Courses

Drawing and photography are powerful art tools. In this course, you will learn how to use them in tandem to jumpstart your creative process. You will develop both sketching and photographic literacy, whether you are an experienced photographer, a fine artist, or someone whose artistic talent has yet to be revealed (even to yourself!).

With equal emphasis on photography and drawing, we will use a contrast-and-compare experiential method that explores the many principles these two techniques share and also reveals how effective drawing and photography can be when used in combination. The lens (of our camera) and the pen (in our hand) create a well-proven partnership. This course will begin by providing a context for the intertwined histories and interplay of photography and art. For example, lenses were used by 16th-century artists to create highly detailed, realistic paintings and drawings. The course then will move quickly into the specifics of how we can use both picture making and drawing to be visually creative, whether your interest is in recording life, visualizing ideas, or creative self-expression.

Through a series of photographic and sketching exercises, we will gently expand our current comfort zones, opening avenues for clear thinking and communication, ideation, and collaborative invention. Each class session will include lectures and lively hands-on participatory exercises. The techniques introduced in this course will be further explored in weekly homework assignments.