Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

ART 3420 Aqueous Media

ART 3420-01

Course: ART 3420-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ARTD
CRN: 31312

Course Description

Pushing the boundaries of water based mediums such as, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, and ink. Emphasis on experimentation, plein air, critique, self guided, ideation of artwork, development of paint quality, and guided topics.
Prerequisites: ART 1110 and 1120, or the approval of the instructor.
­Southern Utah University; Department of Filmmaking, Art and Design
Day/Times:
Monday, Wednesday 4pm - 6:50pm
Location:
Bristlecone Hall  (BH 335) 
*We may meet at a new location on some days. You will be made aware several days before hand.*
Instructor:  Bailey Powell
Office Location: N/A  - Please let me know if you'd like to meet and I will set up a time to meet on campus with you! :)
E-mail: bai.sil.powell@gmail.com (or message on canvas)

    India Ink is an ancient medium going back to the Egyptians. It is a carbon black with various binders, such as varnish, glue and shellac, and is extremely permanent and may be watercolored over without bleeding.
    Watercolor is the most immediate and direct of all painting media. It can be directly related to drawing or directly related to painting, in fact, it is a bridge between the two. It is usually used transparently, but can be opaque, in which case it is usually referred to as gouache.
    Gouache (also referred to as bodycolor) sometimes uses different, more opaque, pigments and can be mixed with white. Watercolor purists will not use white or opaque paint.
    Acrylic paint is a relatively recent invention. It is thinned with water, but is no longer water soluble once it is dry. It can have effects like watercolor, gouache and oil painting. These media are simple, direct, and portable, which is why they have been used so much for painting on location. Even so a wide range of effects are possible.

Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
  1. Come to class every day if they are good and able and stay for the full 3 hours. 
  2. Come to class with kindness and an attitude of humility and a willingness to learn and try something new. EXPECT TO BE CHALLANGED AND PUSHED to work hard and have fun in this class.
  3. Participate in critiques with no distractions (phones, headphones, earphones, etc.) A sketchbook and a writing utensil for critiques gives us the best outcome and makes it respectful of all of our time.
  4. Cultivate a great studio environment, Ex. Including students of all kinds to participate in discussions, demonstrations, out of class studies, and discoveries. 
  5. Put in hard work and seriously dedicate time outside of class for art practice and experimentation. 6 hours of class a week = 4-6 hours of practice outside of class.
  6. Have fun, to always try their best, and to take their art seriously. Every assignment gets you closer to being a better artist!
  7. Be expected to put in the work and this class will change how you think about art!

Required Texts

N/A Studio courses are experiential and there is no text book; consequently, attendance is crucial. 
Office Hours: Set up any time with me as we go along this semester. Also please use the Inbox in Canvas as well as the comments section of each assignment. 
Art Department Administrative Assistant telephone 586-7962

Course Requirements

Course Requirements and Grading
Grading will be based on participation in class assignments, on the quality of the paintings, including successful exploration, understanding, hard work, and completion of the assignments. 
A "Set"
Paintings and artworks will be turned in four times, at the end of class, on the days noted on the calendar.  Each set of drawings must include a form (a time sheet) listing eighteen hours of out of class time. This form is found under "Files" on the left.  Each set will be given a score of 0 through 15 based on quality and time (see the rubric under the assignment).  You may also photograph your paintings and submit the photos for each set. This will be 75% of your grade.
Critiques
When each Set is due you will share 3-4 of your favorite artworks from that Set for a critique in class. You can also photograph them and submit them on line under Critiques. On line participants will be randomly assigned three Peer to review. Only those who have submitted images will be assigned. Go to the assignment and look for the Peer Review link. You must write at least one comment and fill out the Rubric for each of the three students in order to complete this assignment. This will be 15% of your grade.
Matting and Framing
You must mat and frame one piece from this class. This assignment will be 10% of your grade.
100 points possible  92% an A       90% an A-     88% a B+     82% a B     80% a B-
78% is a C+     72% a C      70% a C-     68% a D+      62% a D        60% a D-


Materials List:
  • Watercolor Paint
    • 1 tube of Red (Quinacridone Rose)
    • 1 tube of Yellow (Azo Yellow)
    • 1 tube Blue (Phthalo Blue)
    • 1 tube of black or gray
  • Gouache Paint
    • 1 tube Green (Viridian)
    • 1 tube Red (Permanent Red)
    • 1 tube of Yellow (Naples Yellow)
    • 1 tube of Raw Umber
    • 1 tube of Burnt Sienna or Red Oxide
    • 1 tube of White
    • 1 tube of Cad Yellow
  • Mixed Media Brushes (brushes that can be used for acrylic, watercolor, and gouache)
  • Toothbrush
  • Watercolor Brushes (at least these four, and any extra you’d like)
    • Flat Hake or Sky Wash
    • Round 
    • Square 
    • Riggor or Script Liner
  • 1 sheet of cotton rag paper 22” x 30” (available to buy in the printmaking studio)
  • Watercolor Paper Pad of your choice 18” x 24” 
Here are some Ideas of Watercolor paper you can get,
  • Canson Mixed Watercolor Sketchbook XL 18” x 24”
  • Arches Cold Pressed 140 lb. Watercolor Pad 18” x 24”

  • Charcoal Pencils (2B,4B,6B, White and a sharpener)
  • Sketchbook
  • Pencils
  • Kneaded Eraser
  • X-acto or Box cutting knife
  • Palette (Folding Type Works Best)
  • Jar or cup with a lid for water when we travel to hold water
  • Spray bottle or mist bottle
  • Rags/Paper Towel
  • 1 Bottle of Friskett and an old brush you don't use
  • Mat board (Not until the end of class. I’ll let you know when we will need it)

Your studio fee will cover some materials already bought for class use.

You may need to replenish your supply of some items throughout the semester.

Course Outline

Outcomes of This Course:
1. Learn and experiment for the first few weeks.
2. Assemble an artist book with some experimental pieces - craft a watercolor sketchbook by hand.
3. Self guided assignments. (some with prompts or assignment outcomes)
4. Plein air paintings, possibly go to a National Park like Zion or Bryce Canyon.
5. Sets & Critiques to keep track of progress.
6. Learn to make our own artist brushes.
7. Final project, experimental self portrait, one mat and framed piece.


Notices
  1. Mark all paintings with your identification (probably in the lower right-hand corner with your name and the date).
  2. Save all your work until you receive your final grade just in case there is an error in recording or any other problem.
  3. Information contained in this syllabus may be subject to change as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Assignments and Make Up work:
You can miss 3 days before your grade is docked, but there is still an expectation to finish all assignments. Please talk to me if there is a serious issue that stops you from completing your assignments. If, for any reason an assignment is not completed, showing partial assignment is still worth points. I will not grade late work or make up work. There will be chances for extra credit make up for late and missing work due at the end of the course.

Attendance Policy

  1. Participation in all class sessions, drawing activities and critiques is critical and required.
For illness and other extenuating circumstances, 3 excused absences will be allowed.  Additional or unexcused absences will reduce your final course grade. Absence penalties are 1/2 letter grade reduction per absence after 3 absences.
Examples:
4 Absences—Highest Grade Attainable: A-    (A final course grade of A would be reduced to a A-)
5 Absences—Highest Grade Attainable: B+    (A final course grade of A would be reduced to a B+)

* If you are employed—remember that work is NOT an excused absence.
** Given the nature of this course, attendance is required and adjustments cannot be granted to allow non-attendance. However, if you need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy due to a disability, please contact the Disability Resource Center. DRC will work with us to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Art majors that miss more than 25% of class sessions must repeat the class—regardless of other considerations.

2. Timely completion of all assignments is mandatory.

Academic Integrity/ AI Policy

Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the Student Handbook (published by Student Affairs) regarding student responsibilities and rights, and for the intellectual property policy, information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

What is dishonest activity in an art class?
• Turning in artwork created for other classes.
• Copying another artist’s art (painting, drawing, photo, etc.) and passing it off as your own—Plagiarism.
• Unauthorized use of copyrighted material such as images from magazines, books, or the internet. Ask your instructor how to use copyrighted images appropriately.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as, but not limited to, ChatGPT and Adobe Firefly, are not allowed to be used in this class. Although the use of these types of tools may be allowed in other classes and are used professionally, this class will focus on strengthening your artistic skills without the aid of generative AI. Any perceived use of generative AI will be investigated for possible submission to the university as cheating.

Course Fees

Course Fee is $57.00
($19 per credit)

There are other important statements that are a part of this syllabus. They discuss your rights and responsibilities concerning Attendance, Covid-19, Academic Integrity, ADA, Emergency Management, and other important topics. Please read them by clicking on Files on the left and then statements-required-in-course-syllabi.pdf, or download them by clicking here

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.