Painting I: Oil

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course is an introduction to the materials, techniques and concepts used in oil Painting. The class will explore the aesthetics of painting, with an emphasis on the principles of visual design, paint handling and the development of individual creativity. No prior painting experience is required. In Painting I, an observational approach will be used to study color, space, compoistion, perspective and the subject. The goal of this course is not to make copies, but to strike a balance between reality, illusion, and the human experience. As such, we encourage students to think creatively and to experiment with the paint and the subject. This is achieved through live demonstrations, artist lectures, group, and individual critiques. Students will paint from life and digital photographic resources. Subjects may include still-life, figure, self-portraits, landscape and interiors. Each project will be followed by a group (class) critique, in which the purpose of the project and any “visual discoveries ”(solutions and problems) will be discussed. This course is not available to audit.