COURSE SYLLABUS: PAINTING I & II

Location: Oaxaca City, Mexico

Partner Institution: Universidad Autónoma de Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO)

Course Title: Painting I & II

Course Title (Spanish): Pintura I y II

Sessions offered: summer, winter, semester, spring break, intensive sessions

Instructional language: Spanish or English

Classroom Contact Hours: 45 contact hours

College Credit (Semester Credit Hours): 3 credit hours

College Credit (Quarter Units): 4 quarter units

Local Department: Español para Extranjeros

Course Code: SP-P 255

Course Description

This is an advanced painting course in which the student will study the theory and role of color and composition in its various aspects:

• Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Complementary colors.
• Luminosity. The contrast of colors. Hot and cold colors. Neutral colors.
• The effect of adjacent colors. Their intensity and temperature. Psychological perception.

The student will review the preparation of painting supports. The student will prepare paper, paints (water color, tempura and oil) and the preparation of the canvas for oil painting. The class covers the various painting techniques, methods and approaches: water color, tempura, oil, and acrylic. The course assists the student in the development of technique. Each of the exercises and projects will be reviewed and discussed for artistic advancement of the student.

Program

The exercises are based in the management of primary and secondary colors. The student will explore the chromatic contrast of the complementary colors (primary and secondary), with neutral colors (gray). The course looks at chromatic “attitudes”, function of intense illumination, emotional and introspective sensations; sensations of temperature, states of animation, surroundings, sensation of space, etc.

The topics will be those that give a dynamic observation of the surrounding environment of Oaxaca: the vegetation and architectural landscape (with colonial buildings).

The student will study and create copies of works by Mexican artists (such as Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Dr. Atl, Frida Kahlo, etc.) but giving special emphasis on Oaxacan artists such as Rodolfo Morales, Rufino Tamayo, and Francisco Toledo, etc.

Methodology

The student is guided through the course by gradual exercises that deal with the direct observation of the subject in order to discover the constitutive elements: material, tonal, composite and prospective. The course will work with the following aspects: spatial analysis in relation with the subject to be produced, real space and white space, the two-dimensional illusion, knowledge of the subject’s form, design as an instrument of knowledge, frame, axis, proportions, signs of prospective, construction of an image by points, full and empty, symmetry and curves, initial notions of the arrangement of light and dark elements, shadow theory. The student should be able to reproduce a work of art of their choosing.

Materials

All of these materials can be purchased very affordably in Oaxaca. The teacher always takes the students to purchase materials. These are not included as part of the program cost. Often, some materials may be leftover for use from previous students.

• 3 canvases for oil painting, 40 x 50 cm approx. (you can choose another size but it shouldn’t be too small)
• Double rectified turpentine
• Oil paints:

- Ultramarine

- Vermilion

- Light cadmium yellow

- Titanium white

- Black

• 3 round brushes: fine, medium and thick
• 3 flat brushes: fine, medium and thick
• White acrylic pallet
• Burlap
• Pencil
• Eraser
• If you have experience in a particular technique, bring photos of examples.

Course Evaluation

The student will submit for grading a portfolio made of 10 selected exercises. A time, place and hour will be set for the class to see the works and evaluate them.

The final course grade is based on the final work, the assigned exercises throughout the course and class attendance and participation.

Contact Information:

SOL EDUCATION ABROAD

EMAIL: info@soleducation.com

WEB: www.soleducation.com

PHONE: 512.380.1003

FAX: 512.287.4886

MAIL: 503 Oakland Ave. Austin, TX 78703