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Fundamentals of Art

Fundamentals of Art introduces students to the tools, techniques and principles of artistic composition and design over two semesters.

This course introduces students to the steps of the artistic process from sketch to completed work. This process, in combination with an understanding of the core skills of the artist, begins to form a framework for the student’s individual artistic development.

During this course, students explore various directions in the commercial and fine art fields. Students learn the course material through demonstrations, lectures, field trips, short and extended projects.

Technique
Students complete projects using a variety of techniques and media, including pencils, watercolors, and acrylic paints. They work in both black and white and in color. Different papers and surfaces are also explored.

Design
Fundamentals of Art gives students a thorough background in two dimensional design.

Exercises stimulate artistic imagination, requiring students to conceptualize and produce visual images that express a concept. Students learn to employ principles of line, shape, form, pattern, tone and arrangement to create a desired effect.

Color Theory
An understanding of color theory is essential to developing designs and compositions. Fundamentals of Art incorporates a variety of exercises in color theory including the use of basic shapes and patterns to create posters and geometrical designs.

Perspective
Students also demonstrate an understanding of perspective by applying one and two-point perspective to projects in design, illustration and architectural renderings. Projects involve the concepts of the picture plane, vanishing points, inclined planes and perspective in shadows.