documenting spaces - Thumbnails

Introduction to the one week project, in which students must explore their current environment through drawing. Students will be tasked to create 24 quick thumbnail sketches. Emphasis is placed upon speed, gesture and economy of marks.

Documenting spaces – Scale

Students will explore scale in relation to their earlier Thumbnails to create a larger drawing, with increased detail and accuracy. Emphasis is placed upon proportion, tonal values and depth within a composition.

Introduction to Shelter Project

Students will create a physical habitat or sculpture which has a clear relationship to the human figure. This will be explored through drawing and references to contemporary artists.

Collage of Shelter

Emphasis placed on tonal values, texture and simplification of imagery.

Large Scale Drawing.

Working on as large a scale as possible, students will create a large-scale work, which resolves their initial work within their sketchbooks. Students will approach this in an individual way, relevant to their prior ideas and in discussion with the professor.

Large Scale Drawing – continued.

Final Critique

Students must upload a PDF which documents the building of their shelter, their drawings and collage and their resulting final large-scale work. More information will be provided on moodle.