Thursday, January 22, 2015

ILL 262 – Introduction to Illustration

Instructor    Prof. Robert C. Dacey

Office          357 Shaffer
Office           Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Hours           4:00pm - 6:00pm
                     (by appointment)

Phone           Office 443-4613
                      Studio 475-0039
Email             rcdacey@syr.edu


*Prerequisite / Co-requisite:

Foundation and ILL261 or permission of instructor

*Audience:

All students interested in learning about the field of Illustration

*Description:

Introduction to the professional procedures and processes employed by illustrators

Additional Course Description:   
This course is an introduction to traditional and contemporary processes and solutions utilized in the field of illustration. Familiarity with these tools and problem-solving methods enable the student to develop a personal visual vocabulary.

Each week a demonstration, critique of assignments, lecture, visual presentation, or combination thereof, will be presented to introduce these materials and methods. This may include: history, basic theory, practical application, finished examples, etc. Students are expected to take organized notes, and invited and encouraged to add relevant input. Your participation is vital in order to share, experiment, take risks and grow as artists.
You must be an Art Major or have permission of instructor to be in this class.

*Credits:
3

Learning Objectives:

Students will be introduced to procedures and processes employed by professional illustrators. They will be introduced to observational, figurative interpretations and story-telling methods through the exploration of a wide range of mediums. Students will gain a basic understanding of the professional steps involved working with clients and the self-critical process essential to individual and group success in the field of illustration.

Bibliography/ Texts / Supplies – Required:
See reading list (attached)

RESOURCES:
Get to know Jan Mackay, our lab technician, on the 3rd floor (service window business hours are Mon. - Fri. 9:00am. - 5:00pm.). She is responsible for use of the computer cluster in Rm.329. See the posted schedule for times.

Three spray booths are available in Rm.341 for spray-fixing and airbrushing.

Bird Library has a wealth of visual resources on the 4th floor including a plethora of visual information relevant to our field. Illustration is a research field. Get to know what’s available to aid you. Don't ignore the Moon Library at SUNY ESF (behind the Carrier Dome). The main city library, in the downtown Galleria Mall, has an extensive scrap file, design and illustration annuals, an excellent children's section, videos, art books, and visually oriented books which can help immensely.

SUPPLIES:

Primary required supplies are:
• An 8”X10” to 11”X14”, 100 page sketchbook (must have on first day of class)
• An 18”X24” pad of white drawing paper
• A Masonite drawing board and clips large enough to hold the drawing pad
• Black, brown, Sanguine and/or terra cotta vericolor pencils or conte’
• An exacto knife (#11 blade) and kneaded eraser
• A 15”X20” (or larger if needed) black presentation board

Secondary supplies:
• Wet mediums (paints) such as acrylics, oils, gouache or watercolor in an adequate range of colors (this will be explained in class)
• appropriate brushes and palettes (explained in class)
• A range of appropriate surfaces to paint on (explained in class)

Grading:

Grading is based on attitude, attendance, and quality of work. Presentation of assignments reflects attitude and is part of the grade. Grades are not given. They are earned and recorded according to your efforts. The final grade will be an average of all grades earned during the semester. If you have any concerns about your progress at any time during the semester, please contact your instructor.

Assignments:
(see attached schedule)
In addition to working directly from the model in class, there will be four assignments with specific steps from concept to finish. A 100 page sketchbook is also required to be complete by the end of the semester. Meet your assignment deadlines! Being late will lower your grade!

Student work may be reproduced for use by the instructor.

Course Specific Policies on attendance, late work, make up work, examinations if outside normal class time, etc.:

Attendance is mandatory. One absence for the semester will be tolerated; however, you are still responsible for information presented in class (See "Grading"). Lateness or skipping out early will count towards an absence and will lower your grade. Two absences, for any reason, will lower your final grade by one letter grade. You will FAIL this course in the event of third absence!

Incompletes will be granted only in extenuating circumstances. If you have a valid medical excuse or family emergency, and you've completed the bulk of course work for the semester, an incomplete is possible. You are responsible for initiating the paper work for an incomplete.

Any class related information that is missed as a result of extenuating circumstances is available through an appointment with the instructor.

Needs:
Any student who needs special consideration in the course due to a disability of any sort, please make an appointment to discuss accommodations.

Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Rm.309, 315/443-4498. Students with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a current Accommodations Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as exam administration, are not provided retroactively: therefore, planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary. For further information, see the ODS website, http://disabilityservices.syr.edu/.

Academic Integrity
Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about course-specific expectations, as well as about university policy. The university policy governs appropriate citation and use of sources, the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments, and the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verification of participation in class activities. The policy also prohibits students from submitting the same written work in more than one class without receiving written authorization in advance from both instructors. The presumptive penalty for a first offense by an undergraduate student is course failure, accompanied by a transcript notation indicating that the failure resulted from a violation of Academic Integrity Policy. The standard sanction for a first offense by a graduate student is suspension or expulsion. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/academic-integrity-policy/

Disability-Related Accommodations
If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), http://disabilityservices.syr.edu, located in Room 309 of 804 University Avenue, or call (315) 443-4498, TDD: (315) 443-1371 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. ODS is responsible for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will issue students with documented Disabilities Accommodation Authorization Letters, as appropriate. Since accommodations may require early planning and generally are not provided retroactively, please contact ODS as soon as possible.

Religious Observances Policy
SU religious observances policy, found at http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm, recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holidays according to their tradition.  Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes for regular session classes and by the submission deadline for flexibly formatted classes.

For fall and spring semesters, an online notification process is available through MySlice/StudentServices/Enrollment/MyReligiousObservances.

Any class related information that is missed as a result of religious observances is available through an appointment with the instructor.

Student Academic Work Policy
SU policy on student academic work may be found art:

Educational use of student work: I intend to use academic work that you complete this semester in subsequent semesters for educational purposes. Before using your work for that purpose, I will either get your written permission or render the work anonymous by removing all your personal identification.

This Syllabus is subject to change as needs arise.

                            ILL 262 – Spring 2015 Schedule


Week
In Class
Assignments
1/15
• Introduction: Syllabus, Schedule, 7 Factors Outline
• Basic Proportions
• Passive/Active
• Line & Form
• Light & Shadow
• Composition
• Sketchbooks
• Society of Illustrators Student   Scholarship Competition
• Annuals & Professional Publications
• Tools not Rules
• Track System

• Next week: come to class with ideas and props for costumed model photo session.

• Required: All students will keep an 8”X10” to 11”X14”, 100 page sketchbook to be filled (single sided) by the end of the semester. Sketchbooks will be checked during every drawing session (in blue) throughout the semester.

• Required: a professional grade camera with at least
10 mp resolution (no smart phones or tablets) - must have for next week’s photo shoot (arrange to share cameras if necessary).

1/22
• Photo Shoot with male and female costumed models.
• Basics of lighting, direction, props, themes, and background considerations.
• Camera as sketch tool.
• Next week: Based on photo shoot, bring in at least two 8.5”X11”color comprehensives (comps) mounted on a single piece of 15”X20”, or larger, black presentation board.

• Comps must be based on photo shoot with appropriate backgrounds included as required for theme.

•Comps may be in any medium, including digital.

1/29
• Comps due (at least two 8.5”X11” color comps mounted on a single piece of 15”X20”, or larger, black presentation board).

• Acrylic demo: palette set up, mediums, surfaces, basic flesh tones.

• Next week: Finished illustration due based on critique of comps from photo shoot. Any wet medium can be employed. 12”X15” minimum size of image area (30”X40” max.) with at least 1/4 “ of bleed and a ½” white border around the illustration.

• Next week: come to class prepared to draw from the model. Required supplies: a 18”X24” white paper drawing pad with Masonite backing and clips, Black, brown, sanguine or terra cotta Conte’ or Vericolor pencils, a kneaded eraser and exacto knife.

2/5
• Finished illustrations from photo shoot due.

• Draw from model in class using 18”X24” white drawing paper (pad) mounted or clipped to Masonite backing. Mediums may include black, brown, sanguine, or terra cotta conte’ or Veracolor pencils along with an exacto knife (#11 blade) and a kneaded eraser.

• Demo and discussion of Glenn
Vilppu approach to drawing (basic for animation and sequential).

• Interpretive vs. literal approach.

• Second assignment: A minimum of four black and white (b&w) sketches due next week for an illustration based on a contemporary interpretation of an impressionist era composition involving two or more figures. (You will have to set-up a photo shoot using your own models and props for the comps that will be due the following week)

• Sketches are the basic language of illustration – where ideas are worked out. These four should represent 50 + thumbnails (very quick idea sketches) that form the rudimentary concepts.

• Sketches will be at least 8”X10” each mounted on a 20”X30” sheet of black presentation board.

2/12
• Sketches due for Composition assignment. Class critique of sketches from self-critical point of view in preparation for comps to be presented to client.

• Next week: Two (or more) color comps due. Bring in at least two 8.5”X11”color comprehensives (comps) for the Impressionist Era composition assignment mounted on a single piece of 15”X20”, or larger, black presentation board.

2/19
• Comps (at least two color) due for class review.

• Demo - oil paints (basics).

• Palettes:
Cross Complementary
Split Complements
Rainbow
Value
Chis Payne approach

• Next week: Finish due for Impressionist Era influenced composition. 12”X15” minimum size of image area (30”X40” max.) with at least 1/4 “ of bleed and a ½” white border around the illustration.
2/26
• Finishes due for Impressionist influenced composition.

• Demonstration of pen and ink wash techniques with limited color.

• Work in class from model with conte’, pencil or pen (and ink wash) on white 17”X24” paper.

• Next week: Four sketches themed on music (at least 8”X10” each mounted on a 20”X30” sheet of black presentation board) based on Coles Phillips’ approach to shapes, silhouette, and design.

3/5
• Sketches due for music/Coles Phillips assignment (at least 8”X10” each mounted on a 20”X30” sheet of black presentation board).


• Discuss solutions looking for problems: screened image, reflections, head as container (surrealism), clichés, mythology, fables, etc.

• Two weeks (after break): Bring in at least two 8.5”X11”color comprehensives (comps) for Coles Phillips assignment mounted on a single piece of 15”X20”, or larger, black presentation board.

3/12
Spring Break

3/19
• Comps due for Coles Phillips assignment - at least two 8.5”X11”color comprehensives mounted on a single piece of 15”X20”, or larger, black presentation board.

• Watercolor Demo – Palettes, Brushes, Papers, Boards, and breaking the rules.

• Next week: Finish due for Coles Phillips influenced assignment. 12”X15” minimum size of image area (30”X40” max.) with at least 1/4 “ of bleed and a ½” white border around the illustration.
3/26
• Finish due for Coles Phillips assignment.

• Work in class from model with conte’, pencil or pen (and ink wash) on white 17”X24” paper.

• Demo – Use of colored pencil and/or conte’ on toned paper with addition of white for volume and highlights.

• Next week: Sketches due for Track System assignment. These will be developmental b&w sketches, which we will review individually in class next week while you draw from the model.

• Track System Assignment: Produce a final illustration based on one of the four Illustration Tracks.
• Design: Design and illustrate a book jacket for a young adult novel.
• Editorial: Select a recent magazine article dealing with a contemporary issue and produce a single-page, full color illustration and two spots to accompany that article.
• Sequential: Illustrate a two-page story based on a passage in classical literature.
• Entertainment: Develop a group of at least four characters that co-exist in a described environment. Write up personality descriptions and backstories for each along with a description of their environmental circumstances. Include drawing and/or painting of a scene in which they will interact.
• Come prepared to draw from the model in class next week (same supplies as before).

4/2
• Draw from the model in class while individual sketch reviews are discussed.

• Have sketches ready to review with instructor on an individual basis.

• Next week: Sketches for Track System assignment. Sketches will be presented on a sheet of black presentation board of appropriate size to hold all ideas each on at least an 8.5”X11” sheet of paper.

4/9
• Sketches due for Track System assignment. Sketches will be presented on a sheet of black presentation board of appropriate size to hold all ideas each on at least an 8.5”X11” sheet of paper.

• This will again be a full-class critique in order to share information and facilitate the exchange of ideas. Students by this time should be comfortable with participation in critiques in order to help each other develop their ideas. This group effort reflects the professional environment that most illustrators experience.

• Demonstration to introduce pastels as a sketch or finish medium.

• Color Comps for Track System assignment due next week, presented on a sheet of black presentation board of appropriate size to contain the images.
4/11&12
MOCCA in NYC


4/16
• Color Comps for the Track System assignment due, presented on a sheet of black presentation board of appropriate size to contain the images.
• Next week: Finishes due for Track System assignment, presented in a professional manner as has been demonstrated during the semester.

• Completed sketchbooks due during class next week.

• Come to class next week prepared to work from the model

4/23
• Finishes due for Track System assignment.

• Completed sketchbooks due.

• Work from model in class.

• Survey on Wednesday, April 29th. All finishes and completed sketchbook due for full-faculty review.
4/29
Wednesday
• Survey: All finished assignments and sketchbooks must be included for full-faculty review.



























































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