Syllabus

Instructor: Cody Barnhill                    cbarnhill@mca.edu            

Office:                                                    Hours:

IL338 B / Special Topics: Digital Painting                            Syllabus  F15 F 9am-3:30pm

Course Objectives

This course is an introduction to digital painting techniques using Wacom tablets and Adobe Photoshop. There is a strong emphasis on visual development, figurative imagery, composition, color theory, and craft. Course work includes drawing and painting digitally from a live model, creating master copies, speed painting, portraiture, and concept art such as character and background design.

Course Outcomes

The successful student will achieve the following course outcomes:

·         Documentation will consist of an in-progress blog where students post thumbnails, developmental sketches, works in progress, artist research, and commentary on one another’s work.

• Students will be able to scan sketches and textures, paint digitally in Photoshop, save and output in the proper file formats, and to print their work. Additionally, students will upload images to their blogs.

·         Students will maintain a professional web presence when posting research, commentary, and work to their personal blogs.

Grading/Professionalism

Assignments (50%) Graded on composition, draftsmanship, color/value, and technique.

Research and Blog Posts (25%) Graded on timeliness and thoroughness of posts.

Presentations/proposals (25%) Graded on professionalism.

• Incomplete work is work that is not completed according to project specifications and not completed for critique.  Incomplete work is lowered by 15 points, but can be raised 10 points upon completion.
  
  
• Late work is any work not presented at all at the scheduled time for review or critique.  Late work receives zero points, but can be turned in before the next class with an irreversible 10 point penalty.  The project is lowered an additional 10 points for each week it is late.  It is the student’s responsibility to present late work.  The instructor will not ask for it.
  
  
• Projects are deducted 10 points when they do not adhere to assignment guidelines.  This is eligible for, but not guaranteed a 10 point increase upon rework.
  
  
• Additional points may be deducted for imagery that is unclear, compositional oversights, misspellings, or an unprofessional presentation.
  
  
• Every student is expected to participate in critique and to offer both positive and negative feedback for a balanced and constructive critique.
  
  

Attendance (in a class meeting once a week)

Absences

• There is no penalty for 1 absence in this class.
• Final semester average is lowered by one letter grade after second absence.
• A 3rd absence results in automatic failure of the class.
• Absences during critique irreversibly lower the project grade 5 points unless it is turned in before 9am on the morning of critique.

Tardies

• Arriving late to class or leaving early can be marked as a tardy.
• Three tardies equal one absence.
• Being tardy for critique irreversibly lowers the project grade by 10 points
• When possible and as soon as possible, notify your instructor of impending tardies or absences.   

Classroom Etiquette

Cell phones:

Make sure that your cell phones are turned off during class.  You may set your phone to vibrate if you have an ongoing emergency (meaning birth, death, or catastrophic illness).  DO NOT answer your phone in class.  It’s rude.  In the event of an emergency call you may exit class and then answer or return the call. 

Music:

Headphones are permitted, but ONLY during in-class work when I am not instructing and ONLY if low enough that you can still hear me if I address you.  Do not play music through the speakers.

Media:

I don’t care if you occasionally check your email or watch someone’s bulldog skateboard on YouTube, but it MUST NOT interfere with your work and it should never be through the speakers.

Classroom and Mac Lab Rules

Observe and adhere to all Mac Lab Rules as I will be enforcing them. No food or drink is allowed in the lab. Do not draw on the tables or the mouse pads. Do not chew on tablet pens. Make sure your area is clean and tidy with your chair pushed under the table when you leave class. 

Class materials

1.)     Thumb drive with sufficient storage or external hard drive.

2.)     Collected textures for scanning

3.)     Access to a camera or digital camera

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with a special learning need are encouraged to let their instructor know at the beginning of the course. Reasonable accommodations (such as extended time for exams, readers, scribes, and interpreters) are provided on an individual basis as determined by documented need. It is the student’s responsibility to provide authorized documentation to Student Affairs or Achievement Center Support Staff as early in the semester as possible.

Course Content and Title IX Reporting

Students should be aware that information disclosed to faculty (whether through assignments or as a personal disclosure) that indicate experiencing sexual harassment, abuse, or violence while a student at Memphis College of Art, requires that your instructor as a “mandatory reporter” disclose this information to Student Affairs staff to ensure students’ safety and welfare are addressed. Student Affairs staff will contact you, and/or those involved, to make you aware of accommodations, remedies, and resources available at Memphis College of Art.

Class Blog

Additionally, there is a class blog at mcadigitalpaintingb.blogspot.com.  There you will find digital copies of this syllabus, the class schedule, class assignments and announcements concerning changes to assignments.  Instructions will also be posted here in the event of a class cancellation.

Health and Safety

All students must comply with health and safety regulations.  Of particular relevance to this class will be disposal of art materials.  The classroom is provided with a sink, but only water should be poured down the sink’s drain.  All other materials should be collected for appropriate processing.  You will be required to have an MSDS (material safety data sheet) with any and all materials you bring to class.  MSDS sheets can be found online at DickBlick.com.  Keep the sheets with your materials when you bring them to class.  Some materials require latex gloves, goggles, or even masks.  When using such materials you will be required to take the necessary safety measures in class.  If you have turned in MSDS for materials used in a previous semester then you need only update existing supplies and record any new materials you use in class this semester.

Contact

The best way to contact me is at cbarnhill@mca.edu.  Please give your email a clear, descriptive subject line because I’m old and easily confused.  In turn, be sure to check your MCA email account regularly because I will contact you if there are any last minute changes to an assignment.

Office Hours

My office