Introduction to Art:
2-D Fundamentals
Course Instructor: E. Dominic Black, M.A. Ed.
(626) 991 8775
d.black@bonita.k12.ca.us or edblack1@verizon.net
watercolorjourney.com
artsonia.com/schools/sandimas1
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: The student will learn the fundamentals of art including drawing
skills, color theory and design using various media. This is a foundations course needed
for any student wishing to continue in a visual arts path of study and satisfies the
UC/CSU A-G “Fine Arts” requirement.
Recommended Materials:
9” x 12” tape bound or spiral sketchbook, 100 pages, drawing paper
Heavyweight drawing paper, 117 LB, 18 x 24, 20 sheets
Paper for pastel and charcoal, 4 18 x 20 sheets
#2 Pencils, dozen
Artist drawing pencils (grades 4H – 8B)
2 White vinyl erasers
1 set of drawing charcoal, compressed
2 Black vinyl erasers (for charcoal and pastel)
Higgins 1.5 oz. black ink bottle
Speedball Artist’s pen drawing set (5 – 7 nibs)
Brushes: small and medium sizes, 3 for watercolor (soft), 3 for tempera (stiff bristles)
Tempera paint: six basic colors plus black and white, 1 pint or smaller for each color
1 set of watercolor crayons, 8 colors minimum
Plastic artist palette with sections for paint mixing
1 set of Semi-moist watercolors, 8 colors minimum, with built-in lid for mixing
Chalk pastel colors, 1 set of 24 colors
Ruler or straightedge
Small art box or container to store all items
Grades: Every major project we do, (at least fifteen to twenty per year), could be used for
SDCP best work. I do not believe in writing scores on artworks, because I do not want a
number to permanently alter the way a student may feel about their work. Each project
you are expected to complete will have its own set of rubrics, which will be explained at
the beginning of each assignment.
Projects, exams and other class assignments are graded by total points. Tasks of major
importance are worth more points. In general, the grade for the class breaks down as
follows:
Projects: 65%
Midterm Exam: 10%
Final Project: 15%
Homework and other assignments: 10%
The scoring range is as follows (numbers are percentages):
A+
119
120
A
93
118
A-
89
92
B+
87
88
B
83
86
B-
79
82
C+
77
78
C
73
76
C-
69
72
D+
67
68
D
63
66
D-
59
62
F
0
58
Discipline: I have no time for people who would rather be elsewhere. Cell phone use,
texting, MP3 player use, consistent annoyance, bad attitudes, excessive talking, harassing
other students, sleeping, inactivity, eating in class, abusing materials or the classroom,
disrespect and any other nonsense are all reasons to be dropped. If you are a problem, a
call will be made to your guardians. Behave and you will have nothing to worry about!
A San Dimas High School Graduate is a/an:
Effective Communicator who:

Reads with understanding

Writes and speaks with clarity

Uses technology to access, organize and present information

Solves problems and expresses ideas creatively
Accomplished Learner who:

Challenges himself/herself continually

Possesses a sound knowledge of the core content areas

Participates in and accepts responsibility for his/her learning

Produces quality independent work
Productive Leader who:

Works collaboratively to move a group to a successful outcome

Works to promote causes greater than himself/herself
Responsible Citizen who:

Shows respect for the dignity of all beliefs and cultures

Practices ethical behavior

Contributes time, energy and talents to improve his/her community

Maintains a plan for his/her future
Subject-Specific Student Outcomes - Students will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
demonstrate various drawing skills
demonstrate experiential knowledge of color theory.
apply principles of design in 2-D composition projects.
demonstrate effective visual communication and problem solving skills.
demonstrate an appreciation of world art history and aesthetics.
maintain an Art Journal or sketchbook
Course Objectives:
1. Explore the visual properties of the elements of art through the language and skills
unique to visual arts. (Standard 1)
2. Demonstrate an understanding and employ the elements and principles of art to
produce creative works. (Standard 2)
3. Practice and grasp the use of various media. (Standard 2)
4. Develop drawing and painting skills. (Standard 2)
5. Be able to aesthetically value and appreciate works of art. (Standard 4)
6. Maintain physical portfolios. (Standard 4)
7. Integrate art concepts with other subject areas, and other art forms. (Standard 5)
8. Explore career possibilities in the world of the visual arts. (Standard 5)
9. Explore the role of visual arts in history and culture. (Standard 3)
Content Outline:
1.0 In Drawing the students will:
1.1
recognize and use the basic visual elements.
1.2
see and draw edges.
1.3
see and draw the four basic shapes within objects.
1.4
1.5
1.6
see and draw negative space.
see and draw relationship and proportion.
see and draw the effects of light and shadow.
2.0 In Color Theory the students will:
2.1
learn to create secondary and tertiary colors through mixing the primaries.
2.2
apply value contrast/harmony in creating the lights and shadows of color.
2.3
apply the primary and secondary colors with gray.
2.4
apply analogous color harmony.
2.5
use complimentary harmony/contrast and learn how to create black.
2.6
use simultaneous contrast, warm and cool contrast, chromatic scale &
contrast.
2.8
learn to use color, line and shape to communicate emotion and meaning
2.9
learn to develop wholeness in a work of art.
3.0 In Design the students will:
3.1
select and apply the kinds of unity to a visual idea.
3.2
select and apply kinds and characters of lines to a visual idea.
3.3
select and apply kinds of positive and negative shapes to a visual idea.
3.4
apply value to a visual idea.
3.5
apply scale & proportion to a visual idea.
3.6
select and apply the kinds of depth to a visual idea.
3.7
select and apply the kinds of balance to a visual idea.
3.8
add texture and pattern to a visual idea.
3.9
select and apply the kinds of rhythm and motion to a visual idea.
3.10 create focal points in a visual idea.
4.0 In Visual Communications the students will:
4.1
learn to use design to express a clear message about an idea, opinion or
feeling.
4.5
In the artistic journal: 5 pages a week, minimum
5.0 In appreciation of World Art History and Aesthetics the students will:
5.1
show an appreciation for multicultural arts.
5.2
show an appreciation of the integration of all the arts.
5.3
understand the integration of art with English Language Arts, Social Studies,
Science and Math in developing higher critical thought.
CALENDAR
SEMESTER ONE
Week One
Expectations. Rules. Pre-instruction drawings. Elements of Art: Line. Upside
down drawing. Quadrant Drawing. Sketchbook.
Week Two
Sketchbook. Drawing grids. Paris. Travel poster design. Elements of Art: shape.
Week Three
Sketchbook. Four artists' styles. Handwriting analysis.
Week Four
Sketchbook. Pure contour drawings. Elements of Art: shape. Elements of Art:
form. Drawing with basic forms.
Week Five
Sketchbook. More drawing with basic forms. Elements of Art: Value. Value bar
in pencil. Value bar with graded pencils. Single object value study.
Week Six
Sketchbook. Elements of Art: texture. 8 textures. Master Drawings.
Week Seven
Sketchbook. Drawing with ink. Value studies in ink. Tribal Tattoo Design.
Week Eight
Sketchbook. Introduce Stipple project. Stipple Project. Large pencil still life.
Week Nine
Sketchbook. Stipple Project. Large pencil still life. Online: Artsonia.com website.
Week Ten
Sketchbook. Charcoal demo. Two object value study in charcoal.
“El Dia de los Muertos.”
Week Eleven
Sketchbook. “El Dia de los Muertos.” Large charcoal still life.
Week Twelve
Sketchbook. Elements of Art: Color.
Large charcoal still life. Tempera value scale. Tempera monochrome scale. Color
wheel.
Week Thirteen
Sketchbook. Monochromatic still life.
Week Fourteen
Monochromatic still life. Tempera intensity change scale. Full color still life.
Week Fifteen
Sketchbook. Fashion design. Collect/check sketchbooks. Full color still life.
Week Sixteen
Sketchbook. Color theory. Abstract expressionist color paintings.
Week Seventeen
Sketchbook. Full color still life. Color theory. Midterm exam.
SEMESTER TWO
Week One
Sketchbook. Portraiture. FACES. Facial features studies. Composite portrait.
Week Two
Sketchbook. Frontal portrait of another student.
Week Three
Sketchbook. Profile portrait.
Week Four
Sketchbook. Three-quarter view self-portrait.
Week Five
Sketchbook. Foot/hand studies. Design for a book cover. Pastel demo.
Week Six
Sketchbook. Pastel reproduction of a famous work of art. Research paper intro.
Week Seven
Sketchbook. Pastel reproduction of a famous work of art.
Week Eight
Sketchbook. Research papers due. Watercolor demo. 3 object watercolor still life.
Week Nine
Sketchbook. Perspective drawing demo. Watercolor landscape.
Week Ten
Sketchbook. Watercolor landscape.
Week Eleven
Sketchbook. Watercolor landscape. Currency design. Logo design.
Week Twelve
Sketchbook. Album cover design.
Week Thirteen
Sketchbook. Album cover design.
Week Fourteen
Sketchbook. Album cover design. Surrealism intro.
Week Fifteen
Sketchbook. Surrealism Project
Week Sixteen
Sketchbook. Surrealism Project
Week Seventeen
Sketchbook. Collage.
Week Eighteen
Sketchbook. Collage.
Week Nineteen
Sketchbook. Final project introduction.
Week Twenty
Sketchbook. Final projects.
Week Twenty-one
Sketchbook. Final projects due.
Key Assignments (great to use as SDCP “best work” samples):
1.
5.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Daily sketchbook
Color wheel using relevant color terminology and color theory concepts.
Warm and Cool Paintings, emotional usage of color
Still life, (pencil, charcoal, tempera, watercolor), wherein students create an
original drawing and explain the effective use of the elements and principles of art
in the work.
Students research a well-known artist and create a pastel reproduction of an
original work, as well as a biography research paper on the artist.
Portrait (frontal, profile, three-quarter view)
Landscape painting (watercolor)
Final Project: Students create a work or small series of works in a medium of
their choice that clearly demonstrates an understanding of the principles of design
with an emphasis on unity in the completed work, and write an explanatory essay.
In addition, students must:
1. Maintain a physical portfolio
2. Maintain a clean working environment.
3. Turn in all work on time.
4. Demonstrate a quality work ethic.
5. Constantly display a high level of artistic discipline
Student Signature Below:
Parent/Guardian Signature Below:
E. Dominic Black is a professional artist and art teacher with a B.A. in Art from
UC Santa Cruz and a Master’s Degree in Education from National University. He
currently teaches 2D Art and yearbook at San Dimas High School. He is also the
2D instructor at the Career and Technical Education Center and the new Reed
Fine Arts Academy at the Fairplex in Pomona. Mr. Black has taught basic,
advanced and AP Studio art for over fifteen years, and he has led art study trips
through Europe every summer for the last five years. He is currently preparing
for his next field trip abroad with students to Rome in July 2016.