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, which serves as a cumulative evaluation tool. Specific evaluations, both formal and informal, will be aligned to the categories prescribed by the Prince George's County Board of Education Grading Policy, specifically Classwork (50%), Homework (30%) and Assessments (20%), and aligned with the performance objectives set forth in the National Standards for the Visual Arts.

Listed below is an overview of information that will be covered in Computer Graphics I.

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

LINE
1. expressive line
2. contour line/outline
3. weighted lines
4. paths

COLOR
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. hue, color names
8. saturation & intensity

SHAPE
1. organic/amorphous
2. geometric
3. transformation/morphic shape

FORM
Height, width, depth: 3D
contour

SPACE
1. positive space
2. negative space
3. symmetrical/asymmetrical;

TEXTURE
1. The visual "feel" of things...implied and actual

VALUE
1. tonality
2. tint/tone/shade
3. key color
4. intensity
5. saturation

II. The Principles of Art & Design: Unity/Variety, Balance, Emphasis, Contrast, Rhythm, Repetition, Proportion/Scale, Composition

UNITY / VARIETY
coherence; how parts work as a whole

BALANCE
symmetrical/assymetrical, formal, informal, radial

EMPHASIS
Color emphasis/compositional emphasis/focal point/dominance

CONTRAST
Pos/neg space, color contrast using complements, etc.

RHYTHM
movement; repetition; pattern

REPETITION (PATTERN)
Repeat, repetition of elements,
patterns in nature (spirals, radials), fractals; Fabonaci numbers
Patterns: simple, alternating, random

PROPORTION / SCALE
Relationship of parts to whole; relative size

COMPOSITION
a. center of attention
b. background, middleground, foreground
c. methods of composition/ golden triangle/ rule of thirds

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

VII: Art & Careers Pathways