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What You'll Learn

Student sketching a design

Start with the Foundations

Every great artist begins with the basics. In your first semester, you'll delve into 2D design, visual storytelling, and the history of creative expression. Develop essential skills like sketching, layout design, and art analysis to build a solid foundation for future work in any artistic medium.
  • Design I: Principles of composition, shape, and color in two-dimensional art
  • Drawing I: Technical drawing skills using pencil, charcoal, and contour lines
  • Art History I: Explore ancient, classical, and medieval art movements
These courses introduce core concepts like value, contrast, and balance—ideal for students interested in illustration, graphic design, or fine arts.
Photography student with camera

Explore Photography

Discover the art of image-making through both traditional and digital lenses. Our photography courses focus on technique, composition, lighting, and visual storytelling. Gain hands-on experience in the darkroom as well as in digital editing software used by professionals.
  • Photography Darkroom I & II: Black and white film development, exposure control, darkroom printing
  • Digital Photography: DSLR camera settings, photo editing with Lightroom and Photoshop, digital composition
These classes are great for future photographers, content creators, and visual artists who want to capture the world creatively.
Painting student working with canvas

Develop Your Style

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to push your creativity further. These courses help you explore painting, expressive drawing, and representational figure work. Work with acrylics, oils, and mixed media, while learning how to critique, refine, and evolve your unique artistic voice.
  • Painting I & II: Brush technique, color theory, oil/acrylic layering, painting from observation and imagination
  • Drawing II: Advanced mark-making, tone and shadow, experimental sketching styles
  • Figure Drawing: Life drawing, human anatomy for artists, gesture studies
Ideal for aspiring illustrators, fine artists, and students building their art portfolio for transfer.
Ceramics student working with clay

Work in 3D

If you enjoy building, sculpting, or working with your hands, 3D art courses in ceramics and sculpture offer a new way to create. Learn to shape clay on the wheel, carve materials into form, and express your ideas through texture, space, and structure.
  • Ceramics I & II: Clay hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, firing techniques
  • Sculpture: Additive and subtractive methods, three-dimensional composition, working with wood, clay, and plaster
These classes are perfect for students interested in installation art, pottery, sculpture, and 3D design careers.
Student preparing an art portfolio

Build Your Portfolio

In your final semester, you'll prepare to take the next step—whether that's applying to a BFA program, showcasing your work in a gallery, or starting a creative career. This course helps you gather your strongest projects, organize your artwork, and learn how to present your vision to others.
  • Art Portfolio: Project refinement, digital and physical portfolio creation, artist statements, and critique preparation
Your portfolio will be the key to transfer applications, internships, and entry-level opportunities in visual arts, illustration, or design.
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