Fine & Performing Arts

The drawing courses consist of students working collectively in the same studio, sharing thoughts and resources. Students are given individual instruction and assignments are shared and evaluated in individual and group critiques organized by the professor. Students in drawing courses investigate the media of graphite, charcoal, conte crayon and pastel. Students become familiar with line, value, texture, hatching, cross hatching, gesture, linear perspective and proportion. Drawing assignments will require the execution of a series of sketches and/or studies that will familiarize the student with the subject and composition. Students work from a variety of subjects such as landscape, still life and the human figure. Students learn that drawing is a meaningful language that creates a dialogue for personal content and imagery, and that both the concept and the technique of drawing are important to the education of an artist. The introductory drawing course develops a basic foundation, and no prior experience is necessary. The advanced drawing courses offer more focused studies, building upon the experiences of the creative process. The emphasis in the studio drawing course is on self-directed portfolio development, writing about one’s creative process and presentation strategies.

Students in the Digital Imaging courses explore emergent visual digital media both technically and in terms of its artistic, esthetic, and social significance. Introductory courses include technical development in proprietary software, image and portfolio development, file management, and printing. These courses also introduce students to the current discourse and practices in Digital Art. Advanced courses emphasize portfolio development, alternative materials, and presentation practices. All Digital Imaging courses include an examination of the historical development and current state of the practice of Digital Imaging as a fine art.

Students in painting courses explore the acrylic painting process including the use of color, value, shape, and blending. Painting students will become acquainted with brushes, mediums, washes and painting surfaces. Each painting assignment requires the execution of a series of sketches, and value and color scales that will familiarize the student with the subject and composition. Students learn that painting is an expressive language that creates a dialogue for personal content and imagery, and that both the concept and the technique of painting are important to the development of an artist. The painting courses consist of students working together in the same studio, sharing ideas and resources. Students are given individual instruction and assignments are shared and evaluated in group critiques conducted by the professor. The introductory painting course builds a basic foundation, and no previous experience is necessary. The advance painting course builds upon the experiences of the creative process, offers more specialized studies, advanced techniques, and personal style development. The studio painting class is structured on a self-directed portfolio development, writing about one's creative process and presentation strategies. This format gives students time to focus thought and energy on a series of paintings.

Students in photography courses explore, develop, and express experience and ideas through the creation of photographic images. Photography is explored as a visual language of personal self-expression. Photography courses include basic information about cameras, digital image adjustment with Adobe Photoshop, inkjet printing techniques, print presentation, and the tradition of fine art photography. Introductory students explore fundamental aspects of photography: light, composition, and expression. Advanced student assignments include social document, portrait, and still life/collage. Each assignment is introduced with a slide lecture of relevant historical and contemporary photographic work, and developed along with evolving information on technique. During the second half of the semester students pursue three self-directed evolving assignments culminating in a final portfolio, artist book, installation, or other form of presentation. Students learn to use professional wide format inkjet printers to make their photographic prints in the Regis College Digital Print Studio.

The printmaking curriculum emphasizes visual expression and formal portfolio construction. Students are introduced to the foundations, practices, history, and technique of fine art printmaking. The esthetic, social, and ethical issues regarding this long-standing democratic fine arts practice are integrated into students’ portfolio strategies, balancing both formal and content issues. The introductory course establishes a practical basis by teaching the use of the etching press in the printing techniques of relief, intaglio, lithography, and monotype. Assignments include technical exercises and small portfolios in each of the printmaking techniques. The advanced courses further refine these skills while emphasizing content-based portfolio development, the use of critical language, and writing about the fine art printmaking medium. Advanced students are encouraged to develop expressive visual portfolios, exercise visual adventurousness, and practice disciplined technical experimentation. Regular critiques help them to develop the ability to engage in the discourse of art and meaning with respect to their own work. All printmaking students examine the historical and current practices and criticism of the medium.

Students in sculpture courses explore various aspects of three-dimensional media while working with a variety of traditional and non-traditional materials, techniques, and processes. In the introductory course students produce projects that utilize basic sculptural materials, including wire, wood, paper, card, and found objects while familiarizing themselves with the safe operate of various hand and power tools. Projects are introduced with slide lectures and occasional videos to give students a historical and contemporary context for their work and to inspire creative ideas. At the end of each project students display their work and participate in a group critique, which helps them develop the ability to discuss and evaluate their own work and that of others. In the advanced and studio sculpture courses, students have the opportunity to develop their skills further with more advanced techniques, new materials, and more concept driven project themes. Students at this advanced level are encouraged to develop their own direction and interests to produce a coherent body of work.

The foundation concepts and vocabulary of all studio arts are introduced in the design curriculum. Students become acquainted with the characteristics of all visual media as well as the use of the elements of art including line, form, value, color, perspective, texture and composition. Materials and their relationship to specific media are also studied. Two strategies are applied to the study of design. In the first, by using common art materials, students apply the ideas covered in the course to develop a portfolio that explores the communicative and expressive potential of ordinary materials. In the second, students become conversant with some current mainstream visual tools such as the use of a digital camera and basic introductions to graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite. Students in the design curriculum also develop and maintain a web site that represents their portfolios and writing with regard to their creative work in various media.

The O'Sullivan Art Gallery is a 1100 square foot exhibition space that features the work of locally and nationally recognized artists. The O'Sullivan Art Gallery has a reputation among artists as a place where their work will be studied and appreciated by students and art critics, other artists, and the general public. Exhibitions at the Center all have a lecture/demonstration component, providing genuine dialog between the artist and audience. The setting for this interaction is intimate and informal, encouraging audience participation with questions and discussions. The O'Sullivan Art Gallery is a genuine forum for the celebration of art and ideas in the Jesuit tradition of discussion, learning, and putting theory into practice.

The events schedule for O'Sullivan Art Gallery includes two major art exhibitions and several other cultural events each semester. The cultural events include music performances, poetry readings, theatrical presentations, and visiting artist's lectures. All events in the O'Sullivan Art Gallery are free and open to the public.

These events are factored into the fine arts curriculum providing a real hands-on laboratory for the study of art at Regis College. Students are invited to mingle with the artists, and the artists are frequent visitors in the teaching studios. The partnership between the Regis College Arts Department and the Denver arts community is active and strong.

Regis College's major in visual arts is well supported with teaching studios in design, drawing, painting, and printmaking, and with well equipped laboratories in sculpture digital imaging, and photography. All the studio facilities are available to registered students from 7:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m., except during scheduled art courses, which are taught in the studios. In all the visual arts courses, students provide their own materials.

The design, drawing, painting, and printmaking studios consist of open work spaces furnished to accommodate the most fundamental art activities. Besides providing easels, tables, and lockers, these studios also have collections of objects for still life work, lighting equipment, posing stages, etc. The department has two printing presses, supporting substrates of up to 22" x 30"

The photography program has a well equipped facility which supports film developing, photographic printing, mounting, and matting. Students may work in digital, 35 mm., medium format, or 4x5. The developing lab has temperature regulated water supply, and drying closets. The black and white printing lab has 2 workstations with enlargers and timers. The work sink is large and comfortable. The large finishing area is well lit and has facilities for cutting mats and drymounting prints. All black and white chemistry is provided for students in photography courses. Students provide their own film and paper.

The sculpture lab is equipped for students to work in wood, clay, and metal. Work with other materials is accommodated on an individual basis. The facility includes three welding stations, power wood tools, large work tables, and materials storage. Metal casting is done off-campus in foundries in cooperation with other local universities or at a commercial foundry.

The Fine Arts Department maintains a digital imaging lab in which students can develop visual ideas. The lab includes several flatbed scanners, a digital photography workstation, slide scanner, and some high resolution color inkjet printers, including a large format Epson Pro 4800, high capacity removable media as well as CD rom burners. The software is Adobe PhotoShop.