In the Ceramics portion of this foundation course, students will explore the expressive potential found through working with clay. Three-dimensional design concepts are integrated throughout the course, as students learn the fundamental construction methods of hand-building. In addition, students will learn and experience the process of glazing their work. Students will be exposed to historical and contemporary ceramic artists to inform their own work and process. This half of the Foundation Course will be paired with Drawing, and exciting relationships between the two disciplines will be discovered. 

In the Drawing portion of this course, students will be introduced to drawing skills and techniques to build their confidence as artists and creative individuals. Students will experience various art-making materials, including graphite, pastels, colored pencils, and more. This course's ultimate goal is to create artwork that embodies big ideas, pushes creativity, and uncovers students' interests as artists. Students will explore a variety of contemporary art and artists to inform their work and ideas. Projects are designed to encourage exploration, questioning, and risk-taking while allowing students to develop personal style and point of view.

In the Photography portion of this Foundation course, students will have the opportunity to discover the expressive qualities of “painting with light” using a variety of tools and materials. Students will utilize the Rivers Print Lab to learn the dynamics of how light and time contribute to the creation of a photographic image. Students will be provided with a Single Lens Reflex Camera and learn how to interpret the light meter and adjust the shutter speed and lens aperture to make thoughtful images. Students will explore several design-based projects, make multiple work prints from each assignment, and also complete a final portfolio of select images.

In the Sculpture portion of this Foundation course, students will explore the expressive potential of sculpting with wood, wire, plaster, and other mixed media while learning about contemporary artists that relate to the projects. Basic three-dimensional design concepts will be addressed. Additive and subtractive methods will be used to create abstract, representational, and conceptual projects.  This half of the Foundation Course will be paired with Photography, and exciting relationships between the two disciplines will be discovered. 

In this course, students will build on and explore new drawing techniques, materials, and creative concepts while discovering their unique artistic voices. Drawing can be a powerful way to investigate who we are and how we fit into the world around us. This course's ultimate goal is for students to figure out how to make their art-making ventures important to them. Through responding to open-ended yet specific prompts, they will have the opportunity to experiment and get closer to finding that answer. A wide range of contemporary art and artists will serve as an inspiration to our work. A full spectrum of 2D materials and mark-making techniques will be explored and developed, including graphite, pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, collage, and more.

This course aims to connect drawing and meditation practice with reflective writing, group discussion over scholarly articles in the field of psychology, and self-reflection to produce a rich and rewarding experience for students. Joining cognitive science from Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn’s studies at the Stress Reduction Clinic at UMass Medical Center with scholarly journals in the field of science and psychology as well as selected excerpts from two of Wendy Ann Greenhalgh’s mindfulness in drawing books, this course provides students the opportunity to slow down, connect breath with eye and hand, and experience drawing as a tool for mindfulness. Along with drawing both inside and outside of the classroom and engaging in class discussions, students will keep a daily journal that will document their experiences, observations, attitudes, and opinions throughout the course. This sketchbook/journal will be handmade by each student so there is a personal connection to the object and will be showcased in the end-of-term student art show.

In this intermediate-level course, students will have the opportunity to explore various painting techniques while developing their unique artistic voice. Through open-ended yet specific prompts, students will have a chance to be creative and make works of art centered around subject matter that interests them. Contemporary artists will serve as a source of inspiration. Acrylic paint is the main focus of this course, but we will also explore watercolor, gouache, and oil paint.

Want to make an impression? Become a Printmaker! Originally used as a form of communication, printmaking has helped shape culture in all parts of the world. Printmaking is a process that typically allows artists to make multiple original works of art. In most cases, the artist creates an image on a matrix made out of metal, stone, wood, or other materials. The matrix is then inked, and the inky image is transferred to a piece of paper, often with a press, to create an original print. This intermediate level course will introduce students to a wide variety of approaches to printmaking. Students will explore monoprinting, block printing (including linoleum blocks and woodcuts), collagraph, and silk screen printing. Students will learn to print by hand and also become skilled in the use of the printing press. Projects will focus on the exploration of art themes through a series of prints and by creating editions.

This course is about introducing, experimenting, and practicing a multitude of digital art compositional and aesthetical choices, processes, and techniques. Learning by doing, students will explore their personal values, their identity, and their place in the world using a combination of computer-generated art, Procreate, Photoshop, and Illustrator to create a digital portfolio. The final project will explore  the theme of Identity. Personal style and artistic voice will be cultivated over the length of the course. The goal is to move the artist from digital literacy — an understanding of how to use the tools — to digital fluency — the ability to create something new with those tools.

In this course, students will continue to explore and further develop their creative voice while gaining a deeper understanding of the material, construction methods, and surface design. Students will begin their journey at the potter’s wheel, learning the skills necessary to utilize this tool effectively. Initially, functional forms are the primary focus, and students are encouraged to explore surface design, concept development, and the sculptural possibilities of their objects. Once the fundamentals of the wheel have been learned and practiced, students will hone their hand-building skills as they continue their exploration of form (functional and sculptural) and concept development. A balanced emphasis on both process and product is integral to this course.

This course expands on the basic techniques and concepts learned in the Photography section of the Foundation program. Refinements in camera operation and exposure selection are further explored as students deepen their understanding of essential design elements. The framework of how content, composition, concept, and context relate in the making of photographic images is discussed and will be used as the basis for several projects. Students will continue to deepen their creative vision using the Film SLR Camera and discover further refinements in the printmaking process. Digital tools will also be introduced to provide additional means to support the creative options available to the student artist. Regular homework, primarily shooting assignments, is followed by lab work and group and individual evaluations. Students will select and complete a portfolio of their best images as a final project.

Students will deepen their exploration of three-dimensional design concepts introduced in the Beginning Sculpture section of the Foundation program, broadening the range of processes and materials used. Students will learn more complex techniques and integrate form and content in an intentional way. Contemporary and historic artists will continue to be studied as related to pertinent topics. Students will explore where their ideas come from and how they are manifested in the physical form of sculpture. Work outside of class on projects will be required. Emphasis will be placed on process as well as product as students develop their artistic voice.

Filmmaking is about communicating ideas through audio-visual means. In this IDS course cross-listed with Visual Arts, students practice visual storytelling that is personal and compelling, learning to connect with their audience in impactful and meaningful ways. Notions of diverse identities and the ability to construct varying realities are explored as students consider three essential questions in this course: How are movies and TV shows made, from concept to completion? How might analysis of films and TV help us not only construct but also challenge our notions of identity and reality? and In what ways does the production of a short film help us access and understand an array of interdisciplinary practices? Through a series of workshops, guest lectures, TV, short film and feature-length screenings, analysis, and hands-on movie production projects, this course emphasizes content development, storytelling strategies, and production skills. These IDS skills are explored in the context of crucial ethical, aesthetic, and social issues, with a particular focus on the relevance and importance of DEI work. In addition to developing, pitching, producing, and presenting their own “personal story” in the form of a documentary or fictional short film, students develop their writing and research skills and learn relevant film history.

This course will explore a contemporary art-making approach, focusing on how best to express ideas through impactful artworks. Students will have the opportunity to create a body of work that connects to their interests and passions. This course's primary goal is to provide an experience that allows student artists the opportunity to focus on a passion, reflect on contemporary artworks, and experience an exploration of visual art topics and materials in depth. There will be demonstrations, presentations, critiques, and feedback, all working to strengthen core skills. An outcome of this class is a cohesive body of work. Some students may wish to include artwork created in this course in a college application portfolio.

In this course, students will have the opportunity to continue to explore and hone their creative voice and vision for their work. Open-ended prompts for the projects encourage students to create work that is personal, meaningful, and impactful. Methods of construction will be largely self-selected and include hand-building, the potter’s wheel, and the 3-D clay printer. This course uses a variety of historical and contemporary ceramic artists to show a range of processes and artwork to provide context for the functional, sculptural, and conceptual work students create. A continued focus on both process and product promotes and fosters a sense of discovery and play while students pursue the creation of a culminating cohesive body of work.

This course allows the motivated student to further explore the tools and craft of photography while cultivating a more refined aesthetic vision. Students will view the artwork of both historical and contemporary artists to consider the diverse spectrum of creative photography. Students will have the opportunity to utilize both analog and digital SLR cameras in this class encouraging the exploration of image making using light, time, tonal range, and color. Interpretative printmaking will be explored using darkroom processes, while digital options will include using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Regular homework, primarily self-directed fieldwork, is followed by lab work, editing, and critique. Students will craft a substantial portfolio of their best images as a final project.

Students will continue to deepen their exploration of design principles and materials covered in the Sculpture section of the Foundation program and Intermediate Sculpture course. Advanced Sculpture will begin with assigned projects from which students will be challenged to move into their own individualized sculptural visions. With the guidance of the instructor, students will have the opportunity to work on sculptures for a longer duration than in Beginning or Intermediate, as they deepen their concepts and forms. Knowledge of contemporary and historic artists will continue to be studied as related to pertinent topics. Students will investigate where their ideas come from and how they are manifested in the physical form of sculpture. Work outside of class on projects will be required. Emphasis will be placed on process as well as product as students develop their artistic voice.

In this course, students will explore the ideas and concepts of traditional game design. Through the introduction and use of digital design applications (Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop) and traditional game-making materials (paper, cardboard, dice, and other potential game parts), students will explore conceptual, developmental, prototyping, and playtesting ideas of game design. This interdisciplinary course aims to develop students' design thinking and iterative thinking abilities. The majority of class time will be dedicated to the creation and play-testing of student game prototypes, but the course will also include time devoted to research, presentation, the history of game design, and the processes involved in publishing and producing a game.