The purpose of this art appreciation course is to foster a broad understanding of the visual arts. The course content deals with understanding why and how artists create and also the important role culture and history play in the purpose and meaning of art. It includes an overview of the creative process, changes in art over time, and the relationship of the arts and society.
Course is offered On-line
Drawing is a foundational course in objective drawing using various media. The course focuses on the formal elements of line, shape, form, value, texture, and space in drawn images, with the intent of refining dexterity, perceptual, and visualization skills. Students learn about figure/ground relationships, relative position and proportion, linear perspective, and light effects on form and space. Students are introduced to compositional and drawing strategies within the context of historic and contemporary references and are encouraged to find personal solutions to set problems.
The course 2-D Design is a foundational course that focuses on the elements and principles of design in order to prepare students for advanced study in the visual arts. Students are introduced to 2-D concepts and progress to more complicated problems involving color theory and various media. Emphasis is also placed on visual communication, idea building, and critical analysis in the context of historic and contemporary art and design.
This course is an introduction to 3-D design concentrating on the principles and elements of 3-D form and space. Traditional processes include construction, carving, assembling, and modeling. Computer 3-D modeling programs may be used.
This course is an introduction to basic concepts of time, change, and movement as they relate to the visual arts. Activities focus on the use of computers, video, photo, and sound but also rely on drawing and design skills acquired in earlier art courses. Linear and interactive design problems stress critical thinking through series, sequence, and visual narrative and also explore pacing, sound, and image relationships. NOTE: It is recommended that students take INFO 1001 prior to taking ARTS 1040.
Creative Careers introduces students to a wide range of career options for imaginative professionals. The purpose of this course is to destroy the myth of the starving artist by investigating career fields that allow one to generate income through creative endeavors. Guest speakers who use right-brain thinking in the workplace, including professional artists, graphic designers, museum and gallery administrators, shop owners, art educators, and business professionals, visit classes on a regular basis.
This course surveys the major developments in painting, sculpture, and architecture from Paleolithic cave paintings through the European Middle Ages with introductions to the arts of Asia. Students gain an understanding of formal analysis of visual communication and the use of visual arts in social and historical contexts. NOTE: It is recommended that students take ENGL 1020 prior to taking ARTS 1110 because the level of reading and writing for this course requires a solid foundation in both.
Course is offered On-line
This course surveys the major developments in painting, sculpture, and architecture from the European Renaissance into the modern era introducing the arts of Africa and the native peoples of the Americas. Students gain an understanding of the formal analysis of visual communication and the use of visual arts in social and historical contexts. NOTE: It is recommended that students take ENGL 1020 prior to taking ARTS 1120 because the level of reading and writing for this course requires a solid foundation in both.
Course is offered On-line
This course examines the material culture of various indigenous peoples of North and South America. Special attention is given to Northern Plains Indians and Mesoamerican cultures. Students gain an understanding of the formal analysis of art and the use of visual communication in social and historical contexts. NOTE: It is recommended that students take ENGL 1020 prior to taking ARTS 1130 because the level of reading and writing for this course requires a solid foundation in both.
This drawing class emphasizes drawing the human form using a variety of media. Students draw from the model and study the human figure in action and in still poses. The course includes rapid sketching, portraiture, long poses, and memory work using primarily charcoal, Conte crayon, ink, and pastels.
This course introduces students to fundamental painting concepts and techniques. The emphasis is on studio practices, color, paint manipulation, and visual perception. Students explore a variety of subject matter, formal issues, and expression within the context of historical and contemporary painting.
This course introduces water media to beginning students. Students explore color, composition, and a variety of techniques such as wet-in-wet, dry brush, and mixed media. Students develop an individual approach to painting with an emphasis on technique. The course also covers a variety of subject matter to include objective reality and subjective imagination.
This beginning sculpture course emphasizes hands-on studio work that results in finished pieces of sculpture. Most of the activity revolves around researching, designing, constructing, and installing sculpture. Students may work with traditional media of clay, plaster, wood, and metal, as well as the expanding contemporary media of installation, video, performance, Internet, and electronics.
Elementary Printmaking teaches the theory and practice of traditional printmaking. Students create multiple printed images on paper, fabric, and other surfaces. This course provides an introduction to relief, intaglio, and screen print processes. Photographic and digital print processes, pronto plate lithography, and monoprinting are also explored.
This course is an introduction to basic principles, concepts, history, and skills of studio ceramics that also surveys historical and contemporary approaches and concerns. Students fabricate a variety of projects including vessel-making (hand-built and wheel-thrown) and sculptural techniques. They also observe various firing and finishing processes. Basic health and safety issues are addressed.
This course introduces students to the art of jewelry design. Students become familiar with jewelry design from the past to contemporary trends. Various techniques including etching, soldering, casting, piercing, and stone setting are taught. Students become aware of how to operate tools and machinery in jewelry construction. Emphasis is on design principles including contrast, emphasis, repetition (pattern), and balance. Critical thinking, aesthetics, and craftsmanship are the core of jewelry design.
This hands-on studio course is a continuation of ARTS 2030. A wider range of choices are left to the individual within a structured environment of criticism and instruction. Students are encouraged to explore personal areas of interest. They are required to develop a familiarity with the history of sculpture and master chosen sculpture techniques.
This course continues and deepens the exploration of skills, concepts, and history of studio ceramics begun in ARTS 2050. Students are coached in problem-seeking and problem-solving and encouraged to identify and negotiate the path(s) to creation they wish to take forward. In addition to learning to plan and fabricate more complex forms, students participate in loading and firing electric and gas (when available) kilns, discuss material and equipment sourcing, and become aware of opportunities for continuing their studio practice in and out of the academic setting.
This course is designed for students who have mastered the techniques and processes taught in Elementary Jewelry. It stresses creative solutions to more advanced design problems.
This course introduces gallery management including planning, preparing, installing, and publicizing exhibitions. Students gain practical experience at MCC's Elkhorn Valley Campus Gallery of Art and Design. Periodic field trips to other galleries are required.
This course prepares students to build a comprehensive, professional presentation of their work using skills and concepts developed in earlier visual arts coursework. In addition, the course covers legal, financial, and ethical issues for the self-employed artist and for the artist embarking on a job search.
This course permits instruction in special content areas not included in other Art courses.
Students apply the principles learned in Arts Entrepreneurship in a workplace setting. The work setting can be public, private, or nonprofit as long as it is appropriate to arts entrepreneurship. Based on state guidelines, students must complete 40 hours of work for each credit hour earned in this course.