2D Design Foundations 2380 Instructor: Kace Davis

Wednesdays 3:30-6:15 p.m. kacedavis@hotmail.com

Room 1.116

Objective:
The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the elements and concepts of
two-dimensional design. Familiarity with the terminology, concepts and basic materials
utilized in the studio by visual artists will be explored.

The major topics to be covered are:

The Elements of Design: Line, Shape, Value, Texture, Perspective and Color.
The Principles of Design: Balance, Emphasis, Variation, Proportion, and Rhythm

Course Outline

8/24 Introduction 1. Individual goals and objectives

2. Grading criteria
3. Materials

• Slide lecture and discussions: Seeing a Visual Language; an Artists View.

• Discussion of assignment 1. Good & Bad Design.
Find examples of what you think is a good design, and one that is a bad design
from a magazine. You will cut and paste both examples into your sketch book.
• Read handout on line and visual elements.
• Then cut and paste examples of line types in sketch book as discussed in handout
(thick, thin, flowing, electric, soft…..)

8/31 Review homework assignments 1-2. Slide lecture; Nine Visual Elements of Art.
Handout for Museum Assignment; Visual Analysis. Due date: 11/23. To use as
reference for paper on a work of art of your choice at the Dallas Museum of Art. (If late
a letter grade off). Handout for assignment 3. Positive/Negative,
Figure/Ground.Demostration in class. Proceed with 1-4 on handout.

9/7 Review homework assignment 3. Proceed with class work, assign. 4 designated
on the handout. Materials and paint kits will be given out in class.

9/14 Work in progress—Positive/Negative Part 2: 1-5 class work on handout.

Homework for assign. 5; find 3 or 4 black and white photos of faces in magazine 10”x 8”
inches. The pic tures should have a strong value range from light to mid-grays to black.
Bring to class; one will be used as reference on the next two assignments.

9/21 Slide lecture: Chuck Close and photo-realists or film. Review photo images of
faces. Begin assignment like the Chuck Close grided head portrait using ink and line
each corresponding square to create the same value and tonality as in the photo square.
Pen and ink on an 18’ x 24’ inch matte board. Demonstration shown in class.
9/26 Work in progress

10/5 Work in progress. Last class to work on ink drawing, assignment 5. Homework
assignment 6; cropped egg value drawing with handout.

10/12 Slide lecture: Color in Art. Assignment 7; Color Value Translation. Using
previous black and white grided image translate into a monochromatic color scheme
using color aid packs and hole punch.

10/19 Work in progress

10/26 Work in progress. Last class on assignment 7 and mount and seal on large sheet
of bristle paper. Introduce next assignment 8: Pattern Progression Enlargement Painting.
Slides and demo in class. Homework: Find 5 images to possible work from.

11/2 Review images for final assignment 8. Learn how to use opaque projectors to
transpose image to 3 canvases. Begin assignment 8 using acrylic paint and an analogous
color scheme or a variation that is close to make all three canvases function with unity
and variety.

11/9 Work in progress

11/16 Work in progress

11/23 Last class to work on assignment 8. Turn in Visual Analysis Paper.

11/30 Last class Film Night or Final Exam??? (If visual terms are not apparent in
class discussions)

THE COURSE OUTLINE ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE

DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.

Goals

1. Develop visual perceptio n along with verbal analysis of the visual elements such
as line, shape, color…and their use in 2-D design.
2. Allow the student to experience art as a visual language and its ability to
communicate without words. Give the student the understanding that “visual
language”: is the look and feel of an item of design, created by elements such as
color, shape, space, proportion, texture…it communicates on a level independent
of the descriptive elements, literal or symbolic. It can express emotional
messages to its audience and they feel something.
3. To explore various mediums and techniques developing skills in their use and
creative problem solving.
 4. Develop a broader understanding of art and design with its historical importance
and contemporary concerns.

Grading Criteria

1. Attendance. More then two absences affect your grade. Repeated tardiness also
lowers grade.
2. Completion of 8 projects and Visual Analysis Paper. Each project receives a
grade.
3. Critique sessions and group evaluations are like major tests. Attendance and
participation are graded.
4. Slide lectures and demos in class that explain assignments are not repeated.
Attendance important to grasp design objectives.

90% OF YOUR GRADE

5. Class readings from text, and group discussions

6. Creative problem solving; concept and application
7. Quality and consistency
8. Personal growth in the semester. You received a grade averaged in with the
assignments
9. Attitude, enthusiasm, inquisitive mind
10. Additional work besides required assignments count as extra credit, as well as
improve your skill and painting ability. Quality along with quantity is both
factors in evaluating final grade. Design projects require time in execution Extra
credit is not done the night before.
11. Library use: to research artists and movements to gain a greater visual and
conceptual understanding. I am very impressed when I see you researching artists
in this fashion. It affects your grade.
12. Portfolio; Turn in all assignments, Sketchbook and completed work last class
day.

10% ADDITIONAL GRADE

AN A STUDENT: works in an exemplary manner throughout the semester being

focused in creative problem solving and its application in a visual way in regards to each
assignment or personal deve lopment of their own work. Also, research of artists that are
applicable to their work and going beyond the required assignments, often in the form of
an extra painting, paper, trip to a museum or research in books and art magazines. (In the
library they have Art in America, Artforum and Art News).

COURSE FEE; each student pays $75.00. $15 goes to pay for a variety of classroom
upkeeps such as easel and table repair, paper towels, water usage at sinks and turpentine
recycling. The other $60.00 will be used in purchasing MOST of your art supplies but
you may have to buy some things as well.
CELL PHONE POLICY; Voice stream somewhere else. Or let phone record the
message. In other words cut off phone in class!!!!!!!!!!!

ROOM POLICY; Clean up after yourself. I am not your mother or your personal
janitor. Please have courtesy for your fellow students that you share the room with.
Other classes use theses facilities besides you. Painting can be messy. Just clean up after
yourself or it can also affect your grade if you continuously leave your mess behind!!!

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY; any cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and falsifying record

can result in failing the course. In other words it is ok to receive small amounts of help
but paint your own painting.

INCOMPLETES ; Student must have completed 70% of coursework and must have a
reasonable expectation of completing the course in the specific time period.

DISABLED STUDENTS ; policy is outlined in detail on the website and the university
catalog. Call Office of Disability Services ext. 6104