Courses
View courses in
- CFA AR 100: Visual Arts First Year Seminar
The purpose of this course is to provide clarity and structure to first year students, to consolidate programming and to create a forum for curricular advising. This course meets four times throughout the semester, the first Wednesday of each month. This course provides a structured time to share information, give instruction and build community. To pass the course, students are required to attend selected cultural events and write brief summaries about their experiences. - CFA AR 121: Foundation Sculpture
Introduction to sculpture: the study of three-dimensional form and spatial organization. Students will learn the basic principles of sculpture and learn to communicate their own ideas through a series of original compositions. Students will will learn various sculpture techniques with a large selection of materials. Class is designed to help students understand the interplay of form and will involve translating drawings/ sketches into three dimensions. Class will include the study of sculpture in a historical and contemporary context. - CFA AR 123: Foundation Design: Introductory Principles, Practices
This is an introductory course where you will learn the basic principles of design, composition, form making and color theory. We will examine each of these topics holistically, beginning with their historical origination, contemporary application and finally in the context of your own artistic practice. Two- and three-dimensional solutions will be explored. Projects and class meetings will be structured to help you develop a design process and critique skills. The goal of this course is to provide a rigorous understanding of these foundational principles and skills which will then serve as a strong base for all future visual arts course work. Recommended for freshmen intending to major in Graphic Design; open to School of Visual Art freshmen and sophomores. 2 credits. 3 teaching contact hours per week. Spring semester. - CFA AR 131: Drawing 1- Majors
Drawing based on analysis and observation. Study of perception and proportion to establish spatial and volumetric implications. Use of line, shape and value in the context of visual description of various motifs, still life, landscape and the human figure. - CFA AR 132: Drawing 1 (contd)
A continuation of CFA AR131. Drawing based on observation and analysis. Study of perception and proportion to establish spatial and volumetric implications. Use of line, shape and value in the context of visual descriptions of various motifs, still life, landscape and the human figure. 4.0 credits. - CFA AR 141: Foundation Painting
This studio course emphasizes 2-d composition and direct painting in oil. Exercises in representing still life, interior, and portrait introduce basic principles of drawing, composition, and color interaction. Working with specific limited color palettes acquaints the student with systems of color proportion and their role in creating a believable pictorial space and color light. Exercises in color mixing, preparing supports, and caring for tools and equipment, introduce technical and craft considerations. Individual and group critiques, slide presentations, and occasional assigned readings complement regular studio class meetings. 4.0 Credits - CFA AR 192: Intro to Drawing
An introductory class for non majors to explore materials and methods of descriptive drawing. No previous experience required. 2 cr. - CFA AR 193: Visual Arts Drawing
A studio course that introduces the student to the materials and methods of descriptive drawing. The sequence of study is devoted primarily to working from the human figure, but there is also some work done from still-life subjects and from the imagination. Class assignments are related to analyses of master drawings. Two three-hour studio sessions each week. Preference given to students who have completed CFA AR 191. Not applicable to the BFA degree 4.0 Credits. - CFA AR 210: Digital Tools
Digital Tools explores the integration of digital media with traditional artistic practice. Students will learn basic skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premier, and will be encouraged to think conceptually and apply these tools to a variety of media. The goal of this course is to expand the perception of the computer as a tool in the studio and create a better understanding of the conceptual impact a digital approach will have on studio-based work. - CFA AR 221: Sculpture 2
Students will be challenged to improve upon skills learned in Sculpture I, with more emphasis on new techniques and various materials as well as investigating how to communicate ideas through form. Students will sculpt from direct observation, and create a series of original compositions. Class will involve study of sculpture throughout history as it relates to students' own works and contemporary art as a whole. - CFA AR 223: Installation Art: Subject-Object Relationship in the Contemporary Landscape
This class investigates the fundamental elements of spatial-temporal relationships in Installation Art. We will explore how new media and the three-dimensional language of the contemporary world shifts the subject-object relationship instilled in sculpture since the 1960's. This intermediate, portfolio-building class involves completion of one body of work with the objective of expanding and advancing students' already existing methodologies, technical skills, vocabulary and critiquing abilities. This is a non-medium-specific studio class, which includes video as a medium: student will learn the technical, historical and conceptual implications of mixed-media art production and understand these within a broad context of contemporary art. 4cr - CFA AR 224: New Genres in Sculpture
This course investigates the language of Contemporary Sculpture and Installation Art from the perspective of new genres such as film, video and performance art. We will explore the ways in which these genres play an influential role in contemporary are production with a specific focus on the spatial-temporal relationship. This is a non-medium specific, portfolio-building, studio class with the objective of expanding and advancing students' already existing D language, methodologies, technical skills, and critiquing abilities. Students will learn the formal, historical and conceptual implications of mixed-media art production and understand these within a broad context of contemporary art. This class is divided into three parts: studio time with one-on-one meetings with the instructor; video editing and technical workshops; and mini-lectures and screenings. 4cr - CFA AR 225: Sophomore Graphic Design Fall: Form-Making, Communication
Sophomore graphic design focuses on form making and conceptual problem solving. Imagemaking techniques will be explored and integrated into graphic design contexts. Conceptual problem solving will be examined according to how forms suggest meaning. A student is expected to build upon the skills developed during foundation year to generate innovative and inventive form in both analog and digital formats. Static and dynamic design solutions will be explored. - CFA AR 226: Sophomore Graphic Design Spring: Form, Communication
Students will investigate how ideas and messages can be interpreted visually through a variety of projects. Form--content relationships will be the context for all projects. Students will study the broad concepts of denotation and connotation through projects including information design, communication through proxy and juxtaposition and communication through symbols, metaphor and metonymy. Static and dynamic design solutions will be explored.Open to undergraduate sophomore graphic design students. This is a required course for graphic design majors. - CFA AR 236: Anatomy and Figure Drawing
Drawing analysis of the human figure with emphasis on anatomical structure; study of the skeleton and muscle groups as they affect volume and surface definition. Drawing from the living model, prepared skeleton, and anatomical casts; as well as compositional work from memory. - CFA AR 238: Drawing Concepts
Discussion of a broad range of drawing issues, including drawing from memory, and from secondary sources. Introduction of subjects explored in non-representational drawing traditions. Drawing process will be emphasized through a study of drawing media- such as water-based inks and paints, collage, and pastel- to address both aesthetic and technical concerns. 4.0 credits. - CFA AR 239: Figure Drawing
The focus of this class will be to teach students to think and understand the principles of drawing as a visual language. Class will involve an in-depth study of the human figure. Students will make a series of drawings and sketches in a variety of mediums, including graphite, charcoal, conte, ink, etc. Students will study from a live model, and will use the human figure as a vehicle to better understand the fundamentals of organic form, proportion, and balance. - CFA AR 241: Painting II
This studio course emphasizes direct painting in oil. Exercises in representing still life, landscape, portrait, and figure elaborate principles of drawing, composition, color, and technique. Discussions of historical color systems for representing light and shadow, and assignments with limited color palettes will introduce dialogue concerning both perceptual and conceptual approaches to representational painting. Individual and group critiques, demonstrations and presentations, museum and gallery visits, and selected readings complement the regular studio class meetings. - CFA AR 242: Painting 3
Painting from life in oil and other techniques. Emphasis on the description of the figure. Work from memory. This is a required course for painting majors. - CFA AR 250: Introduction to Printmaking
This survey course introduces a range of printmaking methods including relief, monotype, and basic etching processes. Printmaking is varied, repeatable and tactile, with images printed as unique works, as multiples, or as variations, using an array of processes. Concepts of drawing, design, color, layering, mark, and space are emphasized. These skills support the production of independent work within the context of contemporary art and design. Students will build on process, experiment with print media, and think creatively and critically. 4.0 credits
