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NIU Community School of the Arts

classes

Art Classes

Art Express - on hiatus in summer
Ages 4 - 12
6 Saturdays, 1 - 3 p.m., Art Building, 2nd Floor
Fall: TBA
Spring: TBA
Final shows: TBA

By popular request, we have added a day to Art Express! Children work with a variety of media to make original works of art in a fun and exploratory atmosphere. Every semester, students create new projects that stretch the imagination through a multicultural and multimedia approach. Classes are organized by age and are limited in size. Teachers are art education majors who are supervised by NIU School of Art faculty. Parents and children take artwork home at the end of the final show, scheduled on the last day of class. Early registration is recommended. All materials are supplied.

Teachers: Art education majors, supervised by NIU School of Art faculty.
Fee: $TBA (no discounts) The Art Express class fee is waived for children and grandchildren of NIU employees and students. All students owe the $15 registration fee.


FALL ONLY

Drawing Basics
Ages 13 – adult
12 Saturdays, 1 – 3 p.m., Room 400, Art Building 
TBA

In this basic survey class, students create visually compelling compositions. Students gain a thorough knowledge of object representation through descriptive and expressive means. Using graphite and charcoal, students learn to control line, value, and spatial illusion. Students identify and map the underlying structure of a single object or a complex still life; create a convincing illusion of space; render cubes, cylinders, spheres and composite forms; and use line, shape, texture and value as distinctive means of visual notation. Gain confidence using graphite and black and white charcoal.

Students are asked to purchase these materials and bring them to the first class:

  • Box of graphite pencils (a 9B, 6B, 4B, 2B, B, and HB will provide a good range)
  • 2 graphite sticks, preferably of a hardness between 9B and 2B
  • 2 soft black charcoal pencils
  • 1 soft white charcoal pencil or stick
  • Box of compressed charcoal sticks
  • Hand‑held pencil sharpener
  • 1 plastic and 1 kneaded eraser
  • 1 small piece of chamois
  • A few assorted paper blending stumps, including at least one large stump
  • Pad of 18 x 24” rough/toothed drawing paper, such as Strathmore
  • Drawing pad of 18 x 24” newsprint paper

Teacher: Amelia Spinney
Fee: $TBA