Syllabus

AQUINAS COLLEGE 
Art Department
 
Mission Statement of the Art Department
 
We train artists, art historians and visual arts administrators, and provide service courses for non-art majors.  Through our courses, we aspire to build an appreciation for the rich interchange of images and ideas that link art and other academic disciplines.  Our graduates in art have been encouraged to consider their future professional role in the contest of both the contemporary world and the historical world.  Besides a reverence for art history, they have been taught appropriate skills of mind, hand, and eye.  They have been helped to find the next steps in their life journey, and have been challenged to be the best they can be in their chosen specialty.  Non-majors who have taken our courses become better able to evaluate the visual aspects of their environment, understand the value of creative problem solving, and appreciate art in history.  And they often find their study of art to be profoundly nourishing to the spirit.
 
Aquinas College Integrity Statement
Aquinas College is rooted in the Dominican traditions of prayer, study, community and service, combined with a deep respect for truth, honesty and integrity. In this spirit, we strive to create an environment in which integrity is prized and practiced. We expect all community members to uphold these values through honesty, fairness, and respect for others.
 
COURSE SYLLABUS AND CALENDAR
AT 242-249 Digitally Based Art
 
I.               Identifying Information            
Location:          Computer Lab Room #319/ Printmaking Studio
Times: Mon-Thursday 9-12am      
Instructor: Jerry Berta              
Home Number:       616 866 1950        
Cell Number:        616 443 0452        
Fax Number:              
E-mail Address: jerryberta@gmail.com
Office Hours:      Before and after class and by appointment Prerequisites:   AT140 2-D Design         
 



II.          Course Description

 Digitally Based Art class is designed to expose art students to various methods of using current image editing technology in the creation of art. Students will not only learn to use image editing software and equipment and how to incorporate new technology into their art practice, but will also learn about the place that technologically based art has in modern art history and in the current discourse.

Course goals:
1.Students will learn to use the computer as a tool to your make art.
2.Students will learn various ways to input ideas and creations into a computer, with a variety of Graphic Arts software. (See below)
3.Study how digital based art relates to modern artists from Seurat to Shepard Fairey.
4.Students will explore ways to output their computer creations on everything from printers to Rapid Prototype Machines.
5.These outputted objects would then be made into art.

Since this is a Digitally Based Art course. Our main way of communicating inside and outside of class will be through the class blog ” Computer is Just a tool to Make ART! “
http://computerisjustatooltomakeart.blogspot.com
Assignment will be posted here, along with links to Digitally Based Artists and tutorials for software. This is a two-way blog; all students will have access to post information for the class to share from assignments to research about digital artists and graphics software.

Requirements:
1.Sketchbook for ideas and keeping notes.
2.Flash Drive 8 GB for storing digital files.
3.Traditional Art Materials based on the art you want to create.
4.Final presentation materials such as frames and matting.
5.Use of digital camera
6.Some printing is covered by lab fees, additional prints may come with added cost.

Software programs:
1.Abode Design Suite. Available for use in AQ computer labs and art class.
a)Photoshop
b)AI Abode Illustrator
c)Abode Flash
d)Dreamweaver
2.Google Sketch Up 3D Modeling Program
3.Open Source Graphic Software
a)Gimp
b)Ink
Input techniques:
1.Digital Camera, Keyboard, Mouse, Graphic Tablet, Scanning

Output techniques:
1.You as an artist as an output tool. A new way to look at art, which you create with your traditional artist techniques & tools.
2.Ink Jet Printers, Laser Printers, Photo printing.
3.How to get from Ink Jet Prints to Canvas.
4.Rapid Prototype Machine. 3D Printer (Turn a Google Sketchup creation into reality.)
5.Laser cutters.
6.Water Jet Cutters.
7.CNC Routers
8.CNC Plasma Cutters
9.Video screens, from video MP3 Players to high res DVD.

We will study how traditional Artist’s techniques relate to Digitally Based Art.
From George Seurat, Close Close, Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, to Shepard Fairey,

There is no assigned textbook for this course.

There will be assigned reading and tutorials form the web and library.
See Weekly posting on Class Blog.

Learning Exercises Description:
This is a hands on art class, you will learn by doing. Every week there will be a several exercises you will need to perform in order to show your proficiency in image editing. As the class progresses these exercises will be assigned on the direction you are going with your art. Exercises are graded on your ability to show how well you have learned these techniques. These exercises will represent 25 % of your grade.
Digital art presentation.
Research and create a presentation about a Digital Based Artist that has influenced you in this course. A beginning list of artists will be provided.
This presentation will account for 10% of your grade.
Assignments Description:
There will be four art assignments, three minor assignments and one final major assignment. Assignments are art! These will graded on creativity, composition, use of technique and how well it stands up as a piece of art.
These Assignments will account for 50% of your grade.
Class Participation:
Art is a very basic form of communication from the very first cave paintings to the latest digital images. As artists you need to be able to communicate ideas. Participation in class discussions and input to the class blog is one of the requirements of this class. Class participation will account for 15% of your grade.

III.              Schedule of Classes

Week 1.

1.Overview of course
2.Use of ”Computer is Just a Tool to Make ART!“
3.Use of “Youtube” and Google as a Help tool
4.Vector vs. Bitmap
5.Exercise: Using Objects as Pixels
6.Photoshop and Illustrator Basics. Setting up workspace and Toolbars.
7.Undo button and use of history
8.Sketchup Basics.
9.Preview of Digital Artists
10.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.

Week 2.
1.Create a Digital Signature / Icon/ Stamp to mark your creation as a work of art.
2.Digital Photography
3.Photoshop techniques: Use of masks, layers, and filters.
4.Illustrators techniques: Use of Pen Tool, Text, Fills, Live Trace
5.Collage
6.Overview of Open source Graphic Art software.
7.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 3.
1.Photoshop techniques: Advanced Use of masks, layers, and filters.
2.Illustrators techniques: Use of Pen Tool, Text, Fills, Live Trace
3.Vector exercises. From hand drawn to Vector
4.Output: Transfers form Ink Jet Prints to paper and beyond.
5.Exercise: Transfer image from printed to traditional art.
6.Hand Gesture Drawing over Digital Printout.
7.Digitally Combine Hand Gesture Drawing with Digital Printout.
8.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 4
1.Photoshop Advanced techniques: Creating Patterns, Brushes
2.Illustrators Advanced techniques: Creating Patterns,
3.Sketchup 3 D Advanced techniques
4.Creating Patterns, Brushes
5.Using patterns to create fabric design
6.Exercise: Photoshop Repairing broken Neon
7.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.

Week 5.
1.Sketchup 3 D Advanced techniques
2.Exercise: Create a 3D object/ sculpture in Sketchup
3.Photoshop Advanced techniques: 3D imaging, warping,
4.Review of which Digital Based Artists will be presented by students.
5.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 6.
1.Conceptual Digital Art
2.Google Earth Art
3.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 7.
1.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
2.Exploring Output:
a)Laser Cuts, paper, wood
b)Plotter cut Sandblast material as a woodblock plate.
c)Plotter Cut Vinyl as a stencil for painting.
d)Ink jet Decals to transfer to a 3D object.
e)Water-jet cutters for sculptural use.
f) Large scale images, Billboards, Vinyl wraps.
Week 8.
1.Midterm review and Critic of Art and technique.
2.Advance Digital Techniques
3.Work on Digital creations.
4.Experiment with output techniques.
5.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 9.
1.Digital Presentation of Digital Based Artists
2.Visit to Meijer Sculptural Park to take digital images.
3. Work on Digital creations
4.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 10.
1.Over view of Programming Art and Fractals
2.Combining 2D artwork into Motion.
3.Overview of Flash Animation
4.Use of Dreamweaver to animate images.
5.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 11.
1.Work on Digital creations.
2.Studio time to create art.
3.Exercise: Do tutorial posted on class Blog.
Week 12.

1.Work on Digital creations.
2.Studio time to create art.
3.Review and Critic of Art and technique.
Week 13.
1.Explore output capabilities in local industry.
2.Finalize Sketchup designs to ready for output.
3.Work on Digital creations.
4.Studio time to create art.
Week 14.
1.Create a 2D or 3D prototype art presentation, for a large-scale commission.
2.Work on Digital creations.
3.Studio time to create art.
Week 15.
1.Present 2D or 3D prototype art presentation to class.
Explain techniques used.
2.Finalize work on Digital Creations and Studio Artwork.
3.Create a simple animation from 2 D Digital images.

Week 16.
1.Finalize work on Digital Creations and Studio Artwork.
2.Present animation in a creative way.
3.Final Review and critic of finished artwork.

 
REQUIREMENTS
1.Consistent and ON-TIME attendance. Art Department policy stipulates a grading penalty for more than three absences and a grade of no-credit for more than six absences, with no exceptions.
2.On time completion of the assigned projects.
3.Three or more hours per week outside of class spent on class projects.
4.Tutorials and Readings as assigned.
5.Keeping creations, thoughts and questions, as well as notes from class demos.
6.Cleaning studio work area after each session
 
VI.       Assessment Tools Used and Criteria for Evaluation and Grading 
Final grading ratios: 50% based on Artwork, 25 % based on weekly exercises 15% based on your instructor's subjective evaluation of your initiative, improvement, participation in discussion, and general engagement in the work and thought of the course, 10% based on the Digital Artists Presentation.   NO GRADES OF INCOMPLETE WILL BE GIVEN.


VII.     Support Services and other Requirements 
Students with Disabilities
If you believe you qualify for course adaptations or special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is your responsibility to contact the Disability Coordinator (616) 632-2166 and provide the appropriate documentation. If you have already documented a disability or other condition that would qualify you for special accommodations, or if you have emergency medical information or special needs, this should be reported in confidence to the Disability Coordinator to discuss your specific needs.   Together, you can then plan how best to coordinate your accommodations.
Academic Assistance
The Academic Achievement Center (616) 632-2166 offers free tutoring to all students. In addition, participants in the Student Support Services program can receive academic assistance and other services.
 
Academic Dishonesty
Written or other work that a student submits must be the product of her/his own efforts.  Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty, including dishonesty involving computer technology, are prohibited.  Further information on Academic Dishonesty can be found in the current College catalog.