Art 330 Drawing III: Composition
Prerequisite: Art 124B, 140, 200
Instructor: Joy von Wolffersdorff
Office: Art and Design Center 506, Hrs: T/Th 5 – 6:00 p.m., T 9 – 10 p.m.
Email: [email protected]
For appointments contact the Art Advisement Center - AD 100, 818-677-2348
Caravaggio
Catalog Description
ART 330 Drawing III: Composition (3 – 3)
Prerequisites: ART 124A, 124B, 140 and 200
Problems, utilizing various drawing media and techniques, stressing the elements of 2-dimensional composition and pictorial
organization. Six hours per week.
Course Description
Through lectures and examples students will be taught the importance of composition in expression and communication.
Students will learn major compositional principles and concepts during the lectures and projects. They will be shown how the
success of a drawing or painting can stand or fall on its composition. No matter how strong the ideas are, those ideas will be
lost to the viewer, if the composition is not good enough to hold their attention.
Course Activities
1. Five Projects taken to completion
Students will be given five projects during the semester. Students have a choice of media (pencil, charcoal, pen & ink, scratch
board, colored pencil, pastel, water color, gouache, acrylic, oil, digital or mixed media). Experimentation with media is
encouraged, however the focus in this course is composition and not technique. On an average, students will have two and a
half weeks to do each assignment. On the due dates, students will present the finished assignment for a critique. The works
will be graded during the next class meeting, to enable students to make changes. Note: If the assignment is late, there will be
a one-point grade penalty for each class session missed, until it is turned in. One grade penalty = A- to B+.
2. Five sets of thumbnails and five sets of value studies (and color comps when applicable)
For each of the above five projects, students will complete and be graded on 20 thumbnails, 6 value studies and 3 color
comps (if working in color). These will be turned in during the project’s development. Students will turn in copies of the
originals. Please make sure that they are good, clear copies. This work must have a cover sheet attached to it with project
information on it. Examples will be shown in class. Paper folders only, no plastic please! Consider presentation for this work
and make it wonderful!
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Dame Laura Knight
3. Five sets of six project analysis
To correspond with each project given, students will do analyses of master works that demonstrate the given theme for each
project. They must be outstanding examples of each theme. Students will complete six analyses for each of the five projects.
These will be done digitally and turned in through Dropbox.
The Five Projects - Art 330
• Project #1
Vertical and Horizontal Themes
• Project #2
Shape Themes
• Project #3
Serpentine Themes
• Project #4
Rule of Thirds Theme
• Project #5
Subjective Movement
Assessment and Evaluation
The plus and minus grading system will be used in this class. You must save all work till you receive a final grade as a
backup record. A final grade will be given at the end of the term based on the following:
Work
The grades for the above mentioned projects will be averaged together. This provides a basic final grade. At the end of this
document you will find a copy of the grade matrix I use for grading the five final projects. Review it and be familiar with the
categories so that you can address each of them in your work. Please note that I give weight to how I perceive you are trying
new things and taking risks, experimentation. Don’t always play it safe if you want an A.
5 Finished projects
25%
5 Sets of thumbnails (20 done for each project)
25%
5 Sets of value studies & color comps (6 and 3 done for each project)
25%
5 Project analysis (6 done for each project)
25%
Attendance
Attendance is critical in this class since the majority of the work will be done in class. Any special foreseen absences must be
pre-arranged with me. You are responsible to get notes on any missed material. Do not come to class if you are ill and
contagious, even with a cold! It is your responsibility to tell me that you were ill.
• 3 tardies or early departures = 1 absence
• 4 or more absences = a drop in the final class grade (1 point for each absence after 3)
• Coming to class without supplies = an absence
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• Consider saving your 3 absences for emergencies or illness
Participation
Participation is how you work in class, share ideas and ask questions. Feel free to tell me if you are frustrated or pleased with
your work. Be willing to try different things, to take chances and risks. This also includes your participation during group
critiques, class critiques and course lectures.
To earn an A or A- you must do the following
• Earn an overall grade of at least an A- on the above mentioned projects
• Meet all deadlines
• Have no more than three absences.
• Have no unauthorized cell phone use during class
• Be on time to class and do not leave class early (unless emergency)
• Have the necessary supplies to work in class
• Take notes and/or sketch lecture material
• Begin to grasp compositional terms and communicate this with me by using them in class
• Demonstrate enthusiasm about the subject by being involved in the class - share ideas; ask questions etc.
To earn a B+, B or B- you must do the following
• Earn an overall grade in the B range on the above mentioned projects
• Meet all deadlines
• Have no more than three absences.
• Have no unauthorized cell phone use during class
• Be on time to class and do not leave class early (unless emergency)
• Have the necessary supplies to work in class
• Take notes and/or sketch lecture material
• Begin to grasp compositional terms and communicate this with me by using them in class
• Demonstrate enthusiasm about the subject by being involved in the class - share ideas; ask questions etc.
Student Conduct Code
Students are expected to "act at all times with integrity and with respect toward all members of the campus community. The
University assumes that all students will conduct themselves as mature, responsible, and law-abiding citizens who will
comply with University policies and regulations." See the University catalog.
Classroom Rules
• Turn off all cell phones during class. Text messaging and phone calls are prohibited in this class. If I have to ask you more
than once to turn off cell phones etc., it will be noted in the grade book and it will lower your final grade by one point for
each time I need to speak to you about this. If there is an emergency that requires your leaving either of these on please let me
know ahead of time. Basically I do not want to see a cell phone or hear one ring.
• You are welcome to bring a laptop computer to class however if you are seen working on another class project or checking
email etc. during class time I will ask you to stop and it will be noted in the roll book. Just as with cell phones if I have to ask
you more than once it will affect your final grade.
• You are welcome to bring food and/or drinks into class. However make sure that all drink containers have a tight fitting,
spill proof lid. Keep all food items and drinks away from all art work at all times. Please clean up after yourself so that we
may continue this privilege.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is an especially serious offense for which a student may be expelled, suspended or awarded a failing
grade to an assignment, examination or the entire course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating
academic dishonesty and plagiarism. Any person found to be committing academic dishonesty in my class will be reported to
the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the most severe disciplinary action will be taken. See the University
catalog.
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Additional Note
If, for any reason I need to cancel a class I will do my best to email you and let you know in advance. However, if it is due to
illness, I may only be able to let you know 24 hours or less in advance. Therefore you might want to check email prior to
coming to school, if you are only coming to campus for this one class or if you have a significant commute.
Student Contact Information
Select two other students in class and exchange contact information, telephone and/or email etc. If you are absence it is your
responsibility to contact another student and get missed information.
John William Waterhouse
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Schedule
T. 8/27
Th. 8/29
T. 9/3
Th. 9/5
T. 9/10
Th. 9/12
T. 9/17
Th. 9/19
• Introduction and syllabus
• Concept lecture, my influences and my work
• 50 words and thumbnails
• Bring an article, poem or lyrics, non a narrative to next class
• Bring a Calendar, all other class and work schedules to next class
• Article and brainstorm lecture
• Use your text, brainstorm, thumbnails
• Bring narrative to next class
• Lecture, three objects and brainstorm
• Narrative, brainstorm and thumbnails
• Bring 2 images next class on jump drive, concept driven, be prepared to talk
• Show examples, upload their images, go through all of them
• Project #1, Examples
• Project #1, Thumbnails and group crit.
• Project #1, Analysis due
• 330/430 – present concept papers
• Project #1, Value Studies, Color Comps and group crit
• Project #1, Thumbnails due
• Light and Shade Lecture
• Project #1, Work on finish
• Project #1, Value Studies and Color Comps due
• Project #1, Work on finish
T. 9/24
Th. 9/26
• Project #1, Presentation Day, in-class - matte presentation work day
• Project #1, Due for crit
• Project #2, Examples
T. 10/1
• Project #2, Thumbnails and group crit
• Project #2, Analysis due
• Project #1, Due for grading
• Project #2, Value Studies, Color Comps and group crit
• Project #2, Thumbnails due
Th. 10/3
T. 10/8
Th. 10/10
T. 10/15
Th. 10/17
T. 10/22
Th. 10/24
• Project #2, Work on finish
• Project #2, Value Studies and Color Comps due
• Project #2, Work on finish
• Project #2, Due for crit
• Project #3, Examples
• Project #3, Thumbnails and group crit
• Project #3, Analysis due
• Project #2, Due for grading
• Project #3, Value Studies, Color Comps and group crit
• Project #3, Thumbnails due
• Project #3, Work on finish
• Project #3, Value Studies and Color Comps due
T. 10/29
Th. 10/31
• Project #3, Work on finish
• Project #3, Due for crit
• Project #4, Examples
T. 11/5
• Project #4, Thumbnails and group crit
• Project #4, Analysis due
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T. 11/7
T. 11/12
Th. 11/14
T. 11/19
Th. 11/21
T. 11/26
Th.11/28
T.12/3
Th. 12/5
• Project #3, Due for grading
• Project #4, Value Studies, Color Comps and group crit
• Project #4, Thumbnails due
• Project #4, Work on finish
• Project #4, Value Studies and Color Comps due
• Project #4, Work on finish
• Project #4, Due for crit
• Project #5, Examples
• Project #5, Thumbnails and group crit
• Project #5, Analysis due
• Project #4, Due for grading
• Project #5, Value Studies, Color Comps and group crit
• Project #5, Thumbnails due
• Thanksgiving, no class
• Project #5, Work on finish
• Project #5, Value Studies and Color Comps due
• Project #5, Work on finish
T. 12/10
• Project #5, Due for presentation and grading
• Bring in all five projects
Th. 12/12
• 8 – 10 p.m. Finals week, return all grade slips
Supplies
Since most projects are open, with regards to medium and surface there is not a large specific supply list for this class. You
will need the following on a daily basis:
• Sketchbook for thumbnails and notes
• Tracing Paper
• Cropping Ls made from left over matte board
• Variety of drawing materials, tape, erasers, pens and pencils etc.
• Additional supplies for each project dependent on your choice of medium and surface
• A beveled matte cutter and blades (Logan = $18., Dexter = $27.) If you are left-handed be sure you can use the one
you purchase.
• Adapt-a-rule by Logan (optional) - this tool goes with the Logan 2000 or 4000 matte cutter only
• Matte knife and blades for presentations preparation
• A Cutting Mat/surface (12’ x 18” = $16., 18” x 24” = $29.)
• Matte boards and backing boards for presentations
• Tape for presentation
• Cover sheets for presentation
• Drafting tape for presentation
• Please do not use canvas board as a surface, unless it is an exceptionally good quality
• Fabric hand towel for use in class, to cut down on paper towel use, one that you can take home, wash, use all year
For most dry mediums Strathmore Illustration Board is an excellent surface. It is 100% rag board and it is archival. If you
want a lighter weight surface consider Strathmore Papers. They come in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ply. The higher the number the
thicker the paper is. These are often located in the flat files in art stores and are purchased by individual sheets. Crescent
Illustration board is an average quality surface. It is fine for acrylic, however it may warp. It is not very good for other
mediums.
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Art Supply Stores (take student ID as most stores give student discounts)
Carter Sexton
5308 Laurel Cyn. Blvd.
N. Hollywood
818-763-5050
M–F
Sat
9–6
9 – 5:30
Continental Art Store
7041 Reseda Blvd.
Reseda
818-345-1044
M–F
Sat
10 – 7
10 – 6
Dick Blick
44 S. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena
626-795-4985
M-F
Sat
Sun
9–8
9–7
10 – 6
Pearl Art Supplies Inc.
1250 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles
310-854-4900
M–S
Sun
9:30 - 8:30
11 – 6
Utrecht Art Supply
11677 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles
310-478-5775
M–S
Sun
9–8
10 – 7
San Clemente Art Supply
1531 N. El Camino Real
San Clemente
949-369-6603
M–F
W
Sat
10 – 6
10 – 7
10 – 6
Swain’s
537 N. Glendale Ave.
Glendale
818-243-3129
M-F
Sat
Sun
9-7
9 - 5:30
10 - 5
There are several good catalog art supply companies. The following are the ones I use.
Daniel Smith 1-800-426-6740 www.danielsmith.com
ASW Art Supply Warehouse 1-800-995-6778 www.aswexpress.com
Judson’s Art Outfitters 1-866-POCHADE www.judsonsart.com (outdoor painting equipment)
Jerry’s Art Arama 1-800-827-8478 www.jerrysartarama.com
There are many discount art supply companies on the Internet. Be careful of shipping costs.
www.DickBlick.com
www.UtrechtArt.com
www.RexArt.com
Mark Tansey
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330 Project Grade Matrix
Name:
_____________________
Project # ________
Legend: 10 is Superior, 0 is Deficient
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1. Success of the
Composition
2. Use of Project
Theme
3. Concept and
Ideas
4. Use of Materials,
Craft, Technique
5. Variation in value
(hue and intensity - c)
6. Presentation
7. Drawing Skills
8. Risk Taking and
Experimentation
Sub Total
Total Points = _____/ 80 possible
Grade = ______
8
9
10
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Project Proposal Form
Art 330 Drawing III: Composition
Professor Joy von Wolffersdorff
The following is a starting place for the concepts and ideas behind your projects that will be done for this class. As your work
develops during the semester your concepts and ideas may change. This is acceptable. In the beginning, you may propose
very different works and find that one of them will direct the others. You may also consider a series of pieces that are related,
formally and/or conceptually. These works can go in many directions. Ask yourself what would you like to explore
conceptually. If you are uncertain you can always do works of art with yourself as the topic.
Please complete the following information. You may use additional pages if necessary.
Your Name: ________________________________________________________________
1. Please describe the projects that you propose. Discuss your concept, your idea. What are you trying to say?
2. Please write a brief statement about how these proposed projects will relate to your main body of work, field of
study and/or personal artistic exploration.
3. What medium and technique will be used? (This may change as you move through the term.)
4. What will be the process? (Please note that if you are planning on using existing photo reference you must modify
or alter it at least 60% from the original, due to copyright laws. It is best if you are able to shoot your own reference
whenever possible.)
5. What are your goals with regards to these projects?
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Art Department Program Goals Addressed in This Course
• Acquire a basic knowledge, theories, and concepts about art; build on foundation art skills and develop a high level of
craft; communicate ideas and concepts through writing, speaking and art making; acquire a competency with a variety of
tools and media.
• Broaden knowledge of historical contexts of art.
• Apply processes of generating and solving problems in art; analyze, interpret and question traditional methodologies and
preconceived notions of art and art making.
• Develop an appreciation and tolerance of diverse perspectives dealing with art, culture, teaching and learning.
• Become involved in both individual and collaborative art experiences with other students and faculty.
• Develop ideas regarding career paths for an art profession or an art-related field.
• Experience and develop visual thinking and creative problem solving in art, as well as recognizing the
importance of perception, experimentation, innovation and critical thinking.
Student Learning Outcomes
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the elements of design and of color theory
• Develop and demonstrate technical craft as it applies to whichever medium the student chooses to use
• Communicate ideas and concepts through artistic development and art making
• Build a historical context for art
• Apply processes of generating and solving problems in art within specific art assignments
• Demonstrate an appreciation and tolerance of diverse perspectives
• Complete individual and collaborate art practices
• Consider an individual art or art-related career
• Use appropriate critical vocabulary to describe and analyze works of artistic expression
• Combine visual thinking and creative problem solving in the creation of finished works