The latvian academy of culture

The Name of the Course: The Fundamentals of Composition

The Scope of the Course: 64 hours (32 lectures, 32 practical classes,

4 credit points.

Type of Assessment – a test, a show and a written work.

XI.The Author of the Course: Lecturer Ērika Zalcmane

The Content of the Course: The course explores the fundamentals of composition and the acquisition of the visual means of expression. The objective of the course is to teach the basic elements of drawing and painting and draw compositions independently.
Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Course: A wish to learn the fundamentals of composition.
Thematic Planning:

Themes	Week	Type of classes and hours
An introduction. General characteristics of the composition of works of art. The key principles of the creation of composition.	1	L1, P1
Placement of composition in space, schemes that help to understand the layout of forms, elements of rhythm, the structure of composition. Signs, characters, symbols in composition. (Jung’s archetypes and symbols.) Allegories in works of art.	2, 3	L2, P2
Colour. Regularities of colour contrast. Symbolism and psychology of colours. (W.Kandinsky) The creation of colour compositions.	4,5	L2, P2
The analysis of various works of art by plans, groups, colours and the symmetry axis. Contrasts of artistic characters. Symmetry and asymmetry, balance and harmony. Colour and composition.	6, 7	L2, P2
The line in drawing and composition. A graphical drawing and various types of graphics. Linear rhythms, motion and peace. Symbols and characters in Escher’s works.	8, 9	L2, P2
Silent art. The study and analysis of various forms, identification of proportions. Light and shade.	10	L1, P1
Landscape. The study of linear and air perspective. The creation of space in a plane.	11, 12	L2, P2
Space and interior. Colour and its significance in various types of space.	13, 14	L2, P2
An architectural drawing. The perspective of one point and two points.	15, 16	L2, P2
Portraits. The identification and study of proportions. The formation of eyes, the nose and the mouth. Facial expressions.	1, 2	L2, P2
Colours and chiaroscuro in the portrait. The psychological portrait. Renaissance portraits.	3, 4	L2, P2
Rules of body proportions. Motion sketches.	5, 6	L2, P2
The creation of a figurative composition. The colour, form and chiaroscuro in composition.	7, 8	L2, P2
The acquisition of the elements of symbolism in practice. The creation of compositions.	9, 10	L2, P2
The application of the elements of impressionism. The creation of the atmosphere of colour, and light and shade.	11, 12	L2, P2
A multi-plane figural composition.	13,	L1, P1
Composition elements of an advertisement. The choice of fonts, central characters and colours. A poster for a film.	14, 15, 16	L3, P3

Preconditions for the Acquisition of the Credit Points:

1. 
   A test and an examination.
   
2. 
   A positive evaluation of the student’s individual work.
   

XII.

XIII.Literature:

1. 
   Zīmēšanas pamati., Parramon Ediciones, 1992
   
2. 
   Gleznošanas pamati, Parramon Ediciones, 1992
   
3. 
   Kavacs V., Mākslas valodas pamati - Zvaigzne ABC, 1999
   
4. 
   Malerei Lexikon von A bis Z., Corvus, 1986
   
5. 
   Branskis V.P., Māksla un filozofija – Янтарный сказ, 1999
   
6. 
   Simbolisma enciklopēdija, Республика, 1998