EMPHASIS AREAS

Art Education K-12

The Art Department offers a teacher education program for those who wish to obtain certification and teach art at the K-12 levels. The department strongly believes in the importance of arts education within the schools. Art education students major in art, following a special art education curriculum, and must complete a forty-credit minor in education in order to meet state certification. Opportunities for classroom observation, participation, and student teaching are an important part of the art education program.

Art History

The art history emphasis consists of a series of art history courses that expose the student to the history of human creativity through time and across cultures. The department offers a comprehensive range of art history courses in a cycle over a period of two to three years that covers all major areas of art history. Students with an emphasis in art history will become familiar with major monuments of art in world history and develop responsible and competent methods for analyzing and critically evaluating the visual arts. Art history courses teach the student to look at, research, and write about the visual arts. Students also have the opportunity to travel and study art history for credit through special courses offered by the department. Professionally, an art history emphasis prepares students for careers in art galleries and art museums, teaching, and graduate school.

Ceramics

What is clay? How are pots or clay objects made? What is a glaze? What is a firing? What is a good pot? These questions are investigated, discussed and answered for students who pursue an emphasis in ceramics.

Demonstrations, short lectures, slides, videos, and assigned readings and writings help introduce each project. Student inquiries are informed by the history and traditions of ceramics as well as research into contemporary trends and discussions about aesthetics. Students process their clay, create sculptural as well as wheel thrown forms and glaze their work, while exploring a variety of possibilities for firing their pieces in low and high fire kilns.

Digital Art

To address growing student interest in new technology, the art department has initiated an emphasis in digital art. The classroom work in this contemporary field leads to student internships with regional agencies and provides practical experience in the working environment. Art students build upon the core courses such as drawing and design to further their originality and skill. Digital art courses at CSU are integrated within the art major as part of a program to develop a student's full creative abilities and are not offered as isolated job-training or software instruction programs.

Drawing

In drawing I, the aim of the class is to give students the basic foundation in drawing skills. These skills include the choice and application of materials, the structural use of a two dimensional surface with regard to recording visual information and a developed ability in visual thinking. This course is a foundation for all areas of the visual arts and as a beginning course for drawing as an emphasis area.

Drawing II is a studio course essentially involving of practice drawing the human figure and instruction in anatomy in order to better understand the structure and articulation of the body. Ultimately, the study and practice is intended to help develop creative expression.

Advanced drawing courses are meant to develop a student's abilities in drawing to a high level of competence using a variety of drawing media.

Graphic Design

Graphic Design, as visual communication, allows the artist to express their own imagery and ideas, or offer these skills as a service to others. Designers must also be proficient in business and public relations skills.

The use of computers as a tool within this field brings constant change and innovation. Our Macintosh-based program has state of-the-art software and equipment so that the students are adequately prepared for the industry. There is still, however a primary emphasis on the design process and principles of composition, form, and technique.

The advanced workshop is oriented toward graphics applied in the print industry. Here students work with actual clients. The class is set up to simulate a professional design studio with job positions such as art director, production manager, computer manager, etc. All students are designers as well. Selected designs are professionally printed and/or produced thus contributing to the students portfolios.

Individual creativity and a general education degree continue to prove their value in today's market. The core fine art aspect of our major adds an important dimension to a designer's repertoire of knowledge and talents. Students in this emphasis area thus learn a useful combination of business knowledge, creativity, technology, and professionalism.

Painting

In painting, students are led through projects which enhance their confidence and ease in use of both acrylic and oil media. As their skills develop, they are guided in developing content and style, while continuing to apply principles of color and composition. Intermediate and advanced students work in close proximity to beginners sharing ideas and approaches. They also have the opportunity to work on collaborative mural projects.

Printmaking

The print studio is a well- equipped workshop that concentrates on lithography, intaglio, and relief. Photographic printing processes are available in all three areas.

The printmaking studio strives to provide a professional shop atmosphere emphasizing contemporary issues conducive to the professional development of the student artist. The organization and proximity of each process area offers the student opportunities to move freely from one medium to another or to combine them in the development of a print when need be. The print shop encourages the collaborative experience with other studio areas that will broaden personal attitudes through exposure to various media and concepts. In addition, there are opportunities for students to perform in this manner with visiting artists periodically in residence. The teaching philosophy does not stress any one style or aesthetic approach and encourages personal development and growth which becomes the final measurement of achievement.

Digital Photography

Photography in the Art Department has a fine art orientation. The beginning level includes instruction in digital camera use, image processing and the skill and perception required to make a quality fine art print. The intermediate level continues with refinement of skills and exploration of contemporary themes and techniques. At the advanced level, students are encouraged to pursue their specific areas of interest working with the evolution of personal imagery.

Sculpture/ Site Art

The sculpture/site art emphasis offers a unique opportunity to develop a strong understanding of the materials and processes of sculpture, and then to use this sculptural language to address actual situations.

Advanced students will be trained in the presentation and creation of site specific sculptural forms, setting the groundwork for real life applications in their professional careers.

Presentation skills such as computer-enhanced graphics, models, video utilization, and written proposals are taught along with traditional sculpting techniques. In tackling complex site and content issues while creating sculptural forms, students gain valuable experience and self-confidence. This approach prepares students to successfully take on sculptural commissions from a wide range of architectural and community arts sources soon after graduation.

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