Enjoyment of Art: Hands-On Art History

Course Description

Hands-On Art History is an overview of art throughout history, introducing non-Western art while focusing on Western art, through activities that take the subject matter out of the textbooks and into practical application.

Course Objectives

Creating Art:

Students will create individual expressions of art forms using techniques and styles developed in ancient history, during the Renaissance period, and in contemporary times. Students will use time, materials and resources wisely.

Art in Context:

Students will develop an understanding of the role of art in communication, technical development, and cultural and individual identity throughout human history.

Art as Inquiry:

Students will analyze and interpret their own works of art in relationship to the historical techniques and styles studied.

Course Structure

Unit 1: Getting to Know You

Lesson 1: Pictionary

Play a game that uses art to communicate a specific, randomly chosen word idea.

Lesson 2: Conversation Pieces

Create collaborative art in which two students explore watercolors while taking turns adding to the dialogue.

Lesson 3: Mandalation

Explore mandala creation of combined symbols and colors that express an aspect of the self.

Unit 2: Communication in the Ancient World

Lesson 1: Cave Painting

Explore primitive forms of communication through art, such as the Lascaux cave paintings, Native American pictographs and petroglyphs, etc. Experience "cave painting" within the classroom environment.

Lesson 2: Cuneiform Tablet

Explore early forms of writing in symbols by creating a Sumerian Cuneiform Text on a terra-cotta clay tablet.

Lesson 3: Egyptian Papyrus

Explore more sophisticated forms of communication such as Egyptian hieroglyphs, Japanese Emaki, Chinese Handscroll, the Bayeux Tapestry, and Manuscript Illumination. Create a scroll using the Egyptian Canon of Proportion, royal nomenclature and cartouches.

Unit 3: Discoveries in the Renaissance World

Lesson 1: Scientific Perspective

Explore the principles of design that contribute to a sense of depth in a drawing or painting.

Lesson 2: Oil Painting

Explore oil paints as a medium in the style of the Old Masters using glazing techniques.

Lesson 3: Triptych

Create a triptych, incorporating Scientific Perspective concepts combined with glazing techniques.

Unit 4: Exploring Art Style in the Contemporary World

Lesson 1: Watercolor Impressions

Explore watercolors as a medium in the style of Impressionist artists.

Lesson 2: Impasto

Explore impasto as a medium in the style of Post-Impressionist artists.

Lesson 3: Pointillist Color Cards

Explore pointillism by creating a set of cards that demonstrate the effects of colors placed next to each other in a given area.

Lesson 4: Clay Facial Expressions

Explore artistic expression of emotions by modeling clay into a series of facial expressions.

Lesson 5: Painting Music

Explore abstract expressionism by interpreting music into visual form.

Lesson 6: Cubist Collage

Explore cubism by creating a mixed-media collage.

Lesson 7: Surrealistic Shoes

Explore surrealism by combining a close-up drawing of a shoe with a landscape or other situation that creates a dream-like quality in the artwork.

Lesson 8: Transformations

Create a personal statement by transforming an ordinary object into a work of art, using at least one of the contemporary styles of art studied.

Unit 5: Art Leadership

Art Experience: Every Artwork Tells a Story

Be a docent for a traveling art exhibit through this WebQuest adventure.

Course Policies and Requirements

Class Participation:

Attendance and active participation in all activities and class discussions are required. Students must display significant daily progress in the project work-in-progress and use classroom studio time wisely. During class discussions, students must be courteous and respectful of fellow students and the instructor. During classroom studio time, students must behave in a manner that does not interfere with fellow students' wise use of time and resources.

Assignment Due Dates:

All projects must be turned in on or before the assigned due date unless excused absences or extenuating circumstances approved by the instructor in advance warrant an extension.

Housekeeping:

Participation in clean-up procedures at the end of each studio time period is required of all students. Wise use of time and resources includes proper storage of unused materials and clean-up of personal space as well as clean-up of common-use areas of the classroom before the allotted class time expires.

Criteria for Assessment

Class Participation: (50% of total grade)

Daily Progress/Process Activities 10 points ea. activity/project; Discussions and Presentations 10 points each

Class Assignments: (30% of total grade)

Mandalations 100 points; Egyptian Papyrus 100 points; Triptych 100 points; Transformations 100 points; Every Artwork Tells a Story 100 points

Housekeeping: (20% of total grade)

Proper Storage of Materials 100 points; Clean-up Personal Space 100 points; Clean-up Common-Use Areas 100 points

Total Points Available:

1600

A (91 - 100%) =

All work shows effort beyond the general requirements. There is evidence of outstanding comprehension and understanding and the student is able to apply and conceptualize the Class Assignments which have been submitted by the scheduled due dates. The student has participated fully in Process Activities, Discussions and Housekeeping. The student has no unexcused absences and has shown significant daily progress.

B (81 - 90%) =

All work shows an understanding of the Class Assignments, has included most of the criteria, and was submitted by the scheduled due dates. The student has participated satisfactorily in Process Activities, Discussions and Housekeeping. The student has less than 3 unexcused absences and has shown acceptable daily progress.

C (71 - 80%) =

All work shows an understanding of the Class Assignments and was submitted by the scheduled due dates, but may be missing some of the elements required. The student has participated minimally in Process Activities, Discussions and /or Housekeeping. The student has less than 5 unexcused absences and has shown some daily progress.

D (61 - 70%) =

The student has made a minimal attempt at covering the Class Assignments by the scheduled due dates and is missing most of the required elements. The student participated poorly in Process Activities, Discussions and/or Housekeeping. The student has more than 5 unexcused absences and has shown very little daily progress.

F (below 61%) =

The student made no attempt to complete the assignments by the scheduled due dates. The student did not participate in Process Activities, Discussions and Housekeeping.