Drawing with Color | Spring

The aim of this course is to start building students’ appreciation and understanding of color through dry media drawing tools. First, we will allow ourselves time to explore and delight in this complex, multifaceted element. We will examine the formal elements of color—how colors relate to each other—as well as its psychological effects. After experiencing some theories of color, students will begin learning to handle colored pencils and chalk pastels. Through demonstrations, personal instruction, and exercises, students will explore different subjects/compositions, textures, papers, and application techniques suitable for each unique medium. Students will be encouraged to practice exercises taught in class and may need to work outside of class to complete projects.

Along with hands-on studio work, students will participate in regular class critiques, creating a forum for the group to constructively collaborate and discuss creative outcomes. Individual artist statements will be required with most finished pieces of work, giving students another opportunity to articulate their interpretive intent and their understanding of process and design concepts.

Students can also expect ongoing dialogues about art in history, the Christian imagination in relationship to faith and the arts, and the role of the arts in the Church. The hope of the instructor is that through engagement in the class, students will be brought to a deeper appreciation of the visual world and the creative love of its Maker.

Student Academic Expectation Students will be encouraged to:

• Explore formal color theory and the psychological/symbolic use of color
• Experience and control a variety of dry color drawing media
• Learn and practice safe and responsible use of art media, equipment, and studio space
• Explore and develop personal concepts in creative expression
• Create engaging compositions using art elements, including line, value, texture, space, shape, form, and depth
• Develop and utilize specialized vocabulary in relationship to color, drawing, and visual art in general
• Engage in a collaborative discussion that enhances understanding of their work as well as the work of others

Student Conduct Expectation Students will be encouraged to:

• Care for themselves, their peers, and their supplies as stewards of God’s creation (be and do the good)
• Inquire into the discipline, asking questions in order to arrive at the truth (seek the truth)
• Reflect upon and pursue excellence in order to make good use of their gifts (make the beautiful)

Student Evaluation/Grading The instructor will be providing rich and robust feedback/critique constantly, but the class is ungraded and parents can make the final decision about what grade to assign to the course. To aid in that process, the following grades can be assigned to your student’s level of achievement: magna cum laude (with great praise), cum laude (with praise), satis (sufficient, satisfactory), and non satis (not sufficient). Ideally, every average student working diligently should do praiseworthy work (cum laude). Those who excel beyond this expectation will be magna cum laude students. Students who do adequate but not praiseworthy work will be designated satis. Non satis means lacking sufficiency or adequacy.

Eligible Students Rising 7th–12th graders: While it is not necessary, it is helpful for students to have experience in basic drawing techniques. Students with previous experience in drawing will be able to work at their levels of skill. A sense of wonder, creative courage, and perseverance are beneficial postures for flourishing in this course.

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.