ART 1521 - Foundation Drawing
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 40519,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Colby Schwartz
Email: ctschwartz01@ysu.edu
Course Description
1521. Foundation Drawing. An introduction to basic drawing concepts, materials and methods. Emphasis on observational drawing. Concepts including the effective use of line, mass, volume, composition, space, and the formal principles of design. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Drawing Essentials | Deborah Rockman |
Required Text: Drawing Essentials by Deborah Rockman fourth edition
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Orientation and Syllabus | Homework: Purchase book and any remaining materials | |
| Thu | 8/27 | Drawing Essentials: Line Variation and Sensitivity pg. 42-59 | Contour | Homework: Contour Drawing DUE Sep 1st Sketchbook: 5 Contour Studies |
| Tue | 9/1 | Gesture | Homework: Gesture and Continuous Drawings DUE September 3rd Sketchbook: 4 Gesture/ Continuous Line Drawings Contour Drawing DUE |
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| Thu | 9/3 | Positive and Negative Space | P/ N Space Final Drawing DUE September 8th Sketchbook: 4 Negative and Positive Space Drawings Gesture and Continuous Drawings DUE |
|
| Tue | 9/8 | Drawing Essentials: Sighting and the Use of a Sighting Stick Pg. 3 -13 Composition pg. 14-35 | Linear | Linear/ Structural Still Life Due 9/15 Homework: Readings P/ N Space Final Drawing DUE |
| Thu | 9/10 | Linear | Homework: Linear Still Life DUE September 15nd Sketchbook: 4 Linear Studies |
|
| Tue | 9/15 | Drawing Essentials: Perspective Drawing pg. 105 -124 | Perspective | Perspective Drawing Due 9/24 Homework: Finish Readings Sketchbook: 4 Perspective Studies Linear Still Life DUE |
| Thu | 9/17 | Perspective | Perspective Drawing Due 9/24 | |
| Tue | 9/22 | Perspective | Perspective Drawing Due 9/24 Homework: Perspective Drawing DUE September 24th |
|
| Thu | 9/24 | Value Structure pg. 63-68 | Value | Value Perspective Drawing Due 10/6 Homework: Readings Sketchbook 4 Compositional Value Sketches Perspective Drawing DUE |
| Tue | 9/29 | Value | Value Perspective Drawing Due 10/6 Homework: Continue Value Drawing |
|
| Thu | 10/1 | Value | Homework: Value Drawing DUE October 6th | |
| Tue | 10/6 | Drawing Essentials: Value &Texture pg. 68 -80 | Drapery | Drapery Due 10/13 Homework: Sketchbook 4 Drapery Sketches and Readings Value Perspective Drawing DUE |
| Thu | 10/8 | Drapery | Homework: Drapery Drawings DUE October 13nd at the end of class | |
| Tue | 10/13 | Drapery | Drapery DUE | |
| Thu | 10/15 | Texture | Texture Drawings Due 10/22 | |
| Tue | 10/20 | Texture | Texture Drawings Due 10/22 | |
| Thu | 10/22 | Drawing Essentials: Drawing Materials and Processes pg. 272 -298 | Texture | Homework: Readings Texture Drawings DUE |
| Tue | 10/27 | Mixed Media | Mixed Media Drawing Due 11/3 Homework: Sketchbook 4 Mixed Media Sketches |
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| Thu | 10/29 | Mixed Media | Homework: Mixed Media DUE November 3rd | |
| Tue | 11/3 | Drawing Essentials: Portrait Pg. 182-199 | Mixed Media | Homework: Readings Mixed Media Drawing DUE |
| Thu | 11/5 | Portrait | Portrait Due 11/17 | |
| Tue | 11/10 | Portrait | Portrait Due 11/17 Homework: Study for Vocab Quiz |
|
| Thu | 11/12 | Portrait Vocab Quiz |
Portrait Due 11/17 Homework: Portrait DUE November 17th Vocab Quiz Today |
|
| Tue | 11/17 | Drawing Essentials: Space & Still Life pg. 81 – 102 | Final Still life | Final Still Life Due 12/10 Homework: Readings Portrait DUE |
| Thu | 11/19 | Final Still life | Final Still Life Due 12/10 Homework: Finish 5 Still life Compositional Sketches |
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| Tue | 11/24 | Final Still Life | Final Still Life Due 12/10 | |
| Thu | 11/26 | No Class | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Final Still Life | Final Still Life Due 12/10 | |
| Thu | 12/3 | Final Still Life | Homework: FINAL DUE December 10th @ 1 pm | |
| Tue | 12/8 | No Class | ||
| Thu | 12/10 | Final | Final Still Life DUE |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.