Art 3: Studio Drawing

Syllabus

WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL VISUAL ARTS

ART Level 3-4: Drawing and Painting

INSTRUCTOR: Billy George (Room 279- bgeorge@eanesisd.net) 

Art Level 3-4: Art III Drawing and Painting is designed to develop and improve the students’ skills in observational drawing, original and imaginative compositions, design, color theory, and focuses specifically advanced drawing and painting skills and techniques that challenge the imagination, fosters critical thinking, encourages collaboration, builds reflective skills and develops disciplined effort.

Art Level 3-4: Art III Drawing and Painting follows the state Art TEKS and offers not only creative expression through hands-on projects but the study and analysis of art history and cultural relevance. The process of making informed judgments and reasoned evaluations in reference to the artwork of self and others is also a crucial component.

I. Year-Long Course Content:  Creating, Collaborating, Communicating!

Art Level 3-4: Art III Drawing and Painting focuses on:

• developing and expanding communication of creative ideas through original artwork using a variety of media with appropriate skills.

• the identification and application of the elements of art (line, shape, value, form, space, color and texture) and the principles of design (unity, contrast/variety, balance, repetition/pattern, emphasis, movement/rhythm, and proportion) when creating and analyzing a piece of art.

• the analysis of art history/cultures and professional artists in relation to the units of study 

• explore suitability of art media and process to express specific ideas such as content, meaning, message, appropriation, and metaphor relating to visual themes.

• interoperation and evaluation and justification of reasoned evaluations about personal artwork and the artwork of others

II. Units of Study

This is a survey course, wherein we try to give the student an array of media, stylistic, and conceptual experiences with a focus on two dimensional as opposed to three-dimensional artwork. Work in Art III will be more conceptual in nature and offer challenges in media and approach. 

III. Student Requirements & Assessment:

Secondary Grades: (40% of 9 weeks average)

• Preparatory Exercises, Sketchbook checks, Quizzes – 20%

• Weekly Class Production (hands-on work, individual and class critiques, PowerPoint/iPad discussion or research, general cooperation and focus in class) – 20%

Major Grades: (60% of 9 weeks average)

• Major Projects (mid-progress and completed product)

• Exams (Mid-Term and Final – District required, separate grading category)

IV. Grading

Students will be given grading guidelines/rubric for each major project at the start of the unit so they know what the requirements are for making an “A” or below.  In general, meeting all requirements for an assignment and displaying an above average amount of effort will earn an “A”. Meeting at least 85% of the requirements for the assignment and displaying an average amount of effort will earn a “B”. A grade of a “C” or below is earned by meeting at least 75% of the requirements for the assignment and displaying a below average amount of effort. An “F” may be assigned to work not completed within time frames set by the instructor.

V. Absences & Late Work & Tutorials

The instructor will set deadlines for completed work. Late work will receive a placeholder grade of a 50 and be marked as missing or incomplete until the work is complete. Once the piece has been turned in, it will be graded for full (100%) credit. 

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out, from your teacher, what you have missed and how you will address making up the work in a timely manner. All major projects are long-term (2 to 6 weeks in length). If a student misses, for example, 2 or 3 days of a 6-week major project, it is expected that the work missed be addressed immediately after the absences occur. Days and production time missed will not be tacked on at the end of the project.

If a student needs help, I am here before school most days ( I will let students know if I will not be here, but I am almost always here by 7:30) and after school times can be set up on an “as needed” basis. 

VI. Expectations for Student Behavior in the Classroom

-Be Prompt: Excessive tardies will result in referrals; per school policy, a referral should be entered for every tardy after the 3rd tardy.  

-Be Prepared: Always have the supplies you need for class and remember to bring back any work you took home to finish. Make up production time missed when absent by taking work home or by coming in to the studio outside of class hours. Your sketchbook, pencil and eraser will be needed everyday.

-Be Neat: Put your work and supplies away at the end of each class period and clean up your area.

-Be Respectful: Listen and follow instructions carefully, raise your hand for help or questions, use appropriate language, don’t interrupt, have a positive/open-minded attitude, don’t be confrontational, use materials correctly and responsibly, etc.  

-Be Productive and Manage Time: Stay on-task during class, complete the daily tasks given to the best of your ability, keep talking to a minimum, and do not take out homework/assignments from other classes to work on during Art 1.

• Cell Phones: You are not permitted to use cell phones in the art room. Please turn off or silence them before class begins and put them away. 

• iPads: You are allowed to use your iPad in relation to the art curriculum and with permission from your teacher. However, you are not allowed to use your iPad during direct instruction, lecture, or during time allotted to work on a project. 

• Food and Drinks: DO NOT bring food and drinks into the art room to eat/drink during class. Water is permitted as long as it is in a container with a lid.

VII. Art Competitions/Exhibitions

Student artwork will be on display in the school throughout the year in the gallery on campus. The Art Department also participates in a variety of local, state and national competitions/exhibitions. Participation will be optional, but students are strongly encouraged to compete, as it is very rewarding and educational. 

VIII. Supplies

Because of the extraordinary circumstances for the 2020-2021 school year, we are handling supplies in a different way.  Our goal is to provide safe, high quality instruction for all students in both virtual and in person instructional settings.  To create a safe educational experience in an art setting, we are equipping each student with a basic supply kit that will be used exclusively by that student for the entire school year whether in person or virtual.  Students are not allowed to share supplies according to TEA guidelines.   

Students will be given instruction on proper use and care of equipment at the beginning of the year, and will be responsible for maintaining supplies.  It will be the student’s and/or parent/guardians’ responsibility to replace lost or damaged supplies. 

IX. Social and Emotional and Academic Resources

Should your student find themselves in need of extra support, there are a wealth of resources available to them. Of course, students and parents can feel free to reach out to me for help, whether it’s talking about a problem, trying to come up with a plan to get caught up, or trying to figure it out what resources to utilize. I am available every day outside of class, during 5th period or 8th period, or before or after school. There are also 2 social/emotional counselors available to support our students, Katie Bryant (kbryant@eanesisd.net), and Kristi Waidhofer (kwaidhofer@eanesisd.net). More information about their services can be found on http://healthychaps.weebly.com. Students are also available to talk with their individual counselors, who are assigned based on the students’ last names. A complete list of counselors with their alphabetical allotment and contact info can be found on http://westlakecounseling.weebly.com. All counselors’ office hours are concurrent with the hours of the school day. 

Westlake High School – ART Level III: Drawing and Painting

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Please complete the following, sign and return this form via your student. 

Thank you!

Billy George

“We have read the Art Level 3: Art III Drawing and Painting guidelines and have discussed them with our student. We will support and encourage our student by providing the basic supply cost, monitoring homework, ensuring prompt and regular attendance and endorsing the Expectations for Student Behavior in the Classroom.”

Please Print Student’s Name: _________________________________________________

Please Print Name of Parent or Guardian: _______________________________________

Daytime Phone # ______________________ Evening Phone # ____________________

E-mail (if you prefer this form of communication) ________________________________

Signature of Parent or Guardian: _________________________________ Date: _______

Signature of Student: __________________________________________ Date: _______

Class Calendar

Required Class Materials

Google Classroom

Westlake High School utilizes the Google Classroom platform to share classroom resources, many assignments, and assessment preparation materials to students. WHS students will receive a classroom code to access these materials, submit assignments, and track any missing work.