Studio Art
Chair: R. Tripp Evans
Department home page: http://www.wheatoncollege.edu/Acad/Art/
For any questions regarding studio art, please contact the studio coordinator, Andrew Howard.
The Art and Art History Department offers two areas of concentration within the major, one with emphasis on the history of art (Art and Art History), the other with emphasis on the making of art (Studio Art).
Major
Print a major planning worksheet
The studio art concentration consists of at least 13 semester courses, including:
Arts of the Western Tradition, Arth 111/Arth 211, taught in the fall, and Arts of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, Arth 112, taught in the spring. It is highly recommended that these courses be taken in sequence (Arth 111 or Arth 211, followed by Arth 112).
Any student who has already taken our former survey course, Great Works I and Great Works II, may substitute these courses for Arth 111 and Arth 112; if you have taken only one of the Great Works courses, you may substitute this course for Arth 111 but not for Arth 112.
Three foundation courses in studio art:
Arts 111 Two-Dimensional Design
Arts 112 Three-Dimensional Design
and Arts 116 Drawing I
These foundation courses must be taken before the senior year.
One semester of Arts 402.
One additional semester course in Art and Art History.
And six additional semester courses in studio art from the following areas (with a possible emphasis in the student's major interest): drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and graphic design. Studio concentrators are urged to take Arth 318. Arts 399 is normally reserved for fall semester seniors.
For permission to enter the studio concentration, students must submit a portfolio of their work to the department during their sophomore year. Faculty review portfolio submissions occurs once during the fall and once during the spring semester. All students who wish to be studio majors must be approved and accepted by the end of their sophomore year. Please see the studio coordinator, Andrew Howard, for more information.
Minor
Print a minor planning worksheet
A minor in studio art consists of five studio courses, at least one of which must be at the 300 level. This means that the student must take two foundation-level courses (Arts 116 or Arts 111 or Arts 112) and three additional courses, one of which is a 300-level course. Students contemplating a studio minor should take careful note of the prerequisites for 200- and 300-level courses. Art history majors may minor in studio art by taking four additional studio courses above and beyond the two required for the major (for a total of six).
Courses
Foundation programs
111. Two-Dimensional Design
As an introduction to visual language, this course will focus on the development of problem-solving skills as it applies to the fundamental concepts of design. Projects explore the integration of art elements and principles as a foundation for visual composition and creative expression.
(Claudia R. Fieo)
Connections:
Conx 20047 Molecules to Masterpieces
Conx 20011 Communication through Art and Mathematics
Conx 20073 Visual Literacy
112. Three-Dimensional Design
An introduction to basic sculptural concepts for beginners. Emphasis on learning to see three-dimensionally by working in a variety of media. No previous experience required.
(Tim Cunard)
116. Drawing I
An introductory course that explores basic drawing techniques through various media and motifs. A strong emphasis will be placed on working from perception and learning to see. No previous experience required.
(Andrew Howard, Patricia Stone)
Connections:
Conx 20047 Molecules to Masterpieces
Upper-level courses
205. Drawing II
Continued exploration of drawing principles and techniques; emphasis on personal visual statements.
(Tim Cunard, Patricia Stone)
210. Sculpture I
A course exploring sculptural concepts based on the observation of the human form through modeling and construction. Emphasis on various techniques.
(Tim Cunard)
215. Relief Printmaking
An introduction to relief printing; students will create both black-and-white and color prints in woodcut, linocut and contemporary relief techniques. Emphasis is placed on the development of personal imagery.
(Claudia R. Fieo)
Connections:
Conx 23013 Animal Power in Religion, Art and Science
220. Painting I
An introduction to oil painting, focusing on the basic problems of color, form and composition. Projects will include still life, the figure and color exercises. Emphasis will be placed on working from perception.
(Patricia Stone)
240. Beginning Photography
The fundamentals of photography including the use of the camera, composition, light and subject; developing, printing and enlarging processes also studied and performed by the student. Students must have a 35mm camera or a medium-format camera that allows for total control.
(Andrew Howard)
250. Graphic Design I
The concept of design as communication will be explored as students solve graphic design problems and develop an understanding of traditional and modern typography and design layout.
(Claudia R. Fieo)
Connections:
Conx 20042 Graphic Design and Web Programming
Conx 23012 Visualizing Information
260. Film Production I
This is a beginner's studio production course introducing the student to the fundamentals of creative 16mm filmmaking. The student will learn the basics of constructing cinematic narrative from concept to edit by producing a series of exercises in and outside of class as well as several larger group and individual projects. Our class sessions will be spent in technical demonstrations, critiques of projects, discussions, shooting exercises and screening films. The majority of the student's learning experience will come from practical endeavors in the field and the personal challenges each sets for him/herself (i.e, the more you work, the more you learn).
(Jake Mahaffy)
261. Video Production I
An intensive, hands-on beginner's course in digital video making. Students work individually and in groups to produce a series of short videos, including a final project. Focus on concept development, editing, directing techniques and production methods.
(Jake Mahaffy)
262. Screenwriting
This is an introductory course to screenwriting. Students learn screenplay format and the requirements of the genre. Different techniques in creating characters, voices and scenes are developed. Fundamentals of dramatic writing are studied and provide a general template for students' own creative work. This is a very time-intensive course and students will produce well over a dozen short form screenplays.
(Jake Mahaffy)
298. Experimental Courses
Animated Objects
Before film was invented, people were already creating and enjoying animation as kinetic art and sculpture. Examples of these objects include zoetropes, flipbooks, magic lanterns and thaumatropes. We will look at historic and contemporary examples of animated objects and we will create a series of original pieces through guided exercises.
Introduction to Animation
This class will introduce you to the world of experimental animation through a series of projects, class discussions and screenings of work from around the world. The projects cover a variety of animation concepts and techniques. Throughout the semester, we will look at some of the finest examples of independent animation from around the world and throughout the history of animation.
310. Sculpture II
An exploration of sculptural concepts through some advanced techniques.
(Tim Cunard)
315. Intaglio Printmaking
This course introduces the various traditional and contemporary platemaking techniques and the printing process used to create an intaglio print. Emphasis is placed on experimentation and the development of personal imagery.
(Claudia R. Fieo)
Connections:
Conx 20020 The Art of the Print
Conx 23013 Animal Power in Religion, Art and Science
316. Arts in Ireland
Arts in Ireland is a 21-day intensive studio art course. It is designed to provide studio majors and minors with an opportunity to develop their artistic vision while living on the west coast of Ireland. This course is taught in association with the Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare.
(Andrew Howard)
320. Painting II
A continuation of Painting I, more emphasis will be placed on developing an individual response to subject matter. Painting technique, color mixing and compositional development within a series will be explored.
(Patricia Stone)
325. Lithography
This course will explore the fundamental drawing techniques and printing process of stone lithography and pronto plate lithography while emphasizing the development of personal imagery.
(Claudia R. Fieo)
Connections:
Conx 23013 Animal Power in Religion, Art and Science
330. Intermediate Photography
This course is designed to encourage students to explore and develop visual perception and a personal point of view. Basic techniques will be reviewed and refined and more sophisticated techniques introduced. This is a rigorous course with weekly visual assignments. Admission to the course is based on portfolio examination and/or interview with the instructor.
(Andrew Howard)
340. Figure Drawing and Anatomy
Students will develop their drawing skills through a focused study of the human figure. Weekly drawing sessions with the model will be supplemented by studies from the human skeleton as well as anatomical texts covering the major muscle groups at rest and in motion. This course connects to Bio 106. (Previously Arts 230.)
(Patricia Stone)
Connections:
Conx 20010 Body, Form and Motion
350. Graphic Design II
This course continues to focus on design as communication with further exploration of the relationship between typography and image using traditional design techniques and computer graphics.
(Claudia R. Fieo)
Connections:
Conx 23012 Visualizing Information
360. Film Production II
This is an advanced film production course focusing on directing actors, montage techniques, location sound recording and short form narrative. Students learn and shoot in small groups on HD camera kits and edit in Final Cut HD to produce a series of short films from concept to exhibition.
(Jake Mahaffy)
398. Experimental Courses
Special Topics in Printmaking: Painterly Printmaking to Create Print Suites and Artist Books
This printmaking course will focus on painterly, contemporary, and safer, less toxic printmaking materials and techniques, with an emphasis on a more in-depth exploration of themes, ideas and various formats, including artist books, to enhance content. Students will develop their creative process; they will explore materials and methods, exploiting their potential to create unique prints and multimedia prints; and they will experiment with different formats to see how content is affected by presentation.
399. Selected Topics
An opportunity to do independent work at an advanced level. Students must preregister with their independent advisor after submitting a written statement of intent for faculty approval.
402. Senior Projects
This is the capstone experience for studio art majors. This is a semester-long course that meets once per week for three hours. Senior students are expected to produce a defining body of work in the medium of their choice, which will be exhibited in the Beard Gallery at the end of the semester. A variety of topics will be discussed in this seminar. The seminar will also provide students with a series of critiques on the development of their work as it progresses toward the Senior Studio Majors Exhibition.
500. Individual Research
Offered to selected students at the invitation of the department.