Art Courses

100 Introduction to Visual Arts. 4. Overview of the principal visual arts, including their aesthetic qualities, structural forms and historical roles. Fulfills arts requirement.

102 Two-dimensional Design. 4. Fundamentals of design in two-dimensional media in black and white and color. Fulfills arts requirement

104 Drawing I. 4. Basic principles of drawing in various media stressing the relationship of observation, materials and methods to form. Fulfills arts requirement

106 Three-dimensional Design. 4. Materials, techniques and concepts of three-dimensional design with a color consideration. Fulfills arts requirement.

120 Introduction to Color Photography. 4. Comprehensive introduction to the theory, history, materials and practice of color photography. All student work is done on color slide film although the course includes brief introductions to color negative film and digital capture as well as new and traditional choices for producing finished color prints. Not a darkroom course. Fulfills arts requirement.

130 Photography I. 4. Materials, equipment and techniques in black and white photography. Image content and composition is stressed as well as mastering the craft of creating photographic images and their presentation. Introduction to digital imaging. Fulfills arts requirement.

140 Ceramics I. 4. Introduction to ceramic processes: hand-building, throwing, sculptural forms, glazing and firing. Fulfills arts requirement.

204 Life Drawing I. 4. Figure drawing: stress on integration of formal, expressive, structural aspects of anatomy. Prerequisite: ART 104.

205 Drawing II. 4. Continuation of Drawing I. Exploration of creative concepts of expression. Prerequisite: ART 104. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement.

211 Painting I. 4. Fundamentals of painting: color theory, relationship of materials, techniques and ideas to visual expression. Oil and/or water-based media explored. Prerequisite: ART 102 or 104.

212 Painting II. 4. Continuation of Painting I, emphasizing integration of basic pictorial concepts and including still life, landscape and the figure. Prerequisite: ART 211.

220 The American Landscape (ENVS 220). 6. The American Landscape is a two-part exploration. First, students undertake traditional academic inquiry, reading and discussion. The second, experiential component consists of an extended field trip and a direct photographic exploration of some of the landscapes and environments that have shaped American culture. Fulfills arts and social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.

221 Woodcut. 4. Printmaking processes of relief printing, including linoleum, wood block, monotype. Prerequisite: ART 104 or consent of the instructor.

231 Photography II. 4. Advanced photography. Developing a cohesive body of work in the fine arts or documentary tradition. Presentation and exhibition skills along with non-silver processes: toning, hand coloring and digital imaging. Prerequisite: ART 130. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.

235 Renaissance in Florence (HIST 235). 4. Fulfills arts and humanities requirements.

240 Ceramics II. 4. Advanced ceramic techniques: throwing on the wheel, glaze preparation and formulation, kiln operation. Prerequisite: ART 140 or consent of the instructor.

245 Digital Darkroom. 4. Introductory class working with Adobe Photoshop to manipulate and create images. Design principles emphasized. Fulfills arts requirement.

250 Special Topics. 4. May also be offered at 350 and 450 levels.

251 Sculpture I. 4. Introduction of tools and techniques of subtractive sculpture in plaster, wood, mixed media and welding. Prerequisite: ART 106 or consent of the instructor.

254 Sculpture and the Environment. 4. Sculpture with an emphasis on ecology. Construction processes include wood, metal and natural materials in outdoor and indoor projects. Readings on Eco Art. Prerequisite: ART 106 or consent of the instructor. Fulfills arts and social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.

260 Independent Study. 1-4. May also be offered at 360 and 460 levels.

271 Art Survey. 4. European art from the Renaissance through Impressionism.

273 Chinese Painting Survey. 4. Major artists and cultural characteristics of this tradition. Fulfills arts and intercultural requirements.

274 Renaissance Art. 4. Major artists and stylistic trends of 15th- and 16th-century Italian and Northern Renaissance art.

275 Modern Art. 4. Major artists and art movements from late 19th to mid-20th century. Fulfills arts and diversity in the U.S. requirements.

276 Contemporary Art. 4.Major artists and art movements from 1945 to the present. Fulfills arts requirement

277 East Asian Ceramic Art History. 4.An examination of the ceramic forms, decorations, processes and aesthetics of Korea, China and Japan, and how they were affected by the migration of ideas, technique and the conquest of foreign land and labor. Fulfills arts and intercultural requirements.

290 Internship. 4. Majors with advanced standing may petition the department to receive academic credit for internship experiences. Advisor conferences, mid-semester progress reviews and final art staff conferences are required. May also be offered at the 390 level.

305 Life Drawing II. 4. Continuation of Life Drawing I, emphasizing composition and expression. Prerequisite: ART 204.

306 Advanced Ceramics I. 4.

308 Advanced Photography I. 4. Self determined study of at least two contemporary or historical photographic processes. Students will produce one or two cohesive sets of images and locate their work in the current cultural context.

311 Painting III. 4. Exploration of media in relation to form and personal expression.  Content issues in contemporary art will be explored. Prerequisite: ART 212.

322 Color Printmaking. 4. Color monotype, collagraph, embossing. Prerequisite: ART 221.

323 Etching. 4. Intaglio printmaking processes, including etching on hard and soft ground techniques, aquatint and drypoint. Prerequisite: ART 221.

345 Approaches to Firing. 4.This class will explore the rich color and range of textures created by altering kiln atmospheres, firing schedules and clay bodies. There will be freedom to explore individual clay forms, construction methods and recipes. Students will actively participate in firing the two wood kilns, gaining a working knowledge of the firing process of pottery. 

353 Sculpture II. 4. Continuation of Sculpture I, with emphasis on developing a more personal sculptural voice, refining fabrication skills and learning about recent sculptural practices and concepts. Includes advanced metal and wood techniques, casting and mixed media installation. Prerequisite: ART 251, or consent of the instructor.

400 Advanced Painting I. 4. Continued exploration of media and approaches in relation to personal direction. Prerequisite: ART 311.

403 Advanced Sculpture I. 4. A continuation of Sculpture 2, with an  increased emphasis on the development of a more personal sculptural voice and a continued engagement in new sculptural materials and processes.

404 Advanced Sculpture II. 4.

405 Advanced Printmaking I. 4. Exploration of techniques in selected printmaking media with emphasis on personal expression. Prerequisite: ART 221, ART 323, ART 422.

406 Advanced Ceramics II. 4.

407 Advanced Ceramics III. 4.

408 Advanced Photography II. 4. Students develop technical expertise in either digital or traditional photographic printmaking. Builds directly on skills developed in Art 308.

409 Advanced Photography III. 4. Students will complete an interdisciplinary, camera-based project exploring an issue of personal and cultural relevance. Exhibition, presentation and/or effective visual communication are emphasized.

411 Painting IV. 4. Formal, philosophical and content issues of painting; emphasis on individual direction. Prerequisite: ART 311.

422 Advanced Printmaking. 4. Advanced color intaglio printmaking with emphasis on the creation of a complex color image. Multi-plate printing, relief stencil, viscosity color techniques introduced and explored. Prerequisite: ART 323.

453 Sculpture III. 4. Exploration of media in relation to form and personal expression. Prerequisite: ART 352.

477 New York Art Seminar. 1. Four-five day seminar on the visual arts, stressing dialogue with artists in New York City studios, museums and galleries. Course planned to acquaint students with the making and promotion of the visual arts. CR/NC.

479 Professional Practices for Art. 2. Introduction to the practical skills needed for managing a career as an artist with primary focus on preparing for thesis exhibition. (Required for graduating BFA and AB art thesis students.). 

480-481 Senior Thesis I, II. 4, 4. Each student must apply with a portfolio and a first draft of a senior thesis proposal to the art faculty in the semester before their final semester at Guilford. Students who are selected are expected to work independently and complete projects that deomonstrate technical proficiency and originality of concept. Prerequisites: advanced standing, a 3.25 average in art courses and consent of department chairperson.

490 Departmental Honors. 4. Specific requirements may be obtained from department chair.