Course Overview
The focus of this is course is learning how to see objects and forms in space and develop skills and techniques for drawing from observation.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University credit or noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will:
- Explore various mark-making techniques with pencil, charcoal, conte and ink.
- Draw form and space through the use of proportion, scale and spatial relationships.
- Apply effective line quality and tonal applications to drawings including: gestural, structural line drawings, and value drawing).
- Demonstrate an ability to effectively compose drawings through composition.
- Develop sound work habits with care, attention to detail, and dedication.
- Develop a supportive network of peers by effectively participating in critiques.
Transferable Skills
Students who have completed this course will have the following transferable skills:
- Creative Thinking & Problem Solving through visual articulation and communication.
- Observational skills through spatial relationships and proportions.
- Hand-eye coordination through rendering visual information with composition and perspective.
- Dedication and commitment through the perseverance & continued focus of detail-oriented observation.
- Receiving and giving constructive feedback and collaborating in a group setting.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: ARI 231 / SCN 128
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore*, junior or senior status – or a 2024 high school graduate.
*Rising sophomores are only eligible for the noncredit version of this course.
Credit: 3 credits** or Noncredit
**Prospective students wishing to take the course for college credit are required to submit a sample portfolio of 3-5 images of current artwork formatted in a single pdf document. Please include name, date, title, and dimensions. Images in the sample portfolio do not need to be in the medium of the course to be taken but should emphasize creativity and technical accomplishment.
Grading:
- Credit: A-F
- Noncredit: Pass/Fail
3-Credit:
- Residential: $4,695
- Commuter: $3,766
Noncredit:
- Residential: $4,095
- Commuter: $3,166
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session II: Monday, July 22 – Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | 3 credits or Noncredit | Open |
Course Requirements
Required Supplies
Supplies – TBD
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
Students can expect a short introduction and demonstration for various techniques and principles utilized for observational drawing from life. Most of the class time will be dedicated to drawing from observation. Subjects will include: still-life compositions and self-portraits.
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College – On Campus activities to meet and connect with other students! Check out our On Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Lauren Ashley S. Baker
Lauren Ashley S. Baker is an interdisciplinary artist living in Syracuse, NY. Her art practice encompasses drawing, performance, video, installation, sculpture, and photography. Her work brokers a relationship between the two and three-dimensional concrete realities to investigate the bounty of representational and perceptual possibilities.
Baker received her MFA from Florida State University in 2018 and her BA from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2010. From 2017-2021, Baker was the Executive Director of a nonprofit gallery called 621 Gallery. Lauren Baker is currently teaching at Syracuse University and Tallahassee Community College.