Don Kottman - Alberta College of Art & Design, Calgary, AB

Professor: Don Kottman

Department: Fine Arts

College: Alberta College of Art & Design, Calgary, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: DRAWING415
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Don shaped who I am today. I'm truly grateful for the countless hours he shared with me and the relentless pushes he gave. I miss the inspired critiques and conversations. I often wish I was still in his classes. I hope I can offer to my students what he offered me.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: DRAWING415
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

KOTTMANN IS THE BEST.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: DRAWING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Don is a charismatic instructor, not interested in the technical aspects but certianly in the conceptual and analytical. Entertaining and very present. One of the better teachers during my time at ACAD.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: DRWG
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Don Kottman will try his best to make you uncomfortable, and he'll steer crits in really strange directions. You will receive no technical help from Don. That said, the crits I had with him were the best I had throughout school. He knows how to get people emotional about the work in-front of them. I cared more about art after his class

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: DRWC202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I had Kottman ten years ago for a 2nd yr drawing class, and I still think back on it as a class where I really learned to look at things. Maybe the most useful class I had at ACAD. Whether or not you like him as a person, you will learn how to draw.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PAINT101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I took painting courses from Donn Kottman during 1979-80, and still fall back on his controversial teaching methods when my painting habits become too stiff, expectant or over-worked. Painting experiences under Don's direction, including critiques, have been invaluable to me no matter which medium I happen to work with. So finally, Thank You Don!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: DRWG204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

As much as a tried to stay interested in this class, Kottman's unclarity and uninterest in being a teacher just made me lose my interest, not to mention my temper. He was often late for class, and then becomes a hypocryte as students come in 5 minutes late. He is extremely negative (although perhaps realistic) on the student's future, which is wron

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: DRWG311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

he gets off on making students miserable. the only positive thing is that he keeps me productive...he's just antagonistic. He didn't get me thinking any more about my work, he just rambles about nothing, then asks for me to work harder. Very frustrating. You can see that awful smile on his face when he's barraging a student.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: DRWG215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Take a class with Don. If you can't handle it, please leave. Probably the most honest teacher at this school, definitly the most concerned for his students.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: DRWG315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great teacher if you want to grind your brain constantly during a six hour critique.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: DRW210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: DRWGSECTION
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: DWRNGFIGR
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Although not for the week, his theory on creating space essential to everybody. Hes not an ****, your just pussies

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: DRWG411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Smart- yeah, but there is certainly a difference between intelligence and teaching ability. He isn’t here because he loves to educate- he’s in it for the money. He has his favorites picked already, and if you aren’t one of them, you have no chance. His crits are vague and predictable- he unnecessarily repeats the same information.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PNTG200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ha ha, I loved this guy. True - talks about himself a lot but very smart. If you take painting/drawing seriously and push yourself - he will help you.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: DRAW411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

People love to slam Kottman, but the fact remains that he is a very smart teacher, with a wealth of experience. He asks you the hard questions and doesn't let you get away without answering. His group crits might go on, but you learn a lot about art theory and how to talk about art. He encourages you to develope disipline and actually think.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: DRWG315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Consistently late for class. Often brought his dog to class (hello, allergies?) which was extremely distracting. Loves to talk about himself, especially his glory days as both an undergrad and a pre-Olympic athlete. Does not stay on topic during critiques. Does not respect the time constraints of class (people have other classes too). If you a

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: DRAWING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Rude, not there and an ego the size of Canada and now he's teaching painting! It's enough to make me change majors.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: DRWG
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

a really awful teacher. has no purpose but to lower your GPA. he insults the other teachers, the students, the models, famous artists, in short: everyone. egotistical in the worst way. you could possibly learn something from him, but its not worth the agony of being in his vicinity.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: DRW210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Egotistical and just plain rude, I have never before been so frustrated not only with his teaching "style", but his blatant disregard for his students. He is much past his so-called 'prime'. He spends more time harrasing the nude models than he does ripping apart student work. If anything turns me away from the drawing dept. it's him.