Art

Visual literacy is important whether you are a studio major, a general studies transfer student, or simply looking for more visual understanding of our highly complex visual world. Our art history classes explore the way humans have visually made sense of and influenced their world through the ages.

Ceramics courses provide you the opportunity to become familiar with the physical characteristics and creative potentials of plastic clay materials.

Functional and sculptural assignments in the ceramics studio include all of the necessary materials and equipment for instruction in hand building and wheel throwing classes. We have multiple kilns including –

• Electric
• Natural gas
• Raku

Our studio also has

• Pottery wheels
• A slab roller
• Canvas covered worktables
• A humidity-controlled damp room
• Separate rooms for storage and glazing

The ceramics studio is located in Salem Bldg. 5, Rm. 104.

Creative thinking skills are highly sought by business leaders when hiring. But what defines creativity and how can it be improved? The answers come from diverse fields like psychology, improvisational theater, business innovation, and art. The Creativity Class explores creative thinking skills through all these perspectives. The insights and concrete exercises taught in this class help everyone become more creative in their professional and personal lives.

Basic design is a sequence of beginning level courses, offering an introduction to the fundamental principles of design practiced in the visual arts. These courses are part lecture and part studio work as they explore design, composition, and the expression of visual ideas. Design classes create strong foundation skills for those interested in pursuing other art classes such as drawing, and painting. 

Foundation skills in observation and illusory drawing techniques can be learned or improved upon at any age. Our drawing classes emphasize traditional, classic drawing practices which create the illusion of light, texture, volume, and space on a two-dimensional surface. You will work with graphite, charcoal and other drawing media.

The drawing studio environment supports learning through observation and practice. Equipment includes –

• Drawing horses
• Easels
• Drawing boards
• An overhead lighting system

The still life collection is bursting with interesting objects to draw such as skulls, plaster casts, household items, and wooden boxes. The studio is open Fridays each term for extra work on in-class assignments.

The drawing studio is in Salem Bldg. 3, Rm. 121.

Painting is an expressive medium that dates back to the beginning of art history. It remains alluring as an outlet of personal expression and meaning-making. Painting translates the world visually through color, composition and brushwork. Painting classes are limited to 20 students.

The studio provides easels, taborets, and an overhead lighting system. Students learn through lectures, demonstrations, observation, and practice. The studio is open Fridays for extra work on paintings. The painting studio is in Salem Bldg. 5, Rm. 101 during the term painting is offered.

Traditional materials and methods of modeling, carving, and casting three dimensional sculptural forms are covered in sculpture classes. Technical skills and meaningful content are developed.

The sculpture studio has facilities and equipment for carving, assemblage, and casting. Classes encourage a variety of projects using diverse creative materials to produce sculptures at a beginner level.

The sculpture studio is located in Salem Bldg. 5, Rm. 102 B.

We recommend taking ART117 Basic Design-Three Dimensional before taking the sculpture series.