ART 111 – Introduction to Drawing – 3 Semester Hours

SPRING 2021

TR 9:30-10:45 AM, Dickey Fine Arts 1301

Bethel University

Instructor: Jason Cole

Office Hours:

MWF: 10am-12pm; TR: 11am-1pm.

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Office Location: DFAB 113

Office Phone: 731.352.4082

E-mail: colej@bethelu.edu

Class Blog: https://bethelart111.blogspot.com/

Course Prerequisites/Co Requisites:

None

IMPORTANT COVID-19 NOTICE:

Given quickly changing coronavirus conditions, students should be prepared for shifts to alternate means of instruction, including online

instruction, at any point during the semester.

Students will be expected to follow the posted campus policies regarding virus safety procedures and practices. A student who fails to do

so could be subject to penalty, which may include dismissal from a class session and a misconduct report filed with the Office of the

Academic Dean.

Course Description:

Introduction to Drawing is an introduction class which will expose the student to a number of traditional skills and ideas that have occupied

artists throughout history. The class involves drawing from direct observation with an emphasis on accuracy of representation, space,

volume, linear and free hand perspective, and other basic techniques and concepts. In Basic Drawing I there is an emphasis on line as the

principle conveyor of form.

Course Goals:

The student will:

1) Demonstrate knowledge of linear and free hand perspective and foreshortening.

2) Demonstrate a variety of drawing techniques using basic drawing materials.

3) Demonstrate the basic “structure” concept of drawing.

4) Demonstrate the ways in which line can define form.

5) Demonstrate traditional areas of subject matter (still life, landscape, self-portraiture).

6) Develop skills of observation, personal expression, and abstract thinking.

Text:

None

Course Objectives:

The student will:

a) Develop problem-solving skills.

b) Strengthen self-disciple.

c) Learn to use many different types of drawing media.

d) Learn to use the elements and principles of design to create a work of art.

e) Observe, research, and learn from the work of other artists.

f) Learn to “draw what you see” by using the eyes and hands.

g) Develop and enhance his/her proficiency in the vocabulary of the artist.

h) Actively engage in constructive critique.

Units of Study:

Familiarization with tools & materials

Unit 1 Linear Perspective

1-point perspective

2-point perspective

Intuitive perspective

Unit 2 Planar Analysis

Ruler Drawings

Unit 3 Loose to Tight/Unfinished to Finished

Blind and controlled contour

Gesture

Loose-to-Tight

Unit 4 Line and Limited Value

Perspective, Blocking-in Compositions, Line Quality, Loosening Up, Loose to Tight, Limited Value

1 Since the enrollment of this class exceeds the COVID-capacity of DFAB 130, the course will be conducted as a hybrid of online and f2f

instruction. This is subject to change.

2 Virtual office ours only this semester. Contact me to schedule appointments.

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Required Reading:

Various articles and printed materials that will be provided by the instructor.

Suggested Reading:

De, Reyna Rudy. How to Draw What You See. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2005.

Methods Of Instruction:

Lecture, discussion, in-class work, outside assignments, sketchbook, critique.

Course Requirements:

In addition to in-class assignments, there are three requirements of this course:

1) A personal sketchbook/journal is an important requirement of this course. It is a depository for ideas, visual observations, and

written responses to anything (in-class or outside). Include research of artists of special interest, techniques, subjects, methods,

media, processes, master studies, reproductions, etc. Drill yourself on in-class skills. Research artists mentioned in class. Include

thumbnails of intended compositions. WRITE. Don’t do ANYTHING in the sketchbook without also writing some notes about what

you did.

The Sketchbook will reviewed on specific listed days and will be submitted and graded at midterm and finals.

2) Completion of weekly in-class assignments and a related homework assignment is required for the course.

3) A final portfolio of all work done for the course is due at finals.

Attendance Policy:

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o This class will be conducted as a hybrid of online/f2f instructions.

o You will be required to attend one in-person class each week on your group’s assigned day (Group A: Tuesday, Group B:

Thursday). Failing to attend your assigned day counts as an absence.

o There will be required online instruction via videos and other material posted to Google Classroom each Sunday that you

will be required to have watched/read before attending your in-person class for that week. Failing to submit evidence

that you have viewed/read the material before your in-person class period counts as an absence.

o If you reach SEVEN absences (online or in-person), you will immediately fail the course. Seven absences means too much

information and work has been missed for anyone to legitimately pass the course. The only guaranteed excused absences are for

students who must miss class due to approved scheduled university extracurricular activities and Quarantine absences that I have

received official notification regarding. Medical absences can be discussed on an individual basis, but it is not guaranteed that

they will be excused.

o If you are unable to submit an assignment on its due date because of an approved scheduled university extracurricular activity,

that assignment can be submitted at the beginning of the next class without penalization.

o If you are having trouble with the course or have problems outside the class that are affecting your performance, please talk to

me about it so that we can work out a solution. Do not wait until it is too late. I will be glad to help you in any way I can.

o Lateness is not acceptable. It is disruptive and frankly disrespectful not only to me but to your fellow students to enter the

classroom in the middle of a lecture, demonstration, or critique. Three late arrivals to class will count as an absence.

o All students will work for the entire class period. The class runs from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Students will not leave the classroom unless

excused. I am tolerant of discussion among students during class to a point. However, excessive talking, walking about or leaving

the room will be noted in my grade book and counted against your final grade.

o If you miss an assignment because of lateness or absence get it from another student. If you then have questions come and see

me.

o Like excused absences due to participation in official Bethel University events (athletics, Renaissance,

etc.), in the case of absences due to official COVID-19 quarantine status it is the student’s responsibility to

contact the instructor, make up any missed work, and fulfill all assignments.

o If students are forced to quarantine (or shelter from home) as a result of COVID-19, the students are

required to contact the instructors immediately. If students become the primary caregiver of a family

member (blood or chosen) to where their ability to access materials by deadlines becomes

compromised, the students are required to contact instructors immediately.

Methods of Assessment/Evaluation/Grading System:

Each assignment will be collected on a specific due date and time. Persons not handing in work on time will be penalized one full grade.

(See the exception rule above.) The work will be graded and returned as soon as possible. At times it may be necessary for me to hold

some of the work for exhibitions or photographing. In cases like this, I will notify you.

All homework assignments that have been submitted PROPERLY and graded may be re-worked for a better grade. In-class drawings may

not be re-worked.

Late Assignment Policy

o A homework assignment is considered late if it has not been submitted by the beginning of class on the scheduled due date.

o Persons not handing in work on time will be penalized one full grade. (See the exception rule above.)

o Late work cannot be resubmitted for the possibility of a better grade.

o Late homework must be turned in within TWO WEEKS of the scheduled due date in order to receive a grade. After two weeks, the

assignment will not be accepted and the grade of “0” will remain.

o If you fail to turn in FOUR homework assignments, you will automatically fail the course, with no alternative path to improving your

grade in the course.

Sketchbooks will be reviewed at midterm and finals. It is expected that you are making extensive use of your sketchbook throughout the

semester to practice and drill yourself on skills as well as experiment.

Final grades reflect accomplishment in three areas:

3 This attendance policy is subject to change as developments in the global pandemic occur.

3/5

o Homework/portfolio (60%)

o Sketchbook (15%)

o Class performance/participation/attitude (25%)

Final grades will be determined by:

o Completion of all assignments.

o Consistency of effort

o Development of skills in seeing and thinking.

o Presentation and craftsmanship.

o Participation in critiques and discussions.

o General attitude.

Individual assignment grade definitions:

o A - Excellent. Assignment is completely and creatively fulfilled. No significant problems.

o B - All aspects of assignment are completely fulfilled and well done. A few problems remain to be solved.

o C - Work fulfills the requirements of the assignment to the letter and is generally successful. Work is completely finished.

Craftsmanship is acceptable. Some problems remain to be solved.

o D - Work is not yet completely finished or has obvious technical or conceptual flaws.

o F - Unacceptable in technique or craft or concept (or any combination of these).

o X - Assignment not handed in. This assignment may not be re-submitted.

Final letter grade definitions:

o A – The student earning an A has shown great effort and near-perfect success in all aspects of the class. Only students absolutely

excelling far above expectations will be awarded this grade.

o B - A very good job. The person earning this grade has worked very hard; has pushed his/herself to go beyond the mere fulfillment

of each problem and has shown strong advances in technical and conceptual skills.

o C - The student earning a C has fulfilled the requirements of the course, has a positive attitude, worked hard, shown growth in skills

and thinking, and did an overall good job.

o D - Below par. This grade indicates that the student has obvious difficulties with basic drawing skills and/or trouble in fulfilling the

requirements of the class for some other reason.

o F - This grade indicates a severe problem in one or more of the following categories: lack of interest, bad attitude, failure to

complete assignments, excess lateness, or absence.

Clinical/Laboratory/Field Experiences:

None

General Requirements:

o WEAR A MOUTH & NOSE COVERING TO CLASS EVERY DAY. This is University policy and will be enforced in my classroom. Anyone

entering the classroom without a proper face covering WILL LEAVE THE CLASSROOM. If the student can return in a timely manner

with a mask, the student will be counted as TARDY. Otherwise, the student WILL BE COUNTED AS ABSENT FOR THE DAY.

o In the interest of developing an appreciation of quality materials and maximizing the life span of your work, major drawings will be

executed on good quality artist papers. Using lesser types of paper for a finished drawing will result in a lower grade.

o All work must be kept in a portfolio. Respect and protect your work if you expect anyone else to do so.

o All work that is handed in for grading must have your name and the date printed unobtrusively on the back.

o All finished work must be fixed. Make sure you have fixative and bring it with you to class.

o Do not spray fixative in the classroom. TAKE IT OUTSIDE! Our lungs will appreciate the consideration.

o All students are expected to participate during critiques. Failing to engage in discussions will be noted in the gradebook.

o Prohibited from my classroom: Cell phones (you may have it pocketed, but silence it and DO NOT ANSWER IT), texting, any device

with headphones, tobacco of any kind, drugs or alcohol, Internet social networking sites, and laziness.

Required Materials & Supplies4

Materials

o Sketchbook (at least 9”x12”)

o Graphite drawing pencils: 2B, 4B, 6B

o Charcoal pencils: 2B, 4B, 6B

o Black conté

o Workable fixative

o Kneaded erasers

o Hard erasers

o Black India ink

o Drawing brush or small paint brush

o Pencil sharpener

o Yardstick or ruler

o Portfolio for carrying drawings (large enough to accommodate 18”x24” paper)

o Container for drawing tools (an Artbox or a simple zipper bag will do)

Paper

o 18”x24” pad of newsprint paper (or SEVERAL sheets of unbound newsprint paper)

o 18”x24” high-quality paper for projects (provided by instructor when assignment is given)

Artists to Consider

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The cost of your materials has been covered by your book rental fee. They are available to you from the bookstore.

4/5

Alberto Giacometti

August Rodin

Bill Waterson

Christopher

Wilmarth

David Hockney

Edgar Degas

Edmund Dulac

Egon Schiele

Fernando Bryce

George Harriman

Georges Seurat

Gwen John

Henry O. Tanner

Horst Janssen

Janet Fish

Jean-Auguste

Dominque Ingres

Jim Dine

Kathe Kollwitz

Luca Cambiaso

Martin Puryear

Mary Cassatt

Paul Cezanne

Paula Modersohn-

Becker

Rembrandt Van Rijn

Richard Diebenkorn

Rico Lebrun

Romare Bearden

Susan Rothenberg

Vincent Van Gogh

William Beckmann

Winsor McKay

Zak Smith

Class Schedule

Week 1 (Jan12/14)

Introduction, Review of syllabus

Familiarization With Materials, Discuss Sketchbook

Expectations

Outside Assignment:

o Create a pocket inside the back cover of your

sketchbook (staple or tape a piece of cardboard)

o Place syllabus in pocket

*MLK HOLIDAY – JAN 18*

Week 2 (Jan 19/21)

Linear Perspective: One Point

o One-point perspective: work from still life of cubes

spheres, and cones (planes & ellipses)

o Eye level, below eye level, above eye level.

o Work to edge of page, push line variation

o Materials

• 2B, 4B, 6B drawing pencils

• Eraser

• Yardstick/ruler

• Newsprint (18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Divide paper into at least eight horizontal bands that fill

the page. Fill each band with vertical lines that explore

different line weights and methods of drawing. Don’t

try to draw objects or things. Consider weight, speed,

and positive/negative relationships. Lines can touch

but not cross.

o Materials

• 18”x24” white bond paper (provided by instructor)

• 2B, 4B, 6B drawing pencils

• Yardstick/ruler

• Eraser

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Week 3 (Jan 26/28)

Linear Perspective: One Point

o One-point perspective: work from still life of cubes

spheres, and cones (planes & ellipses)

o Multiple points of view

o Work to edge of page, push line variation

o Materials

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Interior: one-point perspective

o Line only

o Materials

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, bond paper (18”x24”)

Week 4 (Feb 2/4)

Linear Perspective: Two Point

o Two-point perspective: work from still life of cubes

spheres, and cones (planes & ellipses)

o Multiple points of view

o Work to edge of page, push line variation

o Materials

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Interior (same as last homework): two-point

perspective/Consider different point of view

o Line only

o Materials

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Week 5 (Feb 9/11)

Free Hand (Intuitive) Perspective

o Free hand perspective: work from still life of cubes

spheres, and cones (planes & ellipses)

o Multiple points of view

o Consider proportion

o Work to edge of page, push line variation

o Materials

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Interior (same as last homework): free hand

perspective/Consider different view

o Line only

o Materials

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Week 6 (Feb 16/18)

Ruler Drawings (Planar analysis/line variation)

o Work from drapery and objects

o Create planar shapes to suggest form, volume, and

space.

o Materials

• Pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Week 7 (Feb 23/25)

Ruler Drawings (Planar analysis/line variation)

o Work from still life

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint

(18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Ruler drawing: Drapery

o Create a still life using a sheet or other non-patterned

material

o Work from observation

o Include the full space

o Line only

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, hard eraser, yardstick, good-

quality white paper (18”x24” – provided by faculty)

Week 8 (Mar 2/4)

MID-TERM SKETCHBOOKS DUE

Ruler Drawings (Planar analysis/line variation)

o Work from still life

o Materials

▪ Charcoal pencils, yardstick, eraser, newsprint

(18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Ruler drawing: Portrait

o Head in planes

o Work from observation of a sitter

o Reduce the head to a series of planes which clearly

define the volume of the head as well as major

features such as eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and hair

o Include surrounding space

o Line only

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, hard eraser, yardstick, good-

quality white paper (18”x24” – provided by faculty)

*SPRING BREAK MAR 8-12*

5/5

Week 9 (Mar 16/18)

Line: Blind and controlled contour

o Line quality (weight, width, value, space, thin/thick,

dartk/light, fast/slow, push/pull)

o Materials

• Charcoal pencil, black conte, sharpened stick and

ink, several sheets of newsprint & Bristol (18”x24” or

larger)

Gesture Drawings (Line and mass gesture and combination)

o Materials

▪ Charcoal pencil, black conte, sharpened stick and

ink, several sheets of newsprint & Bristol

Outside Assignment:

o Blind contour: Self-portrait

o Draw 4 self-portraits in blind contour as we did in class.

o 1 in conte, 1 in pencil, 1 in stick and ink, 1 in brush and

ink.

o Work from a mirror

o Materials

• Black conte, ink, pencil, sharpened stick, bamboo

brush, 2 sheets of newsprint (18”x24”) for dry

material, 2 sheets of Bristol (18”x24”) for ink

Week 10 (Mar 23/25)

Free hand Perspective, Blocking-in Compositions, Line

Quality, Loosening Up, Loose to Tight

o Work from still life of complex objects

o Draw “through” objects

o Materials

• 2B, 4B, 6B charcoal pencils, hard eraser, newsprint

(18”x24”)

Week 11 (Mar 30/Apr 1)

Free hand Perspective, Blocking-in Compositions, Line

Quality, Loosening Up, Loose to Tight

o Work from still life of complex objects

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, hard eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Paper Loops and Curls

o Cut out at least 2 strips of drawing paper approximately

2”x24”

o Attach strips to an non-patterned wall and light them

o Draw from this still life 4 times from different angles

o Emphasize line variation to heighten the illusion of three

dimensional space

o Line only

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, hard eraser, 4 sheets of

newsprint (18”x24”)

*GOOD FRIDAY: APRIL 2*

Week 12 (Apr 6/8)

Free hand Perspective, Blocking-in Compositions, Line

Quality, Loosening Up, Loose to Tight

o Work from still life of complex objects

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, hard eraser, newsprint (18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Exterior with Objects

o Work from an outdoor view with objects defining the

space

o Examples: a parking lot with vehicles, a fenced-in patio

with furniture, a sidewalk with parking meters, etc.

o Use free hand perspective and line variation to

heighten the illusion of three dimensions and the

deeper space of exterior vs. still life

o Line only

o Materials

• Drawing pencils or charcoal pencils, hard eraser,

good-quality white paper (18”x24” – provided by

faculty)

Week 13 (Apr 13/15)

Line: Controlled contour, Finished to Unfinished, Limited

Value, Placement

o Work from skeleton still life

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, black conté, hard eraser, white

bond paper (18”x24”)

Week 14 (Apr 20/22)

Line: Controlled contour, Finished to Unfinished, Limited

Value, Placement

o Work from skeleton still life

o Materials

• Charcoal pencils, black conté, hard eraser, white

bond paper (18”x24”)

Outside Assignment:

o Controlled Contour: Self-portrait

o Work from mirror

o Line only

o Materials

o Charcoal pencils, black conté, hard eraser, good-

quality white paper (18”x24” – provided by faculty)

Week 15 (Apr 26/28)

Line & Limited Value on Toned Paper

• Work from still life or outdoors

• Materials

• Charcoal pencil, black conté, white conté, toned

(warm or cool) charcoal paper.

FINALS WEEK

Monday, May 3

• PORTFOLIO AND SKETCHBOOK DUE @ 3:30 PM — PICKUP

@ 6:00 PM

Month And Year Of Syllabus Revision:

January 2021

BETHEL UNIVERSITY is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with documented disabilities. If you have

a diagnosed disability or if you believe that you have a disability that might require reasonable accommodation in this course, please

contact Disability Services at 352-4012. BETHEL UNIVERSITY policy states that it is the responsibility of students to contact instructors to discuss

appropriate accommodations to ensure equity in grading, experiences and assignments.

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assistance. For immediate help, contact the National Suicide Lifeline Number 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or Text 741741. Students and employees

on the McKenzie or Paris campuses can also contact Bethel’s Safety and Security Office (731-415-7599) or the Mobile Crisis Number (1-800-

353-9918). Counseling is available on campus to CAS and CHS students through Bethel University’s Department of Clinical Services (731-352-

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