Phoenix College Course Syllabus
Fall Semester, 2012
Course Code/Course Title: Art 116-0003, Life Drawing I; 117-0003, Life Drawing II; 290 AC0012, Studio Art
Instructor: Stephen Missal
Instructor contact information: flyingduckstudio@hotmail.com
Course Objectives:
Art 116-0003, Life Drawing I; 117-0003, Life Drawing II; 290 AC-0012, Studio Art:
Exploration of technical and expressive art language through the use of the human figure as
subject; introduction to human anatomy; gender dimorphism, quick sketching (gesture drawing),
medium length and longer studies, including shading techniques and use of various drawing
mediums. Application of drawing to different disciplines and outcomes, including fine art,
fashion design, graphic design, animation and similar professional careers.
Course Description:
We will be drawing from the undraped human figure, both male and female, learning anatomy
and multiple drawing techniques applicable to the figure. The relationship of basic drawing
techniques, perspective and expressive design will all be explored and synthesized into a
functional and practical technique. Beginners and more advanced students will work along side
one another, and the instructor will work both in lecture, demonstration and one on one with the
class. There will not be any painting media required during this class. Materials will be simple
and made as affordable as possible. Optional materials may be used with instructor permission.
Students are urged to dress comfortably and casually. It is inevitable that some drawing materials
will end up on their clothing. We will have a break at the two hour mark of class. The model will
be treated with respect as a professional by all members of the class. Any disregard of this rule
will result in expulsion from the class.
All students will be required to enter exhibitions as per the instructor’s or department’s policies,
and to attend any functions of the department that the art department deems necessary for the
support and involvement for and of the art department. These exhibitions/functions will be
announced as they are received by the instructor. If you are unable to attend the functions due to
work or other conflicts, please advise the department secretary and the instructor. Otherwise, it
will be points missed for the total grade.
Storage space is extremely limited; students are urged to take their materials home with them at
the end of class. The school is not liable for items left in the classroom.
Classes meet from six p.m. until ten p.m. on Wednesday evening; cleanup starts no later than
nine-forty-five p.m. to allow all students to exit before security lock-up. Students are responsible
for maintaining a clean area where they draw.
Because the once a week format falls four class periods short of the nominal evening load,
students will be provided an opportunity during the semester to use the classroom for life
drawing with the instructor to work an 'early shift' from 4:30 p.m. until six p.m. to make
up this deficiency, with dates to be determined based upon the instructor’s current
schedule.
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Credit Value:
3 credit hours
Course Competencies: Competency in basic figure drawing; proportion, tone, anatomical
accuracy, perspective, and texture.
Required Textbook: none
Materials:
Box for materials (tackle box etc.)
Optional: luggage cart to hold art materials
18 x 24 or 24 x 36 inch newsprint pad
18 x 24 bond sketch pad
Small sketch pad (5 x 7 or 8 x 10 for outside work)
rags or paper towels for clean -up
liquid soap
Drawing pencils: HB, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B
Ebony pencil
Kneaded eraser
Pink Pearl or similar eraser
Chamois (optional)
Charcoal pencils, soft (2b or softer)
Vine charcoal sticks
Conte crayon, soft (optional)
Student Evaluation/Grading Policies:
Attendance, progress and intrinsic quality are the grading criteria. The instructor will credit
progress as part of the criterion for grading, especially for beginning students. Participation in
exhibitions and art department functions (except for instructor/department sanctioned absences)
will be counted as part of the grade. Class time will be spent in a productive manner, and there
will be a mid-term evaluation of drawing skills as a marker for grades. A final portfolio will be
turned in the last week for grading; a list will be provided of what is to be placed in it. All
homework must be received by deadlines given by the instructor, with late work penalized in
point total commensurate to the tardiness. All projects may be redone with the instructor's
approval, with the updated project grade replacing the original point total given.
Grading Scale:
All assignments will have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated
equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that
information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as
follows (on a percentage of total points basis):
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
100-93
92-90
89-87
86-83
82-80
79-77
76-73
72-70
69-67
66-65
64 or below
Passing letter grades (A through D) will be converted to the highest number in the corresponding
range when averaging. This class will have projects with established point values for the grading
system.
Late Work Policy:
All work is due at deadline. Documented excuses will be considered in accepting late work.
Grades will be appropriate to the timeliness of the work. Otherwise, late work will be penalized
one letter grade for every week tardy.
Class Policies:
Any students absent in class a combined total of 12 hours (three classes) are subject to
suspension from the course. If a student will be absent for business, health or other documentable
reasons, said student is responsible for letting the instructor know ahead of time in order to avoid
suspension from the class. Please contact the department secretary if you will be absent and
cannot contact the instructor.
Break times are flexible according to the needs of the students and instructor.
Headphones are required if listening to music during class. No headphones are allowed in
lecture.
Messages may be left for the instructor at his e-mail address: flyingduckstudio@hotmail.com.
Please begin the e-mail address for the student as: Phoenix College student (fill in your name
here) has a question.
Because adjunct instructors do not have an office or office hours, no personal appointments or
meetings can be arranged outside of class-time.
Student Responsibilities:
Students are responsible for reading and understanding the materials contained in this
syllabus, and also responsible for reading and understanding the college policies included
in the college catalog and the student handbook.
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Disability Statement:
It is a college policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. If
you would like to request accommodations due to a physical, mental, or learning disability,
please contact the Disability Resource Center office, Learning Center (LC) Building, 602285-7477
NOTE: The contents of this syllabus are subject to change according to the needs
of the class as determined by the instructor. Students will be notified by the
instructor of any changes in course requirements or policies.
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Week 1: August 25: class meets with instructor to receive syllabus and review class goals and
policies. Students will need to purchase supplies to begin drawing week two. Advanced students
may already have materials can work in class the first session if we have a model.
Week 2: September 1
All class members must have a drawing board, large newsprint pad, drawing pencils (HB to 6B),
kneaded eraser, sharpener, and vine charcoal week two. We will review some anatomy, quick
sketching principles, organization of the figure, and perspective rules.
Review and examine varied drawing (life and other) techniques. Focus on establishing
proportion in quick analysis, utilization of basic anatomy. Start sketchbook assignments.
Demonstrations of techniques, gesture drawings, quick skeletal studies, how to use these for later
drawings. Extensive one on one teaching (each class session).Students choose old master artists
of their own to copy drawings for technique applications.
Week 3: September 8: Bring in sketchbooks for review. Discuss and review information from
week one. Review of measuring techniques and introduction of foreshortening shortcuts, rotation
of figure, means of using mass drawings etc. in gesture. Explanation of gesture drawings and
their use.
Relate this information to the figure through use of live model. More quick studies and
movement analysis, along with some slower studies to examine anatomy. Line of action
discussed and emphasized. Work with skeleton. Proportion reviewed. Live model.
Week 4: September 15: Sketchbook review. Review of foreshortening, line of action,
proportional measuring techniques, light and dark. Work from model for same. Quick studies
and more motion analysis, with deeper discussion of the anatomical foundations for various
poses and views. Use various media for results. Live model.
Week 5: September 22: Sketchbook review. In depth examination of head and facial features.
Studies and characters based upon same. Hand and feet studies. Quick studies and motion
analysis. Varied media. Live model.
Week 6: September 29: Sketchbook review. Proportional and anatomical review. Quick studies
with some later
fleshed out. Action poses, rotation of pose from varied angles, memory drawings. Drawings from
imagination only based upon previous work with skeleton as foundation. Light and dark
gestures.
Review measuring techniques, nature of gesture/line of action, hierarchy of which forms to do
first (scale/detail). Life model.
Week 7: October 6: Sketchbook review. Old master progress review. Live model.
Week 8: October 13: Sketchbook review. Some quick sketches and review of techniques. Slower
studies, including head, hand and feet studies. Live model.
Week 9: October 20: Sketchbook review. Further quick studies and life drawings. Review and
discussion of any problem areas for students. Slow and quick studies. Live model.
Week 10: October 27: Sketchbook review. Live model with short and longer studies.
Week 11: November 3: Sketchbook review. Review of any techniques as per request of students.
Critique and further refinement. Slow studies from model. Live model.
Week 12: November 10: Short studies, sequences, visualizations first half of class; long studies
last half of class. Live model.
Week 13: November 17: Drapery and the human body; long studies. Live model.
Week 14: November 24: Long studies and the imagination: transformational drawings and
classical studies. Light and dark emphasis. Live model.
Week 15: December 1: Anatomical review; proportional review; light and dark review; long and
short studies as needed. Live model.
Week 16: December 8: Last night for live model; student request night.
Week 17: December 15: Portfolio review and grading. Old master copy and studies due.
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The following is for the student to sign and return to the instructor, indicating that they
have read and understand the contents and policies contained in the class syllabus and
agree to all terms and conditions stated therein:
I, ___________________________________, have read, understood and agree to all policies
and content of the syllabus for Life Drawing, Phoenix College, fall semester, 2010.
Date: __________________
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