Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	11/12/2025
Top Code	100210 - Painting and Drawing
Units	0 Total Units
Hours	108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 27; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours	0
Total Student Learning Hours	108
Course Credit Status	Noncredit (N)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	Yes; Repeat Limit 99
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	P/NP/SP Non-Credit (D)

Course Description

This community education course explores figure painting through direct study of the live model; Students will work with a variety of painting media while developing an understanding of light, shade, and color; Prior experience in life drawing is recommended; Admission is based on an instructor review of each student’s portfolio, and enrollment will be granted only to those who demonstrate sufficient preparation ADVISORY: ART A121 is not required but highly recommended that the student has had experience in life drawing; Students are advised to have some background in life drawing; An appropriate level of understanding of figurative drawing will be assessed through a portfolio. Not Transferable.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Create a portfolio of paintings that demonstrate the following techniques: a. Nude and clothed figures b.Flesh tones and color mixing c. Expressive quality e. Composition
2. Apply an understanding of Figurative painting in critiquing works of figurative art.

Course Objectives

• 1. Express the fundamentals of figure painting.
• 2. Understand historical, social and psychological factors as they relate to figure painting.
• 3. Identify and differentiate the use of various painting mediums.
• 4. Solve pictorial problems using creative thinking.
• 5. Interpret the nature and use of color as it applies to the human form.
• 6. Use the human figure as a mode of self expression
• 7. Understand form and value
• 8. Understand relationships of foreground, background and negative space.
• 9. Understand reflective light and color temperature of shadows to define form.

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Lecture Content

Introductory Setup

• Developing a logical figure painting palette and organizing colors on the palette

• Use of painting materials: canvas, brushes, paper, and related tools

• Gesture painting and alla prima techniques

• Basic color mixing principles

• Figure drawing sketchbook practice (any media)

Foundational Structural Standards

• Study of human anatomy with male/female proportions

• Painting the head with emphasis on structure and form

• Posing the model with a single light source

• Understanding shadows and core shadows

• Sketchbook studies: all figures executed with brush

Color Mixing

• The bias color wheel and practical color mixing strategies

• Five-value system for figure painting

• Developing flesh tones with attention to ethnic variations

• Triad and other skin tone formulas

• Exploration of color temperature

Pictorial Composition

• Principles of figure composition and design

• Approaches to abstract figure painting

• Painting the costumed figure in both indoor and outdoor settings

• Working with backgrounds and spatial division

• Tackling extended painting problems (single pose across multiple sessions)

• Sketchbook work emphasizing thumbnail compositional studies

Lab Content

A. Demonstration of selected materials and techniques used in one style of painting.

B. Demonstration of use of elements and principles in composing 4-5 original works of art in one style.

C. Verbal critique of each painting's content and design.

D. Written evaluation of a selected historical painting style.

Method(s) of Instruction

• Regular NC Lab (NC4)
• Regular NC Lect (NC3)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture and demonstration; use of multimedia.

Reading Assignments

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Writing Assignments

Students will participate in written critiques on own and other students work on the discussion page in their Canvas shell

Out-of-class Assignments

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Methods of Student Evaluation

• Written Assignments
• Projects (Individual/Group)
• Problem Solving Exercises
• Oral Presentations
• Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Participation in class critiques Evaluation of a painting sketch book of 600 drawings Evaluation of a painting portfolio that includes examples of value, flesh tone, color temperature, head painting, draped model in natural light, partial, drapery, classic nude, and creative figure painting.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Figurative sketchbook using a brush to delineate form and to make thumbnail sketches of proposed composition.

Other Resources

1. Art video tapes, slides of paintings and painters. 2. All painting media to be provided by the student. 3. Instructor handouts to be provided and distributed by the instructor.

Resources Subscreen

• Other: . . ().

Eligible Discipline(s)

• Art: Master’s degree in fine arts, art, or art history OR bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND master’s degree in humanities OR the equivalent. NOTE: “Master’s in fine arts” as used here refers to any master’s degree in the subject matter of fine arts, which is defined to include visual studio arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, and metal and jewelry art; and also, art education and art therapy. It does not refer to the “Master of Fine Arts” (MFA) degree when that degree is based on specialization in performing arts or dance, film, creative writing or other non plastic arts.