123 York Street

Heartwood College of Art : Art Classes : Painting : Photography : Printmaking

123 York Street (Route 1 South), Kennebunk, ME 04043
Tel 207-985-0985 • Fax 207-985-6333 • Email

Course Descriptions

Liberal Arts

ENG 101 English Composition

This writing course fosters and focuses students’ abilities to demonstrate and document their evolving thought process on paper. Students use a "writing process", which emphasizes personal commitment to one’s own writing and persistent, focused revision. This is a community of writers helping one another be fully understood. This process encourages eloquence, freedom of expression and audience awareness. The essays read, written and studied highlight social, political and personal responsibility while teaching critical thinking.

ENG 102 English Literature

Designed primarily as a reading course, English Literature focuses on 19^th and 20^th century short stories, sudden fiction, poems, and novellas as windows into familiar human experiences. This course emphasizes an understanding and appreciation of the art of short fiction writing. Analysis of the ways in which our authors use character development, point of view, plot, emotional tone, details, structure, and narrative style. The writing consists of reader’s responses, primarily in journal form. Willingness to read and discuss the stories is essential for this highly interactive course.

ENG 301 Peace Literature

Based on the Coleman McCarthy Peace Course this class will consider the lives and works of a number of peacemakers including Dorothea Day, Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Einstein, Schweitzer, King, and Annan. Jimmy Carter’s Speaking Peace will be a central text to our examination of practical conflict resolution methods.

HIS 301 History from 1850 to the Present

The period of the industrial revolution through modern times provides a framework for investigating economic and political events that revolutionized work, society, and culture. Course components will include the development of machines, economic growth and challenges, and the interweaving of historical events on the development of printing, weaving and the textile industry, pottery through time to mass production, and the expansion of technology as a communication and graphic technique. The course will culminate with synopsis and critique of historical events and the impact on society.

MTH 201 Geometry

This course reinforces students' math skills in preparation for their use in the mathematical foundations of perspective. Students learn to use fractions, decimals, percentages and proportions useful in aspects of design and craftsmanship. Additional topics include concepts in plane and solid geometry, transformations and tessellations, constructions, and coordinate geometry.

MUS 301 World Music

Taken in concurrence with HIS 101 (World History 1800-Present), this course includes an overview of music in a cultural context. Content will coincide with historical periods studied in HIS 101. Topics will include traditional Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Indonesian musical genres, European classical music, African drumming and dance music and jazz, 1920-1950 traditions, folk of the Americas and rock.

PSY 101 Psychology of Perception

A scientific and mathematical understanding of how the visual world liberates the artist. Science of Perception explores the fundamental properties of light and geometrical optics and considers ways the human eye processes visual images and color. The course explores the fundamental properties of the linear system of perspective and geometry and draftsmanship relative to it.

REL 101 Comparative Religions

Worldwide, the development of art emerged from a religious base, whether spiritual or theological. This course will investigate the tenets of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, First World People beliefs, Hinduism, Shintoism, and other ethnic beliefs (including a representation of African and South American tribal beliefs), and will bring about an understanding of the intertwining of religion and art forms. (To be taken concurrently with HIS 102, Global History, and ART III, Art History.)

SCI 101 Creative Cuisine

This course embodies the essence of Heartwood’s curriculum integration. Nutrition, wellness, cuisine, and food presentation revolve around the ‘art’ of good health. This course includes topics of lifelong nutritional planning, food chemistry, menu planning, food preparation, and presentation aspects of food. International cuisine is combined with artistic endeavors that stimulate all of the senses.

SCI 301 Environmental Science

Students will learn about environmental issues both locally and globally with a look to the future. The course will begin with an introduction to environmental problems which emphasizes that humans are part of the ecosystem with interdependent cycles which involve other organisms, air, water, chemicals, and energy. This course examines the relationships of humans to their environment from historical, economic, scientific, aesthetic, and ethical perspectives. Once this course is completed, class members will be left with a sense of hope for the future and an understanding of how to become a part of its realization.

SOC 101 Global Roots

Students will examine commonalities and uniqueness of cultures between and among peoples of the world. They will investigate emigration/immigration rationale and patterns, focusing on the United States, with particular reference to Maine. They will then delve into their own personal heritage researching family histories and ancestry sources. The culminating topic will focus on immigrant artists and the impact of their heritage culture on the art that each one produced.

SOC 301 Service to Humanity

Consistent with Heartwood College of Art’s philosophy, students will participate in a structured service learning activity that occurs within a designated social milieu. Prior to the experience, topics will include the concept and types of service learning, reciprocity between server and served empowerment and a systematic reflection of the experience that includes introspective examination of other aspects of the student’s life. Readings in service learning, culturally relevant orientations, journal writing and self-assessment will be components of this course.

PRO 201 Techniques and Materials

A practical "How To" course, addressing the best ways to present and market artwork, including types of framing and new uses for everyday materials in all mediums. Also considered are such practical matters as hazards and safety procedures particular to artists, the varied quality of new art products on the market, and ways for student artists to develop their own methods, and original solutions to problems of presentation.

PRO 401 Promotional Design & Business Strategies

Promotional Design and Issues of Presentation is a course that provides the opportunity for each student to learn and design a personal business card, letterhead, resume, website, and issues of presentation. This course is to equip the student with practical skills and tools to launch the student’s artistic career. This course also addresses concerns of presenting artwork, including techniques of display such as framing, matting, mounting, display case construction, and lighting. The photography of the work and presentation of slides for shows is another component of this course. Learning various promotional techniques such as local and national advertising, web site information, gallery opening announcements, and installing a show will be covered.

FAH 101 Art History I

Students are introduced to painting, sculpture and architecture of major Western and Non-Western cultures beginning with prehistory throughout medieval Europe. This course examines the evolution of art and the artist, making connections and comparisons between social and political roles the arts have played throughout art history.

FAH 102 Art History II

Art History Survey II analyzes painting, sculpture and architecture from Western and Non-Western traditions of the Renaissance to the present. Students study formal and technical developments as well as the political, religious and social effects on artists. A course goal is to link artistic influences of the past to modern culture. Museum field trips are included.

Fine Arts

ACR 301 Acrylic Painting

Water-based polymer painting changed the course of modern art. Learn how to prepare a surface, under paint and glaze, utilizing the transparency and opaque effects unique to acrylic.

CER 101 & CER 102 Ceramics I & II

These courses provide students with an introduction to the basic techniques of hand building, slab forming, wheel throwing, glazing, slip application, and firing methods. These courses are prerequisites to advanced ceramic courses.

CER 201 Clay Bodies

Apply wheel throwing and slab building techniques to a variety of clay bodies including terra cotta, stoneware and porcelain. Explore design possibilities, glaze results and durability. Discover and gain the knowledge of the properties of each unique body from low fire to high fire.

CER 202 Altered Forms

Students will learn how a variety of techniques to create altered forms, in hand building and wheel thrown vessels. The use of carved stamps, natural materials may be used for texture and decorative motifs. Modification of symmetrical forms by pinching, scoring, and paddling add interesting components to the composition.

CER 203 Raku

Raku is a Japanese firing technique translated as ‘happiness by chance.’ Clay is fired to 1900 degrees. It is then removed from an outdoor gas-fired kiln at full temperature , buried in sawdust, and lidded to reduce the chamber of oxygen, thereby creating copper lusters, turquoise blues, crackling, and iridescent glaze effects.

CER 301 Ceramic Sculpture

Using clay and plaster as the sculptural mediums, students develop an understanding of the materials and their building capacities. Texture, scale, form, and function will be explored as well as simple and multi-part molds.

CER 302 Glazing & Firing

Students pursue technical and visual mastery of glazing and firing clays from Raku to high fire porcelain. Students will develop and analyze their own glazes in small test kilns. Emphasis will be placed on the understanding of the chemistry that determines color, texture and viscosity.

CAH 303 History of Ceramics

Students will research the historical aspects of ceramics from 6,000 BC to contemporary times. A time line of ceramic development will be viewed and correlated with substances, techniques, glazes, and production techniques. Students will conduct individual research on a selected period and will produce a substantial research paper with illustrations and citations.

CER 401 & CER 402 Advanced Ceramics

Senior-level students create and develop a body of work and a thesis paper with the assistance of the Departmental Head, Faculty Advisor and Mentor. The completed body of work, thesis paper and artist statement is focused on the student’s interest in relation to their major.

CFT 101 Glass Beads I

Using century-old techniques of lampworking, students will create a variety of glass beads using a minor burner torch and ‘soft’ moretti glass rods. Techniques include making basic bead shapes, decorating beads with dots, stringers, twisted canes, foils and enamel powders.

CFT Glass Beads II

Students continue to study the many facets and possibilities of ancient bead making. Layering and shaping may apply to beads, buttons, small vessels as the student practices stripes, feathering, and advanced techniques.

CFT 202 Exploration of Crafts

This course is a ‘travelogue’ to countries where everyday objects are still primarily hand made. Centuries of techniques and designs have preserved many of the world’s unwritten stories. Weaving begins not at the yarn shop, but with the sheep shearing, wool carding, spinning, washing, and dyeing. Students will experience such traditions as African drum-making, fabric weaving, and printing. African and Indian jewelry, Far Eastern Puppets, and South American Pottery will be studies as modern links with the past. The Exploration course leads to a respect for and a sense of continuity with generations past..

DES 201 & 202 3D Design I

Through use of everyday materials, basic elements of 3D design are considered, such as volume, mass, weights, light, gravity, form, structure, and space. Students work through progressively more sophisticated problem-solving processes toward creative solutions.

DRA 101 & DRA 102 Drawing

These prerequisite courses cover the fundamentals of drawing as well as the exploration of materials. Instruction covers basic volumes, light and shadow, idea and design, and composition and 3-D illusion. Emphasis is on gaining control of the materials and techniques through subject studies including still life, landscape and the figure.

DRA 201 Advanced Drawing/Anatomy

The hipbone’s connected to the thighbone, the thighbone’s connected to… Students explore the human skeleton and muscular systems including connections, functions and proportions. Close attention is paid to the way bones and muscles appear on the surface of the body and the mode of expression they provide.

DRA 301 Life Drawing

For centuries, studying the nude figure has been a classical method of learning how to draw. Using line and tone, students analyze the human form in terms of planes, masses, light, shadow, action, rhythm, and proportion. Gesture, quick sketch and long poses increase student’s awareness of composition, design and structure. Students study the figure as an organic whole rather than a series of unrelated parts.

DRA 302 Rendering

To “render” means “to represent.” This multi-media studio course is designed to teach detail and accuracy in surface representation--skills that are elemental to illustration, graphic design and the fine arts. Historically, artists in every culture have maintained fine rendering and attention to surface as a priority in their work. Making these beautiful drawings requires different skills-subtlety of tone, finesse and meticulous observation.

DRA 303 Rendering/Illustration

This class defines the fine art end of commercial design, Assignments focus on book illustration, short story illustration and children’s book illustration, The course encompasses the creation of images that accompany a narrative. Illustration is the art of visual story telling.

FIB 101 & 102 Weaving I & Weaving II

This introductory course explores woven textiles and techniques for spinning and dyeing. Frame, backstrap and inkle looms provide fundamental understanding. Some of the most beautiful and sophisticated designs are still woven throughout the world on these simple looms. Each student develops skills on a 4 or 8-harness floor loom. Students also work with a variety of materials including rayon, cotton, linen, wool, and silk.

FIB 104 Loom History & Construction

Students will study the history of looms from around the world, from early finger weaving, to the mechanized looms of the industrial revolution, through modern computerized looms. Students will learn to assemble and maintain a loom, including inkle, table, jack, counterbalance, and countermarche looms.

FIB 204 Dyeing and Surface Design

Through the ancient process of shibori fabric dyeing, silkscreen, dye resist and various painting applications, students will explore possibilities with natural and synthetic fabrics. Development of an individual toolbox of techniques to further expand the student’s visual language to convey color to cloth is the emphasis of this course.

FIB 302 Indigenous Weaving Design & Process

Indigenous weaving design and process will introduce students to weaving processes from Ikat through native American designs. The dyeing and weaving techniques to adapt a palette and graphic expression are included, permitting students to employ ancient techniques.

FIB 303 Quilt Arts

Students will master the traditional art of piecing before venturing into design and color schemes. The strong graphics of Amish geometrics, the exciting crazy quilts of the 20^th century and the possibilities beyond traditional patchwork will entice students’ creativity. Included in the course are opportunities for students to complete pieces with contemporary dyeing techniques and tools inspired by designs of the past.

JEM 101 & 102 Intro to Jewelry/ Metals I & II

Fundamentals of metal techniques including sawing, soldering, stone setting, casting and forging. This class includes weekly demonstrations and critiques. Through the study of various methods, students explore ideas through design and problem solving.

JEM 201 & 202 Jewelry/Metals III & IV

Jewelry/Metals continues the emphasis in the mastery of skills; students create more complex ideas in functional and nonfunctional designs while incorporating challenging approaches in the making of each piece.

JEM 203 Casting

Students will explore a variety of casting techniques including lost wax, deft clay, sand and others. Students will participate in critiques, demos and weekly technical discussions.

JEM 204 Color Exploration

Students will explore different methods of coloring metal, such as traditional patinas, enamel, and resins, to avant-garde. Students will be expected to push and blur the boundaries of interdisciplinary media.

JEM 301, JEM 302 Alternative Methods in Jewelry/Metals I & II

Students will explore alternative processes to add to their “toolbox” of skills. They will learn how to use natural, synthetic and “new materials” such as Precious Metal Clay, found objects and color on metal.

JAH 303 History of Jewelry

Students will study the origins of jewelry including the physical and psychic need to adorn the body. Value and status will be investigated in various cultures.

JEM 305 & 306 Metal Sculpture I & II

Students will investigate model making, bronze casting and cold connections. They will also explore audience and presentation.

JEM 401, JEM 402 Advanced Jewelry/Metals III & IV

PHO 101 & PHO 102 Black and White Photo I & II

A basic course for all photography students. Participants gain familiarity with the camera, the photographic process and the tools of the trade. Exposure and focus techniques are explored and aesthetics are employed in designing photographs. Darkroom instruction covers film processing and enlargements. Students participate in weekly group and solo assignments.

PHO 201 & PHO 202 Black and White Photo III & IV

In this black and white photography course students work toward the mastery of film processing and the art of the fine print. Personal expression is encouraged through a variety of assignments, including use of studio lighting, and electronic flashes. Instruction includes matting, framing and the development of a portfolio. Critiques, conferences and a group show are integral to the photographic learning process.

PHO 203 History of Photography I

This course traces the history of photography from the camera obscura and the early processes developed by Daquerre and Talbot, through subsequent techniques, to the current state of the art processes, and tools. While studying the evolution of photographic techniques, the photographers of the corresponding eras also are looked at in terms of their visions in their social context.

PHO 301 & 302 Color Photo I & II

With a strong understanding of black and white value scales and composition, the concept of photography can be brought to full spectrum. This photo experience in temperature and density will enhance a student’s vocabulary.

PHO 304 Photography: Alternative Methods

Students will explore variety of techniques such as photo transfers, photo lift off, gum Bichromate Bromile, hand coloring and toning. Students will discuss/critique processes and outcomes.

PHO 305 Photography: Nature & Landscape Photography

Students will learn techniques that enable them to translate impressions of nature to film and create unique powerful prints. Students are encouraged to find their own voice within the genre and will discuss issues raised by contemporary landscape imagery.

PHO 306 Digital Photography

Built on the skills gained in previous photography classes, students learn Photo Shop as a basic tool for manipulating images and developing concepts. Art ethics will be discussed.

PHO 401, PHO 402 Advanced Photography

Students create and develop a body of work and a thesis paper with the assistance of the Departmental Head, Faculty Advisor and Mentor. The completed body of work, thesis paper and artist statement is focused on the student’s interest in relation to their major to be presented to the faculty and student body.

PHO 403 Photography: Portrait

This course will teach you the skills to produce portraits that reflect the subject’s emotion and the student’s style as an artist. Students will participate in discussion, critiques and demos.

PHO 404 Photojournalism

Learn the basic skills of journalism. This class will cover a variety of topics and the presentation of them. Students will engage in technical and moral issues.

PRT 101 & 102 Intro Printmaking I & II

This course is an introduction to selected printmaking techniques including: relief intaglio, embossing, collagraphs, chine colle, and monoprinting. Experimentation and combinations of techniques are encouraged. Preparing papers and plates, editioning and print preservation is also covered.

PRT 103 Reduction Woodcut

This is a process by which all of the color printing is done from a single block of wood rather than multiple blocks. Colors are printed from light to dark, creating an overlay effect. Participants will explore image planning, block cutting, registration, and printing techniques.

PRT 201 & 202 Etching I & II

Learn the craft and presentation of intaglio, dry point, and aquatint while exploring light, form and design. Students will work with zinc and copper plates.

PRT 203 Folio Book

A folio book is a beautiful art journal which records the artistic voyage of the student artist’s past year and becomes a treasured gift in future years. Folio Book is a course which presents students with a broad variety of skills: they make the paper for the pages, photograph their works, write copy, weave fabric for covers, and hand stitch bindings. Students may choose to reflect in writing on who they are, where they’ve been in the past year and where they’re going. They may choose to work collaboratively, to represent their impressions by collage, sketches and watercolor.

PRT 204 Papermaking

Discover methods of making paper from natural fibers and color. With your handmade paper, students create a sampler of experiments in folding, fluting, piercing, impressing, and weaving. Decoration of paper with paste, color, spattering, spraying, block printing, and monotype. Paper is used to compose sculptures, frames, folders, papier-mâché, and simple books.

PRT 205 & 206 Introductory Internship in Printmaking

Students receive a ‘hands-on’ learning experience in their field of interest. This is an opportunity for the students to focus and learn beyond the classroom/studio environment. Internships build connections and references for the student to further develop their own career. HCA encourages students to find artists within the community that challenge and inspire them. Students must submit an internship proposal that will be considered for approval by Heartwood College of Art.

PRT 301 & 302 Advanced Printmaking

Students focus in small studio departments developing, pursuing technical, visual, and personal dialogue within printmaking. Juniors and seniors create and develop a body of work and a thesis paper with the assistance of the Departmental Head, Faculty Advisor and Mentor. The completed body of work, thesis paper and artist statement is a focused on the student’s interest in relation to their major to be presented to the faculty and student body.

PRT 303 History of Printmaking

Throughout history, printmaking has been a vehicle for communication and a reflection of social change. Beginning with Durer in the fifteen hundreds, printmaking was pioneered as an independent art form, not merely as a way of printing text.

PRT 401 & 402 Printmaking

Students create and develop a body of work and a thesis paper with the assistance of the Departmental Head, Faculty Advisor and Mentor. The completed body of work, thesis paper, and artist statement is focused on the student’s interest in relation to the major. The senior project will be presented to the student body, faculty, and community residents in a gallery exhibition.

PTG 101 & PT 102 Painting

Students study visual perception through fundamental principles of painting. They examine composition, color, structure, and spatial dynamics through opaque painting media (oil). Course work includes sustained studies of figures, still life and landscape.

PTG 201, PTG 202 Landscape Painting

This course explores the landscape. It offers beauty and roughness as a stepping-stone for our own metaphors, lessons in color and composition and a path to exhilarating horizons. This course includes field trips to painting sites as well as museums and galleries.

PTG 301 & PTG 302 Painting

Advanced Painting encourages students to work toward developing a related body of work while nurturing self-analysis and critical thinking. Individuals and groups are encouraged to establish a dialogue between artist and their audience. Students will work in oils, acrylic and mixed media. Students are expected to develop a direction within medium. Projects will be both assigned and self designed.

PTG 401 & PTG 402 Advanced Painting

Seniors create and develop a body of work and a thesis paper with the assistance of the Departmental Head, Faculty Advisor and Mentor. The completed body of work, thesis paper and artist statement is focused on the student’s interest in relation to their major to be presented to the faculty and student body.

WTC 101 & 102 Watercolor

This course is a basic introduction to traditional watercolor techniques, including clean wash, wet on wet, and dry brush with an emphasis on light and color. Studies will focus on subject matter from the exquisite landscape of Maine.

WTC 201 & 202 Watercolor

Continuing with experience from watercolor I and II, we will build on an introduction of wash and paper surfaces. The student will further explore color harmony, its theory and practice.

WTC 301 & 302 Advanced Study in Water-based Media

Advanced study in water-based media, will include egg tempera, casein, and a variety of transparent and opaque techniques.

WTC 303 History of Watercolor Painting

From Durer to Magee, students will investigate styles and messages. Between these two powerful artists, lie carefully constructed works that are unique to their times.