Upper-Division

Combines an introduction to computer programming for beginners with special topics that are essential for the digital arts. Basic concepts of programming are developed in the JavaScript language and applied to digital arts media, such as algorithmically generated still images and animations in two and three dimensions, sound art, and music composition. Presentation of digital artwork in the theater and via the web are covered in detail.

An exploration of the video medium including production using the digital video format. Digital video cameras will be used to produce digital source material to be manipulated in a non-linear digital editing system. Image manipulation, effects, and editing will be explored. A variety of video structures, theories, concepts, and forms will be examined through production, discussions, and viewing students' and artists' work.

Introduces animation techniques, practices, history, and theories. Students learn techniques and process in 2D, stop-motion, and digital animation. Projects teach students the workflow of animating including script development, storyboarding, frame-by-frame animation, animatic, digital, and post-production. Students are required to research artists, both historical and contemporary, working in the field of animation and to be able to discuss the work. The course teaches theoretical and historical perspectives on animation and requires students to develop a critical analysis and vocabulary. (Formerly Introduction to 2D Animation).

Introduction to imagining, producing, and creating stop motion animations. Includes hands-on work in storyboarding, drawing and paper-based animation, pixalization, animation of everyday objects, and Claymation with basic characters and sets. Historical and contemporary animations will be viewed in class to inspire animation ideas, aesthetics, and practices. (Formerly Introduction to Stop Motion Animation.)

Independent and collaborative creative projects using advanced computer methods. May include networking projects, virtual representations, interactive multimedia, installation, performance, 3D modeling and animation, or robotics. Emphasis on advanced critical and experimental approaches to computers as a unique art medium, and contemporary research issues. Students are required to enroll in scheduled lab section.

This project-centered studio course introduces 2D animation concepts, history, techniques and contemporary practices, production strategies, processes, and tools from a practical approach rooted in a historical/theoretical context. During each project's development, students research artists working within relevant categories and/or topics of animation, presenting findings to assist in their creative process.

Studio-based course teaching strategies for social change, activism and organizing using new media and digital tools. Students gain experience of developing new media artworks to communicate their position on issues that affect their lived experiences and community struggles. Students develop artworks and content using new media practices, tools, systems, and strategies. The final artwork can utilize video, film, digital media, social networks, apps, games, and design among other new media art forms.

Work moves toward individual directions in drawing. A variety of media are explored. Each student is expected to do 150 hours of drawing over the quarter.

Focuses on drawing from the human figure and exploring the figure for the purpose of personal expression and social communication. Intended for the intermediate/advanced drawing student.

This course stresses alternative drawing processes, techniques, and materials. Intended for the intermediate or advanced student.

This drawing/painting class is taught using New Yorker magazine covers as examples of illustration at a level of excellence that is accessible and which are examined for content and formal qualities. Work is done in drawing and painting media; some digital and mixed media may be incorporated. Painting will be water-based. Wit, humor, restraint, and sophistication are discussed, as well as inclusivity, exclusivity, and explicit and implicit social issues.

Special topics in drawing as announced.

Introduces students to environmental art and design through basic concepts, techniques, and studio practice.

Continuation of the development of a basic foundation in painting with emphasis on the development of individual, experimental procedures. A foundation in drawing is recommended.

Students learn the classical practice of painting the nude figure from life using traditional oil painting techniques. Students study short poses, limited color, and graduate to long pose, full color.

Exploration of abstract painting through studio work, lectures, and critiques with emphasis on progressive abstraction, minimalism, op art, and abstract expressionism as well as other 20th-century and 21st-century forms. A foundation in drawing is recommended.

Gives students a comprehensive understanding of the digital painting, from basic techniques, to new media art and industry application, to how these programs operate. Studies and assignments develop and expand skills of digital paint application. Students build a cumulative digital portfolio of all of the studies and assignments completed throughout the course.

Explores contemporary landscape through the practice of plein air painting. Observational plein air painting will provides the foundation for the class. Instruction includes technical instruction in materials and technique as well as conceptual material. Student may work with oils, alkyds, or acrylic on panels, paper, or canvas.

Explores the materials and history of painting through lectures, demonstrations, and practice in oils, egg tempera, distemper, and Flashe paint. Students participate in group practices and also work independently on projects designed by them in consultation with the instructor. A foundation in drawing is recommended.

Special studies in painting as announced. A foundation in drawing is recommended.

Students concentrate on darkroom practices and explore visual ideas, directing their work toward individualized goals. Required work includes making photographic prints, reading historical and theoretical works, and examination of photographs.

This studio-based course engages with the traditions and practices of the photographic book to examine and explore both narrative and non-narrative strategies. Students create a coherent photographic photo-book. Course examines the contemporary status of the photobook as well as the rich history of the medium. Editing, sequencing, and the production of photobooks is the centerpiece of this class.

Explores the processes, materials, and techniques of large-format photography. Students learn the concepts and theories related to the view camera. Emphasizes advanced understanding of negative exposure, sheet-film processing, tonal-range manipulation, digital scanning, and large-format output. Contemporary issues and concepts explored.

The natural evolution from still image making to moving image making is at the heart of this course as students look at this evolution from a historical, social, conceptual, and technical perspective. Artists who have been primarily working in still photography will learn to transition to creating with moving images by addressing time, structure, sound, and installation. Advanced discussions on film and digital formats, quality of image, camera support systems, and post-production will be explored through a combination of screenings, assignments, and readings.

Explores historical and contemporary ways in which photography has been used to examine social issues and invites students to produce work that responds to issues that are important to them. Students learn about photograph's historical significance in raising social awareness, analyzing the aesthetic and methodological strategies of modern and contemporary photographers seeking to catalyze economic, political and cultural change through the production of images.

The impact of our industrialized culture on nature is one of the most crucial and urgent issues of our times. Discussions on environmental photography, place, and landscape, set out to investigate environmental change and to explore our relation to nature. Throughout the quarter students develop an environmental photography art project that follows in the photographic tradition of raising awareness and supporting policymakers, politicians, researchers, environmentalists, and activists.

The role of archives, photographers, and research in contemporary photographic practice is addressed by examining the special archives at the UCSC library and the Prelinger Library in San Francisco and by curating a group exhibition. Students make a project in multiple media, such as photography, video, text, installation, and drawing prompted by UCSC Special Collections' vast archives and collections. Through studio projects, readings, discussions, and case studies, students engage the immediate context of the university as source material for their artworks as a means to explore the effect that research and knowledge production might have on contemporary artistic practice.

Offers students the unique opportunity to live and learn and photograph outside the classroom, actively engaging locations across the state of California. Students will cover 2400 miles from Northern Mendocino County to the Salton Sea, Eastern Sierra, Death Valley, and Big Sur. Class exposes students to cultural, historical, and environmental issues facing California. Due to the rigor of the course, students must submit an application demonstrating the commitment and photo preparation necessary for successful completion of the class. Students are billed a materials fee of $550.

Concentrates on photographic project development, developing analytical skills designed to help direct students' own photographic ideas. Helps students create a conceptual theoretical framework through image-making in the field and studio, through critique and discussion, through readings, and by studying the work of artists.

Students are immersed in site specific field research over the span of a four-day in-the-field trip utilizing the public land of California, via the UC Natural Reserve System. Students are educated about research related to a specific place while exploring concepts of site-specificity and develop their own new inquiries about a place by experiencing it physically and by engaging with contemporary art concepts and art project development. Prerequisite(s): two lower-division studio art courses. Enrollment is restricted to junior and senior art majors. Enrollment is by permission of instructor. Due to the rigor of the course, students must submit an application demonstrating the commitment and photo preparation necessary for successful completion of the class.

Students produce a portfolio of photographs, read historical and theoretical works, and study photographs and other art works.

Special studies in photography, concentrating on specific subject matter or media. Topics may include documentary photography, landscape, alternative processes, or mixed media.

Explores traditional, contemporary, and experimental processes, issues, and concepts of relief and mono/mixed media printmaking. Students gain in-depth information and working knowledge to specialize individual ideas and build artistic development through varieties of class activities.

Explores the history of printing from the world's oldest printed text developed in Korea to the latest cutting-edge technology, including laser cutting. Students study many aspects of both traditional and contemporary relief (woodblock) printmaking, both materials, tools, and techniques and the issues, concepts and history of the field. Through various class activities, field trips and cultural visits (to UNESCO World Heritage Sites) in Korea, students will be exposed to diverse and multi-regional art practices that will broaden their perspectives and increase their understanding not only in the fields of print media but in the larger contemporary visual culture.

Course taught both at UCSC and at the host university in Tokyo. At UCSC, oil-based woodblock printmaking covers techniques, application of tools, materials, history, issues and concepts. In Japan, the class studies Mokuhanga, resulting in a great understanding and appreciation of this traditional process. Via class activities, field trips, excursions, and cultural visits, students encounter diverse multi-regional art practices, thus broadening perspectives and increasing understanding not only of print media but of contemporary visual culture.

Introduces students to various methods used in making intaglio prints. Encourages individual artistic growth of imagery and technique through assignments designed to explore the medium. Includes discussion and critique of work with equal emphasis on technique and concept.

Introduction to drawing, processing, and printing of lithographs from stone. Emphasis on discovery of tonal, textural, and expressive potential from the surface of the stone, while establishing individual directions in imagery. Condensed history of the medium, technical theory, and critique in lecture and demonstrations.

Examines the wonders of visual magnification of the natural world by using enlargement lenses, scanner, and microscopes to create photo-based and autographic prints that enhance strange and unperceived realities. Visits to the UCSC Norris Center for Natural History, Thimann's Roof Garden and Greenhouse will provide opportunities to explore natural world specimens for projects.

Introduces water-based screen printing. Students are introduced to processes including basic equipment, printing techniques, printing papers, stenciling processes, and photographic and digital techniques. Emphasis is on continued development of content and aesthetic awareness through the possibilities of screen printing.

Introduces water-based screen printing processes including basic equipment, printing techniques, printing papers, stenciling processes, and photographic and digital techniques. Emphasis is on continued development of content and aesthetic awareness through the possibilities of screen printing.

Explores a unique approach reviewing the printed images in visual communications. A wide blend of traditional and cutting-edge print media processes with an interdisciplinary focus will be taught for conceptualizing, producing, and presenting the printed image.

Introduction to production of small edition books and multiples utilizing sequential visual imaging, narrative content, and mixed media in bookmaking. Provides instruction in conceptualizing, producing, and distributing printed artists' multiples. Ideas encouraged within a broad range of possibilities via the format of artists' books.

Intermediate/advanced studio course exploring the processes, history, and the recent developments in contemporary photomechanical printmaking. Through experimentation and research students learn how to utilize photographic imagery, blending them in multiple layers and colors, thereby facilitating articulation of their conceptual foundations.

Special studies in printmaking, as announced.

In-depth exploration of art in the public sphere. Students build an understanding of public art sparked by practical experience designing and developing projects. Theoretical aspects of contemporary public art, and an introduction to the range of current public art practices will be introduced through readings, lectures, and artist's talks. The combination of practical hands-on technique and theoretical ideology will enable students to fully develop their own project within the class.

Expands traditional definitions of art making taking art beyond the museum. Students take art making to the streets. We explore art making in the public sphere from murals to graffiti, street art to shop dropping, protests to public commissioned projects and community engaged interventions.

Provides students with information, tools, and strategies to embark on arts career exploration and preparation, including strategies for addressing challenges and opportunities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students explore their career values; network with guest speakers in creative fields (alumni, faculty, graduate students, professional artists); and prepare and create career-related documents (update resumes, cover letters, project proposals) as well as learn about a variety of arts careers through guest speakers, readings, and podcasts. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor and is restricted to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Please contact the art advisor at artadvisor@ucsc.edu for the application.

More advanced fabrication techniques in sculpture using wood, metal, industrial, and other materials. Techniques include carpentry and woodshop skills, and an introduction to sculptural forms, processes, and ideas. Demonstrations, slide lectures, and critical discussion of work help develop technical and conceptual skills.

Explores strategies artists use to engage political subject matter in the 21st century. Students create their own projects, research and test approaches, techniques and strategies learning from the ways national and international artists encode and convey information in creating political work. Methods range from community collaboration; to tactical culture jamming, participatory collaborative projects, activism and intervention, symbolic and gestural work, artist-led projects, performances and community projects.

A research-based, studio art class in which students experiment with ideas and processes, and pursue projects exploring the materiality of color, including social and cultural effects and environmental implications. Following a sequence of short assignments paired with class critiques, students design and complete their own research-based art projects (in any media) that investigate color as a material phenomenon. Class discussions address physical, perceptual, psychological, geological, biological, cultural, social, political, philosophical and aesthetic aspects of color in concert with readings, guest lectures, field trips, technical demonstrations and visual presentations. Students harvest, make, and use dyes from plant materials grown at the UCSC Farm, and contribute to the ongoing development of a dye garden on campus.

Focus on teaching intermediate to advanced students the processes and techniques of direct metal fabrication for contemporary sculpture and design. Explores a range of welding, cutting, and forming techniques and processes through demonstrations, slide lectures, field trips, and studio time. Demonstrations, slide lectures, and critical discussion of work help develop technical and conceptual skills.

Emphasizes the conceptual aspects of 3D art and design using the laser cutter to prototype and experiment with construction methods and materials to create, represent, respond to, and reflect on 3D forms in space. Students learn about mixed-media fabrication techniques, materials, and processes that include using a woodshop and metal-fabrication shop. The course is structured around assignments that develop individual expressiveness, research skills, creative industry, and class participation. Students are billed a materials fee of $120. (Formerly 3D Art and Design: Laser Cutting and CNC Routing.)

Expands 3D art and design principles, methodologies, process, and skills via structured projects using 3D printers and modeling. The metal-fabrication shop and the woodshop allow students to prototype and experiment with construction methods and materials used to develop assignments. The course is structured around assignments that develop critical thinking, individual industry, research skills, creative expressiveness, and class participation. Students are billed a materials fee of $120. (Formerly 3D Art and Design: Printing and Prototyping.)

This immersive studio class explores art making in a globalized world. Studies the complex relationship between object-making, place-making, aesthetics, and cultural identity in a global context. Examines the impacts and creative responses to a global economy, networked culture and globalized art markets (art fairs and biennales) and explores artists resisting globalization, commodification and the art market, moving beyond traditional sculptural form to transcend traditional conceptions of art and art making. Students are billed a materials fee.

This intermediate/advanced course provides the information and facilities necessary to express ideas through the indirect process of metal casting. The lost wax method is used to manifest ideas in sculpture. Lectures and demonstrations are combined with work time in class. Students generate sculpture forms in wax then gate, invest, weld, chase, patina, and present at least one finished piece. Students are billed a materials fee of $175. May be repeated for credit.

Special topics in sculpture as announced, concentrating on specific aspects of subject matter and media.

Provides practice in using writing as a tool to support creative work--to generate ideas, to critically analyze and interpret artworks, and to communicate clearly with others about one's own work. Lectures, discussions, and visiting artist talks introduce and explore contemporary art contexts, ideas, discourses, artworks, artists, and practices to build students' capacities to place their work in the world. Readings introduce and unfold ideas for discussion, and provide examples of writing formats and purposes as they relate to art practice.

Advanced senior art majors create and complete a senior project to fulfill their comprehensive graduation requirement. Focuses on a weekly lecture, studio work, peer critique, and professional practices such as the documentation and exhibition of work.

Designed for art majors at the upper-division level. Each student assists in a lower-division art course under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Students assist in technical instruction, critiques, and class discussions. May not be repeated for credit. Does not count toward upper-division major requirements. Enrollment restricted to art majors.

Teaching of a lower-division seminar under faculty supervision. (See course 42.) Students should have upper-division standing with a proposal supported by a faculty member willing to supervise. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Supervised off-campus study conducted under the immediate and direct guidance of a faculty supervisor. To be used primarily by upper-division students doing part-time off-campus study. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency. Petitions may be obtained in the Art Department Office.

A non-media specific class introducing a range of contemporary visual practices, contexts, issues, forms, and UCSC resources of use to artists, emphasizing relationships between material, form, meaning and between private expression, public communication, and systems of exchange.

Student will concentrate on completing work for comprehensive exhibition under the direction of his or her art adviser, with help from other faculty as needed. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Individual study in areas approved by sponsoring instructors. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Provides for department-sponsored independent study programs off campus for which faculty supervision is not in person (e.g., supervision is by correspondence). Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

Individual study in areas approved by sponsoring instructors. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

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