Introduction to Acrylic Painting - Syllabus

INTRODUCTION TO ACRYLIC PAINTING

Level 1

Class Frequency:

Three weekly hours with the instructor plus at least six weekly hours of independent work is expected.

Medium:

Students will work with acrylic paints and will explore the particular qualities of this medium on a variety of painting surfaces.

Objective:

The course is designed to introduce the basic elements of painting to those students of little or no experience with the medium. The course is designed to help the student “see”, the first step to visual understanding and communication with paint.

Students will work with acrylic colours and will explore the many ways in which this particular paint can be handled. Part of this process will entail instruction about the preparation of materials and palette. Specific exercises will help the students to learn about differing the quality of paint from transparent layers to the use of thick impasto. Colour and its infinite possibilities in paint will be explored so that by the end of the course students will have begun to understand the effects of light in changing the relative values of colour. Exercises become more complex as students work from initial sketches to more developed pieces. While working to attain an understanding of the painting medium emphasis is placed on composition. The student is challenged to translate concepts into visual images that work.

At each lesson the students will be presented with examples of work by diverse artists. Demonstrations will be given in order to introduce the students to various techniques. Assignments are given that are to be completed outside of class. These will be given on a weekly basis. At each class students will be critiqued on their work. Students will be encouraged to visit shows, galleries and museums. There will be two class visits to museums and an additional class with a talk given about the gardens of Villa La Pietra.Students must participate in a student show held at the end of the semester.

Course Evaluation:

Students will be evaluated by their discipline, enthusiasm and involvement with the course and in their work. There are two formal critiques per semester at which each student will present work. Students are responsible for creating a portfolio of work by the end of the semester.

INTRODUCTION TO PAINTING Materials List

Initial Kit Acrylic Paints:

Lemon Yellow 

Deep Yellow 

Yellow Ochre 

Raw Umber

Burnt Sienna 

Orange 

Red

Magenta 

Violet

Sky Blue 

Ultramarine Blue 

Light Green 

Sap Green 

White - Titanium - large tube 

Black

Brushes: 4-5 of varying sizes, such as #8, #12,#16. #24, #28, a mixture of round and flat brushes

Sketchbook - students are to choose a sketchbook that is not too small or too flimsy.

Masking tape 

Disposable Palette 

Primer/Gesso

Paper/Fabriano. 

5 sheets of rather heavy weight smooth and rough paper.

"Renaissance Apprentice" Syllabus

This course is designed to take place in Italy but with creativity can be adapted to take place anywhere with only a little bit of loss.

RENAISSANCE APPRENTICE

Level 1

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Following the step-by-step process outlined in Cennino Cennini’s 14th century treatise on art, IL LIBRO DELL’ARTE, students will use the same materials and follow the same course of instruction, in abbreviated form, as Renaissance apprentices. After basic exercises in drawing, which include copying directly from the frescoes and sculptures in Florence as all apprentices were required to do as part of their studies, students will then be introduced to the Renaissance painting techniques of buon fresco and egg tempera to round out their artist’s education.

GENERAL COURSE OF STUDY:

1. Introduction to drawing techniques 

2. Copying from drawings 

3. Copying from frescoes 

4. Drawing from sculptures

5. Drawing from life 

6. Fresco painting 

7. Egg tempera painting/gold leafing

CLASS MEETINGS:

Class consists of 3 hours per week divided in the following manner: - in-class lectures, demonstrations, site visits, in-class drawing and painting

TEXTS (NOT REQUIRED):

Cennino Cennini, Il libro dell’arte Giorgio Vasari, On Technique Francis Ames-Lewis, Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy

ASSIGNMENTS/COURSE PACKETS

Students will be assigned drawings to copy from color photo-copies in course packet acquired at beginning of semester. Students will also be assigned to draw from frescoes and sculptures in various museums which are free of charge with museum card.

RESEARCH PAPER

The research paper will be a two-page description of one drawing or painting process or technique. All information will be taken from Cennino Cennini, Giorgio Vasari, Leonardo, Ames-Lewis and class notes. Papers will follow the standard Art Bulletin format for style and are to include a step-by-step description of all aspects of the particular process or technique. Research papers will then be copied and bound to make a handbook of materials and techniques subsequently distributed to each student in class.

RENAISSANCE APPRENTICE: COURSE OUTLINE 

WEEK ONE: INTRODUCTION

- Intro to materials, techniques, trip to center to buy materials

WEEK TWO: MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

- Lecture on techniques, mounting drawings, first assignments

WEEK THREE: FIGURES, FACES AND HANDS

- Lecture on how to draw figures, faces and hands

WEEK FOUR: DRAWING FROM FRESCOES

- Santa Maria Novella

WEEK FIVE: DRAWING FROM SCULPTURES

- Opera del Duomo 

****TRIP TO ROME – VATICAN MUSEUMS**** 

WEEK SIX: DRAWING FROM SCULPTURES - Accademia Museum

WEEK SEVEN: ANATOMY

- Lecture on human anatomy

WEEK EIGHT: ANATOMICAL DRAWING

- La Specola Museum

WEEK NINE: FRESCO PAINTING

- Lecture on fresco painting

WEEK TEN: FRESCO PAINTING

WEEK ELEVEN: EGG TEMPERA PAINTING

- Lecture on egg tempera and gold leafing - Rough drafts of papers due

WEEK TWELVE: EGG TEMPERA PAINTING 

WEEK THIRTEEN: EGG TEMPERA PAINTING

WEEK FOURTEEN: LAST CLASS – GROUP DISCUSSION AND TECHNIQUES MANUAL