Course Descriptions: Art

This comprehensive foundation course offers a variety of art experiences based on the understanding, knowledge, appreciation and application of the fundamental elements, and principles common to all art structure. The course has been organized into three major areas: the nature of art, the elements of art, and introduction to the major art movements. The nature of art is designed to consider, in a broad sense, what art is. Primarily an aesthetic and philosophical approach is used. Next is a series of studio work experiences based on the fundamental elements of art.

This basic art program is continued with the fundamentals of the nature of art and art history with stress on the elements. Areas of naturalistic, conventionalized, and abstract design are explored through the techniques of pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, tempera, pastel, etc.

This course offers foundation and exploratory experiences in drawing and in painting, using watercolors, acrylics and various drawing materials such as pencils, crayons, pastels and ink.

The ceramics course is designed for the student who is interested in working with clay. It includes the use of the potter’s wheel, applying glazes, experimentation with the various methods of handling clay and the contemporary uses of clay in various art objects. The second half of the course focuses on advanced techniques on the potter’s wheel along with continuing work in hand-building, glazing and decoration.

This course is designed to encourage students to use the camera creatively, to consider photography as an art as well as a technical operation and a hobby, and to realize its potential toward possible vocations. The course covers the development, nature and function of photography, the creative use of the camera, and various technical processes involved. This includes the study of the camera, film, lighting, composition, developing, printing and enlarging, cropping, mounting and spotting. During the second half of the course, emphasis is placed on more advanced photo processes and techniques. Students work on in-depth projects and are also exposed to photo practiced in and out of the commercial field.

This course introduces techniques used to create, edit, and manipulate photographs through digital processes. Topics include image capture and input methods, workflow, editing in the digital darkroom, and output techniques for black and white as well as color images. Students operate a DSLR camera, and are introduced to Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Photographic composition and aesthetics, and their use as a form of visual communication, are emphasized.

Upon successful completion of this course, 3 college credits will be awarded by MVCC.

This course is designed for the advanced art student who has a sincere interest in the visual arts.

The course will involve an intense study of work at the college level and will expose students to the techniques and skills needed to document their completed work. By the end of the course, students will have a complete professional portfolio in both slide and mounted form.

This course introduces students to a variety of modern digital tools and techniques within the visual arts. Students will have exposure to skills applicable in: graphic design, animation, digital art/illustration and marketing. Students can use these skills to obtain visual art work after high school, or as a foundation to any higher educational art program. Students will learn basic functions of software within the Adobe Creative Suite including: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere.

Students do not need any previous knowledge of digital technology or digital tools. Students do not need personal electronic devices, computers or software to enroll in this course.

Upon successful completion of this course, 3 college credits will be awarded by MVCC.