Course Syllabus
About Me
Professor: Beth Abels
Email: abelsbh@piercecollege.edu or abelsbh@laccd.edu
I can be reached by email, pronto or office hours. I try to respond as quickly as possible to requests usually with in 24 hours during the week and 48 hours over the weekends- maybe longer during holidays. Since I am human, I do try to preserve some time when I am not working, so you might not hear back from me right away if you contact me in the evening. I am available during my office hours, and you are always free to have a check in during studio working class time.
Here are my office hours and links to them:
Course Description
We will have the opportunity to learn techniques of graphic rendering using various media. Both freehand drawing, drafting board methods and some computer will be stressed.
We will further develop our graphic communication skills with the goal of clarifying and communicating ideas relating to objects, structure and spatial organization to facilitate the constant changing and evolving design process. This class will explore the principle language of expression of our visual thoughts and perceptions. Students will construct orthographic projections, perspectives, shade and shadow, while developing various techniques for rendering in pencil, ink, watercolor, markers and other medium.
This course is part of the Collaboratory and will be focusing on real life problems in Los Angeles, focusing on sustainability issues, and directly working to help our community You will have a tremendous opportunity to make a real difference while gaining skills as a renderer. To learn more, visit lacollaboratory.org Links to an external site.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will:
- Observe, analyze and interpret the forms of natural and human-made elements and transfer this knowledge to a 2d format through basic art media
- Construct compositional color and black and white drawings and renderings of architectural forms using both freehand and technical drawing skills. Applying perspective, orthographic projection, axon and isometric and shade and shadow.
- Analyze and critique the compositions created by self and others
- Create compositions meant for graphic communication of specific ideas.
Goals:
- Make beautiful drawings using crazy cool techniques that will make you proud and you can show off in your portfolio
- Learn color theory and how to use color
- Learn how to enjoy and use color pencils, watercolor and markers
- Expand your presentation techniques
My Teaching Philosophy
It is always my intention to work with students exactly where they are in their learning process and to assist them in getting to where they want to be. I believe that learning is best able to happen in a safe environment that values open ended ideas, collaboration and true connection. I believe that each and every student is able to be successful. I hope to be able to help you to develop your own personal vision of success and especially in drawing. I also believe that you come with a tremendous amount of experience and have knowledge that will be of exceptional value to the class. I will do my best to facilitate the sharing of all of this expertise. The more that we are able to share between us, the more successful we will be.
Studio Work Habits
You will be working independently in this class. This requires individual responsibility. Please be respectful of the class community and help to maintain a learning environment that works for everyone. Because this is an asynchronus class it will require a strong commitment to a regular schedule to keep up. I recommend that you set aside a block of time two days a week in order to work on our class projects. Remember work is likely to take you 3 times as long as you plan for- so plan for that.
We will be working entirely online in this course In Canvas, you will access to online lessons, course materials, zoom meetings and recordings and other resources. At designated times throughout the semester, we will participate in a blend of self-paced and group-paced activities using Canvas, Zoom web-conferencing and other internet-based technologies. All work will be posted on canvas- each assignment and discussion will have specific requirements for submittal.
This class does require access to more elaborate tools and materials. You will need these to succeed in class However if you are in need of assistance in accessing these please let me know and we will arrange a way for you to borrow tools from campus, or we will come up with alternatives.
Grading
All students are able to earn an "A" in this class. For this to happen all class projects need to be completed and submitted on canvas as designated. The work in the class breaks down like this.
Drawing totals 75% (Daily projects, weeks long projects and homework combined)
Sketchbook 15%
Cultural Engagement 10%
Time management is an essential skill, not just for this course, but throughout your career and life. Employers identify dependability as one of the fundamental skills that employees need, across industries and job titles. Most of the work in this class builds on itself, so you’ll need to keep up with assignments in order to understand the new topics. In addition, it becomes difficult for me to provide timely feedback for everyone when assignments are not submitted on time. With that said, I understand that you may face challenges from time to time that impact your ability to meet due dates. Therefore, my policies regarding deadlines are as follows:
Due dates will be indicated with each assignment. When possible you can submit some assignments late. However, there are some assignments that must be submitted on time because the assignment is needed for a discussion or other activity. If assignments cannot be submitted late there will be an “available until” date and I will indicate that the assignment must be submitted by this date. Make sure to check assignments in advance so that you are aware of the deadline and whether it is flexible. For assignments that can be submitted late, there is some incentive for submitting on time…
If an assignment was submitted on time, you rework it and resubmit it for a one-time re-grade. Revisions may receive a maximum grade of 95%. This helps you learn from your mistakes and get a second chance at a better score. But remember, you can only submit a revision if you submitted a reasonably attempted assignment on time originally!
Note: a “reasonable attempt” means you made a good faith effort at completing the assignment. Submissions that appear to have been done with little to no effort are not eligible for a revision. If you have no time to submit a reasonable attempt on time, then it is best to take more time on the assignment and submit it late.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade will only be assigned to a student that under special circumstances due to an unforeseeable emergency beyond the control of the student cannot complete the work. Proof must be submitted to the instructors to verify an emergency. Student must speak to the instructors in a timely manner.
Family Emergencies and extended absences. Unexpected and unfortunate events (personal illness, family emergency, death in the family, change of work schedule etc.) that require out full attention for a few days happen to everyone from time to time. This is understandable. However if your family or personal emergency or sudden change of circumstance is going to cause you to fall behind it is highly recommended that you drop the class and repeat it at another time that will permit you to attend class on time.
Students who remain enrolled in this class after the third week of the semester will be issued a grade at the end of the semester. It is your responsibility to drop the class and to be sure that you are enrolled in the correct class.
Student Comfort and Safety
Please let me know at any time during the semester what name you would like me to call you. I will do my best to learn your name, but it may take time. Gentle reminders are always helpful. If at anytime during the semester you are made uncomfortable by me, or other members of the classroom please let me know, so that I can address it right away.
“Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact Special Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Authorization, based on verification of disability, is required before any accommodation can be made. The phone number for Special Services is (818) 719-6430 and they are located in the Student Services Building, Room 48175”.
Required Reading, Recommended Reading and Required Materials
The selection of these books are meant to introduce basic concepts in developing one’s creative ability, and graphic skill development. These books are commonly used in universities. It is recommended that you acquire these books as soon as possible. These can be found at several places
Pierce Bookstore, Amazon.com –used and new (probably cheaper)
Hennessey + Ingalls, Art + Architecture Bookstore
REQUIRED BOOKS
- Architectural Graphics 4th Ed. Ching ISBN-10: 0470399112, any edition of this book is fine.
- Color Journal 5” x 7” or similar, spiral bound hard cover, multi media white plain paper, (no lines or grids), min 70lb paper.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS (NOT REQUIRED)
- Architectural Drawing: A Visual Compendium of Types and Methods, 4th Edition (or any edition) by Rendow Yee ISBN-13: 9781118012871
- The Elements of Color, Johannes Itten
- Design Drawing F. Ching ISBN-10: 0470533692
- Color Drawing 3rd Ed. Michael Doyle ISBN-10: 0471741906
REQUIRED TOOLS AND MATERIALS
Class Work Components
Sketchbook
Each week 2 full page color drawings/ journal entries are required in your sketchbook. The first drawing may be about about anything you wish. The 2nd drawing will be an architectural landmark. Use water color/ watercolor pencils/marker or Prismacolor pencils and waterproof ink. Color is required. In addition to journal entries, you sketchbook may include outside of class exercises, class notes, quick sketches of images from presentations, notes from reading assignments, thoughts and images from your observations of the world and practice drawings.
Each and every page of drawings for this class will require meta data. You can experiment with how you decide to develop these pages, feel free to use your own imagination for formatting.
Sketchbook Drawing
- 1 drawing of whatever you want.
- 1 drawing of a structure and a detail of that structure from the time period that I specify
- Notes on what you are drawing (see below)
Drawing Metadata
- The date,
- the time,
- the temperature,
- the weather,
- the location
Drawing Questions and Metacognitive ideas
- I notice.....
- I wonder......
- It reminds me of......
Sketchbook pages will be turned in as an assignment every week. The assignment will be posted and available on Sunday night of each week and will have a due date of Wednesday evening.
The first sketchbook drawings will be due the second Wednesday of the semester
Cultural Engagement
Architects are engaged in a constant dialogue with their world. To that end students are required to attend a minimum of 4 supplemental art / architecture events during the course of the semester. Field trips may be organized by faculty to satisfy some of these requirements. Proof of attendance in the form of digital or scanned photographs with you in them, as well as digitized receipts or brochures are acceptable and must be submitted on the class canvas site. These can be submitted at any time before the end of the semester.
In addition to your sketchbook and in class projects,
Large and Small Projects
There are regular in class projects. There are larger projects that may require several steps. These projects scale and will be turned in or presented. We will have smaller weekly assignments meant to be skill builders. These assignments are required. They are generally due two weeks from the day the assignment is made, unless otherwise notified. MAny of these projects will be uploaded to our class conceptboard site
Final
We will have a final project to present in this class that will be due for Wednesday June 2nd from 12:30-2:30. You may submit a video of your presentation for this final project.
Tentative Schedule
|
Week 1 |
Intro to tools Color Pencil |
Week 10 |
Entourage |
|
Week 2 |
Axonometric |
Week 11 |
Entourage |
|
Week 3 |
Week 12 |
Material Markers |
|
|
Week 4 |
Perspective |
Week 13 |
Material |
|
Week 5 |
Water Color |
Week 14 |
Color Theory |
|
Week 6 |
Shade and Shadow |
Week 15 |
Color Theory |
|
Week 7 |
Inking |
Week 16 |
Compilation |
|
Week 8 |
Composition |
Finals |
|
|
Week 9 |
Spring break |
University Policies
[ EX: There are important University policies that you should be aware of, such as the Academic Integrity, Discrimination and Harassment, Add/Drop, and Student Conduct policies. - LAPC College Student Services Links to an external site.]
Office of Special Services/DSPS
Special Services is the program on campus providing services to students with disabilities. This program has been serving students since 1974. Each semester over 900 students with disabilities receive a wide range of support services that are not provided by other departments on campus and many services that are. This "One- Stop" approach creates a more user-friendly atmosphere for all our students.
Student Health Center
- Phone: (818) 710-4270
- Student Health Center Website Links to an external site.
Course Summary:
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