Courses
Semester 1
- Marketing/Portfolio Development MKTG0053
Units/ Hours: 47.5
Practicing artists can choose from many different paths to advance their personal and artistic goals in artistic practice, education, presentation skills, and romotion and marketing as entrepreneurs. Each student will establish their own specific focus for continuing their artist's practice. In class sessions will involve online research, writing, digital photography, presentation, and critical discussion. Precourse assignment work will provide the data for artist documents and digital images of their work for the development of a portfolio. Students will show their work in an established campus venue as a culmination to their certificate program experience. Certificate students who have already completed the first two semesters of the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma Program will complete this course mainly as independent review and revision of their portfolio and artists documents in collaboration with faculty.
- Cold Working Techniques ARTS0539
Units/ Hours: 47.5
This course will cover both the technical and expressive natures of the tools, processes and machinery used in the cold working studio. An introduction to the reductive sculpting and surface design of glass, students will further process the objects they make in the hot studio using both hand-grinding tools and power tools. Cold working processes used will include professional level grinding and polishing; attaching pieces of glass-to-glass and other materials; altering the shape and texture of glass; and creating surface design, texture and patterning. Drawing and design will be integrated into the studio work assignments. The development of technique, personal style, and expression will be facilitated by individual and group critiques
- Colour Applications for Glass ARTS0540
Units/ Hours: 47.5
Colour Applications builds on the skills and techniques explored in Introductory and Intermediate Glassblowing. In this course, students will learn to manipulate colour and decoration on the interior and exterior surfaces of blown objects, along with blending and mixing within layers of solid glass. The techniques explored will promote understanding of the physical, optical, and chemical properties of coloured glass as well as facilitate the development of personal style and expression. Fundamental principles of colour theory and design will be integrated through projects including use of drawing books, journals, critique, and studio work.
- Designing for Production Glass ARTS0541
Units/ Hours: 95
This course will combine hot glassblowing techniques with designing for purpose and personal expression. Through a series of technical exercises, students will develop the skills to make consistently, the three basic shapes that are the building blocks for all glass forms. Based on student proficiency, each will design and execute a production item, (e.g. drinking glass, plate, flower vase, paperweight), that incorporates both function and aesthetic principles. Colour and surface decoration will be further explored in the development of personal style. Group and individual critiques will be used to facilitate development of technique, personal style and expression. Students will work individually as well as in teams, as this is an important element in making a production item quickly and efficiently.
- Introduction to Glassblowing ARTS0543
Units/ Hours: 47.5
This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of glassblowing. Students will learn to gather, shape and blow hot glass. Through technical exercises, assignments, practice and exploration students will learn to form glass using heat, gravity, centrifugal force and tools to consistently repeat a series of specific forms. Selected forms will range from functional to non-functional vessels as blown or solid worked objects. Students will also be introduced to the proper use of the equipment and safety procedures in the hot glass studio.
- Mould Making for the Glassblowing ARTS0544
Units/ Hours: 47.5
This course explores the wide range of possibilities that blowing and forming with moulds can contribute to the repertoires of both the beginner and advanced glass blower. Mould blowing, using moulds made from plaster, sand, wood, metal or graphite, enables the student to repeatedly execute complex and asymmetrical forms. Students will explore the different results that can be achieved with these five mould making materials. Work with optic moulds as well as moulds made by the students themselves will inform them about the potential of this technique for both production and personal expression. This course is primarily experimental and exploratory and assignments will emphasise concept development. Development of technique, personal style and expression will be facilitated by individual and group critiques. Drawing and design will be integrated into the studio work.
- Design - Glassblowing ARTS0992
Units/ Hours: 47.5
This focused course will provide the glassblowing student with effective design skills at a basic level. They will explore the specific elements of form, line, texture, symmetry, balance, and proportion and their relation to the size, location and/or function of glass pieces. Through research and presentation, students will expand their awareness of the use of design theory in the work of various glass artists from specific eras and movements. These artists will be discussed in the context of styles and available technology, and in relation to the students' personal interests.
- Drawing - Glassblowing ARTS0993
Units/ Hours: 47.5
This course will engage the student in basic drawing processes as they relate to the art of glass design and description. Focusing on line, proportion, light, texture, colour and surface, students will produce sketches, working drawings and presentation renderings. Simple yet powerful processes for both representational drawing skills and concept drawings will be explored. Observational drawings from a variety of natural and man made objects and patterns can be a rich source for style and form in glass design and embellishment. Basic colouring techniques using various materials will be examined. The use of drawing in creative design processes, as well as the exploration of style in a series of glass works, are important elements of the course. Students will use journals to gather research material and concepts.
- Art History XIV: Glass ARTS1091
Units/ Hours: 47.5
This course explores technical advancement and aesthetic explorations, in glass making, within an historical perspective. Emphasis will be placed on the most significant eras in glass making, including Egyptian, Roman, Middle Eastern, Venetian, Europe, New World, Modern, and Contemporary. Lectures and presentations will present an overview of glass making history, beginning with its origins 3000 years ago in the middle east, and culminating in the Contemporary Studio glass art movement. Students will research and investigate various historically based techniques in glass making, and adapt them to the design and making of studio projects.
- Intermediate Glassblowing ARTS1092
Units/ Hours: 142.5
This course builds on the skills learned in Introduction to Glassblowing by expanding on more complex techniques through assignments, exploration and practice time. Students will build their repertoire of glass forms so that consistency, intention and design principles are evident. The development of problem solving techniques, personal style and expression will be facilitated through group and individual critiques. Students will also create more intricate forms by incorporating the transparent, translucent and opaque properties of coloured glass. Finishing, grinding, texturing and decorating techniques will be examined and strengthened as the course progresses.
- Flameworking for Glassblowers ARTS1093
Units/ Hours: 47.5
Flameworking is a method of shaping glass through the use of a torch. Glass is heated to a molten state and is then sculpted, blown and manipulated, creating highly detailed and colourful glass objects. This course will provide a fundamental understanding of glass through the processes of flameworking. Beginning with the safe and competent operation of equipment, students will quickly progress to methods of shaping and constructing using a variety of tools and techniques. Working with a range of glasses students will gain a solid foundation in flameworking practice that will allow for progression beyond the basics. Through lectures, demonstrations and hands-on practice, instruction will cover introductory methods of shaping and manipulating molten glass to advanced constructions, including blowing glass and the use of moulds. Students are encouraged to bring an open mind and ideas for development in studio projects.