GW Visual Arts
Media Art
Class focused on the basics
of graphic design
2014-2015
Art Instructor: Ms. O’Ryan
Welcome to the art studio.
This space is yours to be creative. To develop skills that
will help you in every area that you decide to follow.
Being creative is a necessary talent that will allow you
great success in your career and life.
Inside
What is the class about?
What do I need to do to pass?
What are the rules/expectations?
Who is this teacher?
What are we doing and when?
Class Mantra:
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Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!
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With that being said, what this class is about is learning
and recognizing the basics of graphic design.
Basics: Art Elements and
Principles of Design. They are
listed on the walls in the room
and I’ll explain them.
Adobe Photoshop and
Illustrator: digital programs
used for graphic design. You
will learn the basics of
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So What’s
Up with this
Class?
What do I need to do to pass?
What are the expectations/rules in here?
To pass:
This class is about trying your hardest and
not whining when it gets tough. Trust me,
it’s going to get tough. If
you are whining about how
hard art class is, life is
going to REALLY hard.
You need to complete all the assignments to
get an A. If an A is not your priority, please
come talk to me.
You need to do your homework in your
sketchbook. You need to buy a sketchbook.
No ifs, ands, or buts about that. You have
two weeks to purchase one. Go to Hobby
Lobby or Walmart. $5-8.00
Expectations/Rules in the
studio:
1. Be respectful. To yourself, to others,
to the teacher, and to the space.
2. The studio is freely yours to use while
sharing with others. CLEAN UP
YOUR SPACE. Treat as your own. If
you don’t, you can leave.
3. Do your best. Continually. No matter
how difficult this class gets for you.
4. Cell phones are for research
only. Be respectful when
texting.
5. When teacher is talking to class, do
not talk. Listen.
6. Get a sketchbook.
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Calendar of
EVENTS
Aug. 25-29: First week of school
 Painting the room
 Work on flower boxes outside; set up
sculpture garden
 Intro to Ms. O’Ryan/Syllabus
Sept 2: Pre-test, Goal on what you want to
Sed
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Sketchbooks
You will choose 8 artists from
the list below and complete in
your sketchbook research
using visual and written
summaries.
List of Artists:
accomplish in here. Discussion on “Why Art is
Important?”
Sept. ¾: Still Life Drawing, Cezanne. Go over
cleaning routine.
Sept: 5: Upside down drawing. Go over
cleaning routine.
Sept. 8/9: Finish upside down drawing.
Routine on cleaning and putting away supplies.
Make signs in room for cleaning supplies and
shortcuts to Photoshop.
Sept. 10/11: Group class portraiture
drawing
Cindy Sherman, Antoni
Gaudi, Andy Warhol, Irving
Penn, Pablo Picasso, Claude
Monet, Paul Cezanne,
Dorothea Lange, Jackson
Pollock.
Sept. 12: Split into groups, introduce to
Deadlines:
assignments and website.
Sept. 10/11, Sept. 24/25, Oct.
15/16, Oct. 29/30, Nov. 5/6, Nov.
19/20, Dec. 3/4 Dec. 10/11.
Computer Assignments:
 Sept. 15-16: Create personal wiki website
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with links for displaying assignments.
 Sept. 17-26: Packets 1&2. Five
assignments in each. All due on the 26th.
 Sept. 29-Oct. 10: Reinvent your favorite
fairy tale through five B&W photographs
with one color
emphasis presented in
each, edited on
Photoshop.
Supply List:
1. Kleenex box
2. Sketchbook, unlined
notebook
3. Flash drive
4. $20 class fee
 Oct. 13-17: Abstract
image of your face,
created in Photoshop.
Drawing Assignments:
 Sept. 15-19: Don’t Hate the Selfie
Project. Due the 19th.
Edit and print three
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Kleenex Box.
You will get sick and
use Kleenex. Bring one
in the first week of
school. I’ll save and put
out through the year.
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Flash Drive.
new selfies.

Sept. 22-Oct. 3:
Portraiture with
Zentangles, 3D.
 Oct. 6-17: What’s in
Your Head? Negative
and positive space
reverse, silhouette and
collage creation of what
You will need this to
save your work. Don’t
save it to the computer.
It will get deleted by
someone.
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$20 Class
Fee.
This fee contributes to the
overwhelming costs of the
class. Due by Oct. 1.
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is inside your head.
Groups Switch after the Oct. 17th. All work must be done before
you switch.
Computer Assignments:
 Oct. 22-24: Create personal wiki website
with links for displaying assignments.
 Oct. 27-Nov. 6: Packets 1&2. Five
assignments in each. All due on the 6th.
 Nov. 7-Dec. 5: Reinvent your favorite
fairy tale through five B&W photographs
with one color emphasis presented in each,
edited on Photoshop.

Dec. 8-12: Abstract image of your face, created in Photoshop.
Drawing Assignments:

Oct. 22-28: Don’t Hate the Selfie Project. Due the 28th. Edit
and print three new selfies.

Oct. 29-Nov. 21st: Portraiture with
Zentangles, 3D.

Dec. 1-12th: What’s in Your Head?
Negative and positive space reverse, silhouette and
collage creation of what is inside your head.
Finals: Dec. 15-19
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Hi, I’m Ms. O’Ryan
This past year I took a group of students from GW to Europe.
We explored France and Spain. Some had never seen the ocean,
been away from home, nor flown on an airplane. I believe that
education is experienced, seen, and felt.
I’m a huge traveler, love art, and learning. I’m very easy going
but I’m Irish…therefore I’m stubborn, hard working, and don’t
appreciate lazy people. I love a challenge, and see teaching as
such. I want to give you opportunities to be creative and
rediscover that little kid who lives inside you that used to love
to color and draw. Ignore all insults from others.
I will offer as much help as you deserve. I won’t hold your hand,
because that’s just insulting to you. I’m an active artist and will
work on my own stuff in class from time to time. I look forward
to working alongside you this year.
Media Arts Syllabus: O’Ryan
GWHS 2014-2015
Emily O'Ryan
Artist
George Washington High School
655 South Monaco Parkway
Denver, CO 80224
www.georgewashingtonart.wikispaces.com
Important websites:
www.georgewashingtonart.wikispaces.com
www.gwhs.dpsk12.org
www.emilyoryan.com