Course Syllabus

A studio art course (for non-majors) introducing students to contemporary and historical approaches to art. In this course, students will develop individual and independent art projects.

This course aims to extend basic drawing and art making skills in a variety of media: drawing, sketching, collage, watercolor, printmaking, stitching, book making and the art of mixing media. Students are encouraged to seek inspiration from the world around them.

Each session will start with a short introduction to a new artistic technique, offering historical and cultural insights, followed by a workshop where these techniques will be explored individually. Often there will be a specific assignment to encourage the student to develop the medium further.

Emphasis is placed on personal creative experimentation, according to the concepts and techniques introduced in this class.

Students will learn how to work in an engaged manner with a sketchbook, to document their personal "Art in the Making" journey.

 

Learning Objectives

• Develop a deeper understanding of artistic techniques, content and contexts;
• Practice critical discourse through studio work sessions and field studies;
• Obtain the ability to work with a number of artistic materials and techniques;
• Enable students to visually manifest their ideas;
• Produce and exhibit a larger individual art project.

 

Instructor: Sarah Alfast

Dip.Arch. Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow, 2008, BA Hons, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 2007, Assistant Architect at Groves Raines Architects 2006-2007, Assistant Architect at Frank Harmon Architect pa, NC, USA 2009, Collaboration with arki_lab, Copenhagen 2012, previously Urban Design Journal and Visual Journal Lecturer for DIS, Architect at Schulze + Grassov, Copenhagen

2014, Design Architect for Azuko. Employment at DIS since 2010.

Consultation

Send me a message via canvas

 

Course Evaluation

Assignment	Percent
Mid Term - Preliminary Grade given in Sketchbooks
Sketchbook Class and Home Assignments Independent Entries to Sketchbook 5 drawings outside class	50%
Participation in class discussion, attendance, presentations	20%
Final Art Project	30 %

 

PLEASE NOTE: It is essential that students attend each session and that they engage deeply and actively with the creative process during class and at home. 

Classroom Etiquette: Mobile phones and other electronic devices should  be turned off and stored away. Students should refrain from all other computer activities to create a focused studio atmosphere. This course emphasizes individual creativity and therefore the use of AI tools is not allowed.

 

Materials

• Do not buy materials, students will be provided with a start kit which they will receive at the first class. The start kit contains: 1 A4 Sketchbook, 2B pencil, Eraser, Drawing Pen, A Sharpener, Paint Brush, Glue stick for Class use. 

• Students will need to invest in some good quality card and maybe some other materials for the making of the Final Project in the second half of the semester.
• Students are encouraged to source their own found materials, to be resourceful with the studio supply and take good care of their materials. 
• There is an art cupboard in the classroom with tools and equipment for use in class time. The cupboard is shared between the Art in the Making Classes.

( Art Stores: There is a DIS student discount at Tutein and Koch, Farvergade 8, CPH and Stelling City Kunst Artikler, Amagertorv 9,  and Papirlageret, Nørre Voldgade 11.)

 

 

Reading

(Available on Canvas; readings must be completed before the class that they are assigned to)

Dobie, Jeanne, Making Color Sing, New York, Watson-Guptail Publications, 1986.

Edwards, Betty, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, London, Harper Collins Publishers, 2008.

Golden, Alisa, Making Handmade Books, New York, Lark, 2010.

Harmon, Katharine, Intro to The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists explore cartography, New York, Princeton Press,  2009. 

Howard, J. Smagula: Creative Drawing, London, Lawrence King Publishing, 2002, #4 Line, pp. 84- 87, #10 Exploring Color, pp. 204-221.

Hustved, Siri, Notes on Seeing, The Drama of Perception, in Living, Thinking, Looking pp. 223-231, London, Sceptre Books, 2012.

Jackson, Paul, Cut and Fold Techniques for Pop Up Designs, London, Laurence King Publishing, 2014.

Rhodes, Shelley, Sketchbook Explorations for Mixed Media and Textile Artists, London, Batsford, 2018.

 

Field Study Sites 

Gardens and Parks and Streets of Copenhagen

Copenhagen's Botanical Gardens

Statens Museum for Kunst, National Gallery of Denmark

Design Museum Denmark

Kunstforeningen GL Strand

 

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org