COMPUTER GRAPHICS OVERVIEW

CONTENT: Students will learn to use the computer as an artist's tool. Core content emphasizes
the elements and principles of art. Projects are designed to allow students to identify, explore and solve
visual problems at varying skill levels.

Evidence of mastery will be demonstrated by submitting completed assignments in
a digital portfolio that serves as a cumulative evaluation tool.

I. The Elements of Art:
1. Line, color, shape, form, space, texture, value

a. line
1. expressive line
2. contour line/outline
3. weighted lines
4. paths
b. color theory
1. primary/secondary/tertiary
2. complementary, monochromatic, analogous, split comp, triads
3.additive & subtractive color theories
4. RGB/CMYK
5. warm & cool colors
6. color psychology: emotional/psychological/cultural
7. color names
c. shape
1. organic/amorphous
2. geometric
3. transformation/morphic shape
d. form: contour
e. space: positive/negative space; symmetrical/asymmetrical;
f. texture: implied and actual
g. value
1. tonality
2. tint/tone/shade
3. key color


II. The Principles of Art & Design
(proportion, emphasis, unity, variety, balance, contrast, pattern, rhythm, composition)
1. Composition
a. center of attention
b. background, middleground, foreground
c. methods of composition/ golden triangle/ rule of thirds
2. Proportion: relationship of parts to whole; relative size
3. Balance: symmetrical/assymetrical, formal, informal, radial
4. Unity: coherence
5. Emphasis: color emphasis/compositional emphasis/focal point/dominance
6. Pattern: repeat, patterns in nature (spirals, radials), fractals; Fabonaci numbers
7. Contrast: pos/neg space, color contrast using complements, etc.
8. Movement: rhythm; repetition; pattern

III. Computer Skills & Techniques
1. Drawing applications
2. Painting applications
3. Multimedia applications
4. Presentation applications

IV. Color Psychology & Philosophy of Color
A. Color phenomena
B. Historical color usage
C. Emotions and color
D. Color and Culture
E. Color in advertising & design

V. Art History
A. The Canon: 100 works of art every well educated student should know!
B. Impressionism-Modern

VI: Aesthetics and Art Criticism
A. Evaluation techniques
B. Group Critique
C. "Reading" a work of art
D.

VII: Art & Careers Pathways