Art Studio

In this studio course students will be introduced to a range of art practices. Making artworks in relation to a prescribed project, they will explore art strategies and processes, idea generation and creative and analytical thinking. 

This elective foundation level course introduces the principles of photography. Students learn all aspects of the black and white photographic process in the traditional wet darkroom such as film development, contact printing, enlarging and proper use of chemicals. Lectures, demonstrations, critiques and hands-on practice will clarify techniques. Through assignments and projects, students explore content, make aesthetic choices and learn how to better articulate ideas through the medium of photography.

This course is about designing and making textiles through the investigation of material, form, surface, color and mark.

The course focuses on analogue drawing of real urban and natural motifs (urban/nature sketching). We focus on drawing techniques, knowledge of materials and examples from the rich world of illustration. With the help of exercises, different techniques and graphic languages are tried out, and your own style can gradually be discovered and developed. We will work outdoors directly on the motif as much as possible.

This course introduces students to the clothing design process, exploring various technical and conceptual skills to inform and support the creative process. Students will explore the relationship between the body and cloth, and the role that clothing plays in constructing identity.

This course introduces the history of design in Italy from the post-war period to the present day and explores the connection between design and the rebuilding of Italy and the Italian economy, following the devastations of World War II. The link between Italian design and Italian identity, and the concept of ‘Made in Italy’, is explored through the study of design in different areas, including fashion, objects, transport, and furniture. By looking at the impact of Italian design outside of Italy and the emergence of global companies, including the main fashion houses, the course leads students to understand the importance of design both as part of the Italian economy and as a lens through which the world views Italy. Finally, through visits, lectures, case studies analyzed through a cross-cultural lens, and in-class discussions, the course builds awareness and inspires creativity for new projects in an ever-changing world and society, with an eye on sustainability, ethics, design justice, and life cycle assessment in today’s market. 

In this studio course students will be introduced to fundamental pattern making methods through an applied 3D- 2D developmental process. 

The course offers a variety of approaches to the practice of drawing the figure through the study of both technical and expressive skills. Students make studies from the nude figure (male and female) promoting a basic understanding of human anatomy and look at different aspects of drawing such as line, tone, and structure. Learning about methods of measurement and analysis, materials and techniques, providing a solid foundation of knowledge, skill and confidence on which you can build in your chosen way. Suitable for beginners and those with limited experience.

This studio course introduces the principles of painting and develops skills in composition, observation, and the use of color. The course includes sessions on technique, brushwork, color theory, and the use of different media.  During the first half of the course assignments concentrate on developing different skills and building techniques, using traditional and experimental approaches to painting. During the second half of the course, students use these skills to develop their own work. Students explore the history of art in Florence in the many galleries and museums and use this knowledge to inform their own work. The course covers the technical developments of the Renaissance, including the study of perspective, line, and form. Through guided instructional sessions, students cultivate their unique artistic styles and engage in individual research, which may involve integrating themes and techniques from both modern and contemporary art. This study is the basis for developing painting skills through engaging with, and responding to, the works and artists they study. The course also has a focus on developing skills for self and peer criticism to discuss the development of the work. Students create a final piece supported by an Artist's Statement, a research breakdown outlining the evolution of the project's concept, and technical development. 

This course supports progression towards an independent studio practice. Students are asked to develop studio-based projects in response to technology as a ‘non human Other.’ In this context, non-human Other refers to human engagement with technologies, practices, machines, tools, in ways that yield ideas, critical thinking, and a systems-based way of thinking and making. Getting to know this non-human Other as a collaborator, deepening an understanding and/or relationship with it, working with it in a transformative and artistic way to produce a body of work engaging with contemporary art ideas and practices, is the purpose of the course. Students are encouraged to pursue exploration with their chosen practice(s), including painting, print, photography, and time-based or sculptural approaches. The course encourages increased artistic independence supported by seminars, readings, small group student-led and lecturer supported dialogue. Underpinning all teaching and learning in this course are the principles of partnership, participation, protection, and whanaungatanga, explored through exchange, collaboration, and shared responsibility for learning within a community of contemporary art practice.