Visual Arts

Fall 2024

(Satisfies Fine Arts Graduation Requirements)

Figure Drawing: Students will learn to draw people from direct observation. Students and others often serve as clothed models for the class as we learn to realistically represent the human figure. Advanced students will have challenging projects including foreshortening and creating compositions combining figures. Various drawing media will be used.

Realizing Realism: Don’t be afraid. No need to run. It’s realism! In this course students will explore a variety of strategies to enhance their realism skills. Realism teaches the “rules” of noticing accurate details, proportion and depth of value. As artists, we must understand the “rules” before we know how to break them. I guarantee this course will give your personal style a boost and you’ll be happy you took on the challenge that is realism.

Artistic Renewal: Has it been a while since you’ve taken a visual art class? Feeling a little rusty on how to plan, refine, and reflect on artwork? Looking for a drawing and painting class? Well, look no further! This class is designed to lead students through the visual arts process while building drawing and painting skills. This is a great introductory course for any students new to visual arts but also allows veteran visual artists to get in touch with their artistic process and build new skills.

Installation Art: What happens when art jumps off the page and takes over an entire room? Well, that’s called installation art! In this class, students will explore the ins and outs of designing and executing installation art. After exploring multiple exams, students will work collaboratively to design a one of a kind installation for the new ThedaCare building. This semester will be all about design, followed by a semester of building the installation!

Artists Inspiration: Do you find yourself with creative block? Do you sometimes struggle to come up with new ideas? While utilizing visual journals, students will discover strategies to help keep the inspiration flowing. The skills gained in this course can be applied to any creative discipline, so if you need a bit of a creative refresher, this course is for you!

Sketchbook Artist 1-3: Artists young and old often keep sketchbooks as a place to record and work out ideas. Do you have "artist block" about what to draw? This course will help you solve that dilemma as well as teach techniques. As a class, you will brainstorm and vote on ideas to draw. Perhaps some will even help you release emotions about this crazy world! Students must provide their own sketchbook.

Activist Art 1 & 2: Would you like to express your opinions about social issues- mental health, diversity, the ecosystem, poverty, human or animal rights, LGBTQ issues- the list goes on? In this class you will brainstorm and vote on several current topics for the class to discuss, as well as create art work based on your personal area of interest. We will also look at how famous, local and RSA artists have dealt with social issues in their art and have influenced public opinions and created change.

Portfolio Drawing 3 & 4: Love to draw? Want to learn how to create more advanced work which could also be used for college entrance portfolios? And possibly earn scholarship monies of up to $90,000? We will be covering advanced drawing and composition techniques using charcoal, conte and pen and demonstrating creativity and observational skills. College advisors will review portfolios of interested students. Help is available for obtaining scholarships. This class is also open to students who do not plan to pursue a college art degree, yet wish to create advanced work. PREREQUISITES: Junior or senior standing and must have taken some type of drawing class prior to this one

Throwing On the Wheel: Students will experience the fun of learning to throw pottery on the wheel! They will learn the basics of clay preparation, throwing and glazing their work.

Tile Making & Mosaics: As a class we will create a large wall sculpture made up of individual hand carved tiles. In addition each student will make two individual mosaics, one in the traditional format with glass and ceramics, the other with found objects.

People's Choice Ceramics: Art democracy in action! Students will get to vote on different clay hand building project ideas, the top vote getters will be worked on in class. Students will experience multiple hand building techniques, from stab building to coiling making to carving.

Intro to Henna Arts: In this class students will learn the basics of henna, an ancient form of decorative body art. Henna uses temporary organic dye, mainly on hands and is often associated in India with happy social occasions. Students will learn henna designs and application techniques.

Warli Art: The great Warli folk painting is a form of tribal art mainly created by tribal people in the northern region of the Sahyadri Range, which comprises cities like Jawhar, Palghar, Dahanu, Talasari, Mokhada, and Vikramgarh of Palghar district, in India. This warli tribal painting art form first originated in Maharashtra, which is still practiced frequently. It is believed to be one of the oldest kinds of art forms in history. It is pretty popular in India and has a distinct charm everywhere it is expressed, but it has not gained much recognition outside its territory. Warli art is a folk art of Maharashtrais a set of basic geometric shapes: a circle, a triangle, and a square.

Art of Imagination 1: This class will help you create new things from your imagination, which is probably limitless! We will create creatures, avatars or characters; otherworldly places, maps, pictures of our emotions, and more. I’ll demonstrate pencil drawing and watercolor techniques to help you along. Six assignments plus extra-credit/free choice projects.

Art of Imagination 2-4: This class will expand on what you learned in Art of Imagination 1 - helping you create new things from your imagination, which is probably limitless! We will create creatures, avatars or characters; otherworldly places, maps, pictures of our emotions, and more. Level 3 and 4 students will be asked to create their own imaginary world. Aspects such as the environment, people/creatures, language, culture, climate, etc. will be considered. I’ll demonstrate pencil drawing and watercolor techniques to help you along. Six assignments plus extra-credit/free choice projects.

Watercolor Painting 1: We'll talk about composition, drawing, perspective, and use of color. We'll start by experimenting with brushes, mixing colors and painting abstract shapes. Later, we'll do landscapes, skies, people/animals, and your own favorite subjects. My goal is to show you techniques to enable you to say what you want to say with your art. Pencils, color pencils, ink pens, and other mediums are welcome! Six assignments plus extra credit projects. A sketchbook or journal is strongly encouraged (extra credit!) but not required. A basic watercolor-painting kit will be provided.

Watercolor 2-4: We'll talk about composition, drawing, and use of color. Six assignments will include landscapes, skies, people/animals, and your own favorite subjects. In Watercolor 3 and 4, students may work on a series of at least six paintings using their own subject. My goal is to show you techniques to enable you to say what you want to say with your art. Pencils, color pencils, ink pens, and other mediums are welcome! Six assignments plus extra credit projects. A sketchbook or journal is strongly encouraged (extra credit!) but not required. A basic watercolor-painting kit will be provided.

Art of Embroidery 1 & 2: Join us as we explore this centuries old art that has gained recent popularity! Students in this course will learn about the materials used to make embroidery, the basic foundation of embroidery stitches, how to follow or create a pattern to make an embroidery project. No prior experience with embroidery is required to take Embroidery 1. Embroidery 2 students will learn new stitch types, incorporate creative artistic elements into their pieces, and use embroidery to embellish stuffed creations.