ARTS 1553 Art Appreciation Syllabus 010 Fall 2026

Credit Hours 3.00 Lecture Hours 2 Clinical/Lab Hours 2
Type of Credit
CIP Code
50.0701
Course Meeting Time

(Lec) T/TH 9:30 - 10:20 in R107

(Lab) TH 10:30 - 12:10 in R107

Course Description

This course is intended for non-art majors to learn basic information about how visual art forms and applications existing in the everyday world can be used to enrich and enhance the individual's life. Students will receive an overview of art history including major artistic achievements, schools, and trends. The course stresses the development of understanding and appreciation of aesthetic concepts, theory, and criticism. A minimal amount of "hands on" studio experience will provide opportunity for non-art majors to experience the creative processes necessary in many art capacities.

Course Alignment

IAI Number
F2-900
IAI Title
Art Appreciation
General Education Outcomes

General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:

  1. Communication

Faculty Contact Information

Faculty Name
Jo Rieger
Faculty Email
Faculty Office Number
815-802-8654

Course Information

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. The ability to develop, understand and critically analyze the formal design concepts and principles in artworks
  2. A descriptive vocabulary, set of terms, phrases, concepts, and approaches that allows for thinking critically about visual images
  3. An understanding of the processes involved in making art
  4. An awareness of changing art climates and stylistic changes in art
Topical Outline
  1. The purpose and function of art in society
  2. The visual elements
    1. Line
    2. Shape
    3. Space
    4. Color
    5. Value
    6. Texture
  3. The principles of design
    1. Rhythm
    2. Repetition
    3. Unity
    4. Contrast
    5. Balance
    6. Emphasis
  4. Media
    1. Drawing
    2. Painting
    3. Sculpture
    4. Craft media
  5. Art historical application of art appreciation from Cave Art through Postwar Art movements including Western and Non-Western art
Textbook/s and Course Materials

ONLINE COURSE CONTENT:

Other sites/apps to reference

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES:

  • Blank Sketchbook/Journal or Lined Notebook (used for sketching, written reflections, and a travel journal)...can be plain paper in a folder
  • Black sharpies (fine/thin/fat)
  • Colored markers
  • Colored pencils
  • Watercolors: paints/brushes/palette
  • Old magazines
  • Drawing pencils(not mechanical), eraser, and hand sharpener
  • Rubber cement (or other non-wrinkle glue)
  • Camera (digital, phone, or device)
  • Scissors 
  • Used materials are fine. Ask around. Materials available in class will need to be shared.
Methods of Evaluation

Unit Quizzes 
Written assignments / Discussion Posts
Artist Lab projects / Technical skill development 

Final Exam Project/Presentation

Academic Division

Liberal Arts & Sciences

Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700

Course Policies
  1. All work will be posted in Canvas under Modules.
  2. Homework assignments are due by Monday, 11:59 pm, before our next class.
  3. Formative assessments are done in class and are due immediately.
  4. Summative assessments are due before the end of Thursday’s class.
  5. All assignments can be turned in a second time for further mastery if they were turned in on time. The final project will be due before the exam block begins.
Expectations for Classroom and Online Behavior
  1. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me with any questions or set up a time to meet during class, or email me.
  2. Please come prepared with homework done/supplies ready, be on time, remove earbuds/headphones, and put cell phones away/on silent.
  3. Music/headphones can be used during studio time.
  4. All absences are counted and can affect your program status. See KCC’s Non-Attendance/Non-Participation Policy at catalog.kcc.eduLinks to an external site..
  5. When absent, please inform me in advance to arrange to complete missed work.
  6. All work will be posted in Canvas under Modules.
  7. All assignments are due by the last day of class for the week. There is a grace period for turning in by Monday, 11:59 pm, accept for week 16 of class.
  8. All assignments can be turned in a second time for further mastery if they were turned in on time. The final project will be due before the exam block begins.
Course Calendar

WEEK

DATES

TOPICS

ASSIGNMENTS:

1

AUG

18/20

Connections

Who are we?

Getting Started: how our class runs

Appreciating art: why?

PROJECT 1: Share Your Vibe

  • Typography
  • Expressive
  • Portrait
  • Photography
  • Contrast
  • Contour lines
  • Mixed Media

 

  • Drawing Connections: survey

  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT #1

  • PICK ONE #1: Global Prehistory

  • study flashcards 1-11
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 1: Share Your Vibe

 

2

AUG

25/27

Why Connections Matter?

Show-N-Shout: share your vibe

Global Prehistory

PROJECT 2: The Art Toolbox

  • Elements of Art
  • Principles of Design
  • Media Explorations
  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT #2
  • Show-n-Shout
  • Global Prehistory TOUR #1:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PROJECT 2: The Art Toolbox
  • PICK ONE #2: Ancient Mediterranean
  • study flashcards 12-47
  • fill sticky note

3

SEPT

1/3

Why Such a Majority?

Ancient Mediterranean

PROJECT 3: Secrets to Drawing

  • 1 & 2 point
  • Blind
  • Upside-down
  • Puzzle
  • Grid
  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT#3
  • Ancient Mediterranean TOUR #2:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PICK ONE #3: Early Europe & Americas
  • study flashcards 48-98
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 3: Secrets to Drawing

4

SEPT

8/10

Levels of Culture

Early Europe & Americas

PROJECT 4: Painting

  • Camera Obscura
  • medium / media
  • value scale
  • color wheels
  • color schemes
  • realism
  • watercolor
  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT#4
  • Early Europe & Americas TOUR #3
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PROJECT 4: Painting

5

SEPT

15/17

Courage & Going into the Unknown

PROJECT 4: Painting Complete

  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT #5
  • PICK ONE #4: Later Europe & Americas
  • study flashcards 99-152
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 4: Painting

6

SEPT

22/24

Art & Beauty

Later Europe & Americas

PROJECT 5: Printmaking

  • Matrix
  • Block
  • Print
  • Edition #
  • Registration
  • Pull
  • Brayer
  • Baren
  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT#6
  • Later Europe & Americas TOUR #4:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
    • PROJECT 5: Printmaking

7

SEPT-

OCT

29/1

Don’t Censor Me!

PROJECT 5: Printmaking Complete

  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT #7
  • PICK ONE #5: Indigenous Americas
  • study flashcards 153-166
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 5: Printmaking
  • PICK ART FOR: ​​

"The Viewing" - PEER CRITIQUE

(Self Portrait, Watercolor, Printmaking)

8

OCT

6/8

Indigenous Americas

PROJECT 6: Pottery

  • Slab
  • Coil
  • Pinch
  • Vessel
  • Leather Hard
  • Slip
  • Kiln
  • Indigenous Americas TOUR #5:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PROJECT 6: Pottery
  • DUE! PICK ART FOR: ​​

"The Viewing" - PEER CRITIQUE

(Self Portrait, Watercolor, Printmaking)

9

OCT

13/15

Art Heals

"The Viewing" - PEER CRITIQUE

PROJECT 6: Pottery Continued

  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT #8
  • "The Viewing" - PEER CRITIQUE
  • PROJECT 6: Pottery
  • PICK ONE #6: Africa
  • study flashcards 167-180
  • fill sticky note

10

OCT

20/22

Africa

PROJECT 6: Pottery Complete

  • Africa TOUR #6:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PICK ONE #7: West and Central Asia
  • study flashcards 181-191
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 6: Pottery

11

OCT

27/29

West and Central Asia TOUR #7

Creative Triggers

PROJECT 7: Figure Sculpture

  • Proportion
  • Semi-abstract
  • Maquette
  • Plaster properties
  • West and Central Asia TOUR #7:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PICK ONE #8: S, SE, and East Asia:
  • study flashcards 192-212
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 7: Figure Sculpture

12

NOV

3/5

Religion in Art PPR #9

South, South East, and East Asia PROJECT 7: Figure Sculpture Cont.

  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT #9
  • S, S East, & East Asia TOUR #8:
  • PICK ONE #9: Arts of the Pacific
  • study flashcards 213-223
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 7: Figure Sculpture
  • KCC Art Entry : turn in

13

NOV

10/12

Arts of the Pacific PROJECT 7: Figure Sculpture Complete

  • Arts of the Pacific TOUR #9:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PICK ONE #10: Global Contemporary
  • study flashcards 224-250
  • fill sticky note
  • PROJECT 7: Figure Sculpture

14

NOV

17/19

8 Artists’ Advice

Global Contemporary

PROJECT 8: Environmental

  • Scale
  • Installation
  • Social Sculpture
  • Eco-Art
  • Ephemeral
  • Site-Specific
  • Land Art
  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT #10
  • Global Contemporary TOUR #10:
    • Checkpoint
    • V O T E
    • MAP IT / TIME IT
    • Travel Journal
  • PROJECT 8: Environmental Art

15

NOV

24

Why We Create?

PROJECT 8: Artwork that Decays

Continue

  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT#11
  • MAP IT / TIME IT: Turn In
  • PROJECT 8: Present / Critique
  • Course Evaluation

16

DEC

1/3

Review and reflect

Final connections

EXAM PROJECT: The Curator

  • PROCESS PAUSE REFLECT/TOUR NOTES: journal/sketchbook turn in
  • FINAL TEST
  • EXAM PROJECT: The Curator/Connections
  • All Old Redo Work DUE BY DEC. 3, 12:10pm
    
    

College Policies, Resources and Supports

College Policies

For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide. 

Resources

KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:

  • Clubs and organizations
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