Montgomery College
                                                Art Department      Rockville Campus

Intermediate Drawing            AR 114            CRN 22639            3 Credit Hours     Fall 2010
                                                M/W  1:00-3:40 pm                                    Room  304

Instructor:            Michael Farrell                                    240-567-7650              Office:            200 ART
Office Hours:            Mon  4:00-5:00 pm; T/TH  1:00-2:00 pm; or by appointment
e-mail: michael.farrell@montgomerycollege.edu
Web Site: www.montgomerycollege.edu/faculty/~mfarrell/public_html

Course Description:            A continuation of AR 101, with the further analysis and exploration of drawing skill, techniques and concepts.  Emphasis is on more complex problem solving in the visual interpretation of natural and fabricated forms.  Students will use a variety of black and white and color drawing media.  Two hours lecture, four hours studio each week. 

Prerequisite:  AR 101, or consent of the department.

Specific Outcomes:            The fundamental objective of the course will be to develop a more sophisticated understanding of drawing as a two dimensional visual equivalent of the three dimensional world.  The emphasis will be on the creation of a parallel system for what we see, through the development of a "language" of drawing.

Upon completion of this course/program a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate creative problem solving through the application of abstract theoretical concepts, development of observational skills, and the use of technical skills.
• Utilize line, value and color in a personally expressive way (abstract theoretical concept)
• Develop a personal mark making system to analyze, depict and critique three dimensional form and space in a two dimensional environment.
• (abstract theoretical concept)
• Apply advanced principles of perspective to complex spatial problems. (abstract theoretical concept)
• Employ a variety of conceptual approaches to represent complex three dimensional forms and spatial relationships in two dimensional terms. (abstract theoretical concept)
• Develop a personal conceptual framework to understand, represent, and communicate about the visual experience.  (abstract theoretical concept)
• Utilize advanced art terminology in reading, writing and oral critiques, to analyze and discuss the technical, aesthetic, and conceptual components of a drawing. (abstract theoretical concept)
• Fulfill the writing component required by the college.  (abstract theoretical concept)

Specific Outcomes: (continued)

• Analyze and accurately represent, in two dimensional terms, complex subject matter and spatial environments  (observational skill)
• Employ a variety of media in developing two dimensional drawing parallels for the observed environment.  (technical skill)
• Integrate media, technical mastery and subject matter in the development of a more personal visual idiom. (technical skill)

Text:            There is no required text for this course.  There will be required readings from The Art of Responsive Drawing, by Nathan Goldstein, assigned by the instructor.

Attendance:            You are expected to attend all class sessions, since each class builds on what has come before.  Excessive absence will negatively impact the quantity and quality of your work and will be reflected in your final grade.  Excessive absence is more than four absences over the course of the semester.  Beyond four absences, you will fail the course.  I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences - save them for true emergencies.

I recognize that there are occasionally unusual circumstances regarding attendance, but it is your responsibility to speak with me about your situation.  Please understand that this class moves very quickly, with a new project or information introduced almost every class period.  If you fall behind, it will be very difficult to catch up - given the fact that the still life set-ups are only available for limited periods of time.

Any student who fails to attend the first three classes will be dropped from the course by the instructor.           

Tardiness:                        The class will begin promptly at 1:00 pm, and attendance will be taken at that time.   Punctuality is critical, as issues concerning the entire class or a particular project will be discussed at the beginning of the class period.  If you are late, you will be expected to get the relevant information from a classmate.  If a student is late and/or leaves early three times, it will constitute an absence.  Excessive absences will impact your final grade, as discussed above.

Requirements:            You will be expected to complete each of the assigned in-class projects, the parameters of which will be outlined at the beginning of the project, and present completed work for critique.  Each project will include in class and out of class components.

In conjunction with one of the projects, you will be required to complete a written analysis of key compositional principles.

Grading:            You will be evaluated in this course on the basis of:

• Amount and quality of work produced.  Portfolios will be reviewed and evaluated three times throughout the semester. In order to evaluate progress, portfolios are weighted as follows:

Portfolio 1 – 20% of overall portfolio grade
Portfolio 2 – 30% of overall portfolio grade
Portfolio 3 – 50% of overall portfolio grade

The overall portfolio grade constitutes 80% of your final grade.

• Participation in critiques of in class work (10%)

• Written project evaluation (10%)

The criteria for grading will be the degree to which the drawings address the parameters of the project, the quality of the work produced, effort and improvement.  This is not a beginning course.  How well you draw is an integral part of your grade.

Letter grades will be reflect the following standards:

A=  Outstanding, well executed work that reflects a full understanding of the parameters of the problem.  Effort and work far exceed the minimum standards of the class.

B=  Very good work, above average understanding of the problem. Effort and work clearly exceed the minimum standards of the class.  Room remains for improvement.

           C=  Average work that meets the requirements of the problem.  Effort and work meet the minimum requirements of the class.  There is considerable room for improvement.

           D=  Completed, but below average work that does not reflect an understanding of the problem.  Effort and work do not meet the minimum requirements of the class.

           F=  Failure to complete the assignment in accordance with the parameters of the problems assigned.  Effort and work do not meet the minimum requirements of the class.

The due dates for critiques and portfolio reviews are indicated in the syllabus.  Portfolios must contain all required in class projects.  I will not accept individual drawings after the portfolio has been turned in, so, if you miss one or more classes, it is up to you to make up the work as soon as possible.  It is your responsibility to discuss make up work with the instructor.  Portfolios turned in late will be lowered one full letter grade.  I will not accept the first two portfolios later than one class period past the due date.  The final portfolio must be turned in by the final due date which will be set at the end of the semester. 

Audit Policy:           Students registered for audit are required to participate in all course activities unless otherwise agreed between the student and the instructor at the time registration for audit occurs.  Failure to participate may result in the grade of "W" being awarded.

Withdrawals:           The last day to drop the class with a grade of "W" is during the week of November 15th.  Check MyMC for specific drop deadlines.

Classroom Policies:           Students should familiarize themselves with the Student Code of Conduct on MYMC, as you will be expected to abide by all academic, classroom and college wide policies.  In class, I expect you to concentrate on the problem at hand.  This means no conversations that are not connected with your drawing, no music, and no phone calls and no texting.  We will take breaks as a class in order to allow you to see the progress of your fellow students on a regular basis.  You will be treated respectfully in return for respectful behavior.

Communication:           Student e-mail is an official means of communication for the College.  It is expected that you will check your student e-mail regularly and frequently, as you are responsible for information and announcements that will be sent to your regarding this class, and from the College.  For this class, e-mail will be used for situations where timing is essential.  Most information is discussed in class, and all assignments will be turned in as hard copy during regular class time.  I do not provide lecture materials on line or via e-mail.  If you contact me via e-mail, you must use your student e-mail account.

Disability Support Services (DSS):           A student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see me during my office hours.  A letter from Disability Support Services, authorizing your accommodations, will be needed.  Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services office.  Guidelines for emergency evacuation for individuals with disabilities are found at: http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/dispsvc/evacprocedures.htm.
The DSS office is located in the Counseling and Advising Building, Room 122.  The phone number is 240-567-5058 (TDD 301-294-9672).

Reproduction of Student Work:           Student work may be photographed or reproduced for educational purposes or for use in college promotional materials.

Final Exam:           The date for the final exam meeting is Wednesday, December 15th, 12:30-2:30 pm.   Attendance is mandatory.  You must attend this class in order to receive credit for the final portfolio.

This syllabus, course outline and supply list are subject to change as deemed necessary by the instructor.  Notice will be given in such an event.