Northwest College Art + Design > Programs > Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

Introduction to Art (ART 1010) Students undertake an introductory exploration of major art and artifacts of western civilization. Discussion addresses aesthetics, craft, and art from non-western cultures and the importance of art in society. Through hands-on art appreciation activities, students experiment with different media including drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and meixed media. Museum and gallery tours scheuled. Only for students not specializing in art.

Art History I (ART 2010) Introduces students to the major arts of the world with an emphasis on painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistory to approximately 1500 CE. Students explore how artistic development is linked to human cultural development and emphasized by time and/or geography. Course includes such cultures as Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, and Medieval European.

Art History II (ART 2020) Introduces students to the major arts of the world with an emphasis on painting, sculpture, and architecture from approximately 1500 CE to the present. Students explore how artistic development is linked to human cultural development and emphasized in links between different cultures separated by time and/or geography.

Drawing I (ART1050) An introduction to the vocabulary and skill of drawing for both the experienced and inexperienced student. Emphasis placed on mastering traditional drawing techniques, along with increasing the student's confidence in his or her skill and visual literacy.

Drawing II (ART1060) A continuation and expansion of ART1050. Emphasis is placed on continued developement of strength in observational skills an visual thinking abilities. Stress placed on expanded approaches to drawing through incorporation of design concepts, exploration of a broad range of ideas, and experimentation with a variety of media. Prerequisite: ART1050

Life Drawing I (ART 2050) A continuation of drawing courses, with emphasis on the human figure Emphasizes physiology of the body through study of skeletal structure and muscular organization. Prerequisite ART1050

Life Drawing II (ART2060) Continuation of Life Drawing I, with further study of the anatomical factor and emphasis on the expressive factor. Prerequisite ART2050.

Design: 2-D (ART 1110) Students acquire a foundation in the processes of visual perception and how these processes function as a basis for understanding and creating two-dimensional works. Requires no art background.

Design: Color (ART 1130) Students acquire a foundation in the processes and interactions of color. Students address and apply the theories of color design to compositions created with acrylic paint and mixed media. Course focuses on three major areas of color understanding: the properties of color including hue, value, and intensity, the science and structures of color and color relationships, and the psychology of color.

Design: 3-D (ART 1120) Students address formal constructions and aspects of visual thinking associated with the three-dimensional form such as structure, organization, metaphor, and spatial quality. They explore various media, techniques, and concepts through a series of projects. Students examine conceptual issues while learning about contemporary and historical art movements.

Beginning Water-Based Media I (ART 1250) is a basic course in transparent watercolor which will concentrate on understanding of color and various approaches to handling the watercolor medium, and observational studies emphasizing the shapes of light and dark.

Water-Based Media II (ART1260) This is an intermediate course in transparent or opaque watercolor. Emphasis will be placed on the student developing individual style. Assignments ill encourage creative problem solving, advanced exploration of color, technique, and observational studies emphasizing values of light and dark. Prerequisite ART1050

Printmaking I (ART 2290) will involve the investigation and experimentation with processes and properties of print media, including relief, monoprint, intaglio, and photo-intaglio employing safe, non-toxic methods. Prerequisite Art1050

Printmaking II: SerigraphyI (ART2092) An introduction to block-out methods. Includes use of paper, toushe, hand-cut and photographic films, and techniques used for printing on various substrates. Uses water-based inks and covers processes for gathering and preparing inks from plant materials and lant-based bowdered pigments. Uses water-based commercial inks for fabric printing.

Painting I (ART 2210 ) a basic painting couse using the oil medium. Stresses a thorough understanding of color, observatioin, and analysis of subject atter and design of the two-dimensional surface.Technical information on pigments, building supports, grounds, mediums, and basic painting techniques covered. Prerequisite Art 1050 and ART1110 or 1130

Painting II (ART 2220) A continuation of Painting I. Further exploration of shape and color relationships and more concentrated consiseration of the organization and structure of the two-diensional surface. Prerequisite Art 2210

Ceramics I (ART 2410) concentrates on the basic methods of ceramic construction: pinch, coil and slab. Through demonstrations and lectures I will familiarize you with construction methods, decorating, glazing and various firing techniques. You will explore the endless possibilities of clay while fulfilling individual assignments. At the end of the semester, students will have a working knowledge of various ceramic-forming techniques and an understanding of visual elements and the principals of design. Also, you will be made aware of safe use of materials and equipment in a studio setting.

Ceramics II (ART 2420) concentrates on throwing on the potter's wheel. Through demonstrations and lectures I will familiarize you with basic methods of construction, decorating, glazing, and various firing techniques. You will explore the endless possibilities of clay while fulfilling individual assignments. At the end of the semester students will have a working knowledge of various ceramic forming techniques and an understanding of visual elements and the principles of design. Also, you will be made aware of safe usage of materials and equipment in a studio setting.

Advanced Ceramics (ART 2430) This course will expand upon the skills and concepts learned in Ceramics I and Ceramics II. Focus will be on both handbuilding and wheelthrowing techniques as well as a combination of both. Research of surface texture, color, and design play an integral part finished work. Critiques will allow for discussion of ideas, and contribute to the development and clarity of the student’s work. Informal slide lectures and discussions will include the relationship between artist and audience as well as the connections among our cultural, historical and personal experiences.

Graphic Design I (ART 2120) will introduce the student the most pervasive art form in America: the world of visual communication. The class approach will be lecture/demonstration with many in-class exercises and several larger projects using a variety of traditional studio techniques. Students will study design theory and solve design problems using a combination of type, image, color, and format. This is the introductory class for design students wishing to continue in the graphic design curriculum as well as the non-design major who wants general knowledge of graphic design techniques. Prerequisite ART 1110

Graphic Design II (ART 2130) is a continuation and expansion upon the concepts introduced in Graphic Design I, which introduced the student to graphic design principles and techniques. Application of these theories of visual communication are made to "real life" graphic problems, Graphic Design II will further explore visual forms of communication through the manipulation of type and image. The class approach will be lecture/demonstration with ample lab time. Each student will be assigned a Macintosh computer for the entire semester. The course will also involve research into historical and contemporary issues related to typography, design, color, and layout. Prerequisite: ART2120

Typography (ART 2110) The craft of typography is introduced. Emphasis is placed on the development of a full understanding of typographic history, classification, characteristics, and use of type in the field of graphic design. Students learn to work with type intelligently and creatively. Prerequisite GRAR 1810 or GRAR 1820

Computer Illustration – Adobe Illustrator (ART 2100) This course will emphasize proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and understanding the role of digital tools in the realm of design. Students will study design theory, image creation, and production issues. Students will construct complex illustrations and prepare them for export to graphics software, to the Web, and for offset printing.

Foundations of Web Design (ART 2155) a beginning Web design course, students learn the foundations of Web development and design utilizing professional technology. Focus is on digital communication skills: design, project management, research and comunication, and proficiency with Dreaweaver web-authoring software.

Issues in Web Design (ART 2165) is an intermediate course in Web design. Students examine the issues surrounding professional Web design: the planning process, user interface, site architecture, design, typography, editorial style, color, graphics, multimedia, publishing , publicicising, and maintaing a Web site. Homework will include designing a website which illustrates these concepts.

Special Projects: Interpretive Graphics (ART 2479 - Capstone Course) will help to educate students in the creation of effective interpretive and informational graphics, a need expressed by local and regional parks and museums. Content will be focused on the specific needs of interpretive graphics and industry standard materials and methods used. The class approach will allow students the opportunity to solve problems in interpretive sign graphics using a variety of professional studio techniques. The course will also involve research into contemporary issues related to typography, design and layout, written summaries of selected readings, discussions, and critiques of student work. This is an advanced class for design/art students wishing more specific knowledge of graphic design as applied to interpretive sign making and museum exhibit design. Students have the opportunity to pursue in depth "real life" design problems in environmental graphic design. Students completing the course may be eligible to receive a scholarship to continue developing interpretive graphics during the summer months. It is a challenging class which requires thinking, reading, talking, art, design, work and fun.

Art Portfolio (ART 2465 - Capstone Course) deals with the organization and presentation of portfolios: how to plan them; how to design them for different purposes; how to display art work by reproducing it both graphically and photographically; how to organize and physically assemble portfolios; how to compose the necessary verbal material contained in or accompanying a portfolio; and finally how to present them to obtain the assignment or position you are seeking.