Art
35 courses · Merritt College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
ART 1 Introduction to Art History
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E or ENGL 1A or ENGL 1AS.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to art purposes, principles and forms: Basic understanding of stylistic development and methods of analysis with emphasis on 20th-century art.
ART 4 History of Modern Art (1800 to Present)
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E or ENGL 1A or ENGL 1AS.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTH 150
Major visual art forms and movements of the 19th and 20th centuries: Concentration on the foremost painters, sculptors, and architects of the modern period and their works.
ART 7 History of African American Art (Past to Present)
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Development of the African American visual artist in the Americas: Contributions of selected major African American artists and contemporary trends.
ART 20 Beginning Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Freehand drawing with various media: Drawing techniques and fundamentals of composition applied to subject matter including an introduction to perspective.
ART 22 Intermediate Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART 020.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 205
Exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to intermediate-level drawing, complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies: Foundations of drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to drawing.
ART 25 Fundamentals of Figure Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Understanding the figure from quick sketches to long careful studies of the live model: Fundamentals of anatomy, proportion, drawing techniques and composition.
ART 26 Continuing Figure Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuing drawing from the live model: Introduction more advanced problems.
ART 27 Intermediate Figure Drawing & Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 137.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued development of knowledge and skills introduced in ART 137: Emphasis on expressive content of the figure developed through manipulation of line, form, value, composition, facial expression, pose, and anatomical proportions.
ART 28 Advanced Figure Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Advanced drawing from the live model: Emphasis on developing an individual style.
ART 29 Special Projects: Figure Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU
Continued study and development of special projects in figure drawing from the live model.
ART 35 Beginning Portraiture
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Drawing portraits from the live model: Emphasis on anatomy, proportion, and achieving a likeness.
ART 36 Continuing Portraiture
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Drawing portraits form the live model: Emphasis on composition, position, clothing, and color.
ART 39 Special Projects: Portraiture
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU
Development of an individual style and portfolio of consistent works suitable for an exhibition.
ART 50 Beginning Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 020.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 210
Emphasis on the basic techniques of oil or acrylic painting: Preparation and use of canvas and supports, color mixing, composition in a variety of styles, development of imaginative and objective images.
ART 52 Intermediate Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Intermediate-level development of skills, composition and techniques, application of color theory, concepts, style, and creative expression in acrylic, oil, and mixed media; development of personal approach to content and materials in relation to historical and contemporary approaches to painting.
ART 60 Beginning Painting: Watercolor
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Fundamentals of washes, brushwork, color, and special effects: Transparent, wet-into-wet and opaque techniques as applied to various subject matter.
ART 61 Continuing Painting: Watercolor
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued development of skills, techniques, and content in watercolor painting: Creative experimentation and individual expression in watercolor painting processes.
ART 62 Intermediate Painting: Watercolor
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Intermediate level development of skills, techniques, and content in watercolor painting: Creativity, composition, and individual expression through watercolor techniques emphasized; concentrated work in specific areas.
ART 63 Advanced Painting: Watercolor
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Advanced watercolor painting skills, techniques, and content: Individual goals designed by student with instructor with concentration on a series of paintings for possible exhibition or portfolio presentation.
ART 80 Beginning Ceramics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
Introduction to ceramics: Materials, techniques, design principles, creative development; historical, contemporary modes of expression across cultures.
ART 81 Continuing Ceramics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
Continuation of ART 80: Emphasis on design problems and skill development in forming, glazing, and firing processes.
ART 82 Intermediate Ceramics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuation of ART 81: Emphasis on surface design, firing, and further skill development in forming processes.
ART 83 Advanced Ceramics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuation of ART 82: Emphasis on individual expression; experimentation in glazes, clay bodies, and kiln firing.
ART 84 Special Projects: Ceramics
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU
Exploration and experimentation in special areas of ceramics: Studio projects involving development of personal style in a specific technique.
ART 88 Special Projects: Ceramic Sculpture
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 187.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Independent exploration and experimentation in the special area of ceramic sculpture.
ART 137 Beginning Figure Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 020.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 200 Figure Drawing
Introduction to drawing the human figure from observation using a wide variety of drawing media and techniques: Human anatomy, historical and contemporary roles of figure drawing in the visual arts with descriptive and interpretive approaches to drawing the figure.
ART 166 Beginning Botanical Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Exploration through drawing of basic plant structures: Recording details of various plant forms; emphasis on rendering form and texture with graphite pencils, graphite powder, white drawing pencils and ink pens.
ART 167 Continuing Botanical Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuation of ART 166: Recording details of various plant forms; emphasis on rendering form, color, and texture with graphite, ink pen and colored pencils.
ART 168 Advanced Botanical Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuation of ART 167: Recording details of various plant forms in graphite, colored pencils and other materials; emphasis on developing a personal style, working from traditional and contemporary examples as well as personal preference in subject and techniques.
ART 169 Special Projects: Botanical Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART 168.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Exploration through drawing of basic plant structures: Recording details of various plant forms; emphasis on rendering form, color, and texture with graphite, ink pen, colored pencils, and watercolor.
ART 187 Beginning Ceramic Sculpture
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Exploration of sculptural form through the use of ceramic media. Theory and application of form and design; exploration of surface decoration, kilns and firing.
ART 188 Intermediate Ceramic Sculpture
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- ART 187.
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuing work in the area of ceramic sculpture.
ART 189 Advanced Ceramic Sculpture
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Advanced work in sculptural form with ceramic media. Theory and application of three-dimensional design: concepts, processes, and principles, problems in construction, surface treatments, special techniques and materials, including glazes and firing.
ART 202 Fundamentals of Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
Introduction to drawing: Study of shape, form, and space in black and white.
ART 208 Foundations of Ceramics
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
Introduction to Ceramics: Wheel throwing and hand-building instruction, glazing and firing techniques.