IL338 Special Topics: Digital Painting Syllabus

Instructor: Shane McDermott              smcdermott@mca.edu       

Office: Gibson Hall # 156                       Hours: M/W  4-5:30 pm

IL338 Special Topics: Digital Painting                                                                         Syllabus     S17 M/W   1-3:30 pm

Course Objectives

This course is an introduction to digital painting techniques using Wacom tablets and Adobe Photoshop. There is a strong emphasis on visual development, figurative imagery, composition, color theory, and craft. Course work includes drawing and painting digitally from still life objects and live models, creating speed paintings, portraiture, and concept art such as character and background design.

Course Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate appropriate processes and techniques of digital painting
  
  
• Students will demonstrate competency in technology that meets industry standards.
  
  

Grading/Assignments (75%) Projects are graded on composition, draftsmanship, color/value, and technique.

• Incomplete work is graded based on the amount completed by the due date. The work is eligible for a higher grade upon completion.
  
  
• Late work is work that is not presented at all on the due date and receives an automatic zero. The work is eligible for a higher letter grade up to a B and no higher if completed by the following week. The potential higher grade is lowered a half-letter each week that it is late. (B- after two weeks, C+ after three weeks, C after four weeks, and C- after five weeks)

Grading/Participation in Critiques (25%)

• Every student is expected to participate in critique and will receive a participation grade for the semester.
  
  

Attendance/Tardiness

• Arriving late to class or leaving early can be marked as a tardy.
• Being tardy three times equals one absence.
• Being tardy for critique irreversibly lowers the project one full letter grade.
• When possible and as soon as possible, notify your instructor of an impending tardy or absence.   
  
  

Attendance/Absences

• There is no penalty for 2 absences in this class.
• The final grade is lowered half a letter grade upon each additional absence up to a fifth absence.
• The sixth absence results in an automatic failing grade for the semester.

Classroom Etiquette

Professionalism: Students are expected to behave professionally in class. Critiques will be focused on the work and not on the individual student. Comments or behavior of racist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic or a generally hostile nature will not be tolerated and requests for preferred pronouns will be respected.

Cell phones: Turn cell phone ringers off during class. DO NOT answer your phone in class. It’s rude. You may quietly exit class and then answer or return the call if it is related to a serious situation.

Music: Headphones are permitted, but ONLY during in-class work when I am not instructing and ONLY if low enough that you can still hear me if I address you. Do not play music through the speakers.

Media: Videos are not allowed.

Contact: The best way to contact me is at smcdermott@mca.edu. Please give your email a clear, descriptive subject line. In turn, be sure to check your MCA email account regularly because I will contact you if there are any last minute changes to an assignment or in the event of a class cancellation.

Class Folder: Each of you will have a folder with your name on it inside our IL338 class folder on the dali server. This is where you will place your work by the specified due dates. The individual assignment sheets will contain instructions for proper naming conventions. Improperly named files will be considered incomplete.

Class Blog: There is a class blog at mcadigitalpainting.blogspot.com. There you will find digital copies of this syllabus, the class schedule, and class assignments.

Class materials

1.)    USB drive with sufficient storage or external hard drive.

2.)    Access to a camera or digital camera

Health and Safety

All students must comply with posted health and safety regulations as well as those listed in the student handbook. Of particular relevance to this class will be Lab Rules.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with a special learning need are encouraged to contact Student Affairs or Achievement Center Support Staff as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations (such as extended time for exams, readers, scribes, and interpreters) are provided on an individual basis as determined by documented need. It is the student’s responsibility to provide authorized documentation to Student Affairs or Achievement Center Support Staff as early in the semester as possible and Student Affairs will then provide documentation to the instructor.

Course Content and Title IX Reporting

Students should be aware that information disclosed to faculty (whether through assignments or as a personal disclosure) that indicate experiencing sexual harassment, abuse, or violence while a student at Memphis College of Art, requires that your instructor as a “mandatory reporter” disclose this information to Student Affairs staff to ensure students’ safety and welfare are addressed. Student Affairs staff will contact you, and/or those involved, to make you aware of accommodations, remedies, and resources available at Memphis College of Art.