Art 231, 232: Painting I and II

Fall 2013

Instructor: Gil Martin

Class meets M, W 9 – 11:15

Instructor’s Office: Virgil Getto Hall

Office hours: posted outside my office door

email:

Telephone: 423 – 8330 ex. 2259

Course Description

Art 231 develops painting skills through an investigation of a broad variety of materials.

Art 232 continues these experiments and explorations. Art 232 has a personal project component that comprises 20% of the course content and grade.

Course Objectives and Outcomes

Upon completion of this course a student will have acquired foundational knowledge of color, composition, form, texture, and expression through manipulation of different paint media. Objective observational skills will be explored alongside personal expression.

Grading Policies

In the arts, grading can seem somewhat subjective. Here’s what I look for in grading an art student:

  • Courage – Will you take risks or try things you’re uncomfortable with? It is the essence of artistic success.
  • Curiosity and imagination – Do you involve yourself in your work in a creative way? Use it or lose it! Intuition is a better guide than theory or a set of instructions. Learn to trust it.
  • Ability to take direction – That’s why you’re here isn’t it? I can help you if you let me. If you don’t want to take my direction, you will be better off painting at home!
  • Passion and effort – You can’t get anywhere without energy. By those without much experience, talent in the arts is completely overrated. Perseverance and drive are way more important. How bad do you want it?

TURN CELL PHONES OFF WHEN YOU ENTER STUDIO. ABSOLUTELY NO CELL PHONE USE DURING CLASS. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY FAMILY EMERGENCIES THAT REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE CALLS.

Attendance:

  • Maximum of four absences allowed. Use them wisely.
  • Five absences results in one letter grade penalty.
  • Six absences results in a failing grade.

Required Materials

Your $25 lab fee will pay for some materials just to get us going (canvas, gesso, vegetable oil, etc.). You will need a set of oil paints and brushes. At some point in the semester (fairly early), materials from your lab fee will run out and you will be responsible for all your own art supplies. I will explain how to stretch your canvas, make your own stretcher bars, use alternate supports, etc. in order to help you save money.

Oil Paint:

White (large tube)

Black

Ultramarine

Phthalo Blue

Phthalo Green

Lemon Yellow

Alizarin Crimson

Cad Red Light (hue, ok)

Cad Yellow Light (hue, ok)

Brushes (Hog Bristle):

Several flats and several rounds from small to medium size

One 3” house painting brush

Palette Knife

Pad of disposable Paper Palettes (Optional) – (if you elect to use these, buy the largest pad you can)

Cans, jars, and cotton rags

We will be using vegetable oil to clean up.

Genres and Media

Still-life, landscape, abstraction, figurative

Oil, egg tempura, encaustic, mixed media.

You will need one notebook for jotting down instructions, ideas, recipes, etc. Please bring it to every class. It doesn’t matter what size or quality.

Important Point:

We’ll be working with materials that may ruin your clothes. Please wear appropriate clothing. It also helps you to do better work if you’re not preoccupied with keeping ink, paint, or other art materials off yourself.

Depending on what’s on view at the Nevada Museum of Art and The Churchill Arts Council Galleries, we may make a visit.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

INSTRUCTORS CAN NO LONGER ISSUE W GRADES. STUDENTS HAVE UNTIL THE 9TH WEEK (I’LL GET YOU THE EXACT DATE) TO WITHDRAW FROM CLASS. I WILL ISSUE MID-TERM GRADES SO YOU WILL KNOW WHERE YOU STAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 8TH WEEK.

WE WILL BE MEETING FINALS WEEK FOR A FINAL CRITIQUE.

THERE WILL BE A SHOW OF STUDENT WORK AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER AND YOU WILL BE RQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE!