Do you have some painting experience and are looking to reconnect with paint, color and brush? This seven-week workshop will provide you with the opportunity to work quickly from live models and complete one or more paintings per session. Short presentations will suggest a direction for the day and cover some of the following artists: Lucian Freud, Édouard Manet, Alice Neel, Richard Diebenkorn, David Park, Elmer Bischoff and Henri Matisse. Prerequisite: Intermediate Painting or by permission of an ArtCenter advisor.

A branded environment is one of the most powerful ways to engage people in a true brand experience. By understanding the brand and its message, it’s possible to create a space that combines powerful methods of interaction with an emotional impact. Learn how to turn your brand story into a 3D experience using space planning, interior architecture, materials, furniture details, lighting, graphics and media. Explore a broad spectrum of projects including retail sites, restaurants, offices and exhibition spaces. By the end of the course, you will leave with a well-conceived branded space. This is a great follow-up class to Intro to Environmental Design! Prerequisite: Introduction to Environmental Design 1 or by permission of an ArtCenter advisor.

Discover the joy of digital painting through exercises covering still life and figure painting, character design, landscapes and environmental concept painting. Learn how to navigate Photoshop, explore basic rendering techniques, and experiment with advanced techniques like character/environment concept design and photobashing. This overview of the medium is designed to build a strong foundation in digital painting and is ideal for aspiring entertainment design, entertainment arts and illustration students. Required: access to a computer with the latest version of Adobe Photoshop, a Wacom tablet, and a digital camera to take reference photos. Prerequisite: Introduction to Entertainment Design or by permission of an ArtCenter advisor.

This course introduces new and intermediate students to the skill sets needed in the design and illustrative fields. Each week you will be introduced to a variety of core fundamentals necessary to succeed in the applied arts. Topics covered include an overview of comp sketching (people, places and objects), perspective (to create accurate space and dimension in indoor and outdoor environments), composition, color theory and visual communication. Ideal for those interested in the fields of advertising, graphic design and illustration, this course is designed to support and reinforce the skills necessary in the creation of successful content. For more information, visit artcenter.robertpastrana.com.

As photographers in the digital age, we produce tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of images, which makes creating a sensible workflow that protects and optimizes our images crucial. Learn best practices for managing your image library, using Adobe Lightroom as your photographic workflow hub. Concepts covered in this one-day intensive workshop include proper file naming, organizational structure, archiving and proper backup, metadata, export and delivery, file formats, rating and tagging, round-tripping to Photoshop, and building a repeatable workflow structure. Basic knowledge of Adobe Lightroom is beneficial. Bring a USB hard drive (and cable) containing images

Working from live fashion and costumed models, in this course you will explore transitioning from life drawing to fashion and costume drawing; rendering draped fabric on the figure; drawing garment details and historic costumes; figure proportion; and experimentation with an assortment of media techniques. This beginning- to intermediate-level course is ideal for students working on college entrance portfolios; fashion and costume teachers; illustrators; fashion and costume designers; and entertainment artists and designers. A supply list will be emailed to enrolled students prior to the first class. Digital illustrators welcome but must bring their own laptops. Prerequisite: Introduction to Figure Drawing or by permission of an ArtCenter advisor.

Discover an array of possibilities within your own work! As an artist in a competitive global marketplace, honing your unique point of view is essential to a successful and rewarding career. In this course— ideal for portfolio refinement—you will be challenged to explore new potentials and techniques; learn about prolific working artists and their individual processes; and create dynamic work for fine art exhibitions, graphic design, illustration or mixed media projects. Projects can be tailored to meet individual needs and instructors are open to working with you on your desired media goal. Bring samples of recent art projects to the first class meeting.

Discover the main elements and processes that make up a product design experience from start to finish—basic sketching, composition, personal branding and presentation. In this jam-packed course, we will focus on brainstorming techniques (opening our minds in attitude and exploration), iconography, infographics, storyboards, protecting your IP, research, and integrating study models into your final project. You will present all your work in a process book at the end of the course. Prerequisite: Product Design: Basics and Product Design: Process. Concurrent enrollment in Introduction to Industrial Design Modeling is recommended but not required. Transferable for prospective Product Design majors.*

Delve into a world of color! Explore color theories, how color is created, color as a cultural tool and the history of color photography. Examine technical and practical issues such as color balance, additive and subtractive systems, proper color correction, color management and lighting. Classroom discussions will cover a diverse group of artists, including
Alfred Stieglitz, William Eggleston, James Welling, James Turrell, Lita Albuquerque, Anish Kapoor, Mark Rothko and Yves Klein. Prerequisite: Basics of Digital Photography or by permission of an ArtCenter advisor. Access to a camera (digital preferred) with manual exposure and color balance controls is required.

Want the inside scoop on what it takes to run your own photo business? This freeform one-day workshop allows you the opportunity to ask questions and get the answers you need from commercial advertising photographer Dana Hursey. Get his unique perspective, insights, and know-how on the day-to-day realities of being a commercial photographer and pick up some creative and technical tips to boot! Bring your questions about equipment, lighting, production, retouching, marketing, resources, as well as technical and creative questions.

Move past your fears and begin your first screenplay! Too many screenwriters forget that a blank page can be liberating. It’s actually the best time to experiment and develop writerly instincts. In this introduction to the world of screenwriting, we’ll unpack what’s on the page, such as dialogue, tone and character motivation. We will also explore what’s not on the page, such as concept, genre, theme, and writing habits. Basic knowledge of filmmaking for movies and TV is beneficial but not required.

This course focuses on specific Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop techniques that will help you develop and refine presentations and deliverables. Although primarily geared towards environmental design and architectural presentations, skills acquired are applicable to a variety of fields. Prerequisites: Must have a computer or digital device with the latest Adobe software, plus basic working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

In gelatin printmaking, a form of monoprinting, each print you pull is unique. In this two-day workshop, you will make your own gelatin plate and use water-soluble printing inks and acrylics to create unique textures, forms and shapes. Learn how to
incorporate various mediums—including crayons, gouache, watercolor and pencil—and give your work added depth by exploring color, pattern, opacity levels, ink layering and multiple impressions. Open to students of all levels.

While drawing by hand is still a must, today’s fashion industry demands more productivity and versatility. In this course for individuals pursuing a career in fashion, you will learn how to use Adobe Illustrator, the industry standard vector-based design application. Starting with the basics, you'll learn how to create flats of simple items such as tops, skirts and shirts, then gradually learn more advanced vector-based illustration skills. You will also hone your presentation techniques and develop skills in drawing fashion croquis, fashion apparel, fashion flats and textile design. Prerequisites: Intro to Figure Drawing or Fashion and Costume Drawing or basic sketching and drawing skills. Students must have access to a device with a current version of Adobe Illustrator.

Unpack the ever-expanding role of an advertising art director and get into the mind of your future copywriting counterparts. Learn the basic tools necessary to express ideas in written form while discovering what it takes to maintain a successful copywriter/art director relationship within an agency. Weekly writing projects will cover the creation of out-of-home, print, radio, social and television ads and include an assignment for a real product or service. Visits from advertising professionals will round out the experience. Prerequisite: Introduction to Advertising, or by permission of an ArtCenter advisor.

During this jam-packed one-day seminar, instructor Dana Hursey will discuss "The Business"- how to launch your photography business and keep it growing. Hursey will share his insider's knowledge and business practices on the
day-to-day operations of running his company. He will discuss business considerations, needs and professional practices. Topics will also include: equipment, estimating, production, pre- and post-production, invoicing and getting paid.
Please bring your portfolio to class.

In the ever-changing fashion landscape, originality is paramount. Your ideas need to stand out and break trends. In this 12–week course, you’ll conduct a rigorous experimentation with ideas and approaches that address challenges facing the industry. You’ll learn to think like a designer and sketch out your ideas using traditional markers and other analog tools. You’ll also be introduced to a variety of software programs that can help you experiment with your 2D and 3D designs. More conceptual than physical, this course will challenge you to produce at least one prototype by the end of the term. Access to a sewing machine is recommended but not required.

Companies all over the world are becoming increasingly aware of the power of creativity to define, build and grow their brands. Hence, the role of the creative director has become an essential and highly valued one that influences every aspect of the way a company looks, sounds, feels and presents itself to the world. But what does it take to be a creative director? And what skill sets are needed to succeed in that field? In this course, you will find yourself in an unconventional class setting where you will do what creative directors do–everything from solving briefs and collaborating with a team to presenting and landing creative work. This immersive experience will introduce you to the world of creative direction and will prepare you to create and creative direct content in all of the most relevant and contemporary forms of media, as well as to master new technologies and emerging platforms. (Formerly ACX-040 Intro to Advertising.)

Are you a painter looking to break new ground in your work? Still Life: Fast and Slow will have you painting at two speeds. In this course, fast exercises will lead to new discoveries as you learn how to work intuitively and playfully. Slow exercises will build upon those discoveries and lead to the creation of larger compositions. To paint from life, we’ll provide you with photo references or you can create your own still life setups. Presentations, demonstrations, and discussions will round out your experience. Oil is recommended, but other mediums are welcome. Instructor will email a supply list before the first session. Prerequisite: Introduction to Painting or by permission of an ArtCenter counselor.

The future isn't something that simply happens but something that can and should be shaped by people with vision. Choosing its correct path cannot be left entirely to scientists and technologists, nor to politicians and entrepreneurs. In this course, we will focus on understanding the basic science behind the upcoming revolutions in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and quantum science; and develop a shared vision of a desirable future. Topics will include robotics and artificial intelligence; quantum, nano, and biotechnology; future energy sources; and mankind's possible future in space. The range of problems our society will face in coming years will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the science behind issues such as global warming. Ethical dilemmas posed by technology will also be explored. Prerequisite: Writing Studio or completion of a college-level English composition course with a grade of B or better.