Genesee Community College – Hamburg High School
Course Syllabus
Spring Semester 2013
ART114 - Painting 1
Instructor: Michelle Cyrek
Classroom: 130
Email: mcyrek@hamburgschools.org
Credits: 3
Contact hours: 5 class periods a week
Credits: 3
Catalog Description: Introduces acrylic painting techniques. Focuses on the use of color theory, design fundamentals
and painting styles. Two class hours, two studio hours. Prerequisite: ART 110
Lecture: 2 hrs.
Lab: 2 hrs.
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs):
Upon successful completion of this course as documented through writing, objective testing, case studies, laboratory
practice, and/or classroom discussion, the student will be able to:
1. Create at least six paintings exploring painting technique, concept development, and compositional design.*
2. Demonstrate the following painting techniques, color theory, impasto, transparent glazes, developing perspective,
approaches to realism and abstraction.
3. Analyze artwork and utilize art vocabulary to describe artwork and critique discussions.
4. Write a 500-word descriptive paper showing knowledge of a designated art topic.
5. Demonstrate quality craftsmanship, aesthetic resolution, and display artwork that is finished and presentable.
* This course objective has been identified as a student learning outcome that must be formally assessed as part of
the Comprehensive Assessment Plan of the college. All faculty teaching this course must collect the required data
and submit the required analysis and documentation at the conclusion of the semester to the Office of Institutional
Research and Assessment.
Content Outline:
1 Introduction and painting materials
2 Creating a contour sketch on canvas and visual research
3 Color theory and composition
4 Painting negative positive space
5 Relating color to a gradient tone
6 Analyzing light and dark; painting a value range
7 Impasto texture techniques
8 Rules of perspective and creating 3D illusion
9 Transparency and glazing techniques
10 Developing Form and realism
11 Working from photographs
12 Transfer techniques and contemporary art
13 Composing landscape and working on location outside
14 Mixed media techniques integrated into acrylic painting
15 Final critiques and Written paper Due
Effective Term: Fall 2012
Painting I – Hamburg High School Syllabus
Instructor- Mrs. Cyrek
Week 1 Monday 1/28 – Friday 2/1
Intro to Painting 1
Review of syllabus, materials and course policies
Painting Materials
Color Theory and composition
Contour Sketch on canvas and visual research
Week 3 Monday 2/11 – Friday 2/15
Painting - Color Theory and composition
Positive Negative Space
Week 5 Monday 2/25 –Friday 3/1
Painting of Positive Negative Space
Week 7 Monday 3/11 – Friday 3/15
Impasto Texture Techniques
Rules of Perspective and creating 3D Illusion
Week 2 Monday 2/4 – Friday 2/8
Painting - Color Theory and composition
Week 4 Monday 2/18 – Friday 2/22
Mid-Winter Recess
5 Sketches of positive negative spaces
Week 6 Tuesday 3/4 –Friday 3/8
Relating Color To Gradient Tone
Analyzing light and Dark; painting a value range
Week 8 Monday 3/18 – Friday 3/22
Transparency and Glazing Techniques
Developing Form and Realism
Week 9 Monday 3/25 – Thursday 3/28
Transfer Techniques
Contemporary Art
Week 11 Tuesday 4/8 – Friday 4/12
Photograph Painting
Week 13 Monday 4/22 – Friday 4/ 26
Landscape Studies/Composition – working outside
Week 10 Monday 4/1 – Friday 4/5
Spring Recess
Choose Photographs for next week
3-4 Contour Sketches of Photos
Week 12 Monday 4/15 – Friday 4/19
Discuss Painting Styles – Choose one to research
Research style and begin written response
Week 14 Monday 4/29 – Friday 5/3
Mixed Media Techniques integrated with Acrylic Paint
Week 15 Monday 5/6 – Friday 5/10
Week 16 Monday 5/13 – Friday 5/17
Portfolio Review
Written Response Due
Week 17 Monday 5/20 – Friday 5/24
Working with various paint
Free painting
Week 18 Tuesday 5/28 – 6/7
Free painting