Course Materials

For most curricular options, students will need to bring only notebooks and writing implements.

For Introduction to Programming in C, Corporate Valuation, and The Stock Market, students are required to bring laptops.

For Photography: The Camera Craft, students are expected to have their own 35mm SLR film cameras.

Introduction to Architectural Design and Theory and Issues in Biological Conservation require the following course materials:
 

Issues in Biological Conservation Course Materials

There will be a three-day/two-night overnight stay at Black Rock Forest in upstate New York where we will be camping and sleeping in tents.

For this overnight stay you will need the following:

  • Sleeping bag or blankets
  • Inflatable pad and a pillow (optional but the ground is hard)
  • Towel
  • Insect repellent
  • Jacket or sweatshirt for the evening
  • Rain coat
  • Extra socks
  • Water bottle
  • Anything else that will make you comfortable
     

Introduction to Architectural Design and Theory Course Materials

All students are requested to purchase the following supplies before the first day of class. Students should also bring these materials to the first day of studio.

  • Portable drafting board with parallel rule, 20" x 26" or larger (such as Alvin PXB Board)
  • Cutting mat, 18 x 24" or larger
  • Sketch book, unlined: 8 1/2" x 11" maximum
  • Lead holder and drawing leads: 2H and HB
  • Lead pointer
  • Eraser: white plastic Staedtler Mars recommended.
  • 2 Triangles with inking edge, 12" or larger: 30/60/90 and 45/45/90
  • Architects scale: 12" triangular
  • Drafting brush
  • Exacto knife with 15 or more extra #11 blades
  • Metal ruler: 18" with safety rail (Alumicutter-type ruler is recommended)
  • Elmer's Glue, 8 oz.
  • Trace paper: 12" roll
  • Drafting dots or drafting tape
  • Plain, ungridded vellum paper, 18" x 24" pad with 20 or more sheets, OR 18" x 20" yard roll.
    (Note: vellum should be slightly translucent)
  • Bristol paper pad, 14" x 17" or larger with 20 or more medium-weight sheets.(Strathmore Bristol 300 smooth is recommended.)

Optional Materials

  • Utility knife with 5 or more extra blades (Olfa L1 or L2 heavy duty knife recommended)
  • Erasing Shield
  • Felt-tip pens for sketching
  • Pencils for sketching
  • French curves, compass
  • Scissors
  • Push pins
  • Additional papers, boards and model making materials may be required depending on each student's project.

Art Supply Stores

The following is a list of art supply stores where you will be able to purchase supplies for studio.

  • Pearl Paint 308 Canal Street (at Broadway) 212-431-7932
  • Janoff's 2870 Broadway (at 111th Street) 212-866-5747
  • Utrecht 111 Fourth Avenue (at 12th Street) 212-777-5353
  • Charette 215 Lexington Avenue (at 32nd Street) 212-683-8822
  • Sam Flax 12 West 20th Street (at 5th Avenue) 212-620-3038
  • A I Friedman 44 West 18th Street (at 6th Avenue) 212-337-8600
  • New York Central 62 Third Avenue (at 11th Street) 212-473-7705
  • Kate's Art Supply 70 Fifth Avenue (at 13th Street) 212-675-6406
  • Lee's Art Shop 220 West 57th Street (at 7th Avenue) 212-247-0110

Students can also find supplies beyond what's typically found at an art supply store at the following places:

  • ACE Hardware 817 Amsterdam Avenue (at 100th Street ) 212-749-3632
  • Columbia Hardware 2905 Broadway (at 113th Street ) 212-662-2150
  • AJO 817 Amsterdam Avenue (at 100th Street ) 212-866-1050
  • Canal Plastic Center 345 Canal Street 212-925-1032
  • Industrial Plastic 309 Canal Street 212-226-2010
  • The Compleat Sculptor 90 Vandam Street (at Greenwich Street ) 212-243-6074
  • Academy Hardware 2869 Broadway (at 111th Street ) 212-222-3060

Explanation of Materials

The internet links below are provided as examples only, for your convenience; you are not required to purchase the exact brands or products shown, unless specified above. Nearly all the required supplies are available online at www.artstuff.net. Students may also purchase their materials at the Pearl Paint store in New York City just before classes begin. (Note: Pearl does not carry their entire inventory on their Web site; however all the materials should be available at the Canal St. store. Columbia students receive a 10% discount at the store.)

Portable drafting board with parallel rule
A board laminated with a smooth surface, with a parallel rule, for drafting.
http://www.artstuff.net/pxb-parallel-straightedge-drawing-boards.htm
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Pearls-Rulers-by-Fairgate_1999_1946.html

Cutting mat
Stiff, self-healing plastic sheet about 3/16" thick used as a cutting surface. It is mandatory in the design studio where space is limited and one surface must serve for both drafting and model building. (Do not cut on drawing surface of table tops!!!)
http://www.artstuff.net/Alvin-Cutting-Mats_p_891.html
http://pearlpaint.com/shop-Self-Healing-Cutting-Mats_1999_1993.html

Sketch book
Select one that is easy to transport and to use whether you're sitting down, standing up, with or without supporting surfaces, and one with desirable tooth.
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Draw--&-Sketch----Pads-for-Drawing_6999_6970.html

Lead holder/drawing leads
A lead holder is a mechanical pencil which holds thick leads. Drawing leads come in various weights: The “H" series are the hardest leads, good for making sharp, faint lines on paper. The ‘B' series include softer leads, better for shading and filling. As the number increases, the hardness or softness increases (i.e. a 6B lead is softer than a 2B, a 6H is harder than a 2H). ‘HB' is in the middle of the range. Different leads can be used together to create gradations of shading to give the illusion of shadow or depth. Students will only require 2 extra sticks of lead of each type (HB & 2H) so you may purchase smaller packs if they are available; but typically they come in packs of 12.
www.artstuff.net/staedtler_lead_holders.htm
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Lead-Holders_1953_1964.html

Lead pointer
Sharpens lead while encased in lead holder.
http://www.artstuff.net/alvin-rotary-lead-pointers.htm
http://pearlpaint.com/shop-Lead-Holders-Leads-Pointers_1999_1953.html
 
Eraser
Staedtler Mars erasers work well with lead without leaving a residue on the paper.
www.artstuff.net/white_vinyl_erasers.htm
http://www.pearlpaint.com/buy-Mars-Plastic-Eraser_2499_2494_161519.html

 
Erasing shield
Small metal plate used to isolate parts of a drawing to be erased.
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Erasing-Shield_1999_1965.html
 
Triangles
These are used in conjunction with parallel rule. 30/60/90 and 45/45/90 refer to the angles that compose the triangle. An "inking edge" is beveled to prevent the pooling or smearing of ink from technical pens.

http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-30-60-Smoked-Triangle-With-Inking-Edge_1987_1982.html
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-45-90-Smoked-Triangle-With-Inking-Edge_1987_1981.html
 
Architects scale
A triangular ruler used to make/take measurements at a variety of scales typically. Note: please make sure you purchase an architecture scale not an engineering scale.
www.artstuff.net/staedtler_architectural_triangular_scale.htm
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Triangular-Plastic-Scales_1970_1968.html
 
Drafting brush
Brush used to sweep eraser flecks and other loose particles off the drawing surface.
http://www.artstuff.net/drafting-brushes.htm
http://pearlpaint.com/shop-Drafting-Dusting-Brushes_1999_1992.html
 
Exacto knife/Olfa knife
Both knives are used for model building. Standard exacto knives with #11 blades are good for straight and small detailed cuts. The Olfa or utility knife is better for thicker, denser boards, but not as good for detail. It is recommended students buy at least 15 extra Exacto #11 blades and 5 extra Olfa blades.
www.artstuff.net/xacto_gripster_knives.htm
www.artstuff.net/xacto_type_a_blades.htm
http://www.artstuff.net/olfa-l1-ratchet-lock-utility-knife.htm
http://pearlpaint.com/shop-X-Acto-Knives_986_986001.html
 
Metal ruler with safety rail
An 18" metal ruler with a safety rail such as the Alumicutter (see link) is recommended. If you cannot find an Alumicutter or similar product, a metal ruler with a cork back to prevent slipping is acceptable.
http://www.artstuff.net/alumicolor-straightedges.htm
 
Sobo glue or Elmer's glue
Elmer's is the most commonly used glue for models. Sobo is a white, non-toxic alternative. Both dry clear.
http://www.amazon.com/Elmers-Glue-All-Multi-Purpose-Ounces-E1324/dp/B0038DR6LC/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1321462751&sr=8-15 
http://www.artstuff.net/sobo-craft-and-fabric-glue.htm
 
Trace paper
This lightweight, semi-translucent paper can be bought in a roll or a pad of separate sheets. Available in white, buff and yellow. 12" width is recommended.
http://www.artstuff.net/bienfang-sketching-paper-rolls.htm
http://pearlpaint.com/shop-Pearl-Tracing-Rolls_6941_9760.html
 
Drafting dots/drafting tape
This is used to tape paper to the drawing board. Do not use masking or scotch tape. Drafting tape easily detaches from paper unlike other tapes (also useful when building models). Dots come in a strip of separate tabs, while tape comes in a roll. Artists tape is an acceptable alternative.
http://www.artstuff.net/drafting-tapes.htm
 
Vellum
This is a semi-translucent drafting paper with a fine tooth that allows one to trace drawings underneath and to use both sides of the paper as a drawing surface. Be sure to get the plain, ungridded kind. You can buy it either in an 18" x 24" pad with 20 or more sheets, or in a 18" x 20 yard roll.
www.artstuff.net/vellum.htm
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Clearprint-1000H-Vellum-Pads_6946_6943.html
 
Bristol paper
A smooth, medium-weight paper, good for making presentation drawings and sketch models. Comes in pads of various sizes.
http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Royal-Langnickel-Wooden-Box-Sets_6920_6918.html
 
Optional Supplies
Sketching pens come in a variety of colors and thickness. Thinner pens can be more accurate, thicker pens more gestural. Sketching pencils come in a variety of weights, same as drawing leads. Additionally, some students may prefer to use mechanical pencils (though they tend to be a little pricier than what is recommended above):
http://www.dickblick.com/products/alvin-draftmatic-pencil/?wmcp=amazon&wmcid=feeds&wmckw=20622-2025

French curves are used as templates to draw irregular curves. Colored pencils may be used for rendering, shading, or diagramming. Prismacolor is the most common brand, which you can buy in sets or individually. A drafting lamp provides better light on the drawing surface. Compasses are used for drawing circles based on the mid-point (they may be adjustable with "broken arm" which increases radius length). Push-pins are useful for pinning up drawings.