VA103 Language of Drawing I
VA103 Language of Drawing I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Dec 12, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Meliha Teparić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The course aims are: 1. equipping the students with basic drawing matter and skills, 2. understand connection between the mind and the hand, 3. comprehend observation to understand forms, 4. natural rules of perspective, 5. gain skill for measuring as tool coping from observation 6. analyzing artwork objectively.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Betty Edwards. The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Tarcher; Rev & Expand edition, 1999.
Additional Literature
Brain Curtis, Drawing from observation, Florida, 2002. W. Enstice & M. Petters, Drawing – space, form and expression, Third edition, New Jersey, 2003.Teaching Methods
Focus is on practical exercises
Also include: explanations
Demonstrations
Hands-on art studio work time.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to course. | |
| 2 | Explorative drawing, intuitive gesture drawing: line and mass. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 29-44. |
| 3 | Continuous line/Contour line: Using line to define space. Contour drawing. Structural drawing of objects | Edwars, (1999.), p.88-113. |
| 4 | The Picture Plane: Composition and Design. Negative Space Drawing. View finder. | Edwars, (1999.), p.96-99. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.136-138. |
| 5 | Measuring: Continue structural drawing of objects. Sustained gesture drawing from still life set up. | Edwars, (1999.), p.96-99. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.136-138. |
| 6 | Measuring: Continue structural drawing of objects. Sustained gesture drawing from still life set up | Edwars, (1999.), p.88-113. |
| 7 | Perspective: Organizational lines, the perceptual grid. Intuitive perspective. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 77-81. |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Perspective: Organizational lines, the perceptual grid. Intuitive Perspective. | Edwars, (1999.), p.138-159. Curtis, (2002.), p. 59-69, 149-159, 245-314. |
| 10 | Space: Illusion of a space in a drawing | Edwars, (1999.), p.138-159. Curtis, (2002.), p. 59-69, 149-159, 245-314. |
| 11 | Space: Illusion of a space in a drawing | Edwars, (1999.), p.138-159. Curtis, (2002.), p. 59-69, 149-159, 245-314. |
| 12 | Value and Tone: Value exercises. Basic shapes value study. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229. |
| 13 | Value and Tone: Value exercises. Basic shapes value study. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229 |
| 14 | Chiaroscuro and Texture: Chiaroscuro technique. Textures: spontaneous system of mark, rather than literal interpretation. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.164-167. |
| 15 | Chiaroscuro and Texture: Chiaroscuro technique. Textures: spontaneous system of mark, rather than literal interpretation. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.164-167. |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA103.1 | Course | Wednesday 11:00 - 13:50 | A B.16 - VACD Drawing Studio | - | - |
| VA103.2 | Course | Tuesday 15:00 - 17:50 | A B.16 - VACD Drawing Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F2.7A | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.7A |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4 5 6
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Sketchbook
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Assignments
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home Study
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Mid-term Exam Study
12 hours ⏳ (1 week × 12 h)
Final Exam Study
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA103] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Dec 12, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA103 | Language of Drawing I | 0 | 3 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | VA104, VA303 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Meliha Teparić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| mteparic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | mteparic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | The course aims are: 1. equipping the students with basic drawing matter and skills, 2. understand connection between the mind and the hand, 3. comprehend observation to understand forms, 4. natural rules of perspective, 5. gain skill for measuring as tool coping from observation 6. analyzing artwork objectively. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Betty Edwards. The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Tarcher; Rev & Expand edition, 1999. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Focus is on practical exercises, also include: explanations, demonstrations, hands-on art studio work time. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to course. | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Explorative drawing, intuitive gesture drawing: line and mass. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 29-44. | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Continuous line/Contour line: Using line to define space. Contour drawing. Structural drawing of objects | Edwars, (1999.), p.88-113. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | The Picture Plane: Composition and Design. Negative Space Drawing. View finder. | Edwars, (1999.), p.96-99. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.136-138. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Measuring: Continue structural drawing of objects. Sustained gesture drawing from still life set up. | Edwars, (1999.), p.96-99. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.136-138. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Measuring: Continue structural drawing of objects. Sustained gesture drawing from still life set up | Edwars, (1999.), p.88-113. | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Perspective: Organizational lines, the perceptual grid. Intuitive perspective. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 77-81. | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Perspective: Organizational lines, the perceptual grid. Intuitive Perspective. | Edwars, (1999.), p.138-159. Curtis, (2002.), p. 59-69, 149-159, 245-314. | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Space: Illusion of a space in a drawing | Edwars, (1999.), p.138-159. Curtis, (2002.), p. 59-69, 149-159, 245-314. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Space: Illusion of a space in a drawing | Edwars, (1999.), p.138-159. Curtis, (2002.), p. 59-69, 149-159, 245-314. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Value and Tone: Value exercises. Basic shapes value study. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229. | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Value and Tone: Value exercises. Basic shapes value study. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Chiaroscuro and Texture: Chiaroscuro technique. Textures: spontaneous system of mark, rather than literal interpretation. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.164-167. | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Chiaroscuro and Texture: Chiaroscuro technique. Textures: spontaneous system of mark, rather than literal interpretation. | Curtis, (2002.), p. 207-229. Enstice&Petters, (2003.), p.164-167. | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 4,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 14 | 15 | 1-5 | Not Allowed | |
| Sketchbook | 14 | 5 | 1-5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Assignments | 3 | 14 | 42 | |||
| Home Study | 3 | 13 | 39 | Mid-term Exam Study | 12 | 1 | 12 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 15 | 1 | 15 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/12/2025 | |||||||||