The following are descriptions of the various art areas that comprise the Art Department. You can click on links to view courses available in each area and how they relate to degree track, and you can click on links to see images of the facilities in that area.
Foundations
The first step along each of the studio art degree tracks is the establishment of a firm foundation in basic principles of art. All art majors and minors, with the exception of art history majors and minors, must take the studio foundations courses.
The foundations area is composed of 2-D Design, 3-D Design, and Drawing I. The focus of our design classes gives students the opportunity to explore time-honored principles of art and design which become the underpinning of well-structured design throughout their careers. Students are given the opportunity to learn how to see, analyze and communicate their ideas through the drawing curriculum.
Foundations introduces the beginning student to the language and world of art and design. It is in the foundation classes that the student learns the basic truths which provide guides for success in all areas of art and design. The basic elements are set forth and the student is provided the time and studio space to explore their own way of utilizing and organizing these elements.
Foundations works to develop a broader consideration of subject matter and an understanding of the role of concept in art and design. Development of ideas, approaches to problem solving and an introduction to creative thinking are important aspects of the foundations curriculum.
Foundation courses provide the underlying structure which supports all those years ahead of art and design making. Foundations function to level the playing field for all students, giving them the necessary technical and conceptual skills to compete with confidence as they move through their undergraduate experience.
Ceramics
Link to Ceramics area web site
The UW-W Ceramics program is fully committed in offering students at all levels a progressive environment in which to learn the technical and conceptual applications inherent in the fabrication of ceramic arts. The physical space and equipment allows for investigation and technical exploration in the areas of electric, gas, salt , soda, raku and saggar firing methods. Two and three-dimensional design concepts and aesthetic concerns are highlighted as related to the whole of ceramics and art. Examples of ceramics, from the historical to the contemporary, are infused into the curriculum through various means such as slide presentations, examples in the round and biannual workshops and lectures from nationally and internationally known artists working with clay. The studio philosophy prides itself in being non-dogmatic in it's approach to constructing ceramic objects. Beginning students are introduced to both vessel and sculptural applications through fundamental hand-building and potter's wheel techniques. Intermediate students learn basic clay and glaze formulation principles while honing and building upon previously learned skills. Advanced students explore specific applications of ceramic processes such as mold-making, advanced clay and glaze formulation, kiln construction and firing techniques while being encouraged to develop a personal visual language through ceramic form.
Drawing
The Drawing area is central to the core foundations curriculum. It engages students in a vital process fundamental to multiple studio disciplines and serves as a point of departure for advanced research in traditional and contemporary drawing methods. The goals of the drawing classes are to introduce students to the technical and conceptual skills involved in drawing as a studio art discipline.
Through guided studio exercises, assignments and individual and group critiques, students develop their artistic vision, technical abilities, and visual art vocabulary. Individual curricular objectives are realized through the essential processes of invention and discovery.
The Drawing area is comprised of four courses: Drawing I, II, III: The Figure, and Advanced Drawing. The beginning level courses, Drawing I and Drawing II, serve as an introduction to contemporary and traditional studio art practices in drawing. Both courses emphasize conceptual and technical skill-building through: guided exercises in direct observation, instruction in the use of assorted black and white and color media, experimentation in material, ground, style and format, and diverse problem-solving exercises. Field trips, visiting artists and illustrated presentations on historic and contemporary approaches to drawing provide context for student research.
Drawing II: Figure Drawing, serves as an intermediate level drawing course and both reinforces concepts introduced within Drawing I and II and provides an introduction to handling the figure in traditional and alternative formats. Emphasis is placed on the development of familiarity with surface anatomy and representational and expressive interpretations of the figure. Slide presentations and field trips to regional museums and galleries supplement the studio research and develop an appreciation of the varied historic and contemporary approaches to the representation of the figure in art.
Drawing IV: Advanced Drawing provides opportunities for students to engage in self-directed research, and includes class discussions of relevant readings in contemporary theory and studio art practices. In addition to performing studio research, students write artist statements, learn how to shoot professional quality slides of their work and present a public lecture on their work and influences. Additional advanced coursework and studio research in drawing is available through directed independent study.
Art Metals
The overall goal of the metals area is to introduce students to the medium and history of metalsmithing. To provide an environment that demands the growth of independent creative thought, the development of each person’s visual vocabulary, the freedom of expression through mastery of material, a critical eye, the ability to problem solve and the capacity to acquire the language and discipline of a metalsmith.
Painting
The UW-W Painting program introduces students
new to the medium to the aesthetics and techniques of painting and encourages
the more prepared or advanced student to pursue individual and unique directions.
The Painting Program reflects the overall link between tradition and the
contemporary as can be discovered across the UW-W Art Program. The Painting
Studio occupies a spacious and accessible north light studio with professional
easels and fabrication equipment. Beginning with Painting I, students in
the program are able to partake of as many as five courses in Painting
with additional opportunities available for advanced independent study.
In the introductory Painting I course, students are presented with color
theory along side practical and achievable methods of application in order
to develop their proficiency with paint and color. They are taught how
to advance their artisan skill in painting as well as the conceptual processes
particular to the medium and encouraged to apply their knowledge to a variety
of disciplines beyond the painting studio. Paintings produced in Painting
I range from neo-traditional grisaille panels and alla prima canvases to
non-traditional processes and materials. The advanced painting courses
are designed to introduce the student to the more complex technical and
conceptual processes of oil and water-base mediums. It seeks to engage
them in the development of their own individual aesthetic vision and encourages
them to apply the trained eye of the painter to the broader spectrum of
aesthetic practice.
Printmaking
The Printmaking program at UW-Whitewater introduces students to the aesthetics and techniques of the printmaking medium, offering Introductory courses in Relief, Intaglio, Screenprinting, and Book Arts. The area draws upon and challenges the skills students have learned in Drawing I and 2-D Design, linking the 300 level Print courses firmly to the Department’s Foundations curriculum. Although each of the four courses are unique disciplines with distinct processes, each shares the primary objectives as identified by the Print area: proficiency with a variety of tools, inks, substrates, papers and presses; the formal use of design in compositional structures; and conceptual/thematic research in both assigned and self-initiated topics.
One of the main goals of the Printmaking area is preparing students to meet the challenges of a new medium in a way that extends their image conceptualization skills and leads to the development of a unique stylistic voice. Towards this end, students are exposed throughout Print courses to a wide spectrum of historical and contemporary approaches, via slide lectures, books, journals, and artists’ portfolios. The teaching curriculum is augmented by visiting artist lectures and demonstration workshops, as well as field trips to Tandem Press, Silver Buckle Press and/or the Elvejhem Museum in Madison.
The Printmaking studio is committed to the progressive use of safer, less-toxic materials and techniques, and continues to move in that direction. Since many contemporary prints are actually multiple-technique works of art, the Print curriculum includes an introduction to the expanded-media, contemporary print. Students are taught to incorporate digital imaging strategies, image transfer and/or photographic techniques, knowledge which has cross-disciplinary applications as they move through their art education. Although the UW-Whitewater Print program is restricted to Level I, Introductory courses, students are encouraged to produce a consistent body of work in each of the four mediums. They are encouraged to create technically skilled, thematically engaging works that can be submitted for scholarship portfolio review and exhibition. The program stands ready for the next stage: developing Advanced courses to meet student need and interest.
Sculpture
The main focus of the UW-Whitewater Sculpture Department is to introduce students to techniques, processes, a variety of media and aesthetic thinking associated with contemporary sculpture. The sculpture area promotes individualism and self-sufficiency. Students have the opportunity to take five levels with in the area. Beginning sculpture students focus on two main areas- safe shop practices and applying their three dimensional foundation skills in regards to creating individualized compositions. All advanced classes are designed to allow the students to aesthetically and technically develop towards their maximum potential. Once a student completes the program they should have all the necessary skills to survive as a prolific sculptor. These students are more than ready for post graduation.
Photography
The goal of photography is to introduce students to both traditional and non-traditional methods of photographic image making with an emphasis on the techniques, history and aesthetics of:
The Camera
The Negative
The Print
Darkroom photography investigates both silver and non-silver processes to emphasize a photographic interpretation of the three-dimensional-world of light and shadow and its unique expressive qualities on a two-dimensional surface toward developing the students’ objective and subjective viewpoints.
Graphic Design
Link to Graphics area web site
Our goal is to provide undergraduate students with a full range of conceptual and technical Art and Design skills while instilling a sense of purpose where personal expression and professional growth can result in solid portfolio development and career fulfillment. The Graphic Design program is about applying the principles of visual perception to the practice of visual communications. Our program integrates study in the fine arts with classes in Applied Design, Illustration, Web Design, Digital Photography, Multimedia Design and includes course skill development options from still image creation and production through interactive media and digital video/motion graphics design.
The BFA Emphasis in Graphic Design degree program provides a more comprehensive and structured background in graphic design and the fine arts. This degree delivers the greatest well defined knowledge of creative graphic design at the undergraduate level and is recommended for students seeking careers as creative designers, multimedia designers, illustrators, web designers and art directors. This degree approach allows a student to focus in Fine Art, Graphic and Multimedia Design without an outside minor. The 21 credit outside of department minor is waived and those credits are taken in more advanced Art and Graphic Design course work. Students from this program often seek admission into graduate schools with a more well defined personal and professional portfolio after completing the undergraduate degree and go on to teach or work as professional designers.
The BA Graphic Design Emphasis program offering is intended to develop students as creative graphic designers with career development paths as graphic production designers, print designers, and web designers in a competitive job market. This degree must be approached with an additional minor from another discipline unlike those selecting the BFA degree. This approach allows a student to concentrate in fine art and graphic design while taking advantage of a wide variety of 21 credit minor offerings campus wide and is particulary useful when balancing business courses, advertising and web information development courses for a rounded more liberal arts degree approach. Our Multimedia Design Minor is also an allowable and very useful option for students wishing to concentrate in more original media creation directions.
Topics for course study and areas for experimentation listed below are offered in the Graphic Design area of the Art Department and can be taken by Fine Arts and Graphic Design BA and BFA students. Some courses emphasize hands on traditional craft approaches to visual image making and design while others focus more on electronic methods of creative production. Areas of study range from still image and publication design through interactive media and animation. Several courses focus on the development of concepts and visual design solutions that will be produced through the printing industry. Typography, graphic design, electronic pre-press production are areas of study. All courses seek to instill a critical awareness of the power and impact of visual imagery, concept development and formal design systems mastery. This offers students concrete training in the techniques used by professional artists and designers for the creation of visual effective systems for fine art, communication, advertising and information graphics.
Media Arts and Game Development
The multimedia design area introduces students to the field of multimedia design and original content development for time-based and interactive arts and visual communication media combining lecture and intensive studio experiences. Included are beginning to advanced activity in digital multimedia art and design, art and design history and conceptual development. Additionally, time based digital video, sound, interactive media and creative production processes are explored and related aesthetic, industry, communication, legal and audience/industry effects issues are studied. Multimedia related course topics are the newest additions to our program providing students background and career development in the creation of rich visual approaches for emerging electronic media communications and on-line advertising industries.
Art History
Art History is distinctive in its direct engagement with art objects through visual analysis and historical study. Students learn to appreciate the close relationships between art, culture and history, and become familiar with the major periods, styles and monuments of Western and non-Western art. Art history courses consider the basic theories, methods and terminology used in art history as they address the varied artistic traditions from prehistory to the present. Survey courses introduce the basic outlines of major art historical periods, formal analysis of art objects and the determination of styles, and the integration of visual and other contextual information required to understand the place of art within its unique historical and social context. Students learn to discern the meanings works of art convey and how these meanings are constructed. Upper division courses provide greater depth of study in specific periods of art history, and address art historical research methodology allowing students to pursue more penetrating research.
Art Education
A career in teaching can be very rewarding! This is especially true when teaching Art. Being an Art educator allows you to work with learners raising their awareness to the visual world of nature, the diversity of human culture and self-awareness as well. Teachers of Art engage students with activities that foster explorations of materials that result in expressions of personal creativity. The degree programs available at UWW provide the preparation for graduates to teach in grades K through 12. The program in Art Education at UWW (like all education programs) are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the National Council for the Accreditation of Colleges of Education.
Crossman Gallery
Link to Crossman Gallery Home Page
The Crossman Gallery serves the Art Department, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the community by providing a forum for the exhibition of art works and related educational activities. By facilitating the exhibition of distinctive works of art, the gallery offers students, faculty and visitors an opportunity to enjoy and study a variety of art expressions in a free, accessible and open environment. The gallery also serves as an extension of the educational mission of the university by enabling students to exhibit their own work and conduct research into the objects presented throughout the year in the exhibition series. The exhibits and related programming provide a forum to investigate technique and thematic issues in the visual arts, explore new technology, and display new and established talent.