Art, Fine
20 courses · Merced College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
ART-03 Art of Africa, Oceania, and Indigenous North America
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is a survey which examines the visual culture within selected regions in Africa, Oceania, and indigenous North America. An emphasis on traditional arts and practice includes sculpture, painting, performance, ceramics, textiles and architecture from antiquity through the colonial period to the present. Topics addressing the religious, cultural, social, economic, and political contexts of the art, as well as the impact of colonialism and representations of indigenous arts in museums, will be explored. The course facilitates comparison of arts from indigenous peoples to other world art traditions and assesses the contributions of indigenous arts in a global context. (11/19)
ART-06 Survey of Modern Art
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTH 150
This course is a survey of the prominent artists and art movements from the 19th and 20th centuries to today. Major works in painting, sculpture, architecture and the applied arts are covered. The historical context of science, invention, world events, politics, philosophy, religion, and music are examined as influences reflected in each generation’s contribution to the history of the visual arts. (12/15)
ART-10 Understanding Art
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course provides a general introduction to art, examining the cultural, universal, and personal factors influencing the making and viewing of art. Includes a study of theory, terminology, themes, design principles, media, and techniques used in the creation of art from diverse cultures and periods of history. (12/22)
ART-12A Sculpture: 3-D Foundations
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Advisory
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 101
This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of the sculpting process and the study of a variety of materials related to sculpture. Projects explore the elements and principles of 3-D design and the conceptual styles of realism to abstraction, both in the round and as bas-relief. Important sculptors and their significant works from various historical periods and various cultures are examined. A small materials fee covers the cost of the works created. (5/12)
ART-12B Intermediate Sculpture
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-12A
- Advisory
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Students will explore sculpture materials, methods, techniques, and create three-dimensional design projects related to intermediate-level course work. Students will research Important sculptors and their significant works from various historical periods and cultures. A materials fee will cover the cost of the art works created (01/14).
ART-15 Design: 2-D Foundations
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 100
This studio survey class is a required foundation course for the study of the Visual Arts. Lectures and studio projects explore and analyze concepts related to the elements and principles of current and historical design theories. Philosophical, social and cultural implications are examined. Subject matter is directly linked to topics in 2-D, fine art, graphic design, commercial art, and photography, with broader applications to professional fields of 3-D, applied arts, environmental design, architecture, interior design and fashion. Required for Art Majors. (12/15)
ART-17A Introduction to Ceramics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is an introduction to ceramic materials, concepts, and processes including basic design elements and principles, creative development, hand-building, throwing, glaze techniques, firing and ceramic terminology. The course covers aesthetics and creative development of clay objects examining historical, contemporary and personal modes of expression across multiple cultures. (5/14)
ART-17B Intermediate Ceramics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-17A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This is an intermediate course in ceramic pottery and sculpture design and construction, non-technical glaze composition, and kiln firing. Stress is placed upon the attainment of skill on the potter’s wheel and organization of construction problems. Students pursue projects of individual interest. (5/14)
ART-20A Introduction to Printmaking
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART-24A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is an introduction to the basic materials, equipment and fundamental printmaking processes including relief (linocut and woodcut), intaglio (drypoint, etching and collagraph) and stencil (screenprint) methods. Students will produce limited editions of black and white prints, be introduced to color techniques and survey the history of printmaking. (2/14)
ART-20B Intermediate Printmaking
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-20A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course deals with color printmaking techniques, as well as black and white, with an emphasis on intaglio processes and the lithographic technique in which images are printed from limestone slabs. (2/14)
ART-23A Introduction to Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 210
This course is an introduction to the principles, elements, and practices of painting in oil and acrylic medium. Students will focus on exploration of painting materials, perceptual skills and color theory, paint mixing and technique, as well as creative responses to materials and subject matter. (2/14)
ART-23B Intermediate Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-23A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is an exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to intermediate-level painting, focusing on complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of subjects, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course will build on fundamental painting skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to painting. (02/14)
ART-24A Fundamentals of Drawing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 110
This studio survey course introduces the principles, elements, and practices of drawing, employing a wide range of subject matter and drawing media. Students will focus on perceptually based drawing, observational skills, technical abilities, conceptual thinking and critical analysis. Historical and contemporary developments, critical trends, materials, and approaches in drawing will be examined for their philosophical and cultural implications. Required for Art majors. (1/17)
ART-24B Intermediate Drawing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-24A
- Advisory
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 205
This course is an exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to intermediate-level drawing, focusing on complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course will build on fundamental drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to drawing. (2/14)
ART-26A Introduction to Figure Drawing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 200
This course is an introduction to drawing the human figure from observation using a wide variety of drawing media and techniques. Topics include an introduction to human anatomy and the historical and contemporary roles of figure drawing in the visual arts. Students in this course will learn both descriptive and interpretive approaches to drawing the figure, in both rapid and extended studies. (2/14)
ART-26B Intermediate Figure Drawing
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-26A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to intermediate-level figure drawing, focusing on complex composition and concepts using a variety of color drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course will build on fundamental figure drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to figure drawing. (2/14)
ART-29A Introduction to Watercolor Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is an introduction to the principles, elements, and practices of painting in the watercolor medium. Students will focus on exploration of painting materials, perceptual skills and color theory, paint mixing and technique, as well as creative responses to materials and subject matter. (2/14)
ART-29B Intermediate Watercolor Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-29A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is an exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to intermediate-level watercolor painting, focusing on complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of subjects, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course will build on fundamental watercolor painting skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to painting. (2/14)
ART-31 Mural Painting: History, Community, Practice
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART-15 or ART-23A; ENGL-C1000 (Formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Explore the cultural history of mural painting as well as the social and political issues related to the creation and public reception of mural paintings. Students will apply aesthetic as well as conceptual analyses to the design and creation of a full-scale mural. Through both study and practice, students will consider the importance of the community in the mural-making process. Attention will be paid to issues of racism, representation, and the power structures that exist in both past and current practices of art and design. (12/22)
ART-49 Independent Study in Art
- Units
- 0.5-2
- Hours
- 1.5-6 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART-12B or ART-17B or ART-20B or ART-23B or ART-24B or ART-26B or ART-29B
- Advisory
- ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed for students who wish to conduct additional research, a special project, or learning activities in a specific discipline/subject area and is not intended to replace an existing course. The student and instructor develop a written contract that includes objectives to be achieved, activities and procedures to accomplish the study project, and the means by which the supervising instructor may assess accomplishment. Exposure to contemporary art directions, trends and selected topics is covered. (12/22)