Fall 2026 ART 211: Painting (Units: 1.5)

Course Overview

Art 211 is a studio course that introduces students the fundamentals of contemporary painting. This course consists of painting exercises, painting assignments and demonstrations to aid students in developing a strong foundation for their studio painting practice.  We will cover a broad range of materials, styles and techniques while looking at and discussing concepts and artists at work in the medium today. By exploring these concepts and materials you will develop independent approaches to painting that will develop as you continue your studies.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about the methods and materials used for painting.
• Learn how to make their own stretcher frame and stretching and preparing their own canvas.
• Develop your painting skills through experiential learning and practice 
• Develop critical ways of engaging with painting through class critiques and written components 
• Employ a range of processes and diverse practices in painting to enhance technical skills, develop unique artistic expressions, and ideation through both traditional and non-traditional approaches.
• Students will learn the proper hanging and installation techniques of their paintings.

Course Requirements & Expectations

This is a hands-on studio-based course that involves in-class exercises and projects, with critical engagement and participation. In class production is an integral component to this course, and efficient use of studio time will be stressed. You will be required to complete all class assignments. Verbal participation in all critiques is required. 

Independent Studio and Study time expected: You are expected to budget at least 6 hours per week for independent studio time. The classroom and workshop are available to you outside of class time, when the facilities are open and when there is no class scheduled in the room. 

Sketchbook/Notebook: I highly recommend students keep a sketchbook to work on ideas, drawings, class notes and any related ephemera in. While this won’t be graded, it can be a very useful tool for future classes and personal development. 

Assignments

The course requirements include 3 excercises & 2 major assignments. Details will be made availle on Brightspace.

Exercise due dates: Details available on Brightspace

Assignment 1 Due: October 20th at Mid Term Critique

Assignment 2 Due: Nov 24th / Dec 1st at End of Term Critique

Critiques

Mid Term Critique - October 20th

Final Critique - Nov 24th, Dec 1st 

• ATTENDANCE FOR CRITIQUES IS MANDATORY. A CRITIQUE IS EQUIVALENT TO AN EXAM IN OTHER AREAS OF STUDY. If you require accommodation around critique, or need an extension, discuss this with me in advance, preferably at least one week before.  Even if you have not completed your work for critique, you are expected to attend and participate. 

Grading

Attendance

Attendance is taken at the start of each class. 

• If you miss more than three classes, it is likely that you will not be able to pass the course. 
• If you are falling behind, or life interrupts things, get in touch BEFORE you hit this threshold and we can try and work out a plan together. 
• I can’t catch you up on course material over email, while I am teaching, or outside of class time. A lot of the learning in art school comes from direct feedback from peers, observations of work in progress (yours AND others), class discussion, and hands on demonstrations. None of these elements can be re-created outside of class.  
• What is worked on outside of class time is meant to support the in-class learning, so even these aspects rely on attendance in class. 
• You cannot do this course from home, or remotely.
• If you are 20 minutes or more late, this will be counted as an absence. If you leave early, this may be counted as an absence. 
• ATTENDANCE FOR CRITIQUES IS MANDATORY. A CRITIQUE IS EQUIVALENT TO AN EXAM IN OTHER AREAS OF STUDY. If you require accommodation around critique, or need an extension, discuss this with me in advance, preferably at least one week before.  Even if you have not completed your work for critique, you are expected to attend and participate. 

Department of Visual Arts Attendance Standard

Experiential learning and engagement are directly tied to class attendance. In the Department of Visual Arts students are expected to attend all classes. To succeed in the course, students should not have more than 2 unexcused absences in a 12-week semester, which equates to 6 hours of instruction.

Any student, regardless of illness or accommodation will not be able to succeed in the course with absences over 30%, which equates to 12 hours in a twelve-week semester. If a student finds that they are not able to meet this requirement, the instructor will work with the student to apply for academic concession or exceptional circumstances accommodation.

This standard is in place to ensure that students in the program acquire artistic experience in conjunction with the skill and safety requirements needed to complete the coursework and continue in the program. We find that active communication between students and instructors is the best method for ensuring attendance requirements are met. (Instructors are free to add information on how they will manage communication around attendance and can specify ways that they will work with a student who is experiencing extenuating circumstances). If the attendance standard has not been met and there is no communication with the instructor, an incomplete or failing grade will be assigned.

Academic Concession Link:

https://www.uvic.ca/students/academics/academic-concessions-accommodations/request-for-academic-concession/#ipn-request-a-withdrawal-or-aegrotat

Materials

A detailed materials list will be posted on Brightspace. 

Additional Information

MY AVAILABILITY OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME

In-Person meetings

Office hours are by appointment( please chat with me in class or email to set up a time) I will do my best to accommodate.. Before you ask a question over email please read the syllabus and look at the Brightspace to see if the answer is there.

Email

During the term, I only respond to emails from students Monday to Thursday between 9 am 5pm excluding holidays, unless it is an emergency (distress or conflict). You can expect a response within 48 hours of your email, within this time frame.  So, if you email me on Friday night, I may not get back to you until the following Tuesday afternoon. 

Studio etiquette

Please be mindful of your classmates and the other people who use these facilities. This includes cleaning up your workspace and being respectful of our support staff. If you are using messy materials such as chalk, charcoal, inks etc please clean up your work area after class, this includes wiping up the material residue on the floor and tables / easels.    Please come prepared to class with the correct materials, often I will have a selection of tools and or materials to try.  PLEASE return these so everyone may use them.

Visual Arts Resources and Support:

Consider the Wood and Metal shops, the Media Commons, the Visual Arts studios and the Visual Arts building as further options and resources for expanding your artistic practice.  There are Visual Arts support staff available for you to consult with toward your project outcomes.

Visual Arts Building Hours: 

8:00am – 11:00pm - Monday to Friday

9:00am – 11:00pm - Weekends 

Statutory holidays: Closed 

You are permitted to continue to work in the building after 11pm as long as you work with a buddy (another registered Visual Arts student). Security will come by and ask to see your student ID. Do not leave doors or windows propped open after hours. Please reference the Visual Arts Building Handbook in Brightspace for all building use and studio space policies. 

Space Booking (critique spaces, editing suites, grey room, etc. in the Visual Arts Building): 

https://finearts.uvic.ca/visualarts/spaces/

Workshops Technician: Carly Greene – visartsshops@uvic.ca

Through Carly you can request access to the Spray Room if you need to apply fixative to your artworks or use any other aerosols like spray paint.  She will orient you on its safe use and fit you with a proper respirator. You can also consider framing, supports and other experiments toward your  project outcomes in the shops. Please plan your shop use accordingly and have sketches available for the shop technician(s) to reference.

Wood and Metal Shop Hours:

9:00am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday (closed Noon to 1pm for lunch)

Weekends and Holidays: Closed 

Visual Arts Technical Support: Cliff Haman, Senior Academic Assistant

Office: 2^nd floor of the Visual Arts Building, room A234 

Email for appointment:  chaman@uvic.ca

Cliff can consult and troubleshoot media equipment set ups (video/audio) toward your project outcomes. Cliff also works in the Media Commons (equipment cage and computer labs) in the Fine Arts Building.

Equipment Cage (Fine Arts Building, Room FIA 238):

https://finearts.uvic.ca/sim/equipment/

List of available media equipment for check-out, schedule, online equipment tutorials and equipment manuals. 

Equipment pick up/drop-off times are listed on their website.

Computer Labs (Fine Arts Building): 

https://finearts.uvic.ca/sim/

There are Fine Arts technicians and ‘red hats’ (work studies) available in the Fine Arts computer labs to troubleshoot your software and printing needs. The computer lab hours are listed on their website.

Visual Arts Facilities Manager: Hollis Roberts

Office: main floor of the Visual Arts Building, room A103

Email:  vafacilities@uvic.ca

Please consult with Hollis Roberts regarding building use requests like extended space booking, building alterations and safety questions.  

Visual Arts Store:

You can buy a variety of high quality paper stocks from the Visual Arts Store (at the end of the hall across from the wood shop). Cash or One Card accepted.

Hours: 12pm to 1pm, Monday to Thursday

Extended opportunities:

The Living Artists, Living Art course/public artist talk series constitute an important connection between Victoria as a relatively remote community and the larger world. All visual art students are encouraged to attend the artist talk portion of the course even if you’re not enrolled. Talks are in the Sngequ House (RSN) Room 133, from 5:00pm to 6:20pm usually on select Wednesdays. Information will be emailed by the department and posted in the Visual Arts building prior to each artist talk.

Our department has an MFA Program and our Graduate Candidates will be having weekly solo exhibitions in the Audain Gallery in the Visual Arts Building throughout the fall. As well, other courses and curatorial projects will take place in the Audain Gallery. Announcements will be emailed about the exhibitions throughout the fall term.

Support

CAL Accommodations

Instructor Responsibilities:

• Access, review and acknowledge receipt of the accommodation letter https://al.uvic.ca/ClockWork/user/instructor/default.aspx
• Take the time to privately discuss the accommodation with your student; if you would like to understand the requested accommodation better, reach out to the CAL Advisor mentioned in the accommodation letter or communicate with both the student and their CAL Advisor. The goal is to learn if the accommodation pertains to studio-based classes, and if so, discuss best practices for moving forward with the accommodation request and achieving the learning outcomes of the course.
• Work with your student to meet their requirements for your specific class.
• Inform the student of their role in the accommodation process.
• Be mindful of the need to ensure confidentiality and protect the student’s privacy at all times.

Student Responsibilities:

• Register with the Centre for Accessible Learning by the posted deadlines https://www.uvic.ca/accessible-learning/students/how-to-register/index.php
• Take the time to discuss your accommodation with your instructor. Consider how your accommodation relates to a studio-based learning environment, and which, if any, aspects will pertain.
• A CAL accommodation does NOT exempt students from completing assignments or attending class.
• If you require additional time on an assignment or deadline, this must be discussed with your instructor in advance.
• If you require alternate methods for engagement (class discussion, working in the studio classroom, working in the shops), discuss this with your instructor at the beginning of the course.
• If you require alternate methods for lectures, film or image presentations, discuss this with your instructor at the beginning of the course.
• Keep your instructor up to date on accommodation needs throughout the term, especially if there are improvements or setbacks.

Health and Safety Policies for the Department of Visual Arts

 In order to protect the integrity of the Visual Arts building and guarantee the safety of students, staff and faculty, the following guidelines must be followed:

• There will be no alteration of the physical building (temporary or otherwise), without the written approval of the chair. All proposals for special projects should be first submitted to The Visual Arts Facilities and Production Manager for consideration.

• All temporary installations of art that may occur outside the regularly sanctioned locations (i.e., the gallery and classrooms) must be authorized.

• At no time will the use of hazardous materials either inside or outside the vicinity of the Visual Arts Building, be permitted without the department’s prior approval.

• There shall be no disposal of toxic materials down sinks: all solvents, acids and other substances used in the routine course of art making must be handled in a safe and acceptable manner. 

• Artworks that include an element of self-harm must be authorized in writing by the Chair and will include strict pre-determined conditions depending on the proposal. In most cases the artist/ student will be responsible for ensuring all safety precautions are taken regarding their safety and the safety of others. This includes having first aid equipment at the performance or during the creation of the work where the action takes place, and consider any health risks your actions may pose to others. At the discretion of the Department Chair, a first responder may be required to be present

• Art that includes elements of violence, self-harm, and or other subject matter that may be traumatic or pose a trigger risk should be clearly identified to students, faculty and staff, allowing them to choose if they want to witness your work, these types of warnings are typical if one were to do such a performance in a gallery or other public space.

• Art that includes excessive volume is dangerous to the hearing of students, faculty and staff. These artworks can also be disruptive to other classes and activities within the Visual Arts Building. Artworks and or actions that contain sound at or above 98dB need to be pre-approved by the Department and clearly labeled. During critique situations hearing protection should be made available anyone required to experience the piece. Free decibel metering apps are available for most smart phones determine the level or risk.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT SAFETY GUIDELINES MAY RESULT IN ACADEMIC PENALTIES, FINANCIAL CHARGES, AND/ OR, THE LOSS OF SHOP, LAB, STUDIO, AND EQUIPMENT USE PRIVILEGES.