Brandon University 32:187 Painting I Fall semester

Wednesday 1:40 – 5:30 PM – 3 credit hours

Jeff Umphrey Centre Room UB 115

Instructor: Kevin deForest

Office: Umphrey Centre Room 207 (above painting studio)
Telephone: 571-8561 e-mail: deforestk@brandonu.ca
Office Hours: Wednesday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM or by appointment

CO URSE O UTLINE
This is an intensive introductory course on traditional and contemporary approaches to oil painting.
Students will develop basic technical and formal skills with the medium. This course focuses on art
from the 20th century. It asks the student to articulate the ideas of their work and the work of
others verbally. Students will begin to locate themselves as artists in relation to the history and
current state of painting.

CO URSE O BJECTIVES
- to develop a fundamental formal vocabulary of painting techniques,
- to investigate basic concepts and formal principles in colour theory, pictorial space, composition,
paint surface.
- to acquire a basic understanding of the principles of Modernist painting.
- to become confident in the handling of paint and execution of painting.
- to be exposed to artists and ideas in a Modern painting context as well as with long-standing
traditional concerns of the medium.
- to develop a vocabulary with which to discuss concepts in painting and contemporary art.
- to acquire basic technical knowledge of painting tools, preparation of supports, health and safety
issues.

CO URSE METHO DS
Projects will be outlined and worked on during class time. It is expected that students will spend
three to four hours a week outside of class time on their work. Examples of artwork will be
presented in slides, video and visits to local exhibitions. Participation in both individual and group
critiques will encourage a thoughtful verbalization of ideas and concerns within the class.

PARTICIPATIO N
Students are expected to attend all classes and to arrive on time. More than one unexcused
absence and frequent late arrivals will affect final grade. Two unexcused absences will result in 5%
reduction of grade. Three unexcused absences will result in a 10% reduction of grade. An absence
due to illness can only be excused with a doctor's note. In this case the student is required to
complete missed work on her/his own time. Please inform the instructor by phone, not e-mail, in
advance if you are unable to attend class due to illness or other emergency. Two late arrivals of 15
minutes or more will be considered the equivalent of one absence.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Avoid contact with paint and solvents as much as possible. Do not eat in the studio. Wear old
clothes or protective clothing to class. Rubber gloves or barrier cream is recommended for your
hands. Paint thinner and oily rags must be disposed safely.
STATEMENT O F “FAIR W ARNING”
Artists in today’s world are frequently involved in explorations of personal and cultural identity. This
may include imagery that challenges traditional social concepts of sexuality and sexual orientation,
including nudity, religious conviction, or philosophical and political beliefs. These issues may from
time to time be raised in students’ work during class critiques, or in lectures. Students not wishing
to engage with their work should contact the instructor immediately so that enrollment in an
alternative course more in keeping with the student’s interest can be facilitated.

REPRO DUCTIO N O F ARTW O RK

In participating in this class, it is understood that photographs of students’ work may be used by
Brandon University and the Visual Arts Department on websites, posters, or other media to
publicize the Visual Arts Program.

EVALUATIO N
Assignments will be considered in both mid-term evaluation and at end of term. An unofficial letter
grade will be given at mid-term as an indicator of student's progress. Final grade in the course will
be based on the following:

Projects (weighed by number of work hours expected): 90%

Participation: 10%

Grading

Percentage Grade Description

95 and over A+ Exceptional
90-94 A Excellent
86-89 A-
80-85 B+ Superior
75-79 B Good
70-74 B-
65-69 C+
60-65 C Adequate
56-59 C-
50-55 D Minimal pass
49 or less F
32:187 Painting 1 Tuesday 1:40 – 5:30 PM Brandon University Instructor: Kevin deForest

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE

September 12 Week One

Introduction – hand out course outline, review supplies list, gessoing mayfair paper demo

September 19 Week Two

Still life – monochrome blue still life

September 26 Week Three

Monochrome value study from photo – Burnt Sienna portrait
Homework: My Favourite Thing Monochrome

October 3 Week Four

Value/Chroma photograph notes
Finish up My Favourite Thing Monochrome project
Introduction to Colour swatch mixing exercise

October 10 Week Five

Colour swatches – colour mixing exercise
Introduction to the Hand – eight technique-focused canvases
Building and stretching a canvas demo

October 17 Week Six

Colour swatches continued
The Hand continued

October 24 Week Seven

No classes – mid-term break
The Hand continued
Portfolio due for mid-term grade

October 31 Week Eight

The Hand continued
Final open project intro

November 7 Week Nine

Fall study break – no class
The Hand continued
Final project begin sketches

November 14 Week Ten

The Hand continued
Final project show sketches

Nov. 22 – last day for Voluntary Withdrawal without academic penalty.

November 21 Week Eleven

Final open project

November 28 Week Twelve

Final open project
Crit - The Hand

December 5 Week Thirteen

Final open project critique
BRANDON UNIVERSITY PAINTING COURSES MATERIAL LIST

Available at Janzen’s Paint & Decorating 2510 Park Avenue (Benjamin Moore awning). 10% discount
if you tell them you are enrolled in the class.

Oil paint (40 ml tubes)

Essential colours:

Phthalo Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium red deep hue, Alizarin Crimson, Lemon Yellow Hue, Viridian Green,
Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Dioxazine Purple, Cadmium Orange Hue, Ivory Black, Titanium White
(large tube),

Optional colours:

Cadmium Yellow, Payne's Grey, Cobalt Violet, Prussian Blue, Cobalt blue, Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, Lemon Yellow,
Naples Yellow, Permanent Green

Brushes and tools:

Selection of minimum six to eight flat and round brushes sizes 2 - 18

Recommended brushes:

Flat: 14 or 16, Round: 8 or12

One 3" bristle brush for gesso

Palette knife – larger size is best

Media

Linseed oil (small size)

Liquin Original or Gel

Turpenoid or Gamblin paint thinner NOT the green can of Turpenoid which is only soap. NOT turpentine or
odorless mineral spirits.Gesso (1000ml)

Miscellaneous

Surgical rubber gloves or protective hand cream

Mayfair or poster paper 22 x 26 inches (6 sheets approximately per student)

8" x 10" sketchbook, for notes, writing, sketches

Drawing supplies (pencils, erasers, sharpener)

Masking tape: 1” or 2" roll beige tape, 1” roll green or blue painter’s tape

eye dropper

Q-tips

bar soap

Optional Media: Picture varnish (damar)