The Department of Painting and Drawing offers courses designed to guide students through fine arts courses from the acquisition of basic skills to more advanced topics. Courses include foundational studio arts courses such as sketching, painting, and illustration, as well as specialized topics from professional practices in the arts and mapping creativity through fine arts.
3 semester credits. This advanced course focuses on mastering the formal elements of drawing (line, tone, space, and composition) and how they are utilized for expressivity and creative goals. Throughout the duration of the course, students will strengthen technical skills by using different materials and dealing with complex issues inherent to drawing such as figure and object drawing and expression. We will also examine the role of drawing today as producer of meaning within different environments and contexts. A theoretical component of the course, consisting of discussions and critiques, will supplement lab and studio practice. Students will also work on the development of drawing projects for the final exhibition (not applicable in summer sessions). Prerequisites: Intermediate Drawing or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This advanced course allows students with previous experience to work on individual projects to develop their strengths and hone technical areas of in need of improvement. Students will emerge from the course not only having developed a personal visual identity but also having attained a high level of technical competence in traditional methods and materials. Students will also have considerable opportunities to practice with non-traditional techniques and methods. Challenging individual critiques are an important component of this course. Prerequisites: Intermediate Painting or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course provides students with a sound knowledge of the techniques of digital painting media. Topics explore traditional and new forms of art production and creativity, with a strong emphasis on color theory. Projects will include illustration, concept art, matte painting, character design, and art direction. Development of personal vision is expected and creativity is encouraged.
3 semester credits. This course teaches beginning students the fundamental principles and techniques of black and white drawing with a focus on the media of pencil and charcoal. Through an in-depth exploration of the art form of still life, students will learn the skills for rendering a three dimensional subject on a two-dimensional surface. Value, line and proportions will be studied as a means of determining space, shape, volume and composition. Practical demonstrations and guided practice will alternate with lectures which provide students with the background and history of drawing done by great masters of the past and present. Students will be encouraged to rethink the way they see and observe a subject, to develop their own sense of creativity and artistic expression. During the course students are required to create a digital portfolio of their work.
3 semester credits. This course teaches beginning students the fundamental principles and techniques of painting with a focus on introductory painting techniques based on the so called dry and wet techniques such as colored pencils, markers, chalk, pastels, and acrylic paints, as well as the exploration of figurative subjects such as still life. Students will learn the build-up of form, tone, and color, shading and highlighting on a two-dimensional surface, using the principles of perspective and drawing to portray a convincing pictorial space. Emphasis will be given to the theories of colors, forms, and composition. Practical demonstrations will alternate with lectures.
3 semester credits. The aim of this combined studio art and lecture course is to introduce fresco painting (wall painting) to students who have not necessarily studied art history or acquired any form of artistic training. This course explains the meaning of fresco painting and why it became one of the most important painting techniques in Renaissance Italy. Using a radically new and exciting approach to understanding this technique and the historical and political contexts in which these masterpieces were created, students gain an in-depth understanding of frescoes and their golden age. The primary focus of this course is to provide students with an intimate experience of how a fresco is created by directly experiencing the basic ingredients of fresco painting such as sand, lime, stone, stucco, and mineral pigments to create their own frescoes using traditional techniques. Site visits to relevant Florence churches and palaces are an integral part of the course.
3 semester credits. This course is designed to take full advantage of the student's unique experiences living and studying in the city of Florence. With on-site inspiration channeled into artistic creativity, students will draw on location at sites of historical significance and visual interest, ranging from architectural masterpieces, landscape vistas, and medieval streets to formal gardens, street markets, and Renaissance fountains. Course topics will document the rich history of how Florence and its environs have attracted and inspired visiting artists over the centuries. Students will develop individual sketchbooks with the aim of building up source material for future projects. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.
3 semester credits. In this intermediate drawing course, figure models are used to build an extensive knowledge of anatomy and the structure of the body. Along with their own explorations, students will be introduced to the Italian Renaissance with a focus on the human form through museum visits and lectures. Students will also focus on understanding "figure and ground" – the relationship between the volume of a figure and the space that surrounds it. Students will explore different techniques through the use of traditional black and white as well as color media. Group and individual critiques are an integral part of the course. Students will also work on the development drawing projects for a final exhibition (not applicable to summer sessions). Prerequisites: Foundation Drawing or equivalent.
3 semester credits.This course builds on the basic elements of painting introduced in the foundation level course. The technical study of painting through the use of oil pastels, acrylics, and oil paint continues with a focus on the anatomy of the human form studied via live models. Students will be guided through the challenges of color, composition, value, and pictorial dynamics. This progressive building up of skills is balanced by the encouragement of the emerging personal artistic expression of each student. Group and individual critiques serve to analyze personal expression and to monitor the mastering of the technical painting skills. Visits to exhibits in Florence of contemporary painting are an important component of the course. Prerequisites: Foundation Painting or equivalent.
3 Semester Credits. In this foundational open-air painting course, students will explore and familiarize with the pleasures and challenges of painting outdoors. The students will acquire skills in the techniques of Plein Air painting with watercolor pencils and develop critical skills to evaluate paintings executed in this style. This course will also provide students with a look at the various materials and products for outdoor painting using wet techniques. Students will be introduced to the history and tradition of this genre; the "conceptual" in landscape painting will be emphasized with a specific focus on the Italian context. Sessions will be held at different outdoor venues in and around Florence. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students' academic and personal enrichment.
3 semester credits. This foundation course will explore methods, techniques and various aspects of watercolor painting. The unique qualities of watercolor will be explored through direct observation exercises, demonstrations and individual projects. Watercolor techniques will be explored, including developing drawings to form strong compositions, capturing the effects of light, color-mixing and washes. Students will develop their painting skills, techniques, and aesthetic sensibilities to artistic expression in watercolor medium. The class format consists of studio work with lectures, examples, demonstrations, and individual as well as group critiques. Reading and homework assignments are coordinated with the studio work.
3 semester credits. This course is based on watercolor, tempera and gouache techniques, with a focus on modern painting techniques and classical structure. Form, value, and proportions will be studied as means of determining space, shape, volume, and composition. Emphasis on transparent watercolor techniques include the exploration of mixed media. Learning various brushwork techniques, interaction of shapes, color, and negative and positive space will be thoroughly investigated to create vital, vivid and fluid watercolors. The aim is to reenforce each student's level of observation, interpretation and critical ability, to allow a natural and skillful approach to watercolor painting.
3 semester credits. This art course aims to make students aware of their creativity as well as to teach them how to utilize and take advantage of it. The course will enable students to define the artistic techniques that are best suited to their talents, as well as to master and appropriate them as tools for expressing their inner world. The course consists of lectures and workshops. Lectures focus on the nature of creativity, art, genius, technique, aesthetic, and artistic judgement in the history of art and philosophy from ancient Greece to present times. Workshops include a wide range of exercises based on creative telling, writing, painting, and movement.
3 semester credits. This lecture/lab course introduces students to the therapeutic functions of art. The aim is for students to become familiar with art therapy methods and techniques whose primary objective is to develop creative expressions. During class meetings, students will use their own personal experiences by conducting direct experiments to understand the function of art within a therapeutic context. This hands-on experience will then be compared with the theoretical ideas outlined in the required readings. In the laboratory/studio part of the course, students will handle a great variety of art materials ranging from the more traditional to less common objects. The aim is to facilitate self-expression on a non-verbal and creative level and in a safe environment, open to the free exchange of opinions and untouched by prejudiced or judgmental attitudes. The essential elements that compose the created image - space, color, movement, and form - will be examined and put to the test as expressive and symbolic tools of one's inner world.
4 semester credits. This lecture/lab course introduces students to the therapeutic functions of art. The aim is for students to become familiar with art therapy methods and techniques whose primary objective is to develop creative expressions. During class meetings, students will use their own personal experiences by conducting direct experiments to understand the function of art within a therapeutic context. This hands-on experience will then be compared with the theoretical ideas outlined in the required readings. In the laboratory/studio part of the course, students will handle a great variety of art materials ranging from the more traditional to less common objects. The aim is to facilitate self-expression on a non-verbal and creative level and in a safe environment, open to the free exchange of opinions and untouched by prejudiced or judgmental attitudes. The essential elements that compose the created image - space, color, movement, and form - will be examined and put to the test as expressive and symbolic tools of one's inner world. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience.
3 semester credits. This advanced lecture/lab course explores the history of art therapy as well as different contemporary theoretical approaches as well as practical applications of art therapy in various contexts and settings. Specific advanced scientific literature will be discussed, case studies will be analyzed, and contemporary challenges will be dealt with in order to shape critical knowledge of art therapy ethics, boundaries, limits and meanings associated with taking care of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Using their own personal experiences, students will use a great variety of media from diverse perspectives first-hand: writing, drawing, painting, collaging, and other techniques will be connected to each art therapy perspective in different ways in order to offer an idea of the flexibility required when dealing with this discipline. Glimpses will be also offered on other expressive art therapies such as music therapy and dance therapy. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art Therapy or equivalent.
4 semester credits. This advanced lecture/lab course explores the history of art therapy as well as different contemporary theoretical approaches as well as practical applications of art therapy in various contexts and settings. Specific advanced scientific literature will be discussed, case studies will be analyzed, and contemporary challenges will be dealt with in order to shape critical knowledge of art therapy ethics, boundaries, limits and meanings associated with taking care of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Using their own personal experiences, students will use a great variety of media from diverse perspectives first-hand: writing, drawing, painting, collaging, and other techniques will be connected to each art therapy perspective in different ways in order to offer an idea of the flexibility required when dealing with this discipline. Glimpses will be also offered on other expressive art therapies such as music therapy and dance therapy. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art Therapy or equivalent.