COLLIN COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF FINE ARTS
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Number: ARTS 2366
Course Title: Watercolor I
Course Description: Introduction to watercolor including instruction in the use
of brushes, papers, materials, and various painting techniques on wet
and dry paper. Gain experience in mixing colors, color methods, and
problem solving in the use of techniques and in skillful observation of
composition and painting style. Lab required.
Note: Students should expect additional supply costs.
Course Credit Hours:
Lecture Hours:
Lab Hours:
3
2
4
Prerequisite: ARTS 1316
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course,
students should be able to do the following:
Demonstrate competent handling of watercolor techniques
Demonstrate good use of design principles
Develop the ability to verbalize what one wishes to communicate
Withdrawal Policy: See the current Collin Registration Guide for last day to
withdraw.
Collin College Academic Policies: See the current Collin Student Handbook
Americans with Disabilities Act Statement: Collin College will adhere to all
applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with
respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford
equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the
ACCESS office, SCC-G200 or 972.881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950) to
arrange for appropriate accommodations. See the current Collin Student
Handbook for additional information.
Instructor’s Name: Cathy Cotter-Smith
Office Number: A247, SCC
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 10:00am to 12:30pm, Tuesday and
Thursday, 8:30am to 9:00am
Phone Number: (972) 881-5817
Email: ccotter@collin.edu
Professor Web Site: http://iws.collin.edu/ccotter
Class Information:
Section Number: S01 (CRN#21538)
Meeting Times: Monday and Wednesday, 12:30pm to 3:20pm
Meeting Location: A240
Course Resources: None, books from the library will be referred.
Supplies:
Van Gogh Watercolors: Van Gogh is an inexpensive student grade line,
but color intensity, durability, and tinting strength are all very good. I
recommend that beginners start with Van Gogh, but when you need to
replace a tube, buy a better quality paint like Winsor Newton, Sennelier,
DaVinci, etc.
List of Van Gogh Watercolors:
Azo Yellow Light
Burnt Sienna
Cerulean Blue
Cobalt Blue
Indigo
Madder Lake Deep
Permanent Red Deep
Pthalo Blue
Pthalo Green
Quinacridone Rose
Yellow Ochre
Hookers Green Deep
Paynes Gray
Cotman Lamp Black
Not to be included in kit: These are the expensive, professional grade
paints.
A good set of Winsor Newton paints would include Winsor Yellow, Burnt
Sienna, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Neutral Tint, Permanent Magenta,
Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Winsor Blue, Winsor Green,
Quinacridone Magenta, Yellow Ochre, Winsor Emerald
Brushes: These are excellent brushes. I highly recommend you buy them
even if you already have brushes.
#12 Round Princeton Art and Brush, #4050R
#6 Round Princeton Art and Brush, #4050R
¾ inch Silver Black Velvet 3009S Oval
#6 Monarch, bright, Winsor and Newton
Optional: 1.5’’ Flat Wash Brush, Princeton #4350FW
Other Supplies:
Watercolor 12x16 CP Block, Arches
Watercolor Palette, Jones Palette Kit, Model 1216
Drawing HB Pencil
Kneaded Eraser
Elmers Glue, 4 oz.
Pigma Micron .25mm black pen
Fine point, black Sharpie pen
Rice Paper (white)
Roll of Scotch, 3M, Double Sided Tape, 1/2” wide
Masking Tape ¾” 3M
Supplies not included in the kit:
Old sketchbook or individual sheets of paper for sketching
Kitchen sponge
Plastic containers for cleaning your brushes out in water
Bounty or Brawny paper towels
Container or tackle box to carry supplies
Dull dinner knife to separate sheets in the watercolor block
Supplies to purchase at the end of the semester: 1 mat board and 1 foam
core board
Asel Art gives a significant discount if you buy the “packet” of supplies, or
gives a 10% discount on individual items if you let them know you are a
student.
Attendance Policy: See the current Collin Registration Guide for the last day to
withdraw.
Students are required to attend class and to arrive to class on time. After
3 absences your final grade may be lowered. For every absence after
the 3rd absence, 3 points will be deducted from your final grade. In
addition, 4 late arrivals to class will equal to one absence. Three
absences may be made up by attending a museum or gallery and writing
a paper for each absence. Class instructions and demonstrations are
given at the beginning of class so it is vital to your understanding of the
objective to arrive on time.
Important Dates to Remember:
Census date: Monday, February 4
Holidays: Monday & Wednesday, March 11 & 13, Spring Break
The last day to withdraw and receive a “W” for the course is Friday,
March 22
Final: Monday, May 13, 2013
Additional Student Learning Outcomes: None
Method of Evaluation: Assignments will be graded on the due date listed in the
course calendar. A number grade will be assigned for each painting. 100 to 90
equals a “A”, 89 to 80 equals a “B”, 79 to 70 equals a “C”, 69 to 60 equals a “D”
and 59 and below equals an “F.”
Points will be deducted if a painting is not turned in by the due date. 5 points will
be deducted from the grade if it is one class late. If it is late by 2 or more
classes, 10 points will be deducted from the grade.
Student’s grades will be based upon fulfilling the objective of the assignments,
creativity, composition, and craftsmanship. Grades will be combined and
averaged to determine the final grade.
Course Calendar:
W
1-23 Orientation, Review of syllabus
M
1-28 Color Studies
Bring all of your tubes of paint, watercolor block, dull dinner knife, all of
your brushes, watercolor palette, sharpie pen, pencil and eraser, water
container and paper towels
Note: Do not bring the mat boards until further notice.
W
1-30 Techniques chart: flat wash, graduated wash, wet on wet wash, limited
wet on wet, butting color side by side, painting behind, dry brush and
splatter, experimental media: salt and seran wrap.
Color studies and techniques chart due next class.
M
2-4 Practice in washes, glazes, and shading of form: Still life
W
2-6 Continue painting
Due next class
M
2-11 Begin another still life painting
W
2-13 Continue painting
Due next class
M
2-18 Practice in butting color side by side: Trees and landscape
W
2-20 Continue painting
Due next class
M
2-25 Begin another tree and landscape painting
Rice paper will be applied to add texture
Bring one sheet of white rice paper
Bring elmers glue and a stiff brush (an old acrylic brush will work)
W
2-27 Continue painting
Due next class
M
3-4 Practice in wet in wet method and painting behind to reveal shapes:
Flowers, leaves, or similar objects
W
3-6 Continue painting
Due next class
M
3-11 Spring Break
W
3-13 Spring Break
M
3-18 Begin another painting that emphasizes painting behind
Rice paper can be added for texture if desired
W 3-20
Continue painting
Due next class
M 3-25
Practice in creating shadow shapes and softening edges: portrait
W 3-27
Continue painting
Due next class
M
4-1
Begin another portrait painting
W
4-3 Continue painting
M
4-8 Practice in repeated glazes of one color to build up values from light to
dark: Choose a photograph that emphasizes shapes such as a street
scene or interior and that has a good value range. Build up glazes of one
color so that the painting looks like a sepia toned photograph. Apply
glazes of color as a final touch.
W
4-10 Continue painting
Due next class
M
4-15 Begin another value painting. This time emphasize value range without
repeating glazes of one color.
W
4-17 Continue painting
Due next class
M
4-22 Practice in unusual composition: Do a collage from magazine pictures
and found objects in a box. Paint from the collage emphasizing cast
shadows to show depth of field.
W 4-24
Continue painting
M 4-29
Continue painting
W
5-1 Continue painting
Due next class
M
5-6 Mat: Mat demo
Bring your best watercolor from the semester to mat.
Bring a sheet of 32”x40” of mat board and a 32”x40” sheet of foam core
board
Bring a roll of Scotch, 3M, double sided tape, 1/2” wide
Mat board should be a neutral color: white, cream, buff or gray. If you
want an accent of color, you can use it in the inner mat by cutting a
double mat.
W
5-8 Continue matting
M 5-13
Final Review: Bring your best watercolor from the semester, matted.
Be prepared to critique a fellow students’ painting.
A grade will be assigned for the mat and for participation in the class
critique.
Additional Classroom Policies:
Cell phones should be turned off during class.