Teacher: Chris Wightman
Email: cwightman@graniteschools.org
Course Objectives:
This Course introduces students 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. Students will
complete the following units through four areas of study: Production, art
history, criticism, and aesthetics.
Unit One - Principles of Design: Students will learn the aesthetics of good
design. They will learn the ingredients and guidelines that artists use to
create pleasing composition.
Unit Two – Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: Students unlock the
secrets of drawing as they learn how to see like artists do and take part in
exercises to strengthen their perceiving abilities.
Unit Three – Spatial Relationships: Students learn measuring techniques to
find spatial relationships in the people, objects, and spaces from which they
draw.
Unit Four – Perspective: Students learn to create the illusion of depth on a
flat surface following rules of perspective including linear perspective.
Unit Five – Value/Light and Shadow: Students learn to give their drawings
the illusion of form using light logic (what happens to light when it hits a
three dimensional object). Students use different shading techniques to
create light and shadow.
Unit Six – Color: Students learn color theory, mixing colors, matching the
colors that they see using the three traits – hue, value, and intensity, and
using color to express their creative ideas.
Materials:
All students must pay a $15.00 Class fee in the front office by the first
Friday of the semester. All art materials, including pencil and paper, will
be provided from this fund and should be kept in an assigned box in the
classroom. Materials should not be taken out for use in other classes. Lost
or damaged materials (including pencils) will be replaced by the student.
Course Requirements and Grading:
Grades are NOT based on the artistic talents that students have when they
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. All students must:
1. Communicate: Unit Syllabi; posted grades; Mr. Wightman’s Web site;
email; verbal communication! One of the most common attributes of successful
students is the ability to communicate with teachers.
2. Keep a Sketchbook – complete the homework assignments in the
sketchbook. Homework assignments will be assigned in the sketchbook for each
unit and will be due one week after the unit is completed.
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.
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.
5. Learn the Vocabulary. Study the vocabulary for each unit and learn
the concepts.
6. Make good use of class time. If you finish work early, you should go
through your box to make sure there are no unfinished assignments, improve
current assignments and quick draws, or work in your sketchbook. If I ask
you what you are working on, the response should never be “I’m finished”.
7. Follow Directions. Listen carefully. Ask questions.
8. Demonstrate that they 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 one week after each unit is completed. 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 muscle we call a brain that will help students to solve
problems creatively. Art helps to develop visual learning skills, enabling
the student to see things more clearly and completely. 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.
