DSGN 1534 - Design + Painting
Summer 2026 Syllabus, Section A01, CRN 30973,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Dragana Crnjak
Professional Qualifications:
Master of Fine Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University
Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Akron
Professor
Email: dcrnjak@ysu.edu
Office: 0016 Bliss Hall
Office Phone: 330-9411860
Preferred Contact Method: email
Communication Expectations:
I will respond to emails and calls within 24-48 hours. Please note that I check my emails on a limited basis after 5 p.m. and on weekends. If you email in the evening, do not expect a response until the following day. If you email over the weekend, please expect a response on Monday.
How to Refer to me:
Professor Crnjak
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Course Description
.
Design + Painting course is designed to immerse students in the fundamentals of painting, focusing on the development of both technical and perceptual skills. Through exercises in observation, color mixing, surface building, and expressive use of materials, students will engage with various hands-on and digital painting methodologies. By the end of the course, students will not only gain a deeper understanding of the painting discipline but also build the confidence to develop their own unique artistic and design strategies.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| No readings |
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
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/11 | Project guidelines in Module 1 Watch the instructor's Ppt Presentation introducing the topic |
Tonal Painting Study | 5/14 - In-progress tonal study (sketched composition or sketched composition with darkest values added) due in the group Ppt Presentation 5/17 - Completed Tonal Painting study due in the group Ppt Presentation |
| 5/18 | Project guidelines in Module 2 Watch the instructor's Ppt Presentation introducing the topic |
Limited Palette painting | 5/21 - Artist Research in Padlet due. 5/21 - Underpainting along the reference image are due in the group Ppt presentation 5/24 - Completed Limited Palette Painting study due in the group Ppt Presentation |
| 5/25 | Project guidelines in Module 3 Watch the instructor's Ppt Presentation introducing the topic |
Color Schemes – Representational Color palette | 5/28 - In-progress painting study (at least underpainting stage) is due in the group Ppt Presentation 5/31 - Completed Representational Color Painting study due in the group Ppt Presentation |
| 6/1 | Project guidelines in Module 4 Watch the instructor's Ppt Presentation introducing the topic |
Color Schemes – Analogous and Arbitrary color palette | 6/4 - One study (analogous or arbitrary palette) due in the group Ppt Presentation 6/7 - Both analogous and arbitrary color palette studies due in the group Ppt Presentation |
| 6/8 | Project guidelines in Module 5 Watch the instructor's Ppt Presentation introducing the topic |
Surface | 6/11 - Five surface studies due in the group Ppt Presentation 6/14 - Final Surface Collage due in the group Ppt Presentation |
| 6/15 | Project guidelines in Module 6 Watch the instructor's Ppt Presentation introducing the topic |
Final Project – Space, Preparatory work | 6/18 - Reference image, color mood board and sketched composition are due in the personal Ppt Presentation (1-2 slides) 6/21 - In-progress painting due in the personal Ppt Presentation (slide 3) |
| 6/22 | No readings | Final Project – Space | 6/26 - Completed final project Space along Artist Statement are due in personal Ppt Presentation |
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.