COURSE SYLLABUS

Parsons the New School for Design

Summer Intensive Studies

Illustration

CRN-1484 PNNY 0150- C

June 30- July 25, 2014

Monday- Friday, 9:00am- 3:50pm

2 West 13^th, rm 801

Kenneth Millington

millingk@newschool.edu

Course Description:

Illustration is the art of using images to communicate ideas. Illustrators express opinions through political cartoons and editorial illustrations. They depict fantastic worlds in comics, graphic novels, and children’s books. They provide travel information in maps and signage and present data in graphics. Illustration is also the backbone of animation, skateboard art, toys, and many Web designs and products. Students formulate ideas, build their rendering skills, and use problem solving strategies to develop visuals that communicate their ideas. The course introduces students to compelling work by contemporary illustrators and helps them develop basic skills in preparation for further study of illustration or careers in the field.

Learning Objectives:

·       A conceptual and applied understanding of visual elements such as image, composition and color.

·       Ease with “brainstorming” with materials; making effective visual decisions by first engaging in experimentation with multiple approaches.

·       Demonstrate an understanding of the iterative and incremental making process, including developing sketches and responding to feedback.

·       Familiarity with strategically selecting and employing the painting/ drawing/collage/ photography/ video techniques that are best suited for each work.

·       The ability to reflect on a thematic concept in a meaningful way and translate those insights into a visual illustration.

·       Effective use of collected research (information and images available on the internet, in magazines, newspapers, or books) to inform the visual development of a drawing, painting and animation.

·       The ability to archive one’s own process (sketches, proposals, written thoughts) as well as final products in the form of the Learning Portfolio.

·       Demonstrate an understanding of editing final work for an Admissions Portfolio.

·       Ability to evaluate works of art and the creative process through dialogue
including group discussions, critiques, and written reflections.

·       A consistent and professional work ethic and studio practice.

Learning Activities:

1. Written Assignments  – Students will respond to selected readings, films, and exhibitions.

2. Formal Challenges –Students will explore the relationship of format and content in problem-solving exercises. 

3. Homework  – Students will have daily homework to expand on lesson concepts and collect reference sources.

4. Group Critiques- Students will engage in constructive critiques, observing and talking about each other’s work, hearing and using constructive criticism.

5. Final Project and Presentation  – Students will take part in a final exhibition showcasing their work. They will learn presentation skills, finishing skills and to talk about their work.

Required Materials:

Charcoal (SMAL PACKS!)- Vine (Soft) and Compressed (Brand- Alphacolor Char Kole) and a charcoal pencil

Assorted pencil, pens, markers (what you have will be fine as it is for planning purposes)

Kneaded Eraser, White Eraser (Staedlar)

18 X 24in Newsprint Pad

4- 18 X 24 in. sheets of drawing paper

Pad of Tracing Paper 11 X 14 in.

1- sheet 300 lbs Watercolor paper (Cold Press) Suggested brands- Saunders Waterford,                   Arches

Watercolor Paint 5ml Tubes: Brands- Winsor Newton, Cotman, etc.

Ultramarine Blue

Cerulean Blue

Alizarin Crimson

Cadmium Red Light

Lemon Yellow

Raw Umber

Viridian Green

Mineral violet

(Optional colors- Sepia, Magenta, Payne’s Grey)

Watercolor Brushes (Short Handles) #2 (detail brush) #6, #10 Round, #12 wash brush

Old Containers for water (Big and small yogurt containers etc.)

Any old brushes that can be used for acrylic painting (teacher will supply some as well)

Sketchbook (whatever you currently have)

Digital Camera

Flashdrive

$20 for group materials and printing costs

Metrocard with $20.00 for fieldtrips

Combination Lock for your locker

Old shirt for painting

Art Supply Stores near School:

Utrecht: 21 East 13th Street 
(between University Place and 5^th Ave)

New York Central: 62 Third Ave. (between 11th and 12th Streets)

Schedule Grid:

Date	Project	Activity & Homework
Wk 1
6/30	Introduction	PM- Review of syllabus. Lecture on Illustration Homework: Bring in examples of Illustration you admire (Who and what) as well as one example of your own work.
7/1	Composition and Idea Generation	AM- Lecture on Composition- Compositional Studies, Placement and Meaning, Value Mapping, good vs. bad Composition. PM- Conceptualization skills-“4 Words”- Choosing 4 random words from the dictionary, students will seek to merge these elements into a thought provoking image. Three sketches by class end. Homework: Choose one sketch for “4 Words”, find reference images and remake into a final piece (Black and White).
7/2	Visualization	AM- Critique “4 Words”. Lecture on Editorial Illustration. Demo Blog Creation. PM- Lecture on Visual Metaphor. Exercises creating visual metaphors. Homework: Search and bring in two articles for which to make an Editorial illustration and 4 concept sketches (2 each).
7/3	Editorial Illustration	AM- Critique Concept Sketches. Watercolor demo, paper stretching. Still life painting. PM-Still life painting and gathering of reference material for Editorial Illustration Project. Homework: Complete a finished Editorial Illustration.
7/4	NO CLASS	NO CLASS
Wk2
7/7	Intro to Mural Project	AM- Critique Final Editorial Illustrations. Lecture on Public Illustration- Murals and Street Art, Location and Meaning, Composition and Scale. Intro to theme and required images. PM- Fieldtrip to see local murals. Homework:  Make 3 sketches for this theme incorporating the required images. Gather reference images.
7/8	Mural	AM- Discussion of sketches, references, images and color. Class finalizes mural design and composition for mural. Photoshop demo for importing images, creating a final design and laying out digital grid. PM- Prepare painting surface, grid. Limited color palette discussion. Paint mixing in cups. Students receive a section of design to draw and paint. Homework: Find a mural work you admire or dislike- write  3 paragraphs (1- Artist, Where, Theme, 2- describe visually, 3- opinion with specific reasons.) Post to Blog
7/9	Mural	AM- Continue painting class mural. PM- Brief Lecture on Animation- Kentridge, Blu Continue painting class mural. Homework: Brainstorm ideas for an Animation Short. Post to blog.
7/10	Mural	AM- Review Animation Ideas and give feedback. Complete Class Mural PM- Continue Completion of Class Mural. Homework: Review Class blog post making an Animation. Practice drawing “Characters” for animation in the needed poses.
7/11	Animation- Storyboard	AM-Fieldtrip to American Museum of Natural History- sketch PM- Lecture on Story Boarding. Make a storyboard for animation. Critique of storyboards, content and sequence. Demo drawing cells on tracing paper. Homework:  Using a pad of tracing paper that is cut in half horizontally, draw individual cells for animation (Roughly 120 drawings needed.) Photograph each…. IN ORDER!
Wk3
7/14	Animation- Premiere Pro	AM-Computer lab. Intro to Premiere Pro and video editing. PM- Critique Animation Project  Homework: Brainstorm ideas for a made up Holiday/ card
7/15	“Un- greeting Card”	AM-Lecture on Illustration for greeting cards, irregular materials, text.  Gathering of references, Sketches, color studies. PM- Continued Homework: Complete Greeting Card Visuals.
7/16	Figure Drawing	AM- Anatomy, Proportion, Observation. Gesture Drawing and Short pose (Charcoal) PM- Figure Drawing Long Pose (Charcoal) Homework: Using Photoshop assemble image and text for greeting card. Find a Graphic Novel that you admire and bring in to class. Post to blog a written analysis of this novel.
7/17	Figure Drawing	AM- Figure Painting, Color (Watercolor or Acrylic) PM- Fieldtrip Homework: Read Scot McCloud “Understanding Comics”  chapters 3 (Blood in the Gutter) & 4 (Time Frames). Post to blog response and list elements you learned and will use in graphic novel. Begin planning out graphic novel narrative arc/ and page layout options
7/18	Perspective Drawing Basics, Graphic Novella	AM- Lecture/ demo of basic perspective and vantage point. Perspective drawing exercise. PM- Character studies, Setting studies, Reference gathering Homework: Begin laying out DRAWING of 10 panels
Wk4
7/21	Graphic Novella	AM- Final material on laid out panels PM- Continue Homework: Layout DRAWING of next 10 panels. Photograph finished panels- high quality image.
7/22	Graphic Novella	AM- Final material on laid out panels PM- Continue Homework: Continue work on final project. Photograph finished panels- high quality image.
7/23	Graphic Novella	AM- Final material on laid out panels PM- Photograph remaining finished panels. Computer Lab, Photoshop assembled novel from photographed images. Homework: Have Graphic Novels Printed.
7/24	Completion  of all projects	Completion of all projects. Blog Completion
7/25	Final exhibition and critique	Final exhibition and critique

BIO

Kenneth Millington received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1996 and his MFA from the School of Visual Arts in 2005. Most recently his work has been seen in “Bronx Calling: The First AIM Biennial” at the Bronx Museum of Fine Arts. Kenneth has pursued painting projects abroad in Europe and South America including watercolor studies with Ricardo Perez Alcala in La Paz Bolivia. Kenneth’s painting practice includes large-scale watercolors as well as exterior mural projects around the country.  His painting is informed by his Bolivian heritage, the landscape of upstate New York and his interest in history and science. He has been awarded several grants including the J. William Fulbright Fellowship, the Elizabeth Greenshields Grant, and the Stacey Scholarship.  Kenneth currently teaches Drawing/Imaging and Time in the Foundation Department at Parsons, The New School. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Grading:

Students will be graded on Projects and Class Participation, Homework and Critique Participation.

Projects and Class Participation- 80% Homework (Reference Collection, Exercises)-15% Critique Participation- 5%

Grade Descriptions: from Parsons Student Handbook & Core Studies Departmental Guidelines A                  4.0                  Work of exceptional quality. 95-100% These are projects that go above and beyond the expectations and requirements described in the assignment. They demonstrate substantial effort and achievement in the areas of critical thinking, technique and presentation.

A- 3.7 90-94%

B+ 3.3 86-89%

B 3.0 83-85%

Work of very high quality. Work of high quality, higher than average abilities. Very good work that satisfies goals of course.

The “B” student offers a clear and convincing structure to a visual endeavor that is more complex and unique than a project at the average level. The creator’s point of view and point of the project are merged successfully and organized fairly consistently throughout the project. Although minor structural problems may be present in the assignment, they do not hinder the overall outcome.

B-                  2.7 80-82%

C+                  2.3 76-79%

Good work. Above Average work, Average understanding of course material.

C                  2.0 73 -75% The student demonstrates an engagement with the assignment. The project will show that the creator can identify and work with key ideas and examples found in reference material. Typical of a “C” project is that the original problem or assignment once approached does not develop further. Projects may also have organizational, technical weaknesses.

C-                  1.7                  Passing work but below good academic standing. 70-72%

D                  1.0                  Below average work; does not fully understand the concepts of the course 60-70%

Although this is passable work, the project only answers the minimum requirements of

Average work; passable.

the assignment. The projects shows very little effort, is incomplete, late or incorrect in its approach. The outcome shows a lack of full understanding and commitment on the part of the creator.

F                  0                  Failure, no credit. 0-59%

POLICIES

● RESPONSIBILITY

Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent.  Late assignments, failure to complete the homework assigned for class, and lack of preparedness for in-class discussions and presentations will jeopardize your successful completion of this course. 

● PARTICIPATION

Class participation is an essential part of class and includes: keeping up with assignments, contributing meaningfully to class discussions, active participation in group work, and coming to class regularly and on time. 

● ATTENDANCE

Regular, on-time class attendance is required.  Students with repeated absences and/or lateness for any reason risk a substantial negative impact to their grade, including failure. Excessive or repeated instances of lateness may be counted as absences.

● PLAGIARISM

This is NSU’s Statement on Academic Integrity: Plagiarism and cheating of any kind in the course of academic work will not be tolerated.  Academic honesty includes accurate use of quotations, as well as appropriate and explicit citation of sources in instances of paraphrasing and describing ideas, or reporting on research findings or any aspect of the work of others (including that of instructors and other students).  These standards of academic honesty and citation of sources apply to all forms of academic work (examinations, essays, theses, computer work, art and design work, oral presentations, and other projects).  […]

● STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES

In keeping with the University’s policy of providing equal access for students with disabilities, any student with a disability who needs academic accommodations is welcome to meet with me privately.  All conversations will be kept confidential.  Students requesting any accommodations will also need to meet with Tava Kestenbaum in the office of Student Disability Services, who will conduct an intake, and if appropriate, provide an academic accommodation notification letter to you to bring to me.  At that point I will review the letter with you and discuss these accommodations in relation to this course.  Ms. Kestenbaum’s office is located in the Graduate Faculty building at 65 Fifth Avenue – Room #410.  Her direct line is (212) 229-5626.  You may also access more information through the University’s web site.