Chabot College
November 1995
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Art 61
ILLUSTRATION
Catalog Description:
61 – Illustration
3 units
Creation and execution of conceptual ideas in illustration. Includes a variety of mediums and
contemporary application styles. Emphasis on skills in traditional draftsmanship, craftsmanship and
presentation. Strongly recommended: Art 40. 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 35, studio 70]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. develop a conceptual idea for an assigned project, verbalize it and visually communicate it on
paper;
2. take a sketched idea and develop it through thumbnails, a layout, a comprehensive, to finished
art;
3. work successfully with a variety of illustration mediums;
4. list different kinds of paper choices and the results they achieve;
5. use a wide variety of illustration mediums;
6. create a well composed image through the practice of formal design principles;
7. execute quality draftsmanship and presentation skills.
Course Content:
1. Development of a concept; an illustrated idea of what a client is looking for.
2. Executing ideas by researching related subject(s) in publications which lead to preliminary written
ideas and sketches.
3. Learning the process of putting ideas onto paper in defined stages, i.e. written ideas, thumbnail
sketches, rough layouts, refined comprehensives, which lead to a finished illustration.
4. Introduction to kinds and types of illustration papers and boards.
5. Introduction to a variety of traditional mediums used in illustration, including pencil(s), markers,
inks, paints and collage.
6. Instruction on how to compose and layout compositions using the elements of line, shape, texture,
space, size, value and color.
7. Applied practice of the formal design principles of balance, rhythm, emphasis and unity.
8. Repeated practice of professional illustration skills in drawing with precision and perspective
(draftsmanship), the ability to properly use traditional tools, materials and equipment of the field
(craftsmanship), and the ability to verbally and visually present finished illustrations in a
professional manner acceptable to any given art director or client (presentation).
9. Study of the work produced by noted and accomplished illustrators in the field of graphic design.
Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture and demonstration
Chabot College
Course Outline for Art 61, Page 2
November 1995
2. Use books and magazines
3. Slides
4. Class field trips to art museums and galleries
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Quizzes
2. Evaluation of visual images submitted for assignments
3. Final project
Textbooks (Typical):
None
Assigned reading from the following books and magazines on conceptual idea development, creative
imagery methods and technical applications:
1. American Illustration Annual
2. European Illustration Annual
3. Society of Illustrators Annual
4. Step-By-Step Magazine
5. How Magazine
6. Communication Arts Magazine
7. Print Magazine
Special Student Materials:
A required list of needed supplies to work with the computer is posted each semester in the book
store.
JG:kh Art 61
11/1/95