Art
The California Lutheran University art curriculum provides a foundation in the studio arts and art history which encourages students to develop their own vision as creative artists and voices for its history and contemporary critique. With an emphasis on individualized attention and creative motivation, faculty members combine a broad range of academic and art disciplines with real-world experiences, philosophies and attitudes.
Interested students have a chance to participate in CLU-sponsored travel to a variety of international locations. Each student is also given the option to take art and/or art history classes one or two semesters in a Study Abroad program in countries such as Italy or England. Likewise, CLU’s diverse art collections give students access to a variety of art objects from various countries. These collections include the La Boyteaux Collection of New Guinea Art, the Lou Grubb Collection of American Indian Art and Paintings, the Rev. Patty Hundley Photographic Archive and a collection of Philippine Island ethnic artwork.
Art majors may opt for the standard art major curricula or designate their preference with a concentration in design. The design specialty requires an advanced computer graphics course. Sophisticated graphics programs utilizing up-to-date software are available to CLU students to increase their creative skills and prepare them for the professional work of design. In addition, other design courses are cross-listed with the Theatre Arts Department, and digital arts classes are available in the Multimedia Department.
The majority of students choosing the design emphasis move into careers associated with advertising agencies, computer graphics, freelance photography, design studios and book design. Students can also prepare for careers in the motion picture and television industries, theater and animation by creating work especially targeted for their desired goals.
Art history students find CLU a perfect area to explore museums and architectural works. Nearby are the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, the Pacific-Asia Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (L.A.), Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Armand Hammer Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and others.
Students interested in a fine arts studio practice are provided a foundation of techniques and interaction with various materials which involve traditional and contemporary studio methods. The ultimate goal is for students to develop their own individual style and body of work while having an awareness of related historical and contemporary art concepts.
All art major seniors are required to take a Capstone course which focuses on the practical and philosophical aspects of being an artist or working in a field related to the arts. This class is designed to assist students in “real world” participation in the arts following graduation. A working knowledge of archival matting/framing, writing an artist statement and preparing a portfolio are included. All of the steps to curate and install an art exhibition are covered, culminating in a collaboratively produced retrospective of the senior art majors’ best work displayed in the Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture.
The Art Department works with the School of Education to serve the needs of students planning careers in teaching. Credential programs, as well as opportunities to practice art instruction, are available. A multi-media major is also available.
Internships at museums, galleries, companies or organizations are encouraged and earn up to four credits.
Bachelor of Arts in Art
42 credits minimum, 24 credits upper division.
| ART 111 | History of Art | 4 |
| or ART 112 | History of Art | |
| ART 160 | Drawing | 3 |
| ART 165 | Life Drawing | 3 |
| ART 270 | Beginning Painting | 3 |
| ART 280 | Design | 3 |
| ART 320 | Sculpture | 3 |
| ART 330 | Printmaking | 3 |
| ART 350 | Ceramics I | 3 |
| ART 380 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| ART 410 | Modern Art | 4 |
| ART 418 | Interdisciplinary Arts - Capstone | 3 |
| ART 472 | Life Painting | 3 |
| Senior Exhibit | ||
| Art Elective Credits (at least 2 Upper Division) | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Bachelor of Arts with Concentration in Design
44 credits minimum, 26 credits upper division.
| ART 111 | History of Art | 4 |
| or ART 112 | History of Art | |
| ART 160 | Drawing | 3 |
| ART 165 | Life Drawing | 3 |
| ART 270 | Beginning Painting | 3 |
| ART 280 | Design | 3 |
| ART 320 | Sculpture | 3 |
| ART 350 | Ceramics I | 3 |
| ART 368 | Stage Lighting and Scenic Design | 4 |
| ART 369 | Theatrical Costume and Makeup Design | 4 |
| ART 380 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| ART 385 | Graphic Design | 3 |
| ART 410 | Modern Art | 4 |
| ART 418 | Interdisciplinary Arts - Capstone | 3 |
| Senior Exhibit | ||
| Art Elective Credits | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
Minor in Art
18 credits minimum, 9 credits upper division. Students interested in teaching art should refer to the Chair of the Art Department for information about the art subject matter program. (see Education)
| ART 111 | History of Art | 4 |
| or ART 112 | History of Art | |
| ART 160 | Drawing | 3 |
| ART 280 | Design | 3 |
| Upper Division Art Elective Credits | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Courses
Lower Division
ART 105. American Art. (4).
ART 111/112. History of Art. (4,4).
111: From prehistoric and ancient civilizations
to the Renaissance. 112: From the Renaissance to
contemporary.
ART 120. Sculpture for Non-Art Majors. (1).
Designed to take students through several quick,
hands-on projects in which they learn about
materials, processes and the related history of
sculpture.
ART 160. Drawing. (3).
An introduction to the fundamentals of line,
shape, form, value and pictorial space and their
use in aesthetic expression and the communication
of ideas.
ART 165. Life Drawing. (3).
A study of the presentation of the human form
through graphic representations, with an emphasis
on the structure, form and anatomy of the model.
Prerequisite: ART 160.
ART 175. Introduction to Watercolor. (3).
An introduction to watercolor, painting including
value and color theory, and the place of
watercolor in the art world.
ART 235. Photography. (3).
A fine arts approach to the use of the camera as
a creative tool.
ART 236. Digital Photography. (3).
An introduction to digital photography. A fine
arts approach to the use of the digital camera,
including its potential for creating art, and
methods for adjusting and enhancing images on the
computer.
ART 260. Intermediate Drawing. (3).
Continuation of the exploration of dry media with
an emphasis on 3-dimensional rendering, linear
perspective and the portrait. Historical and
contemporary masters of drawing will be reviewed.
Student portfolio development is stressed.
ART 270. Beginning Painting. (3).
An introduction to various media and techniques
of painting. Students experiment with visual
elements and their use in the expression and
communication of ideas, with emphasis on the
creative approach.
ART 275. Intermediate Watercolor. (3).
Continuation of watercolor techniques and picture
making principles with an emphasis on
3-dimensional rendering, linear and atmospheric
perspective, and the portrait. Historical and
contemporary masters of watercolor will be
reviewed. Student portfolio development is
stressed.
ART 280. Design. (3).
An introductory study in the visual elements and
principles of design and unity of expression.
Includes creative exploration in two- and
three-dimensional composition.
ART 282. Selected Topics. (3).
ART 285. Travel Seminar. (1-4).
Upper Division
ART 320/321. Sculpture. (3,3).
Students are introduced to three-dimensional
concepts and design through hands-on experience
with various materials, such as clay, plaster and
stone, using a variety of tools and sculpturing
techniques. Course includes study and critical
analysis of major sculptors.
ART 330/331. Printmaking. (3,3).
An introduction to various methods of intaglio
and relief processes in fine printmaking.
Pictorial concern and technique are stressed.
Prerequisite: ART 160 or consent of instructor.
ART 341. Visual Arts in Education. (3).
A study of the visual arts in education. Theories
and philosophies of art and its objectives in the
classroom with correlated studio activities and
creative experiences that explore various media
and appropriate techniques. Both elementary and
secondary school curricula in art are included.
ART 350. Ceramics I. (3).
An introduction to ceramics that emphasizes
development of technique in wheel throwing and
includes basic clay and glaze technology and the
application of glazes. Students progress at their
own speed with specific instruction given toward
their individual development.
ART 351. Ceramics II. (3).
Stress is placed on wheel throwing, including the
making of varied forms: covered ware, sculpted
and decorated pieces plus added slab and coil
work. Students are allowed an individual creative
approach to further their development in form and
surface decoration. Includes advanced technology
in higher firing clays and glazes. Prerequisite:
ART 350 Ceramics I or equivalent experience
and/or consent of instructor.
ART 368. Stage Lighting and Scenic Design. (4).
Presents problems in scenic design, painting,
perspective and execution of models and working
drawings. Also the study of theatre lighting as
an art form with an emphasis on design concepts.
The theories of light, color, instruments and
control are interpreted in relation to performer
and audience.
ART 369. Theatrical Costume and Makeup Design. (4).
A practical study of costumes for the stage. The
course examines the history of clothing design,
color theory, rendering techniques and design
process from concept to execution. Students also
explore the concepts of theatrical makeup and
design through lecture and practice.
(cross-listed with TA 369).
ART 370/371. Intermediate Painting. (3,3).
Introduces the creative use of color based on an
understanding of visual structural elements.
Prerequisite: ART 270.
ART 380. Computer Graphics. (3).
Continued studies in the field of design with
emphasis on the visual impact of line, form,
color and texture. Computer graphics are
introduced with "hands-on" explorations using
illustration, image digitizing, air brushing and
masking techniques.
ART 385. Graphic Design. (3).
Layout/paste-up for the printed page, involving
techniques and materials used to produce
camera-ready art for magazine spreads,
album/cassette/CD covers, pamphlets, books,
business cards and letterheads.
ART 410. Modern Art. (4).
The study of art in relationship to contemporary
living: its contribution to the environment, its
influence and personalities, and its role in our
democratic culture. Prerequisite: ART 112.
ART 411. Early Christian Art. (4).
Investigates the first thousand years of
Christian art, which represent a transition
between Greco-Roman, Jewish and Byzantine
monuments. The origins of style and subjects and
their transformation into Christian vehicles of
great sophistication are treated from many
viewpoints - theological, literary, liturgical,
iconographic, perceptual and stylistic.
Prerequisite: REL 100.
ART 412. Christian Art in the Middle Ages. (4).
Students survey the religious art of the Middle
Ages - primarily Christian, but also some early
Jewish and Islamic developments - identifying
significant works of architecture, sculpture, and
painting, while exploring Christian concepts and
beliefs, liturgy and worship. Students consider
art in relation to cultural needs, examining
works in historical, religious social, economic,
and political contexts. Students become familiar
with visual forms, styles, narratives, and
symbols of Christian art, as well as with
broader, unifying themes shared by different
cultures. The course content covers twelve
centuries and geographically spans the Western
edges of Europe to the Middle East. We also pay
attention to instances of cultural exchange (the
circulation of ideas, art forms, and artists
through Europe and the Middle East).
(cross-listed with REL 412).
ART 414. Philosophy of Art. (4).
The study of the aesthetic experience and the
work of art. Includes various theories and their
expression, function and criticism. (cross-listed
with PHIL 414).
ART 415. History of Ceramics. (4).
A historical approach to the study of ceramics
from ancient civilizations to the present, with
emphasis on contemporary European and American
works. Laboratory research included.
Prerequisites: ART 111, ART 112.
ART 416. Oceanic Art. (4).
A historic and stylistic study of the art of the
South Seas including Melanesia, Micronesia,
Polynesia, Indonesia and the early tribal art of
Australia. Prerequisite: ART 111 or consent of
instructor.
ART 417. Pre-Columbian Art. (4).
A historic and stylistic study of the early art
of Mexico, Central America and selected areas of
South America. Includes a cultural examination of
the objects produced by the Olmecs, Mayas,
Toltecs, Mixtecs, Tarascans, Zapotecs, Aztecs and
the Incas. Prerequisite: ART 111 or consent of
instructor.
ART 418. Interdisciplinary Arts - Capstone. (3).
For all art major seniors, this course focuses on
the practical, philosophical, and personal
aspects of being an artist or working in a field
related to the arts. Useful knowledge such as
archival matting/framing, packing, mailing, and
documenting artwork will be covered. Students
will write an artist statement, crucial when
applying for graduate school or accompanying your
portfolio in job searches, grant and exhibit
proposals, or publishing your work on-line, etc.
Emphasis on pre-preparation for the senior art
exhibit (scheduled spring semester) including
gallery layout design, art announcement design,
exhibit posters, mailing lists, etc. - special
attention to gathering a strong portfolio of
individual work, especially a body of artwork
connected by theme, technique, subject, or
concept.
ART 420. Sculpture. (3).
Advanced exploration of sculpture as reflected in
the human figure, from basic skeletal structure
to finished form. Use of plaster body casts and
other sculptural techniques reinforce hands-on
learning. Course includes study and critical
analysis of major sculptors' work on the human
form. Prerequisite: ART 321.
ART 430. Printmaking. (3).
Experimental techniques in fine printmaking with
an introduction to color. Prerequisite: ART 331
or consent of instructor.
ART 435. Advanced Photography. (3).
Advanced techniques in photography as a creative
medium and personal expression.
ART 450. Ceramics III. (3).
Further emphasis on individual development of the
ceramist, including hands-on involvement in
developing clay bodies and empirical glaze
formulations and an introduction to kiln firing.
Prerequisites: ART 351 - Ceramics II, or
equivalent and consent of instructor.
Recommended: ART 160
and/or ART 280.
ART 472. Life Painting. (3).
Painting from the figure in the environment, with
emphasis on individual expression.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
ART 480/481. Advanced Computer Graphics. (3,3).
Includes illustration and advertisement design,
sequential image-making and further exploration
into computer graphics as a tool for creativity
and finished product. Field studies examine
client-studio relationships and directed studies
of workshops and studios. Prerequisite: ART 380.
ART 482. Sel Top:. (1-4).
ART 485. Travel Seminar. (1-4).
ART 490. Independent Study. (1-4).
ART 492. Internship. (1-4).
Chair
| Michael Pearce |
Professor
| Larkin Higgins |
Associate professor
| Christine Sellin |
Instructor
| Barry Burns | ||
| Brian Stethem |
Senior Lecturer
| Lynn Creighton |
Lecturer
| Terry Spehar-Fahey |