Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design

Denver, Colorado | 800.888.ARTS

Fine Arts Electives

Studio Electives: 21-24 credits

You can take any studio elective course on campus provided you meet the prerequisite requirements. You can tailor your education in a wide range of disciplines that include jewelry, fibers, printmaking, installation art, digital photography, video art, and more.

Ceramics Electives

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    Students explore ceramics techniques not emphasized in Ceramic Sculpture 1, with an eye toward integrating new and traditional methods of sculpting in clay in their own work. Alternate firing strategies and wheel techniques are explored in a series of sequential projects of ever-increasing complexity. Further studies in the history of ceramic sculpture are incorporated in these projects.
    Prerequisite: FAC 1265 Ceramic Sculpture 1: Handbuilding
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    Students incorporate contemporary ceramics sensibilities and techniques in their own work. Slip casting and mold making are introduced, along with techniques for juxtaposing forms into more complex content. These methods of sculpting are explored from the perspective of new directions in clay and contemporary art.
    Prerequisite: FAC 1265 Ceramic Sculpture 1: Handbuilding
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    Students in this advanced sculpture class investigate sculptural form through the vehicle of clay. Diverse, personally developed projects allow the sculptor to further study the technical properties of types of clay, glazing, and firing approaches, while developing an individual expressive vocabulary. Historical and contemporary sources are utilized for content.
    Prerequisites: FAC 3250 Ceramic Sculpture 2: Tools, Techniques, Process; and FAC 3450 Ceramic Sculpture 3: New Directions in Clay

Figure Studies Electives

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    Students are encouraged to explore and develop innovative approaches to formal and conceptual content while expanding their range of materials and techniques for expressing the figure. Emphasis is on increasing an awareness of contemporary modes and on continuing to build a thorough understanding of traditional approaches to figurative drawing.
    Prerequisite: FD 1380 Life Drawing 2
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    This course introduces students to expressive issues in drawing the human figure. Students learn to analyze the figure in terms of planes, masses, shapes, action, proportion, rhythm and personal mark making. Areas covered include: gesture, quick sketch, long poses, foreshortening and composition.
    Prerequisite: FD 1370 Life Drawing 1
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    This figure drawing course allows students to exercise and develop both observational and constructive drawing skills. Students continue their study of gesture, the effect of light and shade on form, planes, constructive anatomy techniques, and achieving effective proportion through daily drawings of the draped and undraped figure. Character development, pose, composition, and illustrative storytelling themes add interest to the studies. Students use charcoal, conte crayon, inks, and pastels on various drawing surfaces.
    Prerequisite: FD 1380 Life Drawing 2

Experimental Media Electives

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    Students investigate contemporary movements and concepts including happenings, installation, performance, new figuration, and postmodern aesthetics in studio projects that reflect knowledge and insights gained from a series of panel discussions led by college faculty, critics, and visiting artists. These studio projects culminate in a major research project covering contemporary artists and issues as they relate to the student's own artistic vision.
    Prerequisite: FA 2015 Seminar in Modern + Contemporary Art
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    The focus is on an individually oriented pursuit of drawing. The sense of artistic discovery is enhanced by the development of a series of drawings in which sources in contemporary art history, along with an awareness of selected materials and media, are combined with a more conceptual, creative process. Extreme departures in scale, surface tool, and medium are investigated.
    Prerequisite: FD 1360 Structural Drawing
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    This course traces the origins of installation art as early as 1923 when El Lissitzky created sculptures that occupied the corners of his "Proun Rooms". In this advanced level studio course, students investigate contemporary and other historical artists who work in this genre. Students work on and off-campus to create their own installation-based works. Field trips are taken to view locally exhibited examples of installation art. At the conclusion of this course, students understand the vernacular of installation art, and create their own installation-based work confidently.
    Prerequisite: FD 2120 Visual Design 2. Non-Fine Arts majors accepted upon Department Chair's or Department Head's approval. Must be a junior or a senior.

Photography Electives

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    This course is a continuation of the Basic Photography class. Students are expected to have a working knowledge of beginning photographic techniques (camera operation, exposure, developing, printing, finishing and presentation). Photography 2 focuses on controlling all aspects of photographic image making. Designed to put the student firmly in command of the mechanics of photography, this course explores contrast control, the zone system, exhibition size and scale, different papers and film, toning, studio lighting and alternative cameras. At the conclusion of this course, students have focused their personal creative vision and presented this knowledge in a refined and thoughtful portfolio.
    Prerequisite: FA 1410 Basic Photography
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    This course is designed for students to learn to make, control and manipulate photographs with the aid of a computer. Students will need a digital camera to produce their own images, and the use of scanned and appropriated imagery is explored. Attention is given to refining technical skills in Adobe Photoshop but the major concern will be the ongoing development of skills in critical thinking and the realization of a personal vision. At the conclusion of this course, students will have a working knowledge of the history of color fine arts photography and its application to their personal vision.
    Prerequisites: FA 1410 Basic Photography and FD1010 Digital Image Making

2-D Electives

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    Students transfer their drawing skills to a variety of printmaking techniques and mediums that, in turn, have direct application to techniques, materials, and equipment appropriate to the public school and professional setting. Water-based materials are emphasized. Safe practices using minimal amounts of oil- based mediums and solvents will be explored, including monoprint, linotype, dry point, relief, and chemical resist printmaking methods.
    Prerequisite: FD 2120 Visual Design 2
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    Students paint independently with the instructor assisting as needed. Personal interpretations of the meaning of art are encouraged. Topics include: painting materials and handling, design elements, color, and compositional devices.
    Prerequisites: FAP 3170 Figure Painting, or FAP 3150 Painting 2

3-D Electives

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    This metal working and jewelry making course has an emphasis on K- 12 projects. Professional applications include basic fabricating, forging, lost-wax casting, stone setting, soldering, joining, fastening and forming, patinas and other surface treatments.
    Prerequisite: FD 2120 Visual Design 2
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    Various fiber media are explored, emphasizing those with direct application to a public art school program and professional practice. On- and off-loom weaving (including handmade, strap, table or floor looms) are integrated with soft-sculpture approaches. Students learn warping of looms from 2 to 4+ harness design and investigate different fibers in relationship to these processes.
    Prerequisite: FD 2120 Visual Design 2
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    This course allows students to sculpt independently with the instructor assisting as needed. Personal interpretations of the meaning of art are encouraged. Emphasis is placed on incorporating design elements, material handling, technique, concept development and expression, and in the meaning of the work presented. In-depth individual and group critique analysis is expected. A final slide presentation in written and oral form is presented to the sculpture department, which professionally presents the artist's body of work and its context over the span of advanced level studies.
    Prerequisite: must be a junior or senior

Video Electives

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    Adobe Photoshop is an industry-based image-manipulation processing program. The designer, illustrator, or fine artist can use the program as a paint, prepress, color correction, and darkroom system. Numerous image effects are possible after black and white or color images have been scanned and/ or electronically created.
    Prerequisite: FD 1010 Digital Image Making
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    This course introduces video as a medium for artistic expression and social inquiry. In this introductory course in digital video production and non-linear editing, students produce short works and are introduced to a range of approaches including experimental, documentary, and installation. Recent and historical trends in the medium are covered through the viewing of work by media artists of the past 40 years. At the conclusion of this course, students have a working knowledge of this medium and its history.
    Prerequisite: FA 1410 Basic Photography
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    This course continues the practice of video as an artistic medium; expanding the use to include longer format pieces, installation and interdisciplinary strategies. Further refinement of digital editing techniques and studio production are emphasized. At the conclusion of this course, students are expected to have achieved a level of technical competence necessary to undertake a more ambitious work.
    Prerequisite: FAV 2320 Introduction to Video Art
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    This course allows students to work independently with the instructor assisting as needed. Personal interpretations of the meaning of art are encouraged. Emphasis is placed on incorporating design elements, material handling, technique, concept development and expression, and in the meaning of the work presented. In-depth individual and group critique analysis is expected.
    Prerequisite: must be a junior or senior