Beginning Art
Teacher: Chris Wightman
Email: cwightman@graniteschools.org
Course Objectives:
This Course introduces you to art education with a focus on thinking in a
creative way, visual learning skills (seeing and perceiving), and visual
communication of their creative ideas and perceptions. You will complete the
following units through four areas of study: Production, art history,
criticism, and aesthetics.
Unit One – Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Unlock the secrets of
drawing as you learn how to see like artists do and take part in exercises to
strengthen your perceiving abilities.
Unit Two – Spatial Relationships: You will learn measuring techniques to
find spatial relationships in the people, objects, and spaces from which you
draw.
Unit Three – Value/Light and Shadow: You will learn to give your drawings
the illusion of form using light logic (what happens to light when it hits a
three dimensional object) and learn different shading techniques to create
light and shadow.
Unit Four – Color: You will learn color theory, mixing colors, matching the
colors that you see using the three traits – hue, value, and intensity, and
use color to express your creative ideas.
Unit Five - Principles of Design: You will learn the aesthetics of good
design using the ingredients and guidelines that artists use to create
pleasing composition.
Unit Six – Perspective: You will learn to create the illusion of depth on a
flat surface following rules of perspective including linear perspective.
Materials:
All students must pay a $20.00 Class fee in the front office the second week
of the semester. All art materials, including pencil and paper, will be
provided from this fund and should be kept in your assigned box in the
classroom. You are allowed to take materials home for homework assignments
but you must have them in class every day. Lost, stolen or damaged materials
(including pencils) will be replaced by the student. Students have the
option to check out a key to keep their cubbies locked but will pay a $5.00
replacement fee for lost keys. Students who misuse materials will lose the
privilege of using them and will have to complete alternative assignments.
Grading/Keys to Success:
Grades are NOT based on the artistic talents that you have when you start the
class.
Students who put forth the effort will be able to show the instructor that
they have learned and understand the art skills, ideas and history that the
instructor has introduced. To be successful, you must:
1. Communicate:
• Keep the current Unit Syllabus in your box and refer to it daily.
• Check your grades often on the Granite Gradebook. I post
assignments on the gradebook usually before they are due so that parents know
when they are due and how much they are worth. If you see -/50, don’t
panic. That just means the assignment will be worth 50 points but hasn’t
been graded yet. If you see 0/50 you need to take action. Come see me!
• Make sure your Parents are aware of what’s happening in the
classroom. One of the best measures of how much you’re learning is the
ability to share it with someone else. Often, it will be new to your parents.
• I will ask each day during the warm-up if there are any issues.
Please use this time to resolve any concerns or confusion that you might
have. I want to help you to be successful. Sometimes I just need to know
there is a problem.
• Email me anytime there is a question or concern, especially if you
don’t feel comfortable talking about it in class.
2. Keep up on Sketchbook Assignments. Don’t wait until the night
before it’s due to hurry through the assignment. When you put time, care,
and thought into your art work you will always get a good grade, even when
you think you don’t have the ability. Be a self-starter with the quick draws
and make them up when absent.
3. Turn in assignments completed and on time. New Grades are posted
at the end of each unit. Late work will be accepted one week after the unit
is completed. Late work that is accepted will receive a full grade drop.
Never leave late work on my desk. Wait until I ask for it during the warm-up
each day.
4. Make up work due to absence: Work with Mr. Wightman to take care
of absence and get back on track. Write “absent” on your work by your name
to remind me that it is make-up work. Never leave make-up work on my desk.
Wait until I ask for it during the warm-up each day.
5. Learn the Vocabulary. Study the vocabulary daily and learn it as
it is introduced. Don’t cram before the quiz at the end of the unit.
6. Make good use of class time. Limit homework by finishing
assignments in class. Use the time I give you to improve your work.
7. Follow Directions. Listen carefully. Ask questions.
8. Demonstrate that you understand the purpose and importance of the
assignments.
Homework: Homework is assigned for each unit in order to develop better
understanding of concepts taught in class. Homework should be completed in
the sketchbook and will be due at the end of each unit. All other work is
expected to be completed in class. Any work not completed in class becomes
homework.
Grading Scale:
• 90% - A 80% - B 65% - C 53% - D
• 87% - A- 75% - B- 60% - C- 50% - D-
• 83% - B+ 70% - C+ 57% - D+ > 50% - F
Classroom Expectations: (See Attached Sheet) Violation of expectations will
result in the following consequence:
First offense: Review expectation violated by copying it down and turning in
to the teacher.
Second offense: Review expectation, parent notification, and drop in
citizenship grade.
Third offense: Review expectation, parent notification, drop in citizenship,
after school detention.
Fourth offense: Review expectation, parent notification, drop in
citizenship, ASD, meeting with vice principle.
Citizenship Grading Scale: 4.0 – Honor; 3.0 – Good; 2.0 – Satisfactory; 1.0 –
Poor; 0.0 – Failure.
Accommodations: If any special accommodations need to be made for the
student, the parent or guardian should contact Mr. Wightman so that
arrangements can be made.
Philosophy: Art is a vital part of a student’s learning development.
Artists do not create with their hands, but with their minds. Art exercises
that part of the brain that will help students to solve problems visually and
creatively. Art helps to develop visual learning skills, enabling the
student to see things more clearly and completely and truly perceive the
world around them. Art helps students to learn to express themselves in
effective ways. Art helps to create well-rounded individuals and can be a
source for life-long fulfillment. Art is fun. I hope that this course will
be fun, fulfilling, and a great learning experience for you.
Mr. Chris Wightman
Art
Expectations
What is expected of me to help create a safe and effective learning
environment for myself, my classmates, and my teacher.
1. Self Starter: I will arrive on time and prepared with my
sketchbook
and any other necessary materials. I will not bring food or drinks (except
water), gum, backpacks, electronic devices, or anything else that might
distract from learning into the classroom. I will be in the classroom when
the bell starts ringing. I will immediately retrieve my box, go directly to
my seat and stay there. I will not wait for Mr. Wightman, but will go right
to work on the daily quick draw. I will stay focused on my work and not talk
to other students. If there is anything I don’t understand I will raise my
hand and ask for help. If I finish early, I will work on assignments or draw
in my sketch book until Mr. Wightman calls for my attention.
2. Instruction: I will give Mr. Wightman my full attention the first
time he asks for it. I will then stop what I am doing, put down my
materials, and look at him so that he knows that I am listening. I will stay
focused on him and listen to what he is saying. I will not talk to others or
make any noise. If I have a question or want to respond to something he says
I will raise my hand and wait to be called on. When someone else is called
on I will not talk over them. I will not get out of my seat for any reason
during instruction. I will wait until Mr. Wightman says “Go to work” before
I begin talking again or work on my assignment.
3. Production: As soon as Mr. Wightman says “Go to work,” I will
retrieve all the materials needed to stay productive for the rest of the
period. I will then stay focused on my work and not distract others. I will
talk quietly and not shout across the room. During right brain exercises, I
will not talk, but stay focused on drawing lines and shapes. I will not leave
my seat except to retrieve materials as instructed by Mr. Wightman. I will
not go to my friend’s seats for any reason. If I finish early, I will work
in my sketchbook or ask Mr. Wightman for something to do. I will always be
working on some work of art.
4. Clean-up: I will ignore the clean-up bell. When Mr. Wightman
says “Clean-up” I will clean up all of the area on and around my desk
including wiping off my desk and picking up garbage around my desk. I will
properly clean and care for all of my tools as instructed by Mr. Wightman and
return them to their proper place. I will keep the sink and counters clean
and not leave paper towels or anything else that doesn’t belong there. I
will not leave any messes in the room. I will put all of my materials in my
box and return it to its proper shelf. When finished cleaning, I will return
to my seat and wait for Mr. Wightman to check the room. I will ignore the
bell and wait for Mr. Wightman to excuse me.
5. Respect: I will respect my classmates, the materials, the
classroom,
and my teacher. I will never bully others or say mean things about them or
their artwork. I will not touch other people’s things without permission. I
will never use the materials in ways that are not intended. I will not go
places in the room where I am not allowed. I will never throw things in the
room. I will not bring electronics into the room. I will never dress or
talk inappropriately. I will show respect to the teacher. If I disagree with
him, I will voice my disagreement with respect. I will do whatever I can to
make it a safe, comfortable environment for my classmates and my teacher.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature Sheet
Name_________________________
Period________
Parents of Art Students:
Please go to graniteschools.org/jr/wasatch . >Click on Faculty >click on
Mr. Wightman. This is my web page. I would like you and your child to
familiarize yourself with it. Most of the information that you will need
throughout the class can be obtained from this page. Please click on “Art
foundation 1 Disclosure” and review the disclosure and expectations with
your child. If this is not possible, your child can obtain a copy of the
disclosure from the teacher.
A check for $15.00 made out to Wasatch Junior High should be taken to the
main office for art class fees.
Keep the expectation sheet in your box in the classroom for your reference.
I have read the disclosure and understand what is expected of me to help this
semester be a successful one.
Student_______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian_______________________________________
Telephone______________________________
Email________________________________________________
Comments:
