University Western Ontario, Department of Visual Art
VAS 1025 – Advanced Visual Foundations (Studio), 2012-13
Professor:
Course:
Location:
Section:
Sky Glabush
VAS 1025
VAC 206
002
Time:
Office Hours
Email:
Phone:
Mon - Wed 11:30-2:30
Mon: 930-11:30
sglabush@uwo.ca
661-2111 ext. 86845
VAS 1025 is an introductory studio course that will familiarize students with the language of visual
expression and explore the fundamental principles of art. We will rotate hands-on studio experience
focusing on the material possibilities of drawing, basic design, painting, media and sculpture, with
classroom critiques and discussions aimed at providing a critical context for students’ working process.
We will explore and discuss work by other artists, both historical and contemporary, and visit current
exhibitions during class field trips. VAS 1025 is intended to provide students with a working
knowledge of the production of visual art and a foundation for its continued study and practice.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
1. Depth and Breadth of Knowledge: Students will acquire a range of fundamental skills required
to engage in the material art practices being studied, both technically and conceptually.
Students will also be familiar with the historical genesis of the material areas being studied as
well as regarding contemporary reconsiderations and adaptations involving such materials.
2. Knowledge of Methodologies: Students will gain an understanding of conceptual/artmaking
methodologies through application of processes, presenting ideas via drawing and other modes
and through consultation with the instructor, and from other resources such as lectures and
demonstrations.
3. Communication Skills: Students will be able to communicate in writing and orally regarding
their projects and with respect to an informed but general understanding of art/contemporary
art, and will be skilled with a variety of formats of critique at the university level.
Important Resource: Web CT:
To facilitate aspects of VAS 1025, students can access the VAS 1025 site through https://owl.uwo.ca.
Course outline, readings, slide lectures and class assignments will be posted to Web CT in a timely
manner.
Course Requirements
Assigned Readings:
Throughout the course there will be a number of essays or reviews which each student will read and
then submit a brief, written summary as a response. There will also be two presentations on the work of
contemporary and historical artists. For these presentations students will work in pairs and be prepared
to facilitate a discussion. All students are asked to read the course material in advance of these
presentations and discussions.
Participation and Attendance:
Due to the physical nature of this VAS 1025 there will be a lot of in-class work. Students should be
prepared, however, to spend two hours working outside of class for or every hour of class time.
Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to show up to every class, on time, and with the
appropriate material and must clean up after themselves at the end of each class. Missing more than
15% of classes (including late arrival and early departure) without prior consultation with the instructor
will result in a failing grade. Students that miss class for medical reasons must present documented
medical or bereavement excuses vetted through their academic advisor.
Students are expected to complete all assignments on due date for critiques. Failure to complete
assignments without prior consultation with instructor may result in a failing grade. Assignments must
be submitted in a protective portfolio with each assignment clearly labeled, dated and separated.
Failure to hand in assignments in a professional, organized manner may result in the instructor
declining to grade a portfolio.
It is expected that students take notes on all lectures, presentations, and class discussions. A
sketchbook or journal should be brought to each class along and the Course Outline.
Evaluation and Critiques:
As an instructor I will attempt to provide an environment of respect and security in which students will
be encouraged to engage a wide latitude of experimentation. In this environment of mutual respect
there will be regular critiques of student projects in which participation is mandatory and will be
evaluated in the participation part of the grade. Grades for this course are based upon the submission of
class assignments and failure to submit projects will result in the subsequent loss of their respective
percentage of the final grade.
Evaluation:
Studio Assignments
80 %
Presentations and assigned readings
10%
Attendance, participation, conduct and professionalism
10%
Studio assignments will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- innovation and originality and overall effort;
- technical proficiency and creative use of materials;
- presentation, organization, and clarity of intent;
*Students may contact the instructor for additional assistance or critique of work, either in class, during
office hours, or by appointment.
Grading: Based on the student’s success in meeting the above requirements, grades will be assessed
according to the following standard:
A+ 90 - 100%
Outstanding work, well exceeding the basic requirements of the project
and demonstrating profound insight.
A
80 - 89%
Excellent work, well exceeding the basic requirements of the project
and demonstrating creative insight.
B
70 - 79%
Very good work, showing thorough understanding of the course
material and exceeding the basic requirements.
C
60 – 69%
Satisfactory work, meeting the basic project requirements and showing
good understanding of the material.
D
50 – 59%
Satisfactory work that meets basic requirements and demonstrated some
understanding of the course material, but not a thorough understanding.
F
below 50%
Unsatisfactory work which shows insufficient effort or comprehension.
Materials
Drawing Supplies:
- sketchbook (your choice)
- pen and knib
- wide variety of pencils, 2H to 7B
- white vinyl eraser
- pencil sharpener w/ shaving container
- metal ruler, 12” or longer
- x-acto knife and scissors
- glue stick and masking tape
- drawing board and clip
- 6B graphite stick
- blending stomp
- pack of brown conté
- pack of willow charcoal
- India ink
- fixative, finishing variety
- 3 newsprint pads
- paper (to be discussed)
- magazines, coloured paper etc.
- 4”x6” mat board
- acid free glue stick
Painting Supplies:
1” flat (cheap house painting brushes also
work)
- # 8 flat
- # 2 flat
- #4 Filbert
- #8 round
- #4 round
- #0 round
- gesso, 250 ml
- Oil paint:
Titanium white,
- cadmium yellow
- cadmium red middle
- cobalt blue
- mars black
- raw umber
- other optional but highly useful colours
include yellow ochre, cadmium orange
ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, hookers green
- acrylic gel
- containers for water
- painters tape or masking tape
- canvas stretchers (to be discussed)-canvas
- staple gun plus staples (optional)
Sculpture Supplies
-foam core
-hot glue gun and glue sticks
-cardboard and plaster
-clay
-plywood
-chisels (if you have access to them)
*sculpture and photo materials needed will be further discussed in class
Class Schedule, September to December 2012*
Mon. Sept. 10
Introduction: Course Outline, getting started: Background Context and History
Wed. Sept. 12
Construction/Deconstruction: building an object
(using 4 distinct processes)
Mon. Sept. 17
work period and lecture
Wed. Sept. 19
work period
Mon. Sept. 24
Look at Models and set up Part Two Deconstructing the object (lecture)
(again using at least 4 distinct processes: screen printing, litho, drawing with ink,
frottage etc.)
Wed. Sept. 26
work period (collage)
Mon. Oct. 1
work period
Wed. Oct. 3
Critique Parts One and Two
Mon. Oct. 8
Thanksgiving Holiday
Wed. Oct. 10
Part Three Composition (lecture)
Mon. Oct. 15
Work period
Wed. Oct. 17
Class Trip (class trip is mandatory and FUN!)
Mon. Oct. 22
Painting from Observation and work on Composition Assignment (lecture)
Wed. Oct. 24
Critique Part Three and Observational paintings
Mon. Oct. 29
Portraiture (working from Observation) lecture
Wed. Oct. 31
work period (Set up Lino Cut)
Mon. Nov. 5
Work in class
Wed. Nov. 7
Print Lino cuts
Mon. Nov. 12
Critique: projects due, introduce next section
Wed. Nov. 14
Mapping Space: Perspective (in class)
Mon. Nov. 19
Mapping space continued (work from observation
Wed. Nov. 21
Mon. Nov. 26
Work in class
Critique: all drawing projects due, introduce next section
Wed. Nov. 28
Mapping Space Part Three (collage)
Mon. Dec. 3
Studio session
Wed. Dec. 5
Critique: all projects due. No extensions
Term Two Outline to follow
*Please note: Proper notice will be given should times need to change.
The University of Western Ontario
Visual Arts Department
Safety and Maintenance Sheet
Faculty Responsibilities:
 Inform students about safe use of toxic materials and ensure that students are following safe
procedures. In case of an emergency, call 911.
 Instruct students in the proper use of the spray booth in room 230 if they wish to use aerosol
fixatives. (The door of the booth must be closed when in use.)
 At the end of each class, return props and drapes to the model closet.
 At the end of each class, return space heaters and skeleton to room 206A, and opaque projectors,
slide projectors, etc. to room 244. In the case of evening classes, equipment may be stored in your
office and returned the next day.
 Notify Marlene Jones of any burnt-out bulbs, broken or missing furniture, broken window blinds,
etc.
 Inform students about general cleanup (including removal of paint, etc., from table surfaces), about
storage of work in progress, and removal of completed marked work.
 Supervise students’ adherence to the maintenance requirements listed below, under the heading
“Student Responsibilities”.
Student Responsibilities:
 When using paint, remember that some pigments are more hazardous than others. Take special care
with cadmium colours, cobalt colours, manganese colours, zinc white, flake white, cerulean blue,
vermilion red, burnt and raw umber.
 Do not eat, drink or smoke while painting since there activities may lead to accidental ingestion of
paint.
 Use aerosol fixative only in the spray booth in Room 230 or outdoors. Fine mists from these sprays
can penetrate deep into the lungs.
 At the end of each class, remove work-in-progress from easels, A-frames and walls, and store these
works in your locker or storage racks.
 At the end of each class, clean all table surfaces. Throw used jars and other containers, and dirty
rags and paper towels, into the garbage containers.
 Take home all completed graded work.
 Replace drawing boards in the model closet.
 Wash your hands thoroughly when you are finished working with dry or wet pigments or inks. Use
a good hand cream after washing with soap, in order to prevent damage to your skin’s natural
defensive barrier.
Please note: According to University regulations guiding “Laboratory Use,” students who fail to
respect the responsibilities listed above will not have their final course grades sent to the
Registrar.
VAS 1020, VAS 1025, VAS 2104, VAS 2204, VAS 2210 and VAS 3300
The University of Western Ontario
Visual Arts Department
POLICIES
Student Conduct:
All students will conduct themselves in a manner that will be consistent with the maturity and academic integrity expected of
university students. Student conduct shall be consistent with the general laws of the community and with University
regulations. Students shall show regard and respect for the rights, safety, and property of all members of the University
community and are expected to act in a responsible manner within the University and the community at large.
Attendance:
A student who misses more than 15% of the course hours, without written corroboration for health or bereavement, can be
debarred from writing final exams, or participation in final studio evaluations. Note that if a student consistently is absent from
a 3-hour class for 1 hour, they will exceed the 15% cutoff and can be debarred.
Prerequisites:
You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course prerequisites and that you have not taken an
antirequisite course. Lack of prerequisites may not be used as basis of appeal.
If you are not eligible for a course, you may be removed from it at any time, and you will receive no adjustment to your fees.
These decisions cannot be appealed.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism, which may be defined as “The act or an instance of copying or stealing another’s words or ideas and attributing
them as one’s own,” will not be tolerated. (Citation excerpted from Black’s Law Dictionary, 1999, 7th ed., p. 1170). (Refer to
www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2012/pg113.html# or the 2012/2013 Western Academic Calendar, p. 19, with regards to
academic penalties for plagiarism.)
Medical Policy:
Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed tests, exams, participation components and/or
assignments worth 10% or more of their final grade must apply to the Academic Counselling office of their home Faculty and
provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted by the instructor or department. See course outline for
specific arrangements regarding less than 10% of assignments.
Building Access:
The John Labatt Visual Arts Centre will be closed at 10:30 pm each night. There will be no after-hour access for
undergraduate students. The Centre is open weekends 12:00 noon-5:00 pm. Students should be prepared to vacate the building
promptly at 10:30 pm and 5:00 pm. You must also sign-in with the building monitors when working in the workshop areas
outside of regular office hours.
Please remember:
One of the most important resources for course counselling, special permissions, course changes, grade appeals, etc., is the
Undergraduate Chair of Visual Arts, Prof. S. Glabush (tel. 519-661-3440; vaugc@uwo.ca). Please note, however, that should
you encounter any serious difficulties due to illness, family emergency, etc., you should consult the Academic Counselor for
your Faculty (Mrs. B. Barratt and Mr. Ben Hakala are the counselors for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities).
The Student Development Centre (WSS room 4111; tel: 519-661-3031; www.sdc.uwo.ca) offers a wide range of useful
services to students including workshops on learning skills, career and employment services, and an effective writing program,
amongst many more.
The D.B. Weldon Library offers orientation tours from the first week of classes until Thanksgiving, where you will get
acquainted with the numerous research resources available. As well, the University libraries have an extremely useful website
where you can search the library system, the databases, view your circulation record, renew materials, access your UWO email account, and much more. Check it out at: www.lib.uwo.ca.
Financial Aid Services is your main source of information for OSAP, bursaries, loans, scholarships, and
the work-study program which offer part-time positions on campus for Western students.
Tel: 519-661-2100; e-mail, finaid@uwo.ca; or check out their website at www.registrar.uwo.ca/FinancialServices/index.cfm