• To gain an understanding of the context of computer imaging as it relates to contemporary art practice. Through readings, lectures, discussions, critiques, writing and artmaking we will explore what makes the computer and digital media unique in the expression of artistic ideas. While this is a studio course in which we will learn software and techniques, there will be also be a strong focus on the content of the digital art works created in class.

• To achieve a level of comfort with the tools and techniques needed to create digital artwork. We will utilize Macintosh computers, flat bed scanners, slide scanners, printers, CD burners and the imaging software Photoshop. There will be demos on technique as well as assignments to be completed in-class and out-of-class. Time spent working on assignments outside of class will be absolutely necessary; plan for about 9 out-of-class hours per week. Making good art always takes longer than you think!

• To experiment with new ways to connect digital technology to your own art making practice. There are numerous ways to use digital technology in conjunction with traditional art making techniques, such as, bookmaking, collage, assemblage, light boxes, projection environments, etc… And certainly many more ways yet to be discovered.

• To professionally mount and exhibit digitally-created artworks in the end of the quarter Art & Tech Exhibition.

Class critiques are very important and will be held at the beginning of class on the due date of each project. If your assignment is not complete for the critique your grade on that assignment will be lowered by one full letter for each class day it is late. You are required to attend critiques even if your work is not complete. Critiques are not for my benefit; instead, they are most likely your best method to learn about artmaking - from your fellow artmakers.

48 points – Assigned digial art projects. (16 points possible on each of the 3 projects)
15 points – Written statements, response papers and/or artist research papers
12 points – Active participation in class activities and discussions, as well as general class citizenship.
25 points – Final project completed and submitted to the juried exhibition in Haskett Hall Gallery

To receive a letter grade of "C" you must maintain regular attendance, complete all assignments and participate in class discussions and critiques. An "A" in this course will require that you far exceed the minimum expectations for both quality and concept. Your work should show a highly developed understanding of the concepts and techniques of digital image manipulation, as well as an innovative incorporation of this medium into your own developed aesthetic. Your contribution to class discussions and class critiques is vital for an "A". To read the evaluation criteria for the art assignments go to the bottom of the assignments page.

Click here for more information on what letter grades mean - literally and numerically.

Turning in your work
Your work is due at the beginning of class and is considered late if turned in later. Your project is late if ALL portions are not turned in on time. Therefore, your project files must already be uploaded to the appropriate CARMEN dropbox by the start of class on the project's due date. Due to frequent file glitches, you must also be prepared with a backup of your final project files on CD or on a USB drive. Your project grade will be reduced by one full letter for each class day it is late, regardless of whether or not you were absent.

Students are expected to abide by the Ohio State University's Code of Student Conduct. Any violations will be reported to the Committee on Academic Misconduct.
A few examples of violations you should avoid
• Turning in work as your own that was created in some part by someone else.
• Turning in work that violates copyright law.
• Turning in work for this class that has already been turned in for another class.
• Dishonesty concerning absences.

Any student who feels he/she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately, as soon as possible, to discuss specific needs. Students need to also be working with the Office for Disability Services (on campus at 150 Pomerene Hall, ph. 614-292-3307) so that we may coordinate reasonable accommodations.

REQUIRED BOOK • Adobe PhotoShop CS3 Classroom in a Book, available at the Longs Bookstore, but probably cheaper online, $32.99 at Amazon.com.

Digital Storage - You will need a USB thumb drive to store image files and easily transport them to different computers. Get one that will store at least 512 megs (will cost about $15), but get a larger capacity drive (2 gigs or more) if you plan to archive all of your work in this class on this one device. You will be alloted 1 Gig of storage space on the server for your work during this quarter, however, in order to follow good digital practices, you must always back up your work, because hard-drive crashes do happen - and they are not an excuse for late projects.

Digital output - you will be required to get your artwork out of the computer for one or two of the assignments. This means purchasing output media to print on such as, photo quality ink-jet paper, gloss paper, inkjet canvas, transparencies, iron-on transfer sheets, back-light film (Duratrans). In addition, the final project, which will be submitted to the final Art and Technology exhibition at the Haskett Gallery, needs to be a finished piece ready to install in a gallery setting. Depending on what you decide to create for your final piece, you should plan accordingly with supply purchases. For example, if your artwork is a series of ink-jet prints, you will need to purchase frames or frame-making supplies.

Notebook - taking notes will be necessary in this information-intensive course.

You do not need to own your own computer to succeed in this class. The Art Department has 2 computer labs available to students in the art department and to those taking art and technology classes. The Fergus Gilmore Computer Studio, in Hopkins Hall Annex, room 184 (link to schedule) and the New Media Lab in Haskett Hall, room 308 (link to schedule ). Be aware that classes also meet in these labs (current schedule here). Depending on computer availability, it might be possible to work quietly while a class is in session. In both these labs you will be able to use the same login information there to access your own user space.

You can also use computers in the many public computing centers on campus, such as the one in Hopkins Hall room 354, or the Baker systems lab, which is open 24/7 during each quarter. For information about what equipment and software is available at each student computer center, visit this website or call: 292-8400

Classroom services equipment checkout:
The place to borrow equipment for this class is Classroom Services, (located at 025 Central Classroom Bldg, ph: 292-3131). You need to fill out and sign a permission form (that your instructor will also need to sign) and turn it in the first time you reserve or borrow equipment. After that, you will be able to check out digital cameras, digital camcorders, audio recorders, projectors, laptops, DVD players and TVs for class related projects. The best part is that it's FREE as long as you do not break it, or return it late. *Make sure to plan ahead and reserve items early because supplies are limited.

In addition to the required book (Adobe PhotoShop CS3 Classroom in a Book, Adobe Creative Team, Peachpit Press, 2007), there will be required readings related to digital art and ideas that will be discussed in class. There will also be short writing assignments on relevant artists and artist lectures as well as written project proposals required for each art project.

I also recommend the following books as they have been useful to me in learning the technical aspects of Photoshop:

•Photoshop CS3 for Windows & Macintosh: Visual Quickstart Guide - by Weinmann and Lourekas, one in the excellent Visual Quickstart Guide Series. These are good visual reference guide books.

•Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One, Deke McClelland - the author of the original Photoshop Bible series, has created this illustrated training guide book, which includes training videos on the DVD.

At the Edge of Art, (Thames & Hudson) by Joline Blais & Jon Ippolito
Digital Art, (Thames & Hudson) by Christiane Paul
The Language of New Media, (MIT Press) by Lev Manovich
Snap to Grid, (MIT Press) Peter Lunenfeld
Electronic culture: technology and visual representation, Editor, Timothy Druckrey.
New Media in Late 20^th-Century Art, (Thames & Hudson) Michael Rush
The New Media Reader, edited by, Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Nick Montfort
Leonardo, (MIT Press) is the leading international journal for readers interested in the application of contemporary science and technology to the arts and music. It has been around since 1968! It is available in the Fine Arts Library at the Wexner Center.
Neural, Media Art, Hactivism and Emusic magazine. Physical magazine, with lots of online content.

See more online publications on the class Links List !