The Pre-College program is designed to help students develop their art and design skills while experiencing what it means to be a full-time art student. In 2021, we are excited to offer this experience both in-person and online. Art students can choose between three weeks at our socially-distanced campus or three weeks on our new, expert-designed digital campus.
Curriculum
The Face-to-Face program is made up of three core components: one course of study from Major #1, one course from Major #2, and all students participate in Figure Drawing. Equal time is given to both Major #1 and Major #2.
The Online Program may choose between four majors, including Drawing, and the third class is an Interdisciplinary Workshop. Equal time is given to both Majors in this format as well, and online students also engage in campus life experiences to make friends and connect with the College.
2021 Face-to-Face Programs *
2021 Online Programs ~
2021 Majors
- Animation* ~
- Illustration: Comic + Graphic Novel* ~
- Painting*~
- Drawing ~
- Printmaking*
Previous and Future Majors Also Include:
- Ceramics
- Metalsmithing + Jewelry Design
- Fashion + Textile Design
- Photography: Black + White Darkroom
Program Evaluation
Face-to-face students will receive one grade for the Pre-College experience which is an average of the Majors and the supporting Figure Drawing class. Online students will receive one grade for the Pre-E-College experience which is an average of the Majors and the Interdisciplinary Workshop class. Students earn 3 college-level studio elective credits upon successful completion of the program.
Major Descriptions
Animation *~
This course introduces and explores the twelve principles of animation as developed at the Disney Animation Studios. Assigned projects guide students through the technical and creative processes needed to bring their work to life. Students apply the principles to create animation that conveys personality and emotion to moving objects and simple characters. Online students enrolling in this major will join the face-to-face students in the classroom through an interactive, video broadcast in real time.
Illustration: Comics and Graphic Novel *~
Illustration: Comics and Graphic Novel is a course that teaches the art of combining words and pictures to make comics. A cartoonist is the proverbial jack-of-all-trades, functioning by turns as writer, cinematographer, graphic designer and illustrator. This course will explore essential components of cartooning: cartoon figure drawing in ink, background basics, comic-strip writing, graphic storytelling, panel and page composition, and creative games. This course guides students from creating narrative in a single drawing to orchestrating all the skills involved in creating a multi-page story. Students will develop a self-published mini-comic alongside several class exercises and worksheets. Online students enrolling in this major will join the face-to-face students in the classroom through an interactive, video broadcast in real time.
Printmaking *
This major introduces students to a group of printmaking processes including collagraph, collage, xerox lithography and screen printing. The class focuses on learning basic printmaking techniques and developing elements of design and composition. Students will experiment with materials and a variety of printed forms. Each student will have the opportunity to develop their own theme and aesthetic that will connect all of the projects. Students will also gain familiarity with safe and professional printmaking practices and develop language for critique.
Drawing ~
This Major is only offered to Online students. Face-to-face students all receive a Figure Drawing supplement in their onsite program. The Online offering is designed to be more comprehensive. Students will learn how to make marks in a variety of techniques and media, how to create volume and render what is front of them, and various ways to shade on the page. Students learn how to set up still lifes and other scenes to sketch, as well as a history of the medium and its growth over time. The course will also cover best studio practices and material safety. Face-to-face students take this class onsite. Online students take this class in an exclusive video-conference with the other Online Drawing Majors.
Painting *~
Students will work to gain a solid foundation for the painting process through color theory, composition, observational exercises and through an investigation of tools, materials and techniques. Students will develop concepts and learn how to analyze their own work as well as others. Students will be guided to open up and search for their voice as an artist, pushing towards finding their individual style of working. The course will also cover best studio practices and material safety. Face-to-face students take this class onsite. Online students take this class in an exclusive video-conference with the other Online Painting Majors.
The following Majors are temporarily suspended in 2021 due to space restrictions that would not allow us to properly social-distance in these studios. They will return in the future.
Metalsmithing + Jewelry Design
This metalsmithing and jewelry course blends technical instruction with an investigation of design and concept as it relates to ornament and function. Students develop confidence and proficiency with the basic skills of soldering, forming, small hollow construction and finishing of non-ferrous metals. Specific techniques include sawing, filing, drilling, sanding, polishing, annealing, soldering and patination. The course will also cover safety in the studio, proper hand-tool care and the physical properties of metal. It is the goal of this course for students to gain an understanding of metal as a material and a broad understanding of the exciting field of Metalsmithing and Jewelry.
Fashion + Textile Design
The Fashion and Textile Major gives students the opportunity to design and create a garment in its entirety. Beginning with a white bolt of fabric and a sketch students will utilize print and sewing techniques to create the perfect fabric for their garment. As the course progresses students learn garment construction and sewing techniques to complete their pieces. Students will gain knowledge of fashion throughout history and see real life samples of how to apply specific sewing techniques to the body to accomplish a look.
Ceramics
This course is a comprehensive introduction to the art and craft of ceramics. The primary emphasis of this course is that you will be able to create and appreciate expressive, three dimensional clay forms and make pieces that are portfolio ready. You will have an understanding of other cultures and periods of human expression in clay and you will walk away proficient at forming clay objects yourself. In order to augment creative production and discover how the creative process works, you will spend time learning techniques, watching demonstrations, sketching, reading, discussing, talking about art and critiquing. Emphasis will be on your work, your growth in the medium, your ability to create expressive, unified, cohesive three dimensional forms in clay.
Photography: Black + White Darkroom
This class will introduce and explore the technical, historical and contemporary concerns of photography as a form of artistic expression. Students will learn the vocabulary and grammar of the medium & find their own way of using it creatively to express original visual ideas and unique perspectives.The assignments of this course will cover the practice of fine arts photography by exploring the genres of portraiture and urban landscape photography. Emphasis will be placed on proper camera operation, film processing, darkroom printing, and the development of a photographic vision. Prominent photographers from the 19th century to present day whose work has influenced the field will be examined.