Fall 2010

Learn to apply the basic principles of machine and hand sewing as you explore the creativity of repurposing old jeans into one-of-a kind fashions. You’ll also gain knowledge of the fashion industry as a whole, from traditional to contemporary designs.

This course will teach you how to move from drawing to painting in oils with a special focus on color. You’ll work in gouache (opaque watercolor) before you learn the basics of painting in oils. You’ll create a painting either from life or photos.

This course emphasizes the development of eye, mind, and hand coordination in drawing skills. You’ll experiment with drawing mediums, materials, and techniques. You’ll develop observational drawing skills and work with still-life objects as you use your sketchbook as a tool for study and skill development.

Looking for a way to expand and improve your drawing skills in a variety of mediums? Whether you have years of experience or are just beginning to timidly make marks on a blank sheet of paper, this course will challenge your concepts, practices, and understanding of the amazing and endless world of drawing. You’ll make works on a large human scale using pencil, charcoal, conté, markers, and ink. You’ll defy expectations while drawing in new and exciting ways.

In this course you’ll learn introductory ideas, aesthetics, and mechanics of photography. Through explanation and experimentation you’ll learn how use the camera as an instrument for creative expression. You’ll make a broad range of photographs, exploring new places each week with your camera. At the end of the course you’ll make large-scale prints and your own photography book!

Explore contemporary artists who work with portraiture, and create your own portrait and self-portrait. Through this process, you’ll be looking at your own face, and other faces (past and present) to understand how you want to be represented in your artwork.

In this course you’ll be introduced to analog photography using a variety of cameras ranging from pinhole to 35mm. You’ll begin with the most basic photographic principles. Throughout the course you’ll gain an understanding of how to capture light as well as becoming confident in the darkroom.

This course takes you though the basics of darkroom practice. Each term you’ll review manual camera functions and how to make darkroom prints. You’ll add to your skill set by learning about lighting techniques, advanced printing practices, and theme projects.

Go on a journey across the globe to discover and investigate the fascinating history of ancient, culturally specific, and contemporary ceramics. You’ll learn multiple hand-building and potter’s wheel techniques. Create cylinders, vessels, cups, and bowls and finish your work by using various glazing methods and surface treatments to decorate your art pieces.

In this course you’ll be introduced to ceramic hand building. You’ll roll clay slabs and coils and use them to construct bowls, platters and other ceramic sculptural and functional art. You’ll learn about texture, pattern and expressive design techniques. You’ll also experiment with painting glaze colors to add further contrast and depth to your work. If you’re an experienced student, you can grow your skills by adding more complexity.

Animate using only a computer and your imagination as your tools. You’ll learn how to use Flash and Adobe Photoshop to create your own animation. This course will build your confidence using the computer as an animation tool as well as your ability to breathe life into digital characters and objects.

Create bold graphic pieces of art which will allow you to make multiple prints from one drawing or illustration. In the first part of the course you’ll work with the theme “environments” to create an imaginary world out of prints. In the later part of the course you’ll reference photographs of Chicago and produce a colorful portrayal of the city as you see it.

Are you interested in learning all there is to know about going to college? This course focuses on you and your future—your goals and your interests for life after high school. It’s a fun, creative way to approach the college process and you’ll leave class with everything you need to know about the exciting possibilities for your future in college!

Explore the possibilities of image making! Working with digital cameras and Adobe Photoshop, you’ll learn to manipulate your digital images and develop an understanding of concept and execution in the digital realm. For your final project you’ll consider the various options for printing and presenting your photographs by using mirrors and other reflective materials in your display.

In this course you’ll be introduced to the Pop Art movement, its major themes, the significant artists of the time, and its unique place in the history of art. Inspired with this knowledge, you’ll create original works of art, such as three-dimensional Pop Art cubes and other mixed media works, exploring the processes of drawing, printmaking, and collage-making. You’ll look to your own pop culture inspirations and work with the images and references that exist within your personal worlds.

Want to tell a story? In this course you’ll learn the video making process, including screenwriting, video camera operation and technique, and digital editing. You’ll make a short, individual film based on letters you address to your future self.

Mosaic has been used throughout time as a means to publicize a message or beautify a public space. In this course you’ll bring your own messages to life in compositions of glass, tile, and grout. You’ll use the elements and principles of design to plan and execute your mosaic paintings, all the while considering your intended content, message, and installation location. You’ll explore two and three dimensional works.

Learn about Shibori, the Japanese art of dyeing fabric. Discover how manipulating fabric through a number of stitching and tying techniques can create complex and beautiful patterns. Think about it as tie-dying, but more intricate—the designs you can achieve are endless! At the end of the course, you’ll apply these techniques to develop a “drawing” on the surface of the fabric using nothing but thread and dyes.

Explore the exciting possibilities of creating in 3D! Did you know that contemporary artists use an endless list of materials to create sculpture? You’ll view work by famous sculptors and examine the four basic techniques of sculpture; casting, carving, modeling, and assembling. Using non-traditional materials, such as packing tape, wire hangers, hosiery and soap, you’ll create your own unique 3D works of art, including one that you can wear.