Program Description

DRAWING

The Drawing and Portrait Drawing courses present this discipline as a primary tool of vision and consequently as a means of apprehending the world around us. The essentials of perspective, anatomy, and drawing from observation are followed by an introduction to the analysis of compositional dynamics. Students may work from the human form, still life, 2 dimensional images, and/or landscape depending on the instructor. At the intermediate and advanced levels, students are presented with more complex problems in perspective, composition, and detailed rendering in light and shade. Studio classes are tutorial by nature but may be supplemented by group critiques. Students are familiarized with various drawing media, which may include charcoal, conté crayon, pastel, ink, and graphite. All of the drawing classes are held in a well-lit, spacious studio.

PAINTING

Introductory Painting initiates students into the often-ignored fundamentals of painting a picture. Students are first familiarized with materials, equipment, and studio maintenance. Basic pictorial concepts such as color, composition, perspective, space, and the picture plane are introduced. Studio classes are tutorial by nature but may be supplemented by group critiques. Students choose from a wide variety of unusual still lifes. They allow the student to return to his/her picture repeatedly over several weeks and outside of class time. Late-term gleanings can be re-applied to earlier efforts. Prolonged work allows the imagination to generate new possibilities from the initial attempt as the student is made to see as an artist sees. At the intermediate and advanced levels, the student is presented with more complex problems of composition, in genres from landscape to abstract; and expression in the medium. Painting classes are held in 2 studios that are outfitted with an unusual array of still life displays. Oil paint is the medium used in all of the classes. Students have easels, lockers, taborets, and secure storage racks for their paintings.

PRINTMAKING

The Printmaking classes give students instruction and practice in the fundamentals of the intaglio process, which may include: linoleum or wood block, etching, aquatint, drypoint; and silk screen. As the student progresses, a concentrated area of study in one or more of the graphic processes may be selected developing technical and expressive skills. In Advanced Printmaking, the student may attempt individual projects using one or more of the printmaking processes, developing a portfolio of prints that reflects an emerging sense of individual style. The printmaking studio is well appointed and spacious. The press is the largest press made by the renowned Charles Brand with a bed of 4 by 5 feet allowing for ambitious projects. (It is unique in that it is the last press manufactured by the company before the business closed.) The studio is equipped with an acid room, drying racks, and storage facilities.

Faculty

Student Work