Course Listings

Art and Art History: Art

ARTS 112 (CA) Color and Composition (1)

Studio demonstrations are given concerning the processes used to produce two-dimensional images which utilize color as the primary visual medium. A series of studio problems is used to provide direct experience with the instruments and materials employed to produce color surfaces.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 113 (CA) Fundamentals of Design (1)

Lectures and creative work in the theoretical and practical use of basic principles underlying the structure of the visual arts through studio practice in handling the elements of color, volume, space, line and texture in various media.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

• Offering: Every semester
• Instructor: Kuhns

ARTS 115 (CA) Picasso: An Introduction to Studio Arts (1)

ARTS 115 (CA) Picasso: An Introduction to Studio Arts (1)
This course is designed to introduce beginning students to the concepts and practices of studio art such as painting, printmaking, sculpture, and cardboard models, by using the life, paintings, prints and sculptures of Pablo Picasso as its dynamic centerpiece. Pablo Picasso was one of the most brilliant and influential artists of the twentieth century. He, along with Braque and the early modernists, formed the "language" of art that has been used by most contemporary artists.

Prerequisites: For Freshmen only.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

• Offering: Fall
• Instructor: Hess

ARTS 116 (CA) Ways of Drawing (1)

Studio demonstrations are given concerning the processes used to produce drawings on two-dimensional surfaces. A series of studio problems is used to provide direct experience with the instruments and materials employed to produce drawing surfaces. Demonstrations and lectures.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

• Offering: Triennially in fall
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 117 (CA) Exploring Visual Art (1)

Students will create works of art utilizing a variety of techniques. They will begin with two-dimensional media such as drawing, painting, and/or collage, and progress to three-dimensional media including clay and other materials. Independent research, visits to the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, and occasional lectures by guest artists or art historians outside of class required.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Grew

ARTS 131 Etching I (1)

Studio demonstrations are given in the use of tools and materials that are required to produce etchings. Black and white printing techniques are introduced with an emphasis on drawing systems and design. Open to beginning printmakers.

• Offering: Alternate falls
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 131 (CA) Creating with Clay (1)

An introduction to clay using construction techniques such as slab, coil, pinch and wheel throwing. Students are encouraged to explore ideas and concepts once comprehension of basic construction techniques is achieved. Restricted to non-Art majors.

Prerequisites: Restricted to non-Art majors

Fulfills General Education Requirement: Creating in the Arts

• Offering: Every Semester
• Instructor: Zeek

ARTS 211 Digital Media (1)

This class surveys and exposes the basic concepts of two dimensional image making in the electronic realm. A central theme of the course is the use of computer technology to generate visual points of view and to express precise thoughts through image and text. Students will be instructed in the basic operation of software programs and encouraged to go beyond the traditional applications of each software package.

Prerequisites: ARTS 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, ENGL 210, or consent of instructor

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Staff

ARTS 214 (CA) Structural Design (1)

Structure not only speaks to us about usefulness, economics, energy and safety, it also asks us to appreciate creativity and beauty. This studio course will focus on design in the 20th century and three masters of the modern movement in architecture: LeCorbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Its purpose is to train the eye to analyze the three-dimensional reality of visual experience and to translate this awareness into model buildings and an understanding of how creativity happens.

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts.

• Offering: Alternate Falls
• Instructor: Hess

ARTS 216 Video Art I (1)

This class explores the communicative and expressive potentials of single camera digital video production and editing. Students will gain a basic theoretical understanding of video as an art form and its relationship to film as an image making apparatus. Technical aspects of the course include lighting, sound, digital editing and the organization and planning involved in a video project.

Prerequisite: ARTS 112, 113, 116, 117, ENGL 210 or consent of instructor

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Staff

ARTS 221 (CA) Architectural Design Principles: The Chicago School (1)

This studio course presents an array of architectural design principles that arose from the Chicago School of Architecture in the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will integrate these principles in the making of drawings, plans, and three-dimensional models of their own design. The class will focus on producing design solutions to the problems of single-family and multi-family dwellings in an urban environment.

Modes of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts, Chicago Cluster

• Offering: Triennially, Fall
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 231 Etching II (1)

Studio demonstrations are given in the use of tools and materials needed to produce etchings. Color printing techniques are introduced with an emphasis on modern and contemporary techniques.

Prerequisite: ARTS 131 or consent of instructor

• Offering: Alternate springs
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 232 Black and White Photography I (1)

Technical and visual aspects of shooting and developing black and white film will be pursued. Darkroom printing will address technique and composition. Periodic student presentations and critiques of work will occur.

Prerequisite: ARTS 112, 113, 114, 116,  and 117 or consent of instructor. A 35mm SLR camera with a 50mm lens is required.

• Offering: Every  Semester
• Instructor: Staff

ARTS 233 Black and White Photography II (1)

Technical and visual aspects of shooting, developing and printing black and white film will continue to be pursued. Emphasis will be on experimentation with altered images that may occur in both shooting and printing. Infrared and Technical Pan films will be explored. Experimentation with printing techniques will be with contact, photograms, altered images by collage, drawing on negatives, sandwiching negatives and toning.

Prerequisite: ARTS 232 and/or consent of instructor

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Staff

ARTS 235 Painting (1)

A series of studio problems using systems of design, composition and techniques that study past and modern problems in painting. Demonstrations are presented to show the integration of past drawing systems in the making of paintings. Open to beginning students.

• Offering: Fall
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 236 Contemporary Painting Techniques and Concepts (1)

A series of studio problems using systems of design, composition and techniques that study current problems in contemporary painting. Open to beginning students.

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 240 Life Drawing (1)

Lectures and creative studio work in drawing from the figure and still life. The figure’s role in the evolution of artistic expressions and as inspiration to the many periods in the art of Western civilization. Various media: pencil, ink, pastel.

Prerequisite: ARTS 100 level course recommended

• Offering: Annually
• Instructor: Hess, Grew

ARTS 241 Figure Drawing (1)

Lectures and creative work in drawing from the human figure for beginning students. Various media: charcoal, ink, pastel, oil.

Prerequisite: ARTS 100 level course or ARTS 240

• Offering: Annually
• Instructor: Hess, Grew

ARTS 242 Woodcuts and Collagraphs (1)

A series of studio problems introducing students to the materials and tools needed to produce woodcuts and collagraphs printed in both black and white and color. Demonstrations, assignments and lectures stress the relief nature of the printing surfaces. Offered to beginning and advanced-level printmakers.

• Offering: Alternate falls
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 243 Monoprinting (1)

A series of studio problems introducing students to the materials and tools needed to produce monoprints. Monoprints are images that are not reproduced in an edition and thus are unique prints. Demonstrations are given in black and white and color printing. Stress is placed on integrating drawing and painting ideas in the prints. Offered to beginning and advanced-level printmakers.

• Offering: Alternate springs
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 245 Introduction to Ceramics (1)

The use of various clays will be explored in two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. Handbuilding, wheel work, glaze application and firing techniques will be pursued.

• Offering: Every semester
• Instructor: Grew

ARTS 253 Beginning Jewelry: Metalsmithing (1)

Small, three-dimensional designs with nonferrous metals and metalsmithing procedures. Discussion of jewelry’s role in various historical cultures.

• Offering: Alternate Falls
• Instructor: Hess

ARTS 261 Sculpture: Modeling and Casting (1)

This studio course focuses on the art of modeling with clay, as observed from Augustus Saint-Gaudens to Giacomo Manzu, and introduces several mold-making systems for casting into plaster and bronze.

• Offering: Fall
• Instructor: Hess

ARTS 262 Sculpture: Stone Carving (1)

This course will concentrate on the practice, aesthetics, and history of stone carving from Egyptian art to the art of Henry Moore (20th Century).

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Hess

ARTS 311 Web Art and New Media (1)

This course investigates the conceptual and technical potential of electronic media and how it might extend other areas of art making. Topics covered include how the machine might extend what the artist and historian already know and do, the strengths of the machine and how they may be applied to enhance the individual's approaches, and how an idea transcends technique. Projects/exercises are designed to aid in answering such questions by exploring various techniques and concepts pertinent to new technologies and the computer as an image driving tool. Image manipulation, the computer and time based issues, internet art and web publishing, as well as the necessary software needed for these investigations, will be presented.

Prerequisite: Arts 211

• Offering: Fall
• Instructor: Staff

ARTS 316 (CA) Video Art II (1)

Video Art II focuses on the use of video as an artistic medium. Students are encouraged to work experimentally and are expected to achieve a level of technical competence and confidence necessary to undertake ambitious creative work. Technical demonstrations expand students' knowledge of image/sound manipulations, capture, and editing techniques. The class views and discusses key contemporary works and related critical writings.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

Prerequisite: ARTS 216

• Offering: Alternate years
• Instructor: staff

ARTS 346 (CA) Ceramic Vessel Construction (1)

This studio course will devote equal time to handbuilding and wheel throwing as methods of vessel construction. The course will focus on form, design, function, and craftsmanship.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

Prerequisite: ARTS 245

• Offering: Alternate springs
• Instructor: Grew

ARTS 347 (CA) Ceramic Sculpture (1)

This course introduces students to sculptural ideas executed in various hand construction techniques including slab, coil, press mold, etc. Students will explore how the unique physical characteristics of clay can contribute to the content of the work. Emphasis will be on process, exploration, and discussion.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

Prerequisite: ARTS 245

• Offering: Alternate falls
• Instructor: Grew

ARTS 348 Contemporary Sculpture (1)

After World War II, American sculptors centered their attention to the attempt to translate the spirit and imagery of Abstract Expressionism into three dimensions. This studio course will explore how this action played out into a new vision of sculpture for succeeding generations as they worked with new materials and different ideas.

Prerequisites: one of ARTH 215, 216, 217, 257, 335, or 344.

• Offering: Alternate falls
• Instructor: Hess

ARTS 349 (CA) Ceramic Surface Techniques (1)

This course provides a variety of approaches to surface techniques including relief, drawing, printing, slip painting, texturing, and advanced glaze application. The course is open to students interested in vessels or sculpture.

Mode of Inquiry: Creating in the Arts

Prerequisite: ARTS 245

• Offering: Alternate springs
• Instructor: Grew

ARTS 360-377 Independent Projects (1)

For advanced art students. Individual study and work in areas of the Art major's special interest. Printmaking (360 and 361), Painting (362 and 363), Drawing (364 and 365), Ceramics (366 and 367), Sculpture (368 and 369), Design (370 and 371), Jewelry (372 and 373), Photography (374 and 375), and Electronic Media (376 and 377).

• Offering: On demand
• Instructor: Staff

ARTS 381 Advanced Media and Design (1)

Advanced studio work to permit the student to achieve a high level of competence in a selected area of interest. The student is expected, in consultation with the instructor, to identify and solve specific problems which will develop in depth an understanding and appreciation of the tools, materials and ideas used.

Prerequisite: Art Studio majors with junior standing, or consent of instructor

• Offering: Spring
• Instructor: Thompson

ARTS 440 (W) Writing for Artists (1)

This writing-centered course explores the variety of ways that artists need to communicate verbally for success as a developing professional. Topics will include writing an artist statement, reviews of work, grant and project proposals, research and discussion of issues directly relating to artists, and personal reflection upon the creative process. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary issues in the arts. Special topics will develop from guest artists and professionals in art administration, museums, galleries, and non-profit organizations.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Writing centered

Prerequisite: Senior Art Studio Majors only.

• Offering: Fall
• Instructor: Grew, Fourie, Opie

ARTS 496 Senior Seminar (1)

Required for senior Art majors. Group seminars as well as advanced independent work with an individual major professor. Includes preparation of a senior project.

General Education Requirement Fulfillment: Creating in the Arts

Prerequisite: Courses leading to the status of senior Art major.

• Offering: Fall
• Instructor: Staff