ART

361K—PAINTING IV (Unique #21310) Spring Semester 2021

ART 361K—PAINTING IV-WB (Unique #21315)
Tuesday/Thursday 2:00p.m.—5:00p.m. ART 4.418
Instructor: John Yancey
TA: Jesus Trevino
Office Hours: By appointment
Office Location: ART 4.410 email: jyancey@austin.utexas.edu


Land Acknowledgment Statement
(I) We would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on Indigenous land.
Moreover, (I) We would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Carrizo &
Comecrudo, Coahuiletecan, Caddo, Tonwaka, Comanche, Lipan Apache, Alabama-
Coushatta, Kickapoo, Tigua Pueblo, and all the American Indian and Indigenous
Peoples and communities who have been or have become a part of these lands in
Texas, here on Turtle Island.

Diversity Statement
As a university with a past history of denying equitable access to qualified students,
UT recognizes the profound benefits of creating an inclusive environment in which
students can learn from one another. All students are better prepared to succeed in
an increasingly diverse state and interconnected society when they receive the
educational benefits of learning on a diverse campus.

UT Racial Geography Tour

http://racialgeographytour.org

Course Description:
This course is designed to continue and extend the student’s exploration of the art,
craft, and practice of painting. There will be an emphasis on the rigor and quality of
the student’s technical, formal, and conceptual explorations. As the highest level of
painting in the undergraduate program, enrollment in this class and having satisfied
its prerequisites indicate a significant investment and commitment on the part of
each student to the studio practice of painting. That standard is the beginning point
for this course. From that starting point, the objective is to strengthen the student’s
ability to develop the conceptual frameworks and specific technical approaches or
systems needed to create a coherent body of paintings that reflect both the student’s
individual artistic goals and an awareness of her/his work’s actual or aspirational
location in the context of contemporary art practice.

As we navigate our varying personal circumstances and safety needs during the
current pandemic crisis, this course will be completely on-line (WB) for some and
hybrid for others (i.e., in-person and on-line). Students in the WB or web based
section of the course will be working off campus and will not have assigned studio
spaces on campus. Students in the hybrid section of the class will have assigned
studio spaces in ART4.418. That being said, in accordance with the directive from
the Office of the Provost, all UT classes, including all hybrid classes will be
completely on-line until at least February 1 in response to the current severity of the
pandemic. This course will respect the needs and circumstances of each individual
student and exercise as much flexibility during the semester as reasonably possible
while maintaining our high standards of artistic exploration and production.

Course Requirements:
The student will also be required to develop and demonstrate a research
methodology in the identification and use of source materials required for visual
and conceptual content. Each student is required to participate critically and
constructively both in discussions during class critiques and in regular discussions
with the instructor and TA. While each student will be exploring an individual
approach to painting, a substantial and coherent body of work will be required for
presentation at the end of the semester. Each painting in this body of work must be
well developed and completed. At the end of the semester, this body of work will be
graded. The final course grade will be based on the student’s final body of paintings,
attendance, work ethic, class participation in critiques, and other qualities listed
under “Grading Criteria” in the syllabus.

All students are required to submit photo images showing their weekly progress
with paintings and works by Saturday of each week during the semester.

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Critiques
One of the goals of this class is to increase each student’s ability to critically discuss
and analyze individual works in the context of our course objectives and issues
related to broader artistic discourses. In this course, we will have group critiques to
visually and verbally analyze our drawings for both their strengths and their
weaknesses in order to expand our critical skills and improve our understanding of
what others see when they look at our drawings. These critiques must necessarily
involve both praise and constructive criticism. Participation in all critiques is a
mandatory requirement of the course.

Given the unorthodox structure of Studio Art classes during the pandemic. We will
be utilizing the technological tools at our disposal to collect, share, present, and
critique students’ paintings. Details regarding the schedule and structure of our
group critiques will be forthcoming shortly.

Attendance Policy
All students in both the WB (web-based) and Hybrid sections are expected to be on
Zoom at 2:00pm each class day. Students can have their cameras off and be on mute
during class, but your laptop should be nearby for the instructor and TA to have the
ability to check in with you during class time. If there is a personal circumstance that
makes this attendance system difficult or problematic, you must discuss your
situation with the instructor.

Class attendance is a requirement and use of the full class period is expected. You
will be allowed a total of three sick, personal, physical or mental health days without
grading consequences, though you are still responsible for any work related to those
class sessions. Each absence beyond three (3) can result in the lowering of your final
grade by one letter grade. Three tardy arrivals or early departures will count as an
absence. Leaving class early or taking excessive breaks while class is in session will
constitute an early departure. If a serious medical or personal situation occurs that
will affect or interrupt attendance, please discuss it with the instructor.


Student Rights & Responsibilities
• You have a right to a learning environment that supports mental and physical
wellness.
• You have a right to respect.
• You have a right to be assessed and graded fairly.
• You have a right to freedom of opinion and expression.
• You have a right to privacy and confidentiality.
• You have a right to meaningful and equal participation, to self-organize
groups to improve your learning environment.
• You have a right to learn in an environment that is welcoming to all people.
No student shall be isolated, excluded or diminished in any way.

With these rights come responsibilities:
• You are responsible for taking care of yourself, managing your time, and
communicating with the teaching team and with others if things start to feel
out of control or overwhelming.
• You are responsible for acting in a way that is worthy of respect and always
respectful of others. • Your experience with this course is directly related to
the quality of the energy that you bring to it, and your energy shapes the
quality of your peers’ experiences.
• You are responsible for creating an inclusive environment and for speaking
up when someone is excluded.
• You are responsible for holding yourself accountable to these standards,
holding each other to these standards, and holding the teaching team
accountable as well.
Personal Pronoun Preference
Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals
and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation,
gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with
the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate
 name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that
I may make appropriate changes to my records.
University Policies

Q Drop Policy
If you want to drop a class after the 12th class day, you’ll need to execute a Q drop before
the Q-drop deadline, which typically occurs near the middle of the semester. Under Texas
law, you are only allowed six Q drops while you are in college at any public Texas
institution. For more information, see:
http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/csacc/academic/adddrop/qdrop

University Resources for Students

Your success in this class is important to me. We will all need accommodations because we
all learn differently. If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or
exclude you, please let me know as soon as possible. Together we’ll develop strategies to
meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. There are also a range of
resources on campus:

Services for Students with Disabilities
This class respects and welcomes students of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. If
there are circumstances that make our learning environment and activities difficult, if you
have medical information that you need to share with me, or if you need specific
arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please let me know. I am
committed to creating an effective learning environment for all students, but I can only do
so if you discuss your needs with me as early as possible. I promise to maintain the
confidentiality of these discussions. If appropriate, also contact
Services for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259 (voice) or 1-866-329- 3986 (video
phone). http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability/about/

Counseling and Mental Health Center

Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising,
avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will
help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.

All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many
helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is
learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is often helpful.

If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings
like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support.
http://www.cmhc.utexas.edu/individualcounseling.html

Important Safety Information:

In the Spring 2021 Semester, access to the Art Building is allowed only at the
“celebrated entrance” on San Jacinto Street.

 The following recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the Office of
Campus Safety and Security, 512-471-5767, http://www.utexas.edu/safety/
Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to
evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement
requires exiting and assembling outside.

• Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy.
Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the
building.
• Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during
the first week of class.
• In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors. Do not
re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department,
The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office.
• Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can
be found at:
www.utexas.edu/emergency
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Grading Criteria:
Grades are based on the degree of success achieved with regard to the particular
objectives of the course assignments. Special attention is given to individual
improvement and development as well as expected standards of quality and
performance. Additionally, your in-class effort, willingness to work, and general
attentiveness will be a factor in your grading. Students will be required to complete
all in-class and out-of-class assignments and submit mid-term and final portfolios.

* Mid-Term grades are intended primarily for diagnostic purposes to assess
progress up to that point of the semester and chart a successful course for the
remaining half of the semester.

* Final Grades are the comprehensive evaluation of the entire semester’s
production in accordance with stated grading criteria.

Grade Description:
A=Excellent: Work that pushes ABOVE AND BEYOND what is required and
demonstrates extreme care and conceptual development. An “A” student is rarely, if
ever, late; communicates and contributes effectively and constructively in
discussions with the professor and fellow students about technical, perceptual, and
conceptual concerns of drawing and art making; and exhibits an enthusiastic and
diligent attitude toward the course work.

B=Good: Work that exceeds basic criteria. Class time is well spent and a “B” student
demonstrates care and conceptual development. The “B” student also is rarely late;
participates in discussions with the professor and fellow students about technical,
perceptual, and conceptual concerns of drawing and art making; and have a positive
attitude toward course work.

C=Satisfactory: Work just meets basic criteria and performs adequately. This is a
standard of competence. “C” students complete all (or most) assigned work to the
best of their ability and demonstrate that they are making an effort.

D=Poor: Work meets basic criteria but at a level measurably below average.

F=Failure: Work does not answer all course requirements or does so inadequately
or both.

No incompletes will be given. If you feel you will not be able to complete all work
in a timely manner, you should ask the professor for a grade of Q, or drop, before the
deadline for doing so passes.
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Factors Considered in Grading Criteria:

Craft is a student’s demonstrated care regarding their work and it’s presentation.
Craftsmanship refers to the quality of design and technique involved in creating
finished work. Taking time to make sure the project is well done.

Elements of Design relates to the formal goals for a given assignment. The student’s
work must physically reflect an understanding and competency of the appropriate
formal elements. For example, one may do a great job on value but if the assignment
focused on line, wonderful value won’t help his/her grade.

Effort concerns a student’s effort demonstrated in and out of class. A student can be
in class without actually working on his/her project. Here we are measuring the
student’s productivity. Are they working in class or talking to their neighbor? Are
they prepared and ready at the start of class? Do they quit when they are having a
hard time?

Attitude relates to the student’s level of engagement with the class and the degree to
which the student is contributing to the class. It is not enough to be a sponge; they
need to contribute. Does the student participate in discussions and critiques? Are
they paying attention during demonstrations and critiques?

Synthesis includes conceptualization, creative problem solving, innovative thinking,
understanding and utilizing context, and processing of an idea into a successful
drawing. Has the student made an exciting project? Does it fulfill and exceed
expectations for the assignment.