Painting and Drawing Syllabus

Sheldon Richards - richards@aps.edu - (505)296-4871 ext. 35074

Welcome to Painting and Drawing. This year we will be working to:
1. Increase your ability and comfort in expressing ideas through art
2. Increase your skill and ability to effectively see and use art materials
3. Increase your familiarity with art-related terms and ideas and your ability to discuss and use them
4. Increase your familiarity with the art of important artists from the past
It is my hope that you will have a fun and rewarding experience that will further your ability to be
creative and express yourself visually.

Class fee! There is a class fee of $50 (fifty dollars) for the year. Please pay this by the end of the sixth
week. If you need to delay payment or cannot afford to pay please let me know by the end of the sixth
week. I can make arrangements for you to work off your fee, but this needs to be done early. I will not
grant exemptions after the end of the sixth week. It is preferred that you pay via synergy, but I can also
accept cash or checks made out to Eldorado.

Materials:
1 sketchbook at least 8”x10” preferably “mixed media” or “wet and dry” paper
12 regular wooden pencils. If you want to buy a set of graphite drawing pencils, that would be great!
Hand pencil sharpener
White eraser
1 watercolor set
Brushes: Students need a set of brushes. You can just buy a set with a couple of flats or filberts and at
least 1 round brush. All of these should be in the size 2 to 4 range. These should be labeled for acrylic. An
optimal set of brushes would include:
#2 round brush (⅛ of an inch or thinner in diameter)
(3) #1 or #2 filbert brushes (⅛ to ¼ inch wide. Flats are ok if you’re buying a set)
Wider brush around ¾-1” flat or filbert
(you can buy a brush set, the princeton brushes are pretty good. Try to find one that has the #2
round #2 filberts or #2 flats)
BRUSHES CAN GET EXPENSIVE! YOU DON’T NEED ANYTHING FANCY, BUT THE
CHEAPEST ONES WILL PROBABLY FALL APART.

Websites:
https://ehsrichards.weebly.com/ My school website. Weekly itinerary and homework will be posted on
this site. Learn it. Know it. Bookmark it.
https://mystudentlogin.aps.edu/Login_Student_PXP.aspx Synergy studentview. Login in to check your
grades. Stay on top of things.
https://mystudentlogin.aps.edu/Login_Parent_PXP.aspx Synergy parentview. Parents: use this to check in
on your child’s grades and attendance.
Grading: Grading will be broken into four categories:
1. Participation: You will receive 5 points per week for participation, 1 for every short day, and 2
for every long day. Participation points are granted for working the whole class period and being
a positive influence in the classroom. They may be reduced for students who are observed not
working or who break class rules or use inappropriate or abusive language.
2. Class Projects: Class projects will be weighted at roughly 1 point per 50 minutes of work time. A
one-class project will be 1 or 2 points, a one week project will be 5, etc.
3. Sketchbook: Sketchbook assignments will be weighted at 2 points per week most weeks. They
will include notes, exercises, and warm-ups.
4. Quizzes, Tests: Quizzes and tests will be used as needed and weighted as deemed appropriate by
the instructor based on the amount of material covered.
5. Homework: There will be occasional homework assignments. They will usually be worth a few
points. I will only assign them as necessary.

Missed Participation:
If students must be absent or wish to regain lost participation points they may come in during lunch or
after school, by appointment. Points can also be regained by donating classroom supplies such as soap,
facial tissue, and multi-purpose cleaner. Students are limited to five extra participation points per
week.These points can also be used to bring up an unsatisfactory grade.

Basic scope and sequence:

This class is designed to increase the students’ aptitude in drawing and painting media. Every few weeks
we will explore a new medium. There will be a series of exercises in the student’s sketchbook followed
by a project. The media we cover will include graphite, charcoal, ink, printmaking, watercolor, acrylic,
and oil painting. There will also be an increased emphasis on showing work and participation in art
shows. Students will be required to submit work to four shows during the school year; The Scholastic Art
and Writing Competition, The Metro Art Show, Transcend Literary Magazine, and The Congressional Art
Contest.