DEPARTMENT OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

BFA PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

Dr. Emmanuel Antwi (EmmlAn)

Faculty of Art Office No. TF12
Email: emmlanpak20gmail.com /eantwi.art@knust.edu.gh
Cell Phone No. 0244206700 (Calls); 0571206700 (WhatsApp)

ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN (PAPS 157)

FIRST SEMESTER 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

Year: I Semester: I Instructor: Dr. Emmanuel Antwi

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Course Description:
This is a foundational course taken by both BFA Painting and BFA Sculpture students in their first
year. The course introduces formal and relational components of art, especially, the various
elements and principles of design. There is a special focus on colour and its optical, perceptual and
design qualities. Students are introduced to the theory and practice of colour through observation,
experimentation, readings, screenings, discussion, and creative projects. They explore colour as
an evolving scientific, philosophical, and cultural phenomenon. Students are encouraged to
consider the role of colour in historical and contemporary art practices and in relation to their own
artistic development. On the whole, the course will lead students to research, analyse, generate and
evaluate art and design information and ideas and hence develop creative solutions to art and
design problems.

Objectives:
By completing this course, the student is able to:
 Demonstrate adequate understanding of optical and psychological qualities of colour in
pictorial and structural composition.
 Demonstrate adequate understanding of colour use in historical, modern and
contemporary fine art and visual culture.

Content:
Course explores visual and psychological qualities of colour on paper, screen and objects and the
relationship of colour to language and culture. Through studio exercises, assignments and
critiques, students experiment with different approaches to using colour in their own work.
Readings and presentations examine principles of colour interaction, as well as colour’s expressive
and symbolic potential. Emphasis is placed on the language of colour and the articulation of
pictorial and concrete space. Students expand their knowledge of visual syntax applicable to the
study of fine art and design, art history, and popular culture. They explore nuances in the
interaction of colour in pictorial construction, structure in free space, and materials and methods
of fine art and design practice. Ultimately, the course encourages the development of skill and the
education of the artist’s eye. Hue, value, saturation, and surface are all relative components

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students explore to structure colour in specific ways. The rich flora and fauna of the University
campus as well as the larger Garden City of Kumasi serve as both subject and inspirational drive
for this course.

How do the elements and principles of art combine to create a successful design?
The difference between a successful composition and an unsuccessful one?
Uses of different types of principles of design: variety, emphasis, dominance, harmony, contrast,
unity, opposition etc.
How true is it that the best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas…?
Origin, characteristics and uses of colour (light colour & pigment colour).
Colour experiments:
Isaac Newton and Wolfgang J. von Goethe.
Colour as an element of design.
Why is it important to master colour for application as an;
ARTIST,
COLOUR CONSULTANT,
COLOUR THERAPIST or an
INTERIOR DESIGNER…?
Rudiments of Colour
Colour systems
Colour schemes and terms
Colour Modulation
Two Landscapes
Two Portraits
Colour Interactions
Colour psychology and symbolism:
Ghanaian (traditional) & Global.
Managing colour illusions.

Materials and Tools

1. Our medium will be poster colour and acrylics.
2. Cartridge or any good grade paper appropriate for the medium stated should be okay.
3. Get a few collections of bristle and Sable brushes for your painting assignments. It is wiser to
build up the number of your brush collection slowly according to your painting needs.
4. You will also need little containers to serve as pots to hold water for paint mixing and the
washing of brushes.
5. Finally, you need rags to clean/dry your brushes after washing them in water before
introducing them to fresh paint. It will also help you in cleaning/drying your brushes and your
place after work.
6. Pencils, pens, markers and sketch pads for thumbnail sketches and idea development
drawings.

Modes of Delivery:
Lectures, videos, quizzes, critiques, discussions, Slide-aided lectures, guided drawing and field
studies. Guided readings, studio and other assignments. Review of portfolios by Instructor at the
end semester.

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Attendance:
Your attendance at all class sessions is mandatory. Missed classes will be counted negatively in
the determination of your final grade. Missing three or more classes results in being dropped from
the course. Missed assignments must be made up within one week of the due date in order to
receive a partial credit (-25%). Any combination of three tardiness and/or early departures will
count as one absence.
In order to receive a full credit for attendance you are expected to:
1. Arrive in class on time and stay the length of the period.
2. Have all materials necessary.
3. Clean up after yourself after the period.

Assessment:
Grades will be defined as follows:
A = Excellent: Expansive investigation of ideas and excellent composition. All assignments
completed on time and executed well. Insightful contributions to class discussions and critiques.
Goes substantially beyond minimum requirements.
B = Good: Substantial investigation of ideas with good composition and good craftsmanship.
All assignments completed on time, insightful contributions to critiques and class discussions.
C = Fair (Average): Assignments done competently and on time.
D = Passing: Two or more late projects, limited investigation of ideas, poor craftsmanship,
incoherent compositions, minimal contribution to critiques.
F = Failure: Course failure due to minimal idea development, poor craftsmanship, incoherent
compositions, lack of participation, late assignments.
Continuous assessment: 40% [Attendance, completion of all assignments]
Exam score: 60% [End-of-semester review of portfolios]

Dressing:
You are addressed by the way you dress. All students are expected to dress decently for lectures,
indecent dressing will not be countenanced. Flip-flops, shorts, lacerated jeans, transparent tops
etcetera are not permitted in class.

Office Visit
Visiting the instructor’s office is strictly by appointment during office hours, between 9.00 am
and 4.00 pm. And all visitors MUST be DECENTLY dressed.

Mobile Phones
Your Mobile phones are expected to be on silence during class hours. Failure to comply might
attract the penalty of being sacked from class, on account of class disturbance.

Reading Materials:
1. Albers, Josef. (2009). Interaction of Color. [New Complete Edition- Illustrated edition].
Yale University Press.
2. Edwards, Betty (2004). A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors. New York:
Tarcher Perigee.

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 3. Field, Joshua. (2018). An Illustrated Field Guide to the Elements and Principles of Art
and Design. North Carolina: Lulu.com
4. Itten. Johannes. (2001). The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective
Rationale of Color. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Inc.
5. Quiller, Stephen. (2002). Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory. New
York: Watson-Cuptill.
6. Stewart, Mary. (2006). Launching the Imagination: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic
Design. New York: McGrawHill

Note: The instructor reserves the right to alter any aspect of this document as he may deem
necessary for a better learning experience.