aCademiC Catalog 2013-2014 - Lorenzo de Medici

School of Creative Arts FLORENCE
investigated and analyzed as an integral part of the course. The
aim of the course is for students to learn the basic knowledge
of oil painting techniques as well as to discover their personal
brush stroke, favorite colors, and the ability to personalize one’s
composition.
Foundation Oil Painting (Summer only)
PDM 141 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 60
This course is an introduction to the traditional techniques
of oil painting for beginning students or students with no
previous training in Fine Arts. The course deals with the most
fundamental principles and elements of still-life painting, with
an emphasis on the perception and build up of form, tone, and
color on a two-dimensional surface. Exercises are introduced
to students in highly structured lessons, including the theory
of color, supplemented by practical demonstrations. Reference
to the exceptional works of art in the city of Florence will be
investigated and analyzed as an integral part of the course. The
aim of the course is for students to learn the basic knowledge
of oil painting techniques as well as to discover their personal
brush stroke, favorite colors, and the ability to personalize one’s
composition.
Expanding Creativity
PDM 150 F; Dual listed: PER 150 F / PHO 150 F / SCU 150 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
Problem solving in the field of fine arts is coupling inspiration
with practical solutions. Viewing the situation with an artistic
eye, whether it be in drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic
design, music or writing, the creator of the work must discover
how to “put the line where he/she wants it to go”, using his/
her talents to realize in a tangible form what he/she envisions
in his/her imagination. The primary goal of this class will be for
students to learn to express their true selves while transforming
media in an artistic and mindful way. Students will learn to
expand their thinking into areas of art other than their present
chosen media. Since the class is made up of students from
various artistic experiences, there is a wide variety of outlooks
to broaden perspectives.
Digital Sketchbook
PDM 165 F; Dual listed: GRA 165 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 90
In this course students combine traditional and digital media
to create artworks. In drawing sessions in various locations in
the historic center of Florence, students learn basic drawing
concepts, followed by one-on-one instruction with the
instructor to create drawings suitable for the computer lab
sessions. These manual drawing sessions focus on creating
three-dimensional space through the use of linear perspective
and construction of complex forms using simple volumes,
on the drawing of the sculpted and live human figure, and
on creating balanced and interesting compositions. In the
computer sessions students learn to scan selected drawings
from the city drawing sessions and paint them digitally using
Photoshop. Students explore painting concepts applicable
to both traditional and digital painting and the most relevant
and useful Photoshop functions. In the course students create
multiple versions of each painting (for example, day and night
versions of one scene). Projects include painting a set of images
using gouache, and developing and modifying with Photoshop
one or more of their traditionally painted images. In this way
students discover benefits and drawbacks of the traditional
and graphic approaches.
Introduction to Pastel Techniques
PDM 170 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 60
This course introduces students to the various pastel
techniques: such as chalk, wax, watercolor, stabilo soft and
stabilo tone. Various color theory exercises will be investigated.
Students are also introduced to the various artists who have
used pastel techniques as their chosen medium. Also, reference
to the exceptional works of art in the city of Florence will be
analyzed as an integral part of the course. The course includes
subjects from still-life to models.
Prerequisites: PDM 130 Principles of Drawing and Composition,
or equivalent
Fine Art Mosaics
PDM 180 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 90
This course covers the various techniques of stone and glass
mosaics (for example Pompeian, Venetian and contemporary).
The students will create projects and decoration of architectural
illusion, panels, and scenographic design. Students will become
proficient in the various stages of building up traditional
mosaics. Reference to the exceptional Italian mosaic works of
art will be investigated and analyzed as an integral part of the
course.
Fine Art Mosaics (Summer only)
PDM 181 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 60
This course covers the various techniques of stone and glass
mosaics (for example Pompeian, Venetian and contemporary).
The students will create projects and decoration of architectural
illusion, panels, and scenographic design. Students will become
proficient in the various stages of building up traditional
mosaics. Reference to the exceptional Italian mosaic works of
art will be investigated and analyzed as an integral part of the
course.
Florence Sketchbook - Beginning
PDM 183 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 60
In this course students develop basic observation, drawing and
watercolor skills in a refreshing way. Students keep a series of
sketchbooks and develop finished drawing projects from them.
After initial training in fundamental drawing techniques for
pencil, pen and other media, the course is dedicated principally
to sketching outdoors in the city and environs. Students develop
ability in representing a variety of subjects, including the human
form, architecture, and landscape. Exploiting the advantages of
the site, students explore such themes as historical monuments,
street life, and formal gardens. They encounter art of the past,
including efforts to sketch the same or similar topics. The
course equips students to efficiently capture impressions by
drawing in various media at various rates and scales, keeping
annotations, ideas, sketches, and analyses of artwork in a
journal, and developing personal interests. Students explore
the monuments and vibrant street life of Florence, and observe
numerous buildings, outdoor sculptures and squares that form
part of the outstanding and entrancing artistic heritage of
medieval and Renaissance Florence.
Fundamentals of Art and Design: Color
Theory
PDM 190 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 60
This course concerns the analysis and theory of colors. Students
will study harmony and contrast of colors: pure colors, light and
dark colors (chiaroscuro), hot and cold colors, complementary
colors, simultaneous contrast, quality contrast and quantity
contrast. The course will study the relationship between form
and color, and how colors relate to space and composition, as
well as the perception and chromatic balance: the illusion of
color. It will also analyze the expressive force of colors as an
essential element in the creative process. Learning to develop
an eye for color through experience and trial and error; seeing
the action of a color and feeling the relationships between
colors will be achieved through practical exercises based on
various color theory criteria. Investigation of nature, master
artists’ works, city life and architecture, and works of master
artists will help to discover how colored light and shadow
are perceived through the relationship between the “eye,”
“experience” and “color theory.”
Florence and Chianti Watercolor Workshop:
Painting under the Tuscan Sun (Summer only)
PDM 206 F
Cr: 6; Contact hrs: 90
This special summer course takes place both in Florence and
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LdM Academic Catalog 2013-2014