Saturday School : Class Information + Registration
Course information below is for the 2012-13 program. Information for the 2013 -14 program coming soon.
Animation
SS 112 01
Beginning with the basic fundamentals of hand-drawn animation, timing and motion studies, work with a professional animator while seeking to master a variety of techniques, including stop-motion animation. Near the end of the workshop you will create a short animated movie recorded on DVD.
Audition Preparation for College Admission
Fall semester only
SS 144
This course guides you through the audition process for both college and professional roles. Topics include individual monologue coaching and cold reading, how to land an audition and tips and tools for the cultivation of the actor on the artistic journey. You will workshop a monologue you can continue to develop and take with you to auditions.
Black + White Photography I
SS 109
Designed for first-time photographers, this class helps you develop technical skills in shooting, printing and developing black and white photos. Basic aesthetic issues including composition and image size are addressed, and you learn to create images that communicate universally. You must come prepared for the first day of class with your own 35mm SLR camera with light meter and manual capabilities. No prior darkroom experience is required.
Black + White Photography II
Spring semester only
SS 111
Geared toward the more experienced student photographer, this course emphasizes further development in photographic skills to create work that is cohesive and professional in presentation. You will fine-tune your black and white printing skills while you experiment with tone and other advanced techniques. Assignments are self-driven and focus on your individual vision. You must come prepared for the first day of class with your own 35mm SLR camera with light meter and manual capabilities. Prior darkroom experience is required.
Ceramics
Fall semester only
SS 106
Explore different types of clay and building techniques by making functional and/or sculptural ceramic works. Tile making, coil building, clay slab construction and throwing are covered. You will have the opportunity to work with a variety of materials including porcelain, dark stoneware, slips, under glazes and glazes.
Comic Book Illustration
Fall semester only
SS 205
Working in a variety of media, you will complete a series of projects toward the development of an original comic book spread. The course emphasizes the stages of developing the comic book from dummy design to finished art, including developing original characters within the context of a story line.
Comic Character Design
SS 137 01
This course allows you to create and design your own comic book character in terms of image as well as concept and personality. Working from the imagination and using a variety of media, you will develop characters through a series of thumbnail sketches that evolve into a finished and highly rendered image. The characters developed for this class can be used in children’s books, animation, computer animation, comic books, cartoons or graphic novels.
Creative Writing
SS 123 01
In this course express yourself through the art of the written word and work towards developing your own writing style. Study basic strategies of writing dialogue, creating settings, developing scenes and characters and more. Emphasis is on generating new material, in-class discussions and revision.
Digital Cinematography + Filmmaking
SS 131
Enhance the quality and look of your video images in this course devoted to the development of digital video camera skills. Techniques in shot composition, lighting and exposure are covered in detail for both beginning students as well as those with prior experience. Learn to position the camera and study the cinematography secrets of independent films and Hollywood classics. You will complete hands-on production exercises each week and leave with a team-developed, portfolio-quality final project.
Digital Design Studio - Adobe Creative Suite — NEW!
Fall semester only
SS 193
This course will teach you the fundamentals of Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Topics include image resolution, scanning, photo adjustments and vector usage. You can expect to gain a better understanding of how these three programs work together to create images, typography and design for print and the web.
Digital Photography I
SS 132 01
Learn about composition, exposure and lighting to create inventive, high-quality photographs. In addition to critiques with your peers, topics include camera functions, image storage, batch processing and various means of output. Using digital cameras, you will work both in the computer lab and throughout Philadelphia on shooting assignments. You must own a digital camera to participate in this class.
Digital Photography II
Spring semester only
SS 189 01
Geared towards a more advanced digital photography student, this class is a great follow-up to the Digital Photography I course. Fine tune your shooting skills, develop an efficient workflow and learn various means of image adjustment. Assignments present both technical and creative challenges as you work towards cultivating your individual vision. You must come prepared for the first day of class with your own DSLR camera. Prior experience using the manual functions of a DSLR camera is required.
Drawing I
SS 101 01
Explore the fundamentals of basic drawing by honing your observation skills while working from still life, models and landscapes. Work with media such as charcoal, pencil and ink to develop basic skills such as perspective, composition, light and shadow and tonal variations. A historical understanding of drawing is also part of the coursework.
Drawing II
SS 125 01
Working with line and tone in black and white and possibly color, explore issues of structure, space and light. This course emphasizes design and composition as you work toward more sustained studies and finished drawings. Work from still lifes, the urban landscape and nude models while experimenting with a variety of media including pencil, charcoal, conté crayon, pastels and toned and colored papers. Prior drawing experience required.
Experimental Media + Abstraction
Spring semester only
SS 211 01
This course facilitates experimentation as students discover new ways of making art. Using a variety of wet and dry media, students explore abstraction to create bold and exciting images. Classes start with representational drawing or painting exercises that serve as a foundation for more experimental artwork.
Experimental Photo - Alternative Processes
SS 188
Open to both experienced photographers and beginners, this course introduces you to experimental photo processes and nontraditional ways to consider the photographic image. Using a variety of films and cameras while pushing the boundaries of how one views the world, you will explore processes such as pinhole cameras and cyanotypes. You must have a 35mm automatic and/or manual camera.
Figure Drawing
SS 103 01
This course introduces you to the fundamentals of anatomy and drawing from the nude. Develop drawing and visual skills while working primarily from the skeleton and nude models. You will learn basic anatomy, gesture, structure, proportion, line and tone. Prior drawing experience is required.
Glass — NEW!
Fall semester only
SS 194
In this class, learn basic glass techniques to make small sculptural and functional glass objects. You will use methods to form glass with fusing and slumping (bending) techniques and explore this unique medium through demonstrations and hands-on projects.
Graphic Design I
SS 104 01
Learn the fundamental design processes and master visual knowledge by experimenting with form, space and composition. In this course, focus on key elements for visual communication such as type design, layout and image treatment. You will work in various media and ultimately produce work digitally. Projects may include a poster or a cover for a CD or book.
Graphic Design II
Spring semester only
SS 204 01
In this class, students explore some of the infinite methods available to those in graphic design and advertising as well as other commercial arts. The class develops projects in various computer software programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop and others. Once familiar with the tools, students begin to make their ideas speak visually. This can be an excellent follow up to the fall Graphic Design I course or it can be taken independently. Previous drawing and design/ computer experience is required.
Graphic Novel
Spring semester only
SS 210 01
In this course students investigate narrative development as they explore the elements involved in making a graphic novel. Learn and execute the processes involved in making a graphic novel from the conceptual stages to illustration and beyond. Develop writing skills as well as drawing and character development in this stimulating course. Strong writing and drawing skills are required.
Improvisation
Spring semester only
SS 150 01
This course is geared towards the performing arts student. Using the basic tenets of mprove, the class focuses on long form mprove and scene development. Learn to listen actively, be present in the moment, and work from a place of creativity and personal truth. Through games, team building exercises, and basic scene work, explore various methods for finding and making creative choices in mprove. Some topics include creating memorable characters through physical exploration, building the platform, improvised monologues, group scenes, and crafting an ensemble.
Industrial Design - Inventing Products of the Future
Fall semester only
SS 133
If you are interested in creating innovative approaches to design solutions that impact the products we use every day, this is the class for you! Through field trips, hands-on projects and design presentations, you will be introduced to the basic design process and skills needed to bring a design from idea to prototype and beyond.
Jewelry + Small Metals
SS 107 01
Learn the basics of jewelry design and metalsmithing by using various metals techniques such as sawing, piercing, soldering, riveting and finishing. In this course you will create unique jewelry or small sculptural compositions in silver, bronze, brass and/or copper.
Modern Dance —NEW!
Spring semester only
SS 195
In this course you will study modern dance techniques, improvisation and composition while focusing on broadening your artistic horizons. Work on musicality, special awareness, placement, sequencing, creative choices and performance presence.
Painting I
SS 108 01
Heightened perception is developed as you explore the study of color, surface and composition using acrylic paints and working with still lifes and nude models. Color theory and paint mixing techniques are addressed as you learn the fundamentals of painting. Prior drawing experience is helpful but not required. This class is a great introduction to Painting II.
Painting II
Spring semester only
SS 208 01
In this class students have the opportunity to work on paintings of the nude figure over multiple sessions. Explore composition, balance, proportion, scale and shape. Technical aspects of painting such as value, color, form and style are also addressed. Students may work in their preference of oil or acrylic. Prior drawing and painting experience are required.
Portfolio Preparation
SS 102 01
What are colleges looking for in a portfolio? Work with a variety of 2-D media to create between four and six pieces suitable for a college application portfolio. Subjects of study include the human figure (nude models), portraiture, design and still life. You will have an opportunity to review work you created in and outside of class with a UArts admissions counselor. This course is limited to high school juniors and seniors and is divided into two sections after a proficiency exercise is conducted on the first day.
Screen Directing
Spring semester only
SS 117 01
Designed for students who are considering applying to film school, those who enjoy making videos with friends, diehard film buffs, or those who are simply curious about the art, Screen Directing helps students better understand what is involved in making a film. The course focuses on the complex role of the director and his/her job of taking an idea from paper to the screen. Classroom activities include film screenings and hands-on production projects using the Sony VX 2000 Mini DV camera and Apple’s Final Cut Pro editing program. Students in this class work collaboratively to create an original short group-project.
Screen Printing
Spring semester only
SS 115 01
Students learn the basics of screen printing by utilizing photo-emulsion as stencil material for layering colors and images onto a variety of papers or fabrics. Students can print their own hand-drawn images or use photographic or digital images to create their compositions. Students print an edition to be shared with the class and possibly a one-of-a-kind experimental print or T-shirt.
Sculpture - Contemporary Media + Installation
Spring semester only
SS 124 01
This class focuses on the use of found objects as well as traditional and non-traditional materials to realize a three dimensional form or installation. The emphasis is on generating ideas and using these ideas to create large-scale objects and environments. To challenge your notions of what art is and what it can be, experimenting with different media and manipulating materials to best express ideas is encouraged.
Sculpture - Three-Dimensional Thinking — NEW!
Fall semester only
SS 191
In this course, you will explore a variety of traditional media and methods to create your own unique, three-dimensional artwork. You will learn to use a number of tools and materials such as plaster, clay, armature wire and more. Class activities include guided demonstrations, hands-on studio work and group critiques.
Course no longer available.
Sketchbooks + Artist Journals — NEW!
Fall semester only
SS 192
More than ever, artists today are keeping and creating personal journals and sketchbooks that record ideas and inspirations as well as creative and dynamic compositions. This course is designed to guide you through a series of new projects and activities each week that explore a variety of media such as drawing, mixed media, collage, printmaking and more. You will participate in multiple field trips to draw inspiration for your own artist journal. The final book will serve as a personal resource for future work, a supplemental piece for college admissions portfolio, and/or an irreplaceable and distinctive piece in itself.
Wearable Art
SS 141
Learn how to make art and wear it too. This introductory fibers mixed-media course introduces you to basic sewing, pattern making and sculptural techniques, as well as experimental and untraditional methods of garment construction. Explore the extensive possibilities of costume, fashion and performance. In addition to your studio practice, be exposed to various cultural, political, historical and contemporary aspects of costume.
