Art and Design
Mission
The faculty in Art and Design at LaGrange College are committed to education in the visual arts within the stimulating environment of the College’s art museum, galleries and studios. We believe that the visual arts are necessary to the growth and well-being of society. We teach that excellence in life includes an appreciation of the arts and an ability to make aesthetic judgments by providing a technical education in a nurturing environment.
We are a dedicated faculty of practicing artists and art historians who foster learning in a liberal arts tradition that challenges our students to bring form to their evolving creative, written and oral abilities.
Program Objectives
The program of Art and Design
- provides opportunities college-wide for all students to develop an appreciation of and critically engage in the visual arts through offerings in art history and studio arts;
- provides a strong visual arts curriculum in both studio and art history/museum studies for majors;
- provides opportunities for student research and internships;
- provides an active program of exhibitions and speakers at the museum and gallery in the Lamar Dodd Art Center that exposes students and the community to a diverse range of the visual arts.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of a degree in Art and Design, the student should:
- demonstrate growth in creativity, self-expression, and technical skills through the realization of a body of work (studio concentration students);
- demonstrate a broad familiarity with the major trends in art history;
- demonstrate the ability to communicate knowledge of the visual arts, both orally and in writing.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Sophomore Review—All studio faculty will evaluate sophomore portfolios according to a standard rubric. Evaluation will include an assessment of students’ oral skills based on statements and critiques as well as an evaluation of creativity, self-expression and technical skills (studio concentration students).
Senior Exit Review—All studio faculty will evaluate senior exhibitions according to a rubric containing course objectives. Evaluation will include an assessment of students’ writing and oral skills based on statements and critiques as well as demonstrating growth in creativity, self-expression, and technical skills (studio concentration students).
Participation in the Art History Forum or other presentation of research (art history and museum studies concentration students).
Completion of a pre-test and post-test in Art History Survey courses.
Awards
Art and Design presents several awards annually during the Honors Day program. Many are purchase awards that allow the college to acquire works of art by the award recipients. The faculty of Art and Design present these awards to students for superior performance and a proven commitment to their craft.
Path to Art Therapy
Art therapy is a career that uses art, the creative process, and resulting artwork to explore a variety of psychological and emotional issues. Students wanting to pursue this path should major in Art and Design with a selected concentration. They should also complete a minor in Psychology with courses carefully selected with the Program Coordinator.
Majors and Minors
Major Minor
B.A. for a Studio Concentration in Art and Design Minor in Art History/Museum Studies Minor in Art and Design B.A. for a Concentration in Art History B.A. with a Concentration in Art History and Museum StudiesCourses
Foundations Art Seminar is a forum that introduces aspects of the field of visual arts. Students will be exposed to a wide range of ideas and artistic opportunities. The seminar may include the following: presentations, gallery talks, lectures/ demonstrations by guest artists, field trips to local museums and galleries, and curricular topics. Should be taken in the first year.
This course surveys the history of Western art and architecture from the Paleolithic period through the Gothic era.
This course surveys the history of Western art and architecture from the Early Renaissance to the beginning of the 20th century.
This course surveys the development of Western art from the beginning of the 20th through the early 21st century.
A course in the fundamentals of perceptual drawing or drawing from observation. Topics include shading, line, perspective and composition.
A study of the basic design elements and principles. Emphasis will be on creative problem solving and development of unified designs. A study of color theory and relationships is included.
This course is an introduction to making objects occupying a three-dimensional space. Students will become proficient with the terminology, methodology, tools, and techniques, used in art making. Various materials will be introduced and used to construct forms, which will function both aesthetically and structurally. Craftsmanship, creative thought, and the transformation of ideas into form will be emphasized.
An introduction to the fundamentals of graphic design, emphasizing typography and layout.
A course in the study of human anatomy and the expressive potential of the human form. Using a variety of drawing media, students will draw from the model, both nude and clothed, and from the skeleton.
A course exploring the development of graphic ideas through projects in advertising, layout, corporate identity, and magazine and poster design. Students will be exposed to basic concepts of logo design. In addition, they will study working with printers, fonts and file formats.
An introductory course in photography in which both silver (film and paper) and digital (pixel and pigment) based materials are used. The course begins with the mechanics of the camera, exposure of film and digital file, darkroom procedures of film, and printing processes from the negative as well as pigment printing and manipulation from digital files. Students are required to have a digital camera with manual control of focus, f-stops and shutter speeds. Cameras for film processing will be provided. Film, photographic and pigment print paper, and presentation materials are the responsibility of the student.
A course in documentary photography in which the student is assigned projects to illustrate narrative issues relevant to contemporary social concerns utilizing both silver and digital-based materials. An introduction to the history of documentary photography and the study of the stylistic techniques of contemporary photojournalism will also be included.
This course is an introduction to ceramic methods and techniques. Students will explore different hand-building and wheel throwing techniques used to create both vessels and sculpture. This will include using the potter’s wheel, coils, slabs, and mold-making to create form. Students will be introduced to the materials technical properties, glazing, decorating, and firing methods.
This course is an introduction to basic wheelthrowing techniques. Students will learn the basic mechanics of wheelthrowing to create a variety of functional pottery forms such as mugs, bowls, bottles, and jars. An emphasis is placed on the technical properties of clay, decorating, glazing, and firing methods.
An introduction to painting with acrylics or oils. Projects will explore the fundamentals of composition and modeling with color and light, as well as an introduction to abstraction.
This course is an introduction to the making of three-dimensional sculptural objects. Students will become proficient with a variety of materials, terminology, methodology, tools, and techniques, used in art making. Projects in this course will address both traditional and contemporary approaches to making sculpture, such as figure modeling, carving, assemblage, and narrative imagery.
A course in the basics of intaglio and relief printmaking techniques, exposure to selected print and book arts media, and the development of creative imagery.
In this exercise-based course the student will develop the skills to create compelling animation through traditional techniques within a digital format. Special emphasis will be placed on familiarity and execution of the 12 Basic Principles of Animation. Students will be introduced to various forms of animation, the history of the art form, the industry, and the language of animation and film.
In this exercise-based course the student will build upon skills and concepts from Animation I to strengthen their mastery of the art of animation.
In addition to textbook study, students are actively engaged in museum activities: cataloguing collections, organizing exhibitions, and serving as docents. Students visit area museums not only to view their collections and special exhibitions, but also to learn from museum personnel about the functioning of a museum.
This course traces the history of museums, discusses contemporary practice in museums, and examines current issues in museology. It explores the museum’s mission and its role in society through case studies and exhibitions in a variety of museums: art, living history, history, children’s, and ethnographic.
This course focuses on the art of Greece and Rome, emphasizing the historical and cultural context of the works studied.
This course focuses on the painting, sculpture, and architecture of the Renaissance, considering works in their historical and cultural context.
This course examines works of painting, sculpture, and architecture created in Western Europe and in the United States during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and explores the cultural and historical circumstances of their creation.
This course focuses on the painting, sculpture, photography, and graphics of the nineteenth century in Europe and America.
This course treats the art of non-western cultures: South and Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Pre-Columbian America, Africa, and Oceania. Either of the following prerequisites may be taken to be eligible to take this course.
A course dealing with the art of computer technology, with emphasis on photographic image manipulation. Emphasis will be placed on developing creative personal imagery. Access to a digital camera is necessary.
The student will carry out exercises and develop a final project using Adobe Flash as a traditional animation coloring and animation system. Industry standards will be emphasized.
The student will study different forms, methods and techniques of Stop Motion animation while learning to design, build and animate armature based Stop Motion models.
This course explores advanced design principles in such areas as web design, applied surface design, and advanced topics in typography and layout. The course is designed to assist students in developing a portfolio of their work.
Advanced work with the figure in projects exploring composition and subjective expression.
Advanced work in image manipulation in which creative photographic techniques are employed using both silver and digital/pigment-based materials. Emphasis will be placed on expressive and technical elements that go into the making of a personal vision. Students may work digitally or with film using a variety of formats.
Independent work in photographic concepts dealing with the student’s interest in documentary, commercial, or expressive photography using either silver or digital media. A portfolio of twenty to thirty prints with a cohesive theme is required at the end of the semester.
This course emphasizes ceramic design using hand building and/or wheelthrowing techniques. Projects will be flexible in their construction method in order to accommodate different ability levels and interests. These projects will explore different concepts and ideas in ceramics such as projects with commercial potential, functionality, narrative, and design. This course will place an emphasis on glazing, decoration, and firing methods.
This course is designed to allow the student to explore design, construction, and firing methods covered in previous ceramic classes. Further emphasis is placed on the relationship between form and surface. A variety of glaze and surface decoration techniques will be explored.
A supervised experience in an off-campus professional environment such as a photography studio, a surface or graphic design studio, or a museum or gallery administrative office.
This course is designed to allow the student to independently explore ideas, methods, and techniques covered in previous sculpture classes.
A continuation of ARTD 2273, including advanced exploration of color prints and other selected print and book arts media.
A further exploration of either oils or acrylics. Students develop a series of paintings that explore specific imagery, materials, or techniques.
A special topics course designed to provide students with exposure to topics in either studio work or art history/museum studies not covered in the regular course offerings.
Senior level students will begin work on their final animation project. This course emphasizes thorough pre-production methods that will direct the final animation while also serving as possible portfolio pieces such as scripts, previsualization art, storyboards, model and set design art.
Senior level students will continue production on their final animation project that began in Animation Project I. Emphasis will be placed on construction of model and set (if Stop Motion animation), digital ink and paint (if Flash-based animation), quality animation and developing and adhering to a production schedule.
This is an advanced intensive course in which art students bring into focus their studio interest and produce a body of work in one or two disciplines leading towards their exit exhibition their last semester. The course may include discussion and readings in contemporary art theory and criticism, field trips to museums and galleries, and the creation of a personal artist’s statement and curriculum vitae. Students will be expected to produce a portfolio of their work that could be used to apply for a job application and for graduate study. This course requires that the student receive permission from the studio professor/professors in whose areas they plan to concentrate. This course may be repeated for credit, and a student may receive a maximum of 12 credit hours.
This course is designed to hone students’ research skills, to help them apply for internships and graduate school, and to enhance their knowledge of art historical theory and traditions. Because the course is designed to meet the specific needs of each student, the approach will vary slightly each year.
Offered on demand.