El Paso Community College
Syllabus
Instructor’s Course Requirements
I. PAINTING I/ ARTS 2316-CRN 20600 Spring/09
Instructor: Jackie Mitchell
Campus and Office Number: VV A1714
Telephone Number: 831-3101
Email: jmitch18@epcc.edu.
Office Hours: M,W: 11-2 T,R: 10-11:30 F:1-2
Class Times: Tues., Thurs. 11:30-2:20
II. Text and Materials:
A. Text:
1. Optional- Painting as a Language- Material, Technique, Form, Content: Robertson,
ISBN-015505600X
B. Materials:
Supply List. Acrylic paint preferred. Acrylics are recommended for beginning students.
Oils will be accepted, but the slow drying times may hinder project completion.
An economical and high quality acrylic paint set will be available for purchase at the cashier’s
office. Bring receipt to class or to Victor Zavala, Lab Supervisor. Some additional supplies will be
required. Mail order sources are recommended for price, quality and selection. Try dickblick.com
or www.danielsmith.com. Local art supply stores include Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart and
The Art Center on Yandell which offers a 10% discount with a student ID.
Oils or Acrylics- An asterisk* designates supplies needed by the next class period1. Old garment and/or other attire for studio*
2. Soft cotton rags. Old t-shirts ideal.*
3. Sketchbook, size is student’s choice but must be “cold- press” or “regular’ surface. Avoid
slick surface pads, which lack versatility.
4. Removable artist’s or painters tape for working on paper. Try to avoid blue tape*
5. Cotton or duck canvas, 11 oz. grade preferred, but students may work within their own
budgets. The school sells quality canvas at cost for $1.00 per ft. (60” wide) Buy at Cashiers,
bring receipt to Victor Zavala, Lab Supervisor.
6. Plastic, tin containers for medium. Two tall cans or jars. *
7. cardboard viewfinder 4”x 6” window recommended”
8. Acrylic gesso. Golden is best brand, also Liquitex or Daniel Smith, or Dick Blick are
recommended. Oil painters are encouraged NOT to get cheap student grade gesso, as it is not
cost-effective. Minimum one qt. size recommended.
9. erasers, white, kneaded and/or “Pink
10. “BFK” printmaking paper is sold by the school for $2.50 per sheet. Buy at Cashiers, bring
receipt to Victor Zavala. Students may divide one sheet into two.*
11. 2 2″ acrylic house-painting brushes. Reserve one for gesso, the other for painting.*
12. Synthetic acrylic bristle brushes for acrylics or oils (Check label)
Boar bristle for oil. One # 12, one #14 or #16 flat brush. (1/2”-3/4”) One # 12-16 Round.
One #12-14 bright. Assorted brushes, esp. flats, filberts and rounds. Students will only need
1-2 small soft bristle brushes (rounds) for details, otherwise avoid small brushes. Boar bristle
and some synthetics for oils, synthetics for acrylics. Students will be frustrated by cheap
brushes, better to start with a few rather than a large quantity pack of cheap brushes.
13. pencil and/or soft vine charcoal*
14. canvas pliers (optional)
15. Palette- 12x16 minimum” glass, or plexiglass, Students may improvise for beginning classes
w/ ice cube tray or other device. Paper palettes are not ecological. A cheap frame makes a
good palette.*
16. small cans (tuna, cat food) for mixing larger paint quantities and glazes
17. Tackle box or other box for toting supplies.
18. Painting mediums and glazes- matte gel medium or matte medium for acrylic painters.
“Liquin” or“Galkyd” by Gamblin or other alkyd mediums are recommended for class use.
Good for glazing and speeding drying time. Linseed oil, poppy or “stand” oil lengthen drying
time.
19. Color wheel.
20. Thinner for oils. ODORLESS or low odor spirits for classroom. Please do not use turpentine,
citrus thinners or strong smelling solvents in class. Turpentine is no longer recommended due
to safety concerns. Please consult instructor re: substitutes and requirements. All solvents
MUST be stored in Fire cabinet, NEVER in lockers. Purchase odorless thinner at hardware
store.
21. Lattice flat strips. Approx ¼”x 2 ¼” x 8’.
22. Titanium white or Titanium/Zinc white blend. Large 150 mil tube
23. Additional colors for students seeking to build on collection. Please avoid cheap student
grade qualities wherever possible. DO NOT USE liquid “Craft” paints. Painting is a
demanding exercise that requires quality material for the best results. Students will be
frustrated by cheap paints. Recommended brands are Golden (acrylics) and Gamblin(oils).
Other good brands are Daniel Smith, Liquitex, Winsor/Newton, Grumbacher and many other
brands. Dick Blick and Gamblin have created a student brand that is acceptable. Please
consult instructor for more info.
Whites- Titanium and Zinc White. Gamblin and Daniel Smith makes a good tit/zinc mix. Get the
150 ml. size of white (you will use a lot of it)
Browns- Burnt Sienna, Burnt and/or Raw Umber. Raw Sienna.
Yellows- Yellow Ochre or Yellow Oxide. Cadmium Yellow Light or Medium. Hansa Yellow.
Golden “Primary’ Yellow. Naples Yellow Substitute. Nickel Azo Yellow.
Reds- Alizarin Crimsom or Acra Violet equivalent. Mars Violets and Red Oxides. Cadmium
Red Light. Venetian Red. Permanent Red.
Oranges- Cadium Orange or Azo Orange. Permanent Orange. Pyrrole Orange
Greens- Phthalo Green, Sap and Olive. Hookers Green. Jenkins Green. Chromium Oxide
Blues. Phthalo, Ultramarine, and Cobalt. Manganese and Cerulean.
Violets- Dioxicine, Quinacridone, Mars and Manganese.
Blacks, Greys- Paynes Grey. Mars and Ivory Black.
Optional Supplies
1. Rubber, latex or other type thin gloves or “Barrier cream”
2. “Soluvar” type painting varnish
3. Staple gun, Black and Decker “Power-Shot” recommended but other types will work.
4. Corner clamps, c-clamps, etc.
5. Graphite, charcoals –oils and acrylics. Oil pastels and/or oil-bars for oils.
6. Plastic or copper mesh scour pads.
Additional supplies may be announced as the course progresses.
III. Course Requirements:
A. Each Section (four paintings) will be introduced by lectures, demonstrations and occasional
handouts. Students will be expected to demonstrate high levels of involvement with their work
and are required to maintain a personal sketch/idea journal for the course, which will be reviewed
on a regular basis.
B. Students will also frame and wire one painting as for an exhibition.
C. Students are required to participate in class discussions and critiques which will be on the last day of
each section.
IV. Instructor Policies:
Attendance will be taken at the beginning and occasionally the end of each class. Students missing four
or more classes may be dropped at the discretion of the instructor but do not assume this; it is up to the
student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course by the drop date. Students are encouraged to meet
with instructor before dropping. Chronic lateness and/or leaving class early will also impair your grade.
It is critical that students arrive when class begins so as not to miss the assignment and introductory
demonstrations, critiques and lectures at the beginning of class. Students will be required to maintain
studio areas and to clean up any stray paint out of consideration for other classes. Please remember to
turn off cell phones during class times. Students expecting an emergency call may prearrange to take a
call with the instructor. Please contact the instructor ASAP if you are undergoing any emergencies
requiring accommodation.
V. Evaluation:
A. Student Portfolios (assigned paintings), sketchbook and framing (75%) Projects will be graded
according to how effectively the assigned objectives are completed and craft (execution). All
assignments will be evaluated during critiques, and by appointment at midterm and the last week of
class.
B. Participation which will include preparedness for class and attendance (25%).
Calendar: Please be advised that the calendar may be modified at the discretion of the instructor.
Students will always be notified of any critical changes.
Jan. 20
Classes Begin. Intro., syllabus and supplies.
Jan 22Feb. 10
Feb. 12
Unit I- Introduction to the materials, preparing surfaces for paint. Creating
and using a palette. Making a viewfinder.
Viewfinder Due. Basic canvas construction.
Feb. 12March 10
March 10
March 12
March 15-20
March 31
April 7
April 17
May 5-7
Thurs. May 14
11:00- 1 pm
Unit II. Value, shape and composition in the still life.
Unit III. Self-portrait.
Midterm evaluations. Individual reviews.
Spring Break!
Holiday.
Final Project. Glazing, working in layers.
Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W”.
Portfolio Reviews.
Final Exam and Review