Painting Syllabus

(Download a .PDF version of the Syllabus here)

My Teaching Philosophy: Everyone can create art.  Everyone.  All people are creative. I see my job as an opportunity to expose students to as many techniques, skills and sources as inspiration as possible. The only person who needs to like your art is YOU!

About this course: This course is 18 weeks long. It is divided into 3 parts:

         1. Part One:          Learning the Rules

         2. Part Two:          Bending the Rules

         3. Part Three:       Breaking the Rules

We will cover a range of art theory and art history. This is a hands on, project based course. You will work individually, and in  collaborative groups. Self-Reflection and peer critiques will be conclude most projects throughout the course. You will be demonstrating technical understanding and creativity through a variety of projects based on the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.

The 25 California High School Arts Content Standards will be meet through the course. The five broad standards are: Artistic Perception,  Creative Expression, Historical and Cultural Context, Aesthetic Valuing and Connections, Relationships and Applications.  At the start of each new lesson, we will identify which standards we will be working on in that project.

Classroom Rules
1. Display a positive attitude (see below).
2. Be on-time and physically, mentally, and creatively present.
3. Bring your sketchbook to class EVERYDAY.
4. Behave appropriately and dress appropriately.
5. No Cell Phones.
6. No Food or Drink.

Attitude
Be prepared embrace the creative process and to learn from each other and share the studio. A substantial portion of your grade will be determined by your attitude: your effort in learning new material, your desire to help me and fellow students, and your respect for our precious (and expensive) equipment and resources. You will also be expected to behave in a professional and ethical manner. Understand that rudeness and disrespect will not be tolerated. Be prepared to come to class every day with a positive attitude, showing patience, tolerance, respect, and cooperation.

Late Work and "Regrades"
Because you will be presenting your work to the class during critiques, it is vital that you turn in your completed project at the beginning of class on the day that it is due. If you do not, you will lose one grade (10%) per class day that a project is late.

Art is a process that can often take many revisions to perfect. Once you have turned in a "Presentation Work" project and received your grade and feedback on it, you may redo the project for a higher grade if you wish. In order to have a project regraded, you must make an appointment with me for a “regrade conference” outside of class time and you must bring your original grading sheet to that conference. You can raise any aspect of your grade except for points lost due to turning in the project late.

Attendance
Prompt attendance to class is extremely important, as class begins when the bell rings. Entrance anytime after the bell rings is considered tardy or absent. This means that you need to be seated and ready to work,  I take attendance when the bell rings, I will be looking for you in your assigned seats.  Additionally, there will be a second roll at the end of the period, in order to received credit you must be in your seat.

If you have an absence that is unexcused on the report that I get back from the Attendance Office, you will receive a Saturday School Assignment. Even if your absence is excused, it is still your responsibility to learn the material and make up the work you missed, and often that can only be accomplished outside of class time. Please check with me for open studio hours.

CCA Tardy Policy-
1st tardy- verbal warning
2nd tardy- phone call home
3rd tardy- 4 hr. Saturday school

If you are leaving class for a doctor’s appointment, athletic game, etc. in which you need a note from the attendance office, you are required to obtain the note during non-class time.  You are not excused to leave during class to get the note.

Classroom Management Guidelines:

Cell Phone Policy- Cell phones, pagers, etc. are not appropriate during class.  If these items are out  during class time they will be confiscated.

         1st violation- it will be taken by teacher and returned at the end of the class.

         2nd violation- taken to the administration, and picked up at the end of the day.

         3rd violation- a parent will be required to pick up the equipment from admin.

Further violations will be dealt with on an individual basis.

The  Canyon Crest Academic Dishonesty Policy will be enforced. Honest behavior is expected from all students.   Any unauthorized collaboration, plagiarism, forgery, theft, or other dishonest behavior will result in disciplinary action.  The consequences followed can be found in the Canyon Crest Student Handbook.

Bathroom and Hall Pass Policy- One student is allowed to use the restroom at a time and MUST carry the hall pass. If student does not return within 5 minutes, then participation points will be deducted.

Figure and Film Studies
Often during the course sequence of all the visual art courses, the student will be working with visual materials such as famous art works, films of famous artists, charts and diagrams, slides, VHS tapes/video disks, the World Wide Web, and computer programs. This material may contain complete anatomical references, nude model poses and views of artists working from the nude in their studios, as well as scenes from modern films. The material may also mention and discuss the alternative lifestyles sometimes lived by famous artists, and may be expressed in language that might be considered offensive to some people. Current issues, as they relate to art and free expression, are also discussed in the art classes. If you have questions, please contact me at Julie.Rais@sduhsd.net

Grading:
30% of your grade will come from "Practice Work.” Practice work is all the work that you will do in class and at home to gain inspiration, do research, brainstorm ideas, practice techniques, explore concepts and ideas, and write about your art-making process. Most practice work will be completed in your sketchbook.

50% of your grade will come from "Presentation Work.” Presentation work is all the "major" projects that you do; Both technical skill and artistic skill will be evaluated in presentation-level work. A self-evaluation component is incorporated into every project.

20% of your grade will be determined by your "Studio Performance." In order to receive an A grade in this course you have to have an A in studio performance. Studio Performance means doing you shop job EVERYDAY, displaying professional behavior, the desire to learn and improve, a commitment not to waste valuable studio time, and respect for our precious (and expensive) equipment and resources.

Materials:
All materials for projects will be provided, such as paper, pencils, ink, paint, etc.  
However, each student will NEED to buy or make a sketchbook for class, as we will be using them everyday.  The sketchbook must be UNLINED.  Any size between 5”X 7” and 9”x 12” is excellent. Spiral bound sketchbooks work best.

Recommendations on where to buy sketchbooks:
Michael's
Aaron Brothers
Rhino Art
Dick Blick
Office Depot or Staples*

*A regular binder makes a great sketchbook!  I can supply paper for the binder J

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"I have read and understand this document."

Student name (print and sign):

 _____________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian name (print and sign):

_____________________________________________________________________

Do your child have computer AND Internet access at home or after school?  Yes         No

Sign and return this paper by Friday, Feb. 1st

“Just as our eyes need light in order to see, our minds need ideas in order to create.  – Nicole Malebranche