Course Syllabus

Description of Course

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

This course aims to extend basic drawing and art making skills through a variety of media, such as: visual note taking, charcoal, ink, pencil, collage, water color, book making, paper cut, printmaking, and mixed media. 

Each session will include a workshop where mediums and techniques are presented, discussed, and tested. Often there will be a specific assignment or series of exercises to encourage students to explore a medium or technique further. Sometimes there will be a short lecture, text, or discussion to introduce a specific medium, and to offer cultural and historical insight. 

Emphasis is placed on individual creative experimentation, building on the concepts and techniques introduced in class.

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

Learning Objectives

• Develop a deeper understanding of artistic techniques and visual foundations
• 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 present a larger independent art project

Instructor: Ursula Beck

Master of Fine Arts: Critical & Pedagogical Studies, Malmö Art Academy, Sweden, 2019. Bachelor of Arts: Studio Art, University of Puget Sound, USA, 2013. Curatorial Assistant, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, 2013 - 2014. Artist Studio & Gallery Assistant, Portland, 2016. Gallery Assistant, Portland Art Museum, 2017. Art Teacher & Visiting Faculty, various institutions, USA and Sweden, 2018 - 2020. With DIS since 2021. 

Consultation: please reach out via Canvas Inbox

Course Evaluation

Assignment	Percent
Sketchbook portfolio (in class and at home assignments)	50%
Participation in class work, discussion, attendance, presentations	20%
Independent Art Projects: Midterm Project Final Project	10% 20%

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, hands-on creativity and therefore the use of AI tools is not allowed.

Required Materials

We will discuss and sample these materials, you do not need to bring them to the first session.

Suggested art stores: Tutein og Koch, Stelling, Kreatima

1. Graphite pencils HB, 2B, 4B; eraser, sharpener
2. Felt tip pen (0.2, 0.5)
3. Glue stick (good quality)
4. Watercolor brush
5. Watercolor tins: red, yellow, and blue
6. A4 Sketchbook (bound, hard cover, 150gsm minimum)

Note: Project work will occasionally require that you buy additional materials

Required Reading

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

Edwards, Betty: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, #11 Moving into the Third Dimension: Seeing Light, Drawing Shade, Souvenir Press, 1979. pp.180-189

Hustved, Siri: Notes on Seeing, in Living, Thinking, Looking, London, Sceptre Books, 2012. pp.223-231.

Kentridge, William: Drawing Lesson 1: In Praise of Shadows in Six Drawing Lessons, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2014.pp.1-32

O’Reilly, Sally: Collage: Diversions, contradictions and Anomalies, in Blanche Craig (ed.) Collage – Assembling Contemporary art, London, Black Dog Publishing, 2008, pp.8-19.

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

Field Studies

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

SMK Danish National Gallery

Copenhagen Contemporary

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