Drawing & IllustrationDHA 2311 Spring 2009

Tuesday/Thursday 3:00–5:10McNeal Hall 258c

John OwensOffice #250c

email: owens130@umn.eduAdvising: Tues./Thurs. 10:45-11:45 pm

Advanced drawing skills, illustration concepts and techniques. Illustration assignments for

concepts, stories, and ideas.

Materials:You are encouraged to purchase the best materials that you can. Tools and materials WILL make a big difference in your experience and quality of the work.

Spiral bound sketchbook

Translucent marker pad 11x14

Pencils (HB-2B-4B etc.)

Ballpoint (black)

Kneaded Erasers, gum eraser

Color Pencils/Nu-Pastels

X-Acto knife/#11 blades

Metal straight edge

Artist's tape

Cutting board

Proportion wheel

Paper, board, various substrates

Budget for computer print-outs

Data storage devices

Miscellaneous as needs arise

A few suggested books of interest:

Communication ArtsMonthly Journal

Drawing as Expression*Pearson/Prentice HallSandy Brooke

Drawing: a Contemporary Approach: Harcourt Brace JovanovichC. Betti and T. Sale

Drawing - a creative processVan Nostrand ReinholdFrancis Ching

The Art of Responsive DrawingPrentice HallNathan Goldstein

Course Objectives• Further development and progression of drawing skills, techniques, and applications. • Exploration and development of conceptual work, process, and various media.• Relevance and integration of traditional and electronic media• Color exploration

Creative process, examples, and discussion of drawing and illustration issues, skills, techniques, and sharing of creative development will be encouraged and expected as part of the classroom experience.

Course FormatOngoing; process, sketchbook, and class participation.

Sketchbook: A sketchbook is an illustrator's best friend. It is an invaluable tool in developing skill and craftsmanship, concrete solutions, and off-the-wall exploration. Pay attention to your sketchbook and you will find you can rely on it as a visual aid not only for your assignments, but for day to day visual vocabulary, learning to see, and honing your observational skills. It is a record of your own UNIQUE thoughts and ideas. Always keep your sketchbook handy with you in class for jotting down information and doodling ideas. It may very well come in handy down the road for future work.

Projects: There will be several formal assignments given throughout the semester. Each of these projects is geared toward different outcomes and parameters to give the student a broad range of exposure to various formats. Drawing is a big part of every one.

The Role of Drawing in Design: An intregal part of design discipline is the portrayal of forms, ideas, concepts, and models as building blocks of visual thinking to explain and articulate visually. Designers use drawing to work out ideas and increase their sensitivity to visual language. The act of drawing encourages and develops intuition, inventiveness, visual thinking, design iterations, and to literally "draw out an idea," and lets the designer be in control of the design process.

Illustration: Illumine, to shed light. Illustration has a long and varied history as the pictorial equivelent of design in communicating a message or story. "A picture is worth a thousand words," is an old platitude that still holds true. Convincing and competent rendering gives the designer another tool in which to visually express and deliver ideas and communicate effectively.

Studio RequirementsMaterials for in-class work are required. Assignments must be turned in on time. A late project will only be accepted if there were extenuating circumstances of sickness or emergency which must be documented for attendance along with deadline.

Project evaluation for this course will be based on these 4 components;1) Craftsmanship/Presentation A commitment for the craft of construciton and surface quality is important for interpretation of the work - technique. Present work neatly and clean.

2) Concept Imaginative ideas behind the solution, and creative problem solving.

3) Objective Successful completion of the criteria for each assignment.

4) Design Use of design principles and elements. Process of project steps and exploration.

Instruction/Participation Followed instructions and met deadline. Class participation in critiques, general class discussion, and studio work time.

Grading Policy

A - Excellent/Outstanding. Achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.

B - Superior/Very Good. Achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.

C - Good. Achievement that meets the course requirements in every aspect.

D - Poor. Achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.

F - Failing. Represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I.

Attendance PolicyDaily attendance is mandatory. You are expected to be in class on time, with all materials to work with for the duration of the period. If you do not have proper/requested materials on any day, or you are not in the studio during the entire scheduled time, you may be counted absent. Roll will be taken the first few minutes of class. If you are tardy you may be marked absent. You are responsible for notifying your instructor of your late arrival. NOTE: Failure to do so may result in an absence being recorded which cannot be changed at a later date. Four tardies equals one absence. These will be calculated for final grades.You are allowed two absences. You are still responsible for and are expected to complete the work missed during these days and making the deadline. If the work is not completed within the limit set by the instructor, the absence will not be excused in regard to your final grade. Each unexcused absence beyond two will result in grade drop being deducted from your final grade (ie., A to B).

AccessIt is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilites that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact their instructors early in the semester to discuss their individual needs for accomodations. This syllabus is available in alternative formats upon request.Academic DishonestyAcademic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of "F" or "N" for the entire course.

Academic MisconductAcademic misconduct is defined as any act that violates the rights of another student with respect to academic work or involves misrepresentation of a student's own work. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to: cheating on assignments or examinations, plagarizing pieces of work, depriving others of necessary course work, and sabotaging another's work. Discovery of academic misconduct is grounds for an "F" or "N" for the course.

To Remember:Trash: Please keep the work area free of trash. A clean room is more pleasant and healthy for everyone.

Smoking: Permitted outside the building only.

Cell Phones: Please make sure they are turned off during class periods and not used.

CD/mp3 Players: Don't use during class periods

Food/Drink: No food or uncovered drinks

Adhesives: ABSOLUTELY NO SPRAY ADHESIVES ON CAMPUS

HarassmentThe University of Minnesota is committed to providing a safe climate for all students, faculty, and staff. All persons shall have equal access to it's programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientations. Reports of harassment are taken seriously, and there are individuals and offices available for help.

Classroom ConductYou are expected to be attentive during class, ask questions if you do not understand something, and to offer your opinion. You are also expected to listen respectfully to other students and to the instructor when speaking. Racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, ageism and other forms of bigotry are inappropriate to express is this class.

Student Conduct code is available from the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and is published at least once a year in the Minnesota Daily.