Introduction to Art

Mrs Tricia Thatcher

Room:  1403

Phone/Voice Mail:  942-2999 #150

E-mail:  thatcher_t@fairfield-city.k12.oh.us

Course Description:  Introduction to Art is a prerequisite to any advanced art course.  The class teaches students the elements and principles of art through a variety of projects.  The course covers 2-dimensional art, such as drawing and painting, and 3-dimensional art, such as ceramics and sculpture.  Work in aesthetics, art history, and art criticism is included but studio experience is stressed.

Course Requirements

Attendance:  Class attendance is mandatory, and will be noted at the beginning of each class period.  It is necessary for each student to be present for every class because studio activities directed by the teacher are very difficult to make up.  If a student is absent due to an illness, arrangements can be made with the teacher to make up a missed studio before or after school.  All students will receive 5 points a day for attendance and active participation in class.  If a student is absent for ANY reason, they may make up those 5 points by making arrangements with the teacher.  It is the students responsibility to make such arrangements, otherwise the points will be deducted fro the students responsibility grade.

Art Fees:  All art supplies and educational materials for this class are purchased with student fee money.  All fees must be paid within the first two weeks of the term in order to retain use of all classroom art materials.  The art fee is $65.00 for Intro to Art.  All Art fees are expected to paid within the first two weeks of the school year.  An alternative payment plan may be arranged by calling or visiting the bookkeeper.  Because art supplies are costly, any donations of “found” art materials would be greatly appreciated.

Classroom Rules

1.)  Act Responsibly, Safety First!  Please do not intentionally misuse materials, tools, or supplies.  Any misuse will result in an automatic detention.  Students are responsible for asking the teacher if they are still unclear about the use of materials or tools after they have been demonstrated or introduced.  Please pay attention to what you are doing in order to avoid unnecessary injuries or damage to materials or tools.

2.)  Respect Yourself and Others!  Please be on time to class.  Students will be considered late if they are not in their seat at the bell.  If you are tardy to class more than twice during a nine week grading period, 5 points will be deducted from your class responsibility grade for each additional tardy.  To ensure that everyone has full benefit of this studio class, an atmosphere of respect will be insisted upon.  School rules and the student code of conduct will be strictly enforced.  Teamwork is also necessary in this class.  Everyone must do their part.

3.)  Clean Up After Yourself!  Because there are a large number of students using this art studio, any supplies and tools used by you and the rest of the class must be cleaned properly and returned to their designated places.  Work areas must also be cleaned properly.  Each table in the classroom will be assigned a specific work area which they will be responsible for cleaning each day before leaving the classroom.  All areas must be checked by the teacher before the end of the period.  Any student neglecting assigned duties will lose points daily from their responsibility grade. (Remember, the responsibility grade counts as 10% of your nine week grade.)

4.) Use Time Wisely!! Each project can be completed within the scheduled amount of time determined by the teacher, if you utilize studio time properly.  Students work at different paces.  Therefore, some students may be required to stay after school or take work home in order to complete a project.  Students are expected to turn in projects within a week after we complete work on the specific project in the classroom unless there are extenuating circumstances.  Any students who finish work early will be required to work in sketchbooks or complete extra credit work.

5.)  Participate! Be prepared to participate in class critiques and discussions.  We will be looking at and talking about our own artwork, as well as artwork created by artists in history.  Students will be asked to do writing assignments occasionally, in order to respond to a work of art.  These writings will be part of the semester grade, as will daily participation in discussions and readings.

6.)  Sign Out Any Borrowed Materials or Supplies!  It may be necessary at some point to borrow tools and/or supplies to complete a project at home.  Most supplies may be signed out with the teacher.  I will have a sign out sheet located near my desk.  Each student must complete the sign out sheet when borrowing materials.  When materials are returned, the student should show the teacher what is being returned and cross his/her name from the sign out sheet.  This policy will ensure that all valuable art supplies are returned in a timely           manner, and in the condition in which they were borrowed.

Grading Policy:  You will earn credit for this class through the evaluation of major art projects (self-evaluation and teacher evaluation), class performance and participation (written and verbal), and class responsibility.

            1.)  MAJOR ART PROJECTS                                            65% of grade

                        - All major projects completed in class

                        - Midterm Exam:  To be determined by teacher

                        - Final Exam:  To be determined by teacher

            2.)  CLASS PERFORMANCE                                             25% of grade

                        - Written assignments:

                        responding to and analyzing works of art                            

                        and self-evaluations for each project

                        - Sketches:  You will be assigned

                        a number of sketches for each major

                        project.  The purpose of a sketch

                        is to experiment with a variety of

                        subjects and ideas before beginning

                        the final project.  This is an important

                        aspect in developing successful art.              

Your sketches will be turned in and discussed with me prior to beginning any final project.  Each set of sketches will be worth up to 50 points.

3.) CLASS RESPONSIBILITY                                                     10% of grade

                        - Each student will begin this class

                        with 100 points.  Points are lost

                        when a student does not meet

                        his/her class responsibility.

                        (Refer to classroom rules and discipline procedure)

As stated earlier, students will be given 5 points a day for attendance and active participation in class.  Any day a student is absent for any reason or does not participate, those 5 points will be lost unless arrangements are made with the teacher to make up the missed class period.  NO EXCEPTIONS!