Instructor: Mary Catherine Wilbur

Email: wilburmc@lamarpa.edu

Phone: (409)984-6547

Office Hours: Monday 9:50-11:50, Wednesday 9:50-12:50, Friday 9:50-10:50 TR 12:15pm-2:15pm

Additional Contact Information:

 A foundation studio course exploring drawing with emphasis on descriptive, expressive and conceptual approaches. Students will learn to see and interpret a variety of subjects while using diverse materials and techniques. Course work will facilitate a dialogue in which students will engage in critical analysis and begin to develop their understanding of drawing as a discipline

Required Supplies:

An initial set of supplies is provided by the school. 

1 Drawing Paper Pad 18” x 24”

1 Workable Spray Fixative 

A set of pencils: 4H, 2H, B, 2B, 6B

Vine Charcoal 

1 Kneaded Eraser 

White Polymer Erasers

Blending Stumps 

Pencil Sharpener 

Provided by student:

1 Sketchbook 18” x 12” (recommended)

Additional Required Readings:

Additional readings will be available through Blackboard

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

None

By the end of this semester, students will be able to:

Describe visual subjects through the use of accurate and sensitive observation.

Generate drawings which demonstrate descriptive, expressive, and conceptual approaches. 

Utilize varied materials and techniques with informed aesthetic and conceptual strategies. 

Demonstrate an appropriate level of professional practice, including safety, craft and presentation. 

Analyze and critique drawings verbally and/or in writing. Relate drawing to design, art history and contemporary artistic production.

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Tentative Schedule 

See Lecture Topics Outline

December 3rd 9:30 - 12:15

Establishing an Independent Work Space

Students should create an environment where they can set up required still life materials or subjects that will be drawn from observation. The space should be similar to our studio space: lighting can be adjusted, various angles and distances can be taken to view the subject. If one is unable to establish such a space independently, use of the LSCPA studio can be arranged.

Critiques

Critiques are an integral part of the course and will take place often throughout the semester.

Formal critiques will take place on the designated date that a project is due. You will be evaluated on your participation, etiquette, engagement and use of vocabulary we have learned in class. Failure to attend a scheduled critique may result in a failing grade for that project (unless prior arrangements were made before the scheduled critique). If you are absent for class(es) prior to a scheduled critique you are still responsible for having your completed assignment ready for the day of critique. If you do not have your project completed you are nonetheless expected to attend and participate in discussion.

Student comments are expected to be thoughtful and sensitive and must be designed for the artist to improve his/her artwork.

Informal critiques will sometimes spontaneously occur during workdays. Therefore, students should be present in class and ready to participate in critique and discussion at all times.

Critiques are calculated in your Studio Projects grade. You will lose points for late arrival, early exits, elongated breaks, lack of engagement, use of phone during critique, and poor etiquette.

Sketchbooks

A sketchbook specific to this course is required. It will be used for studies, and for thumbnail sketch preparation for projects, and notes during demonstrations and critiques. However, separately, 45 pages of drawings from observation (still life materials, room interiors, and architecture are recommended), study (reinforcing class topics, practice to improve individual drawing processes that need improvement), and imagination (go wild) are expected by the end of the semester (recommended 20-30 minutes per drawing). At least 25 pages must be drawn from direct observation. The sketchbook will be collected periodically for page counts and evaluations (a “check” signifies drawings are satisfactory, “check plus” indicates the work is strong, and a “check minus” indicates the drawings are weak and need more time invested in them. An “X” will indicate an unacceptable sketch). There will be a page count and review quarterly with a target number of pages at each review of 11, 22, and 33. 45 are due by the final. In the instance of completing below the minimum required page count at review, for example 9 pages when 11 are required, there will be a two page penalty from your final sketchbook count at the end of the semester. This policy applies to all quarterly page counts. It is also recommended to paste or tape handouts and loose sketches into the sketchbook to maintain a record of assignments and creative output. An alternative is to have a folder to keep all handouts.

Homework and continuing assignments outside of class

I will periodically assign sketchbook work to reinforce principles you have learned in class. You are expected to complete these in your sketchbook and have them ready on the due date to either present to the class or discuss with the professor. Late policy applies to homework assignments. 

Food

Food is not allowed in the classroom. The custodians will yell at me if we get insects. Water bottles and closed-top drinks are allowed. I give everyone a 15/20 minute break to go get lunch and eat. 

Phone and Music

I expect you to be an adult with your phone usage. You are welcome to listen to audio on your headphones. I do not want to see videos playing or idle games. If phone usage becomes disruptive, I reserve the right to ban phone usage from the classroom. 

Uploading Assignments

I ask that students take a photo of all major assignments (critiques, midterm, and final) and upload them to Blackboard. Most image file formats such as .png, .jpeg, .pdf, .gif, .heif (I beg of you only upload this format if you are desperate), etc are acceptable, though I would prefer .png whenever possible. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have submitted your assignment as directed in the instructions. If I cannot open your assignment, I will not grade it.  

Unless otherwise requested by the assignment, I will not accept Google Drive/Outlook links to docs. Any assignment submitting a link without request will get an automatic zero with no opportunity to make-up. 

Additionally, if you have difficulty uploading your assignment due to Blackboard or other technical issues, you should email me a copy of the assignment immediately – not the next day. It will be considered late if I do not have an email copy of the assignment by the due date. You should then contact Blackboard technical support to address the problem and work to get the assignment uploaded into Blackboard. 

When you submit an assignment, Blackboard sends you a confirmation email with an individual submission number. Please make sure that you receive, and save, this confirmation. If there are issues regarding the submission of your assignment, I may ask to see the submission confirmation. 

Late Work 

It is very difficult to keep track of who was and was not in class to do an assignment. Some homework assignments will be given out in class, not Blackboard. It is up to the student to talk to their peers and catch up if they miss a class. 

For every day a homework assignment is late, 10 pts will be subtracted from the grade. Up to 4 days late, then the assignment will receive a zero.

For every day after the critique that an in-class assignment is late, 10pts will be subtracted from the grade. Up to 4 days late, then the assignment will receive a zero.

The final drawing assignment cannot be turned in late. 

Email

You are required to put the class and section number in the subject line of the email. I will respond promptly in 24-48 hrs. I am available during business hours, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. I do not respond to emails in the evening or the weekend.

Please use your lamarpa email to communicate with me as emails from Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, etc. may end up in a clutter folder and I will not see it, and therefore, not respond. Most questions can be answered by reading the class syllabus, assignment sheet, or other directions available to you in Blackboard. Students should always be aware of the tone and structure of their correspondence. 

RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR AND CLASSROOM CIVILITY POLICY 

To foster a productive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment, all students are expected to demonstrate respectful behavior toward their peers, the instructor, and the learning process. Disruptive behaviors that impede the learning and civility of the class will not be tolerated.

Expectations for Classroom Behavior

Arriving on Time: Please make every effort to arrive promptly. Late arrivals disrupt the flow of the class and the concentration of others.

Staying in Class: If you anticipate needing to leave early, inform me in advance and sit near the door to minimize disruption.

Engaging Fully: Participate in class activities with focus and commitment. Use laptops, tablets, and other devices only for class-related purposes.

Using Technology Responsibly: Silence phones and refrain from texting, taking calls, or using devices for non-academic purposes during class.

Respecting the Learning Space: Avoid behaviors such as whispering, chatting, or wearing headphones during class, as these can distract others.

Waiting for Dismissal: Packing up before the end of class signals disengagement and distracts others. Please wait until class is dismissed.

Prohibited Behaviors

Persistent chatting, talking, or whispering that interrupts the class or distracts others.

Use of electronic devices for non-academic purposes.

Antagonistic behavior toward the instructor or other students.

Behavior that undermines the instructor’s ability to teach or students’ ability to learn.

Consequences for Disruptive Behavior

First Occurrence: A verbal warning will be issued, and the behavior will be documented.

Second Occurrence: You may be asked to leave the class for the remainder of the session.

Repeated Occurrences: Continued disruptive behavior may result in further disciplinary action in accordance with university policies, including removal from the course.

Academic Integrity and AI

Academic integrity is essential to learning and I take it very seriously.  Academic dishonesty will not be accepted in this class. Students are to submit their own work – not the work of others. If you submit other’s work as your own or submit assignments using resources not allowed, not only are you jeopardizing your academic future, but you are paying for an education you are not receiving and you are wasting your own time and energy in an effort not to learn. It is expected that students are submitting their original work. 

All student submissions are checked for plagiarism and use of any materials not authorized for use for an assignment is prohibited. Should this be an issue with any assignment you submit, you will receive a 0 on the assignment and, possibly an F in the class. The use of article rewriting tools, or other AI technology is unacceptable, not allowed, and will result in a 0 for the assignment. If there are indications of academic dishonesty, students may be asked to take a written, or verbal assessment in my presence.  

Students may also not use or submit artwork made before the class, made in another class, or created by anyone other than the student themselves. AI image generation tools such as MidJourney, Dall-E, ChatGPT, or Photoshop’s generative fill, are not allowed to be used in your idea generation process. While not prohibited, using AI tools to generate text-based ideas during your ideation process is highly discouraged. 

If an issue arises with your work, I reserve the right to go back and reassess/regrade previously submitted work to see if academic dishonesty has occurred with previous submissions. Assigning an F for the course for plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty is at my discretion if the offense is flagrant or repeated. Please note that I decide if an offense is flagrant or repeated – not the student. 

Syllabus Change Policy

I reserve the right to adjust this syllabus, assignments, and due dates as needed. Any changes will be announced in class and sent as an announcement through the Blackboard system. You should check your email daily for any announcements about the course

Grading and Assignments

Grades are earned, not given.

Students are expected to complete in-class and homework assignments in a timely manner and in accordance to project requirements (which include craftsmanship, accuracy in measuring, perspective, proportion, point of view, solidity of form, light logic, contrast, value scale, definition of edges, composition, level of completeness, etc. In addition it is recommended that students take on greater challenges, being creative, thinking visually, being innovative, establishing conceptual strength to projects, and communicating ideas clearly in critique)

Successful artwork results from students exhibiting intellectual curiosity, focused work ethic, timely completion of artwork, careful consideration of criticism, openness to new information and a commitment to fully explore and implement that information, pushing artwork beyond one’s previous limitations.

No images can be drawn from photos, memory, or imagination unless otherwise specified. This class focuses on drawing from DIRECT observation, any project that deviates from this requirement will receive an F.

All projects must be original and made for this class

A sincere commitment to each project from start to finish is expected in order for students to achieve the best quality in their work.

YOU ARE EXPECTED TO WORK A MINIMUM OF SIX HOURS PER WEEK OUTSIDE OF CLASS

Assignments will be collected for grading. Do not fold or roll your artwork! Always spray and cover your drawing with a newsprint cover sheet taped in place.

Use good paper for longer homework and in-class drawings.

Cost of supplies, though understandable, cannot be accepted as an excuse for incomplete assignments.

Attendance

Attending Critiques is mandatory.

Roll will be taken at the beginning of class. 5 minutes late will be counted as late. 10 minutes will mark you absent. You must attend every assigned class day according to LSCPA policy. Attendance is expected. Life, partying too hard, and breakups all happen. You have 3 unexcused absences before you drop a letter grade. Use them wisely. Excessive absences and tardiness will have a detrimental effect on your overall performance in class. 

3 Lates = 1 Absence for Class 

4 Unexcused Absences = 1 Letter Drop for Class

5 Unexcused Absences = 2 Letter Drops for Class

Students are expected to attend and participate in all lectures for this course. If a student is late or absent from class, they must inform the instructor via email (wilburmc@lamarpa.edu).  

Failure to attend class may result in a student failing this course. If a student accumulates over 5(TR)/7(MWF) unexcused absences in this course, they will automatically fail the course. 

An absence is only considered excused if it is unavoidable (illness with a doctor’s note, bereavement, injury or accident en route to class).  

A planned appointment will not be excused by the instructor. Do not schedule appointments or meetings during this class meeting time.

Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.

Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator, Room 119, in the Ruby Fuller Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.

This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.

As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.

LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.

For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.