Syllabus

Course Description 
​This course is an introduction to art for entertainment, covering painting and drawing techniques applicable to the fields of concept art, visual development, and illustration. This class builds from the very basics of dynamic sketching and value and color keys and culminates into a final illustration that combines the aspects of composition, color theory, and rendering.

Prerequisites
Artists of all experience levels are encouraged to apply. This class begins with the fundamentals of art, but moves very quickly. Previous art experience is recommended, but not necessary.
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Application requirements

• Example of previous works (optional)

• Original art piece based on prompt

Course Structure

• The class meets once a week, for two hours

• Every week, a new topic regarding the fundamentals of art or design will be covered. The first half of class will be for critiques on the previous class’s homework, followed by a lecture and a live demo

• Over the last six weeks of class, students will also be working on a final illustration project

Homework
Each HW focuses on exercising one particular aspect of drawing fundamentals taught in class. HW will be assigned in class and due the following week. Each HW is graded by completion.

Project
The course culminates into a final project, where each student will complete one finished illustration over the course of six weeks. This illustration will combine ideas learned over the course of the class, including material rendering, composition, and environment and character elements.

Required Readings
Students will be required to read or watch a video on related art topics each week. Basic questions will be asked to the students to ensure that students have been keeping up with the required readings. A link to each week’s reading is provided in the syllabus below and also posted on the course website. 

Required Materials
Every student will need a laptop with an art program installed (Photoshop is provided by the school, but students may choose whatever program they feel most comfortable with) and a digital tablet of some kind with which to create digital art. We do have a few tablets available for students to borrow for the duration of the course.

Grading
Overall:

• Participation: 25%

• HW: 25%

• Final project: 50% 

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Final project breakdown:

• Composition sketches: 15% (7.5% overall)

• Value keys: 15%

• Finalized sketch: 15%

• Color keys: 15%

• Final render/complete illustration: 40% (20% overall)

A minimum of 70% is required to pass the course. The course can only be taken with the Pass/No Pass grading option.
 

Attendance Policy
Attendance matters! If you cannot be in class, you must contact an instructor to get your absence excused. Failing to notify an instructor of an absence in advance will result in a 10% overall grade deduction per absence. 

Homework and Project
Homework and readings are assigned after each class to reinforce lecture topics. Over the final six weeks, project assignments will be assigned in addition to weekly homework. Students may submit up to two late assignments for full credit, but late homework assignments may not receive feedback.

Extra Credit
Students can earn extra credit every week there is a homework or project assignment due by sending a work-in-progress update in the class Discord server.