: ARTS 101 :

Visual Studies: Focus on Two Dimensions

Catalog Description

This foundation course is an introduction to the basic elements of drawing and two-dimensional design. Fundamentals of composition—line, shape, movement, texture and value are addressed through black-and-white media on paper—charcoal, ink, pencil, and liquid media as well as a preliminary introduction to the use of color. Individual out-of-class assignments will accommodate prior experience.

Course Overview

Class: M/TH 9:00 - 11:50 a.m.
Studio: M/TH 4:00 - 6:50 p.m.
Studio fee: $40.00

This studio course is an introduction to the basic techniques, terms, concepts and formal strategies involved in two-dimensional image making. We will investigate fundamentals of composition and form such as line, contour, shape, movement, texture, value and color. These fundamental concepts will illuminate aspects such as representation, abstraction, the surface of the picture plane, and the illusion of depth. In all cases form will be studied as a means toward expression or the communication of meaning.

Course Methods:

This is predominately a studio course, though we will utilize a basic studio-seminar model. This means that a majority of our time together will be spent making work in our studio setting. We will supplement our studio exercises with regular sketchbook entries, discussions, slide presentations, field research, readings, writing and critique.

In this course we will work to merge the haptic, the visual, and the expressive to develop a foundational visual literacy. In other words, over the course of this term we will tighten the relationship between the hand (your mode of expression), the eye (a keen approach to observation), and the ‘heart’ (a feeling sense of observation, association, understanding and expression).

Materials and/or Textbook

Materials and Tools: Through the utilization of your lab fee, Antioch will provide the following:

• Newsprint
• Drawing paper
• Vine and compressed charcoal
• Pencils
• Firm and kneadable erasers
• Pencil sharpener
• Pen and ink
• Conte crayons
• Pastels

Student will need to provide the following items:

• Sketchbook (no lined pages, portable, suited for liquid media)
• Felt tip pen and pencil
• Toolbox or other suitable container for all your art supplies
• Purchased or handmade portfolio (we will workshop this in class)
• Experimental and found mark-making tools
• Apron or smock for messy media
• Digital Camera (nothing fancy is necessary)

You may find the majority of these materials at:

Unfinished Creations, 243 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs
Telephone: 937-767-7173

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