ART 141 Introduction to Mural Art

Lecture Hours: 2
Lab Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Introduces the historical background of mural making from its origins in Mexico to current community mural movements in the United States. Identifies a wide range of mural styles and trends. Considers practical information, skills, and techniques. Applies this base knowledge to formulate and evaluate a personal approach to mural art and to develop a mural project proposal to include research and theme development. Constructs, along with the instructor, a collaborative, local, mural project using pertinent mural techniques.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 or completion of WR 090 with a grade of C or better.
Recommended: Any of the following: ART 101, ART 115, ART 116, ART 118, ART 121, or ART 131

Student Learning Outcomes:

Distinguish mural art as a specific art discipline with specific techniques, formal means, and approaches.
Identify various styles and approaches to the mural throughout history and in regional and national movements.
Analyze and conceptualize image themes and subjects.
Apply a range of effective strategies for inventive image design
Execute a mural proposal or mock-up using both traditional and digital mural development techniques by conduct researching and articulating a pictorial narrative.
Transfer images from mural proposal (cartoon or maquette), to the full size project.
Utilize materials appropriate for mural execution and completion.
Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of works using appropriate terminology to distinguish between successful and unsuccessful craftsmanship and design strategies.

Content Outline

Historical Introduction
- Overview of Mexican Art History, its further development in the Mexican renaissance and mural movement
- The community mural movement in the United States
  - The Harlem Renaissance and the WPA federal Art program.
  - The contributions of Judy Baca, mural art in LA, and the Philadelphia mural program
- The mural movement around the world
- Its impact
- Mural movement directions and evolution
- Mural Art and Society
  - The artist and public art
  - The legacy of social issues in muralism.
- Public arts role
  - Pictorial narrative analysis
  - Plastic integration and other public art considerations
  - Art and City regulation
  - Mural preservation
Styles and Approaches to Mural Art
- Trompe l’oeil
- Social realism
- Community murals
- Graffiti
- Non-traditional murals.
Design Process: Content and Thematic Elements
- Creative process: definition, discovery, revision, refinement
  - Define - clarification of goals, restrictions
  - Brainstorm - non-judgmental series of written or roughly drawn “thumbnail” ideas
  - Analyze - testing the brainstorm designs
  - Revise - modification to clarify or simplify the design
  - Refine - execution of finished work
- Pictorial narrative exploration and composition
- Formal Elements of Designing
  - Line
  - Shape and volume
  - Value
  - Composition and pictorial narrative
- Composition and architectural relations
- Plastic integration.
- Mural Proposal
  - Research
  - Themes, brainstorming
  - Images
    - Selecting media
    - Copyright
  - Mock-up
    - Cartoon or maquette scale model
    - Digital generated image proposal (Photoshop)
  - Evaluation
  - Review, critique
  - Rework
  - Selection
Mural Media and Materials
- Paint
  - Application
  - Surfaces: hard or canvas
  - Preservation
- Mosaics, tiles
  - Application
  - Surfaces: hardy panel. Cinder block, concrete, etc
  - Preservation
- Unconventional media: air brush, spray can, industrial materials
  - Application
  - Surfaces: hard or canvas
  - Preservation
- Mural Techniques
  - Image transfer
  - Interior murals vs. exterior murals
Mural Execution
- Team approach to mural execution
- Coordinate tasks for mural completion
- Mural Evaluation and Assessment
  - Individual, peer to peer and group critiques
  - Written and oral
  - Use of assessment rubrics