Visual Communication & Time Art

Course Syllabus for Fall Semester

Taught by Mrs. Driscoll
Email: KDriscoll@byron226.org
http://bhsartanddesign.weebly.com

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE: This course is designed to supply students with concepts and skills necessary to
dissect visuals in their everyday environment as well as give direction on careers in the Visual Communication
and Time Arts fields. Work will be completed using both traditional and technological media including paper,
drawing supplies, Audacity, Blender, Adobe Premiere, and Adobe Creative Suite 5 (Photoshop and Illustrator).
Postmodern concepts will be delivered, discussed, and used as students create new and exciting designs which
appeal to various audiences for multiple functions and purposes.

MATERIALS NEEDED EVERY DAY;

1. Pencil/eraser/sketchbook
2. flash drive/external hard drive (recommended)
GRADING:
The following assignments are assessed based on the National Core Art Standards.
1. Formative assessments are worth 20% and include:
*Practice Work - concept statements, design plans, preliminary sketches, and in-class activities
* Studio Progress Daily studio habits will be rated each day by both the student and teacher.
*Critiques - You will reflect on professional, peer, and self-made designs throughout and at the conclusion
of each project.

2. Summative assessments are worth 80% and include:

*Unit Projects The unit project should display the range of skills obtained throughout each unit.
*Projects Each project grade is based on artistic expression, media technique and craftsmanship as
pertaining to appearance, convenience and function of design.
*Portfolio - 50 points - You will be expected to develop a digital portfolio which includes images/videos of
each project, concept statements, and self reflections.

NATIONAL CORE ART STANDARDS:

CREATING:
Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
PRESENTING:
Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Standard 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Standard 6: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
RESPONDING:
Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work
Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
Standard 9: Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
CONNECTING:
Standard 10: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works and societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen
understanding.
DUE DATES:
Assignments and due dates will be posted on the board. It is your responsibility to look at the board
each day and keep track of assignments and due dates even when you are absent.
If an assignment is not turned in on its due date, you have until the next class to turn it in in order to
earn 60% of the grade (with the exception of preliminary sketches/design plans and projects). After
that will result in a zero.
Preliminary sketches/design plans must be TURNED IN or reviewed before the project can begin!
 Project due dates will be written on the board and given a two week grace period. After the two week
grace period, the project can receive no more than 60%. The project must be turned in (in any state of
completeness) before the end of the semester to receive credit.

TASK MAP
(VERY IMPORTANT!!! KEEP AS REFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER.)

PROJECTS
UNIT 1: VISUAL COMMUNICATION: UNIT 2: TIME ARTS:
Graphic Design & Photography Animation, Video, and Audio Art
Check out these sites for free stock photos: upsplash.com and
morgue.com
9 Composition Rules: Choose a theme in subject matter to Video Montage: Using the theme from the photography
photograph using each of the 9 composition rules, various vantage unit, students will ask questions, make connections, and
points, and camera settings. A video montage will accompany this
analyze their topic. Photos, videos, voice overs and even
project next unit.
Media: Phone, D90, or personal digital camera foley art can be used. 1 minute in length
Body as Landscape: You will create a photographic composite for What Haunts You?: Explore the idea of ghost. Compile a 2
this project by combining two photographs, one of a human figure minute video that illustrates the meaning to you through video
and one of a landscape. Use creativity and imagination to integrate footage. Accompany with appropriate audio. See Unpainted
the human figure and landscape together as one. Start by thinking by Charles Ray
of the form and shape of each as objects that will fit together as a
puzzle. You may have to creatively pose your figure to adapt to the Media: Adobe Premiere
landscape in mind. Props may be used. Demonstration on opacity,
layering, and masks in Adobe Photoshop. Animation/Digital Sculpting: Create an animation with a
storyline. Choose from oil-based clay or drawing (digital or
Poster Design: Imagery as an Agent for Change: hand-drawn) to create your animation. You may use the cintiq,
You will photograph an image that is a humorous, ironic, and/or a sculpting (3d animation) using clay, or digital sculpting
contradictory depiction of a serious topic in society. You will then animation using Blender or Sculptris. Start by drawing a
design a typeface that will add to the image. Make sure to consider storyboard with at least 5 frames. At least 500 frames should be
the location of the poster when finished. Where should it be captured (only 100 can be title/credits), 1000 photos will
placed to get the best reaction from the audience? ensure an A. Sites to check out pixologic.com and sculptris.
Photography: Use appropriate camera settings, editing, Other notes: Must have title/credits, can have
and composition rules to ensure the most successful thinking/speaking bubbles, camera must be stable, no
image possible. background showing, if using clay: make sure to cover smudges
Typography Personality & Identity Design: Redesign the or clean surface between slides, use FLASH OR PREMIERE,
alphabet that will be used for the typeface that will be audio must include either all foley or a mixture of foley and a
used on your poster. Sites to check out myscriptfont.com tune (try to stay away from popular songs), if using a song make
and fontstruct.com sure it is applicable (whether ironic, contradictory, or relevant
Media: Drawing media, Cintiq, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, to topic)
D90
Media: Blender, Sculptris, oil-based clay, green screen, cintiq,
camera, Adobe Premiere, Flash
Dear Parents/Guardians,

This syllabus is includes important information that will help you understand what is expected of your
child in my class. Please read it over to make sure that you and your student understand my
requirements and expectations.

The visual arts are the way we communicate on an everyday basis and help us to make decisions about
our lives. This course is designed to introduce students to realistic fields in creative industries that we
are exposed to daily such as graphic design and film production. Right now Visual Communication and
Time Arts are the two most competitive visual art fields. They include careers such as animator,
illustrator, graphic designer, performance artist, art director, web designer, and so much more! If your
child is interested in a career in art and design please contact me and I would be happy to help answer
any questions that you may have. I cant wait to see what the kids come up with as our future
designers!

Sketchbooks are required and are available for purchase from the art department. Most students
should already have them from previous art courses that they can use. If not, please send a
sketchbook or $4.00 with your child by Tuesday August 22 nd as they will be using it immediately. Also, I
am excited to announce that we have acquired new laptop computers specifically for design use.
Students will be assigned a design laptop to keep in the classroom with the possibility to check them
out to complete work at home. In addition, students will be assigned use of our Nikon D90 camera as
well as Wacom Cintiq 12wx drawing tablet. This equipment is expensive and offers the class many
opportunities to acquire design skills that will put them a step ahead if they choose to pursue a design
career. Please talk to your child about the care of this equipment as it is their responsibility to replace
them if they are misplaced or damaged.

If your child is interested in pursuing a career in art or design or just wants to get more involved in
creative activities, I recommend joining the Art Club. Art Club is a fun group of kids that work on
collaborative art-making projects, provide community service, goes on fun field trips and more. Art
Club is an extracurricular activity that meets once or twice per month and gets students involved in
incorporating art into the community.

If you have any questions about the art program, Art Club, or becoming a volunteer in the art room,
please dont hesitate to email or call me.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kathy Driscoll

Visual Art & Design Teacher
Art Club Advisor

Please sign and return the bottom portion of this form by Tuesday, August 22 nd along with $4.00 for a
sketchbook. _____________________________________________________________________________________
I have read this syllabus in full and understand the responsibilities and requirements of the
student.
Students name (please print): _______________________________________________ Students grade level:
________

Parent/Guardians name (please print): _______________________________________

Parent/Guardians signature: _______________________________________________

Please check all that you would like to be involved in below with your email, phone number, and
preferred contact (email, phone, text). I understand schedules change so dont feel obligated. :) This
just lets me know who to contact when such occasions arise that we need volunteers. Thank you so
much!

I would like to get involved in the following;

___ helping out in the art room (preparing

artwork for display)

___ setting up/taking down the art show

___ chaperoning field trips