Syllabus

Fall 2014
Mark A. Nelson
Office building, room: Haymans Hall Office 314
Phone:
(912) 525-4892
Office hours:
1:30 - 2:30 M W

Email:
Building/Room:
Meeting Times:

3:30 - 4:30 M W
mnelson@scad.edu
HAYMAN 110
Monday / Wednesday
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

School of Communication Arts, Department of Sequential Art, Savannah

SEQA 215 - Materials and Techniques for Sequential Art

Section: 01 CRN: 11063

SCAD Mission:
The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for professional careers, emphasizing learning
through individual attention in a positively oriented university environment.
Course Description:
Examining the technical craft of sequential art production, students in this course focus on a variety of traditional skills,
techniques and tools associated with illustrating a comic narrative. Prerequisite(s): SEQA 202.
Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course:
1. Students will become familiar with a variety of materials and techniques used to create comic narratives.
2. Students will practice hand lettering and balloon placement design.
3. Students will learn a variety of processes for sequential art reproduction and preparation.
Student Learning Outcomes: The following course outcomes indicate competencies and measurable skills that students
develop as a result of completing this course:
1. Students will create effective visual narratives through a variety of approaches and media.
2. Students will demonstrate hand lettering and effective balloon placement with consideration for storytelling,
composition, and legibility.
3. Students will successfully employ preparation methods to create sequential art for reproduction in a variety of
media.

Schedule of Classes:
Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates:

Class 1:
Mon,
September
15, 2014

Class Overview: Grading, syllabus etc.

Lecture:
1. The tools of the trade
2. Various Artists, how they: look, see, and think. How do they solve visual problems
within their work.
Homework: Bring in simple/small object to draw.

Class 2:
Wed,
September
17, 2014

Lecture/Demo: Observational drawing working with pencil for ink. Building form from
inside out, contour and line weight to develop start of light source
In Class Assignment for Project 1:
Draw objects in class, using technique discussed.
Measuring with pencil, etc.
Work up clean contour line drawing.
Due: clean line drawing o object by end of class.

Class 3:
Mon,
September
22, 2014

Lecture/Demo: Adding value, light source, following form, surfaces.

In Class Assignment: Tones and textures working on your pencil.
Exercise: value: line direction, line spacing, line weight, movement of planes, surfaces
to your drawing.
Project 2: Work up 4 different variations of your line drawing in pencil on Bristol board.
Project 3: Squares using the exercise in class, pencils.

Class 4:
Wed,
September
24, 2014

Due: Finished pencil drawing drawings and squares.

Lecture: Inking your work: pencil to ink (additive process), differences between the
various tools: Brush, nib, technical pen, white out. tools: rulers, french curves, etc.
In Class Assignment: ink your drawings, ink someone elses drawing.

Class 5:
Mon,
September
29, 2014

Lecture: 1 point perspective

Project 4: One Point Environments: work up interiors and exteriors in one point
perspective 4 of each in pencil.
In Class Assignment: Work on interiors and exteriors.

Class 6:
Wed, October
1, 2014

Lecture: 2 point perspective

Project 5: Two Point Environments: work up interiors and exteriors in two point
perspective 4 of each in pencil.
In Class Assignment: Work on interiors and exteriors.
Due: Inks Project 2 and 3, Pencil for Project 4

Class 7:
Mon, October
6, 2014

Lecture: 3 point perspective

Project 6: Three Point Environments: work up interiors and exteriors in three point
perspective 4 of each in pencil.
In Class Assignment: Work on interiors and exteriors.
Due: Pencils for Project 5

Class 8:
Wed, October
8, 2014

Project 7: Full Environment and figures.

In Class Assignment: Working from one of the approved interiors or exteriors, add
figures and start tight pencil, work on light source, and line.
Due: Pencils for Project 6

Class 9:
Mon, October
13, 2014

Environment and Figure 2

Due: Pencils for final environment and figures
In Class Assignment: Work on inking you final drawing

Class 10:
Wed, October
15, 2014

Due: all work for projects 1 thru 7, print form

In Class Assignment: Crit

Class 11:
Mon, October
20, 2014

Lecture: Thumbnails : points of reference, storytelling, and establishing figure ground

relationships.
Project 8:Thumbnails: working up you story in thumbnails.
In Class Assignment: start your thumbnails for a story

Class 12:
Wed, October
22, 2014

Class Disscussion of thumbnails to date

In Class Assignment: rework thumbnails.

Class 13:
Mon, October
27, 2014

Lecture: Lettering and balloon placement

Project 8 continued: place word balloons practice hand lettering
Project 9: lettering
In Class Assignment: layout guides, do the alphabet, numbers and symbols. Picking
you thumbnails for Project 10

Class 14:
Wed, October
29, 2014

Project 10: Full penciled page

In Class Assignment: work on full penciled page
Review: Full Penciled page
Due: Project 9: lettering and blow up thumbnails.

Class 15:
Mon,
November 3,
2014
Class 16:
Wed,
November 5,
2014

In Class Assignment: work on full penciled page, Layout in blue, and work up tight
pencils. Rough in Balloon placement

In Class Assignment: work finalizing pencils and start on inking full penciled page
Desk review of Final Pencil Drawings
IMPORTANT: You must make a full size scan at 600 dpi of your pencils before you
start inking.

Class 17:
Mon,
November
10, 2014

In Class Assignment: work on inking full penciled page,

Crit: Final Pencils
Homework: new penciled panel for wash/colour demo

Class 18:
Wed,
November
12, 2014

Lecture: Ink washes and colour, crow quill and bluelines

Due: New penciled panel for wash drawing
Project 11: wash study
In Class Assignment: Ink wash drawing and pencil new panel for colour

Class 19:
Mon,
November
17, 2014

Project 12: Ink washes and colour

In Class Assignment: work colors up on panel

Class 20:
Wed,
November
19, 2014

Crit: Projects 11 12

Grading Opportunities:
Your overall course grade will be computed according to the following breakdown:
Assignment

Weight

Project 1:
Construction of accurate object
Clean pencil drawing
Working up various lines

5.000percent

Project 2:
Working on variations of a theme
Line quality
Light source and form
Inks

5.000percent

Project 3:
Squares:
Following form
Line direction
Line Spacing
Line variation
inks

5.000percent

Project 4:
One point Perspective
Interior
Exterior
Line quality: pencil

10.000percent

Project 5:
Two Point Perspective
Interior
Exterior
Line quality: pencil

10.000percent

Project 6:
Three Point Perspective
Interior
Exterior
Line quality: pencil

10.000percent

Project 7:
Environment and figures
Interior/exterior
Line quality
Light source and values
Pencils
Inks

10.000percent

Project 8:
Thumbnails
Reworked thumbnails
Balloon placement

10.000percent

Project 9:
Lettering
Consistant lettering

10.000percent

Project 10:
Full penciled page
Pencils
Inks
Balloon Placement

15.000percent

Project 11:
Pencil
Value study
Ink washes
Colour

5.000percent

Project 12:
Pencil
Value study
Ink washes
Colour

5.000percent

Grading Standards

Range

Letter grade: A = excellent

90 100 %

Letter grade: B = good

80 89 %

Letter grade: C = *

70 79 %

Letter grade: D = *

60 69%

Letter grade: F = failing

0 59%

*Refer to the student handbooks and departmental standards for minimal acceptance for passing grade.

Course Information:
Field Trip(s):
ATTENDENCE REQUIRED: STUDENT MUST ATTEND ONE OF THESE FUNCTIONS 1) SUPERHERO COMICS PANEL DISCUSSION - Thursday, November 6th or 2) MINI-COMICS WEEKEND AND PANEL - Saturday, November 8th

Extra Help Session(s):

Week four: Friday 11:00pm

Extended Learning Opportunities:

Mark Schultz presentation: October 3, 2-4pm, Center

Fabrice Sapolsky - European Comics and the Market - October 15 - Room TBA

Career Services Publisher's Day: October 24 - 25 Savannah Film Fest: October 24 - November 2

Other Course Information:

Assignment Submissions:

Student
Assignments not adhering to the guidelines for submission on the Assignment Sheet, or as instructed by professor in-class will not be accepted.
Late Assignments
It is important in professional practice to meet all deadlines, and therefore no late assignments will be accepted, will not be graded and receive no points. In
the event that you are not in attendance for a deadline, your assignment may be submitted to the professor prior to the deadline. You M UST email to inform
the instructor that the assignment is in drop bporxi,or to the class period that the assignment is due. In the event that you cannot complete a assignment, but
have part of the assignment complete by the deadline, you may turn in an assignment for partial credit. It, too, must be in the dropbox with appropriate email
confirmation sent to the professor as well.
Electronic Submissions of Projects
All assignment must be submitted electronically to Drop Box in the appropriate folder name prior to the beginning of class. All assignments will be reviewed
electronically in class. Folders must be named correctly, and file names must contain the name of the assignment and students last name (see Assignment
sheet for detailsA).ny project not submitted electronically with in the correct folder, with the correct file name, will be considered late, and will not be graded.
Critiques & Reviews
Critiques and Reviews are an important part of the learning process, and you will be penalized for the following: 1. Missing a Critique or Review (but project
turned in prior to critique): -25% of the total project points being deducted. 2. Late for a Critique or Review: -15% of the total project points being deducted.3.
Little or No Participation in Critique or Review by providing feedback to other student work: -10% of the total project points being deducted.
Electronic Submission of Projects Image needs: 300 dpi jpeg in grayscale (if b/w work) or RGB (if color work) at full size of original art.
Other Project Standards:
Students are expected to take notes during critique (of your work and others). If you must miss the class, you may submit your work via email BEFORE class
is in session. Resubmissions of incomplete work are not accepted except under extreme medical circumstances.
Other Student Responsibilities:
Regularly check your email (as there may be announcements). Keep up with the daily reading schedule & be prepared for each class. If you miss class you
should ask a fellow classmate about information missed. Your work area should be left clean and ready for the next class of students.
Cell Phones
Cell phones and other electronic devices are prohibited during class, and should be turnedcompletely off.
Software Certifications
SCAD has an agreement with Lynda.com to offer software certification free of charge. These certifications will be helpful for this course content, and
demonstrate software competencies that can be listed on your Resume for potential career opportunities. The following certifications are encouraged for this
course:
Photoshop CS6 New Features Scanning Techniques for Business and Home Scanning Techniques for Photography, Art, and Design Word 2010
Essential Training
To access Lynda.com, go to: MySCAD > Workspace > My Technology Resources > click on Lynda.com

Course Materials:
Required Text(s):
none

Recommended Text(s):
Rendering with Pen and Ink by Athur Guptill

Required Material(s):
Materials:
Lead holder
Leads 2H, HB, B
Lead Sharpener
Eraser, (white plastic)
Clic eraser
India Ink (Black)
4 Hunts 102 nibs (crowquill)
Nib holder for crowquill nib
Tech pens (Micron or other brands, marker type) .2 .3 .4 .7
Pentel Color Brush
Pentel pocket brush (optional)
Pad of Canson ruled comic paper (or lose sheets) or pad Strathmore ruled paper for 10 x 15 pages
I pad #234 Paris Bleedproof paper (Borden & Riley) 9 x 12 or 11 x 14
9 x 12 Tracing paper pad
45 degree triangle
30-60 degree triangle
18 ruler
Blue pencils ( Darche non-photo blue or 20044 col-erase blue)
I roll inch drafting tape
White out (Dr. Martins White or Pro White)
Ames lettering guide
Brushes Sable or ?
French curves

BUY LATER:
To be discussed in class in relationship to colour project:
Brown ink and coloured inks
Water colour paper
Watercolours
Optional:
Electric eraser
Circle and Ellipse guides

University Policies:
Academic Integrity:
Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff and other
students.
In class assignments, students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Any work
that is not a product of the student's own efforts is considered dishonest. Students must not engage in academic
dishonesty; doing so can have serious consequences.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Cheating, which includes, but is not limited to, (a) the giving or receiving of any unauthorized assistance in producing
assignments or taking quizzes, tests or examinations; (b) dependence on the aid of sources including technology beyond
those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments;
(c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university faculty
or staff; or (d) the use of unauthorized assistance in the preparation of works of art.
2. Plagiarism, which includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or
unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. Plagiarism also includes the unacknowledged

use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
3. Submission of the same work in two or more classes without prior written approval of the professors of the classes
involved.
4. Submission of any work not actually produced by the student submitting the work without full and clear written
acknowledgement of the actual author or creator of the work.
Attendance and Personal Conduct:
Only students who are properly registered for a course may attend and participate in that class. Students are expected to
attend and participate in all scheduled classes and examination periods. Absences in excess of four class periods per
quarter, or 20 percent of the course, result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course. Tardiness, early
departure or other time away from class in excess of 15 minutes per class session is considered absence for the class session.
The student's appearance and conduct should be appropriate and should contribute to the academic and professional
atmosphere of SCAD. The university reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw the privilege of enrollment from
any student whose conduct is detrimental to the academic environment or to the well-being of other students, faculty or
staff members, or to the university facilities.
Enrollment policies:
Students are responsible for assuring proper enrollment. See the SCAD catalog for information on add/drop, withdrawals,
incompletes, and academic standing.
Midterm Conference(s):
Each student enrolled in the course will have a midterm conference scheduled outside of class time with the professor.
Students are expected to keep this appointment.
Academic Support and Tutoring:
Academic support for students at all SCAD locations can be found in MySCAD, under the Student Workspace tab,
Department Directory, Academic Resources.
Course Evaluations:
SCAD offers students the opportunity to evaluate all scheduled courses during each quarter term. Student feedback is
essential to continuously improve academic services at SCAD. Evaluations will be available the end of each quarter at the
beginning of Week 8 and must be completed online by the Monday following Week 10. A sample course evaluation for
on-ground courses is available here.
In order to access course evaluations, the student should take the following steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Log on to MySCAD
Click on the Student Workspace Tab
Locate the Course Evaluations link under My Courses channel
This will bring up a page that says current surveys and lists all the courses that are currently available for evaluation.

For more information or questions, contact us at evaluations@scad.edu.

Student Surveys:
The SCAD Student Survey and the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory will both be administered in Week 6 of
spring quarter . SCAD's office of institutional effectiveness is responsible for gathering and delivering survey results to
decision-makers on campus. For more information or questions, contact us at surveys@scad.edu.
Please refer to the college catalog or the student handbook for all college policies and procedures.