Art Practice

Overview

Art Practice majors at Saint Mary's College of California can select from courses at both the upper and lower divisions that suit their specific interests. The department offers courses in a variety of art practices including animation, design, digital art, digital drawing, film/video, interdisciplinary art, painting, photography, and printmaking. All of our courses allow students to further their individual exploration in media while placing high standards on the conceptualization and execution of the student’s artistic production.

The Art Practice capstone prepares students with the practical, intellectual, and experiential knowledge needed to succeed post-graduation. Through the capstone, our majors study areas of art practice that give them practical knowledge they will need in art theory, professional development, and the presentation of a final exhibition - a solo exhibition of a coherent body of work for the thesis project under the supervision of a department faculty member. Whether a graduate intends to apply to a graduate degree, work as a designer, go into film, or engage in any arts subject the Art and Art History department is ready to help Art Practice majors achieve their goal. 

Outcomes

• Mount a cohesive exhibition of their artwork and produce a comprehensive thesis document discussing the ideas, techniques, and influences in their artwork;

• Demonstrate an understanding of and facility for the use and application of several different media, especially that of their preferred medium;

• Articulate their artwork’s content and intention and visually manifest those ideas;

• Develop an ability for objective self-critique and demonstrate an understanding of their place within a larger art historical context;

• Evaluate clearly different forms of art by other artists through research and conceptualization of core art and critical sources and through class writings and discussions; and

• Demonstrate a foundational knowledge of contemporary and historic artists, particularly those working in their preferred medium.