The foundational part of the program strongly emphasizes learning observation. In drawing, painting, and figure drawing courses, students learn to represent the spatial, tactile world in front of them. You will learn the theory of linear perspective, sight measuring, tone modeling, and color theory as it pertains to working directly from life. Other studio courses are devoted primarily to the abstract nature of art; they involve composition, design, and the conceptualization of ideas through form invention. Writing-intensive courses in Art History and Art Criticism (FNAR 398: Senior Seminar) establish a critical and cultural awareness of art historical periods of both traditional and contemporary times.