Associate Professor Bradlee Shanks
Office Hours: M-W 2:50-3:50, Room #257
Phone-974-9291; E-mail: shanks@satie.arts.usf.edu
This course is an advanced concentration in printmaking with a particular focus on the creative issues that face contemporary printmakers. Students are challenged to create images that address issues of content and meaning concerning selected topics. These topics will include time-honored ideas of art as visual expression as well as the critical issues of art and culture. Weekly discussions will relate to assigned readings and facilitate a dialogue that informs the student’s print shop activity. In order to achieve these conceptual goals, students are expected to develop their formal design skills as well as advance their technical proficiency in printmaking. The student is encouraged to focus in a particular medium and develop a series of images that reflect a stated goal. Recognizing and applying creative urges and impulses are paramount.
Four projects are required with each project consisting of a series of five finished prints. Each project is based upon a particular topic or theme and will require a written statement that supports the visual work. A work-in-progress discussion will be held for each project culminating in a final critique. Critique format will include a verbal statement by each student and a pertinent class discussion based upon the qualitative criteria of form and content.
Images will be evaluated on two levels: Sophistication of technique and impact of idea. Sophistication of technique will be determined by: quality of your craftsmanship and presentation; experimentation and control of media; effect of technique toward meaning and expression. Impact of your ideas will be determined by: committed research of your images as meaningful forms of personal expression; quality of the expression grounded in appropriate formal/technical presentation. Four projects will be graded and your final course grade will be an average of all grades. Each project will count as a possible twenty-five points and will consist of the following: 20 points for five finished prints (5 x [4.0 for "A" grade]=20), 3 points for showing at the work-in-progress discussion and 2 points for a written statement.
"A" Grade = 90-100pts =Excellent
"B" Grade = 80-89.9pts.=Good
"C" Grade = 70-79.9pts.=Average
"D" Grade = 60-69.9pts.=Poor
"F" Grade = 0-59.9 pts. = Fail
Late project submissions= one letter grade demotion
Late projects not accepted one week beyond the due date.
Change-of-grade re-submissions accepted no later than next project due date.
5 excused or unexcused absences = 1 letter grade demotion
Each additional absence= 1 letter grade demotion
8 or more absences = automatic failure
2 tardies = one absence
Work-in-progress discussion January 24, Critique February 2
Work-in-progress discussion February 16, Critique March 6
Work-in-progress discussion March 22, Critique April 3
Work-in-progress discussion April 19, Critique April 26\