57 Course(s) Found | back to search >>

Art and Antiques Appraisal + Connoisseurship | Art History + Appreciation | Art, Mind + Spirit | Business of Art + Design | Culinary Arts + Entertaining | Drawing | Family Workshops | Floral Artistry Institute | Historic Preservation | Home + Garden Design | Illustration | Interior Design | Landscape Design | Painting | Photography | 3D Computer-Generated Imaging | Design for the Web | Young Artists: Teen (12 - 17) |

Corinne Cain, Kateri Weiss

This two-day seminar introduces participants to Native American basketry, pottery, textiles, beadwork and personal adornment items, with an emphasis on identifying work through corresponding techniques, materials, forms and decorations. Students learn how to determine age and condition of Native American arts and crafts, distinguish the differences between pieces of each category and how to qualitatively judge pieces. Students are taught to recognize work by the best-known producers of various tribes and styles, and how to prepare effective descriptive information and condition reports. Conservation issues of Native American art are also discussed.

Applies to the following certificate program (18 contact hours): AS-E

Sandra Tropper

The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course, designed specifically for personal property appraisers, explores the unique relationship of personal property to USPAP. The entire USPAP document is covered, with an emphasis on both the general rules and standard rules, delineating standards that identify issues of public trust, ethics, competency, jurisdictional exceptions as well as supplemental standards required for written appraisal documents. All candidates for and designated members of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) personal property discipline are required to successfully complete the USPAP course on a regular basis (within one year of candidacy, then once every five years), demonstrating tested knowledge of this document, which is promulgated by the Appraisal Standards Board of the Appraisal Foundation. Note: A student manual is provided at course time.

Applies to the following certificate program: AS-R

Louise T. Hall, Brian Tierney

The Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston is one of the most architecturally significant neighborhoods in the US. In this program, we stroll through the Beacon Hill area, visiting some of Charles Street's legendary antiques shops, featuring American, European and Asian furniture and decorative arts. Additionally, students visit the Louisburg Square section of the Hill, the historic Church of the Advent, the Boston Athenaeum and the Shaw Memorial -- sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens' 19th-century masterpiece -- located on the Boston Common, facing the Bullfinch-designed Statehouse. Also planned is a visit to a nearby well-known regional auction house. Note: Class meets in Boston; directions are sent to registered participants. Lunch is not covered by tuition.

Applies to the following certificate program (8 contact hours): AS-E

Gideon Loewenstein

This two-day seminar highlights the history and legacy of the Bauhaus, a school founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany, and a preeminent creative cultural institution, influencing much of 20th-century architecture, furniture and interior design. Its philosophy promoted the use of mass production to achieve designs that were functional, aesthetic and economical. Day one of this course focuses on the history and philosophy of the Bauhaus, illuminating the conditions that contributed both to its successes and to its demise in 1933, as well as 21st-century interpretations and criticisms of the Bauhaus. On day two, identification of Bauhaus objects (ceramics, textiles, jewelry, furniture) is discussed, as well as how to recognize imitations and fakes. On both days, themes and styles associated with Bauhaus are covered, and examples of the Bauhaus aesthetic and movement are reviewed.

Applies to the following certificate program (16 contact hours): AS-E

Robin Wiseman

Painter and decorative artist Alphonse Mucha (Czechoslovakian, 1860-1939) is considered the preeminent artist of the Art Nouveau movement. Mucha, along with his contemporary Toulouse-Lautrec, greatly influenced the future of poster art. His sensuous images, combining intricate floral designs, flowing patterns and attractive women, were visible everywhere in Paris during the Belle Epoque -- on theater posters, boxes of sweets, menus and magazine covers. In this class, we look at how Mucha's work helped establish the remarkable effectiveness with which beauty can be exploited to promote commerce, while also paying tribute to his work's ability to transcend its original intent.

Applies to the following certificate program (2 contact hours): AS-E

Robin Wiseman

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was one of the great American painters of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Degas was such an admirer of Cassatt's work that he invited her to show her work with those of the Impressionists. Best known for her tender but unaffected portraits of women with their infant children, Cassatt chose to forego marriage and children in order to pursue painting. We examine the remarkable life and art of Mary Cassatt, giving special consideration to her brilliant use of color, technique and light, all of which characterize the revolt of the Impressionists against the conventions of academic painting.

Applies to the following certificate program (2 contact hours): AS-E

Robin Wiseman

Known for his beautiful oil paintings, watercolors and drawings, Winslow Homer (1836-1910) achieved considerable fame for his early illustrations for Harper's Weekly of the everyday life of Civil War soldiers. At the age of 37 he abandoned a flourishing commercial career to spend more of the remainder of his life in Grout's Neck, Maine, devoting himself to painting. Homer's work, like that of his contemporary Edgar Degas, is remarkable for its highly original sense of design and sensitivity to the poetic possibilities inherent in ordinary situations.

Applies to the following certificate program (2 contact hours): AS-E

Robin Wiseman

An American expatriate who worked primarily in England and France, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was possibly the preeminent portrait artist of his time. His virtuoso technique produced spirited images of Edwardian clientele and patrons, including Isabella Stewart Gardner. Sargent enjoyed widespread recognition and success early in his career, but popular and critical taste shifted at the turn of the 20th Century and his reputation declined. We take a fresh look at Sargent, comparing the portraits he produced with those of Eakins, Van Dyck, Boldini, Warhol and others. The ways in which popular taste and cultural mores contribute to an artist's marketability are also discussed.

Applies to the following certificate program (2 contact hours): AS-E

Greg Cook

The Boston gallery scene is big, diverse and geographically spread-out -- even deciding where and how to start is a formidable task. Greg Cook -- writer and art critic for the Boston and Providence Phoenix newspapers and author of The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research blog -- eliminates the trial and error aspect of gallery-hopping with an insider's guide to galleries and to looking at, and possibly collecting, art. Inevitably, many questions surface, including: what makes a show worthy of critical attention, how the medium is integral to the work's message, and what the artist's intentions were. Participants gain knowledge and confidence, and find that going to galleries is much less intimidating -- and a lot more fun -- when done in a group, under the guidance of a professional. Note: Class meets in Boston; directions are sent to registered participants.

Applies to the following certificate programs (3 contact hours): AS-E, CB-E, DS-E, NS-E

Susan Fox

All human progress stems from a flight of the imagination. Our creativity is limited merely by our perspective; any subject, event or favorite place can feed the fire of invention, and our passions can be fuel for the creative spirit. Participants in this course learn methods to activate this immense resource through art and image making. Through drawing, sculpture and creative writing exercises, we uncover blocks and liberate the creative force within, working with techniques for self-expression that are designed to foster our inner vision and draw out our personal stories. Ultimately, we are guided to mentor, to wisely coach, and to awaken the voice of our inner spirit. Note: A background in art is not necessary.

Glenn Gutmacher

Frustrated by the lack of response when you apply to Internet job board postings? It's because the best career opportunities aren't found that way. In this lunchtime webinar, recruiting industry master cybersleuth Glenn Gutmacher shows job seekers -- focusing on, but not limited to, artists and designers -- how to uncover hidden opportunities in the job market, and how to reach recruiters and direct hiring managers using completely free methods available in the world of Web 2.0. Learn how to craft online searches that reveal extremely targeted results, and continue to generate new ones automatically; tap professionally-geared social networks like LinkedIn, XING and Facebook; perform targeted research to identify the best companies for you; obtain hiring decision-makers' contact info to run effective e-mail/phone campaigns; and more! The webinar format offers students the convenience of participating from their home or work computer. Note: Log-in instructions are sent to registered participants.

Philip Keith

Marketing is never static. This course concentrates on the transition from the traditional model of marketing to the cutting-edge electronic marketing model. We discuss in detail the significance of the "old" one-message-to-the-many concept vs. the "new" concept of targeted messages to individuals. In the process, we explore the basic principles of E-commerce and E-business promotion, management and strategy. Specific topics covered include the website as "place holder" vs. profit center; benchmarking using web analytics; the AIDA Model of generating Attention, Interest, Desire, Action; geo-targeting; website improvement; the top ten websites of 2009; best prospects and customers; and e-mail list-building. We also focus on several case studies of major web-based marketing disasters, exploring how to avoid repeating such mistakes.

Julie Ruditzky

In the creative field, the ability to sell an idea is as important as the idea itself. Oftentimes, the most successful people in advertising, photography, graphic design and filmmaking are the ones who know how to "pitch" a proposal. In this class, students find the key to making a successful presentation. What are the essential steps to take prior to a meeting? What is the secret to delivering a persuasive presentation? How do you handle tough client questions? How do you keep an idea simmering after a meeting? Note that personal skills, not computer skills, are the focus here. Employing examples from the world of advertising, this course can help anyone in a creative field hit a home run with his or her next pitch.

Applies to the following certificate programs (2 contact hours): AD-E, AN-E, PD-E, VE-E, WE-E

Steve McDonald

We often think of contracts as lengthy and incomprehensible documents used in significant transactions. However, whether running your own studio, working for someone else or just occasionally doing commission work, the reality is that you are forming and entering into contracts every day, often on nothing more than a handshake basis. Just as often, technicalities and details of the transaction are not worked out in advance, leading to misunderstandings and disagreements as deadlines loom. A good contract goes a long way in eliminating these potential pitfalls. In this course, you learn that you don't need to be a lawyer to improve your contracting skills. The basics of contracting are covered: what a contract is, how to create one and how to go about determining what it should say.

Matthew Service

It's a jungle out there, with more competitors than you can imagine, which is why having an effective web presence is much more complicated than simply registering a domain name. You simply must have strategies to make your site stand out among the millions of other dot-coms. Search engines are the means by which Internet addresses are delivered to inquiring web browsers, and once you understand how they work, you can use this knowledge to give your site a distinct advantage. A sound search engine strategy based on tested optimization techniques makes your design and copywriting decisions that much clearer. The web has undoubtedly become an increasingly dense jungle, but this course provides you with compass and machete to hack your way past the competition.

Steve Krohn

Matching wine with the intense flavors of chocolate can be one of the most challenging tasks in food and wine pairing circles. Just in time for Valentine's Day, discover how to successfully pair gourmet chocolates with some of New England's finest wines. Steve Krohn, co-owner of The New England Wine School and Wine Entertainment Resources, is our guide as we investigate how the different flavors in sweet and dark chocolate match to sparkling, white, red and dessert wines from the Coastal Wine Trail. By following a few guidelines, we learn that chocolate and wine can be paired in a way that shows off the best and most interesting characteristics of each. Note: Class takes place at an off-campus location; directions are sent to registered participants.

Steve Long

There are many preparation methods for great seafood, but only a master chef can show you which unforgettable combinations are surprisingly easy to cook. Whether you prefer to broil, bake or grill, we'll show you the best of each method, plus the sauces that make your dishes special. Steve Long, executive chef at Providence's renowned Hemenway's Restaurant, focuses this class on salmon, swordfish and tuna, taking you from appetizers through main course. For example, the choices for salmon are numerous: wild or farm raised; organic or conventional; poached, seared or grilled; classic French- or Asian-style. Fear not! Your expert instructor stands ready to demystify seafood preparation before your eyes, giving you a taste of the sea so authentic that mouths will water at the mere mention of fish.

Julie Zito, Lisa Constantino

Cupcakes are no longer pastry's poor cousin, relegated to convenience store and supermarket shelves. Indeed, decorated cupcakes are all the rage these days. Fans of TV's Sex and the City can extol the virtues of Magnolia Bakery, but here in Rhode Island we have The Pastry Gourmet, well known for the wedding and special-occasion cakes it creates for the region's most elegant events. Learn the baker's secrets of creating the perfectly decorated cupcake. Of course, there are the fun, fashionable and whimsical designs for children's parties, too. By learning the basic skills in this hands-on course, participants are able to create their own artistic expressions on the miniature canvases that cupcakes provide. Note: Participants take home their beautiful creations on a charming wire display stand. Class meets at an off-campus location; directions are sent to registered participants.

Evelyn Herman

A cake is just a cake. In truth, however, some cakes sparkle and some cakes don't. What makes an ordinary cake look spectacular? Flowers, of course! Students in this hands-on beginner class learn how to design elegant blooms using gum paste (a pliable "sugar dough") and specialized gum paste tools. Various techniques for crafting realistic botanicals are introduced, including how to handle and store the gum paste dough, as well as cutting, forming and coloring flowers and leaves in a variety of shapes and sizes. Your guests will hesitate, admire and finally bite into the edible, artistic floral creations that might even evoke comparisons with their own living gardens!

Lydia Walshin

Cariocas are natives or residents of Rio de Janeiro, and carioca style is exuberant, friendly and fun loving. Join food writer Lydia Walshin for a carioca style celebration of Brazilian cooking, featuring recipes brought back from her recent travels in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil's farmland of Minas Gerais. Brazilian cuisine combines the influences of many cultures: the Portuguese, of course, but also French, Italian, Indian and Japanese. In this hands-on cooking class, we sample ingredients available at Providence-area markets, and recreate some favorite Brazilian dishes featuring fish and shellfish, tropical fruits, cassava and more. At the end of the class, make yourself a caipirinha, the national cocktail of Brazil, listen to Brazilian music, and taste all of the dishes we prepare. Dancing in the kitchen is optional, but encouraged! Note: Class meets at an off-campus location; directions are sent to registered participants.

Steve Krohn

In this introductory class, students take a guided tasting tour through the world's most important viticultural regions and grape varietals, learning to taste and describe wines using the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) method. We analyze reds from the US, Australia, South America and Europe to see how the differences in climate and grape type affect color, aroma and flavor. Grape types include the familiar -- Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Shiraz (Syrah) -- along with the less well-known Malbec, Carmenere and Cabernet Franc. Appropriate food pairings for each wine are discussed. The class is appropriate for both beginners and more advanced students of wine. Note: Class meets at an off-campus location; directions are sent to registered participants.

Robin Brandes

An amazingly delicious and healthful meal without meat or processed foods is within reach -- there's no need to limit yourself to steamed broccoli and salad! In this class, Certified Health Counselor Robin Brandes broadens your repertoire of super veggies and veggie meals. Learn to identify, select and mix a variety of succulent vegetables like kale, broccoli rabe, fennel, leeks, asparagus, Swiss chard, cauliflower, cabbage and more. We concentrate on seasonal varieties and the nutritional value they provide your body (not to mention the fact that they are gluten-, allergen- and grain-free). After exploring simple and delicious ways to prepare these vegetables, your family will enjoy how you incorporate them into main dishes for one-pot meals and side dishes. You can even confidently experiment with frozen vegetables for quick, last-minute meals. To help put all this new knowledge to best use, participants return home with recipes and nutrition handouts.

Amy Wynne-Derry

Throughout history, artists have studied the anatomy of the face to enhance the accuracy and volume of their drawings. This workshop is of interest to fine artists, illustrators and anyone interested in drawing the face. We focus on understanding facial and skull proportions, action and use of specific muscles, and how musculature lying close to the surface lends form and beauty to the face. Sensitivity to line quality and capturing expression are also emphasized. Students use calipers, pencil and paper to draw from skulls, flayed plaster models and a live model. Experimentation with Renaissance drawing techniques enhances students' ability to define three-dimensional space in portraiture. Note: Previous drawing experience is helpful but not required, as varying skill levels are accommodated.

Applies to the following certificate programs (12 contact hours): CB-E, DS-E, NS-E, SA-E

Amanda Lebel

Drawing from an actual work of art can deepen one's engagement with it. The exhibition of the drawings of Pat Steir at the RISD Museum provides a unique opportunity to do just this, as students experience many examples of the artist's work through drawing. As master of many styles and techniques, Steir uses drawing to experiment and diagram her ideas. This exhibition presents a visual dictionary of Steir's drawing languages and strategies, including mark-making, mediums (pencil, charcoal, colored pencil) and compositional (grids, alphabets, words). Students are encouraged to discover how certain effects were achieved, and to then experiment with their own interpretations. As they begin with sketches and work to more developed pieces, students acquire new skills and techniques to expand their drawing repertoire and experience.

Applies to the following certificate programs (5 contact hours): DS-E

Jeanne Sturim

Notable illustrator and pastel artist Jeanne Sturim shares her knowledge, technique and expertise in this two-day intensive workshop on both drawing and the use of pastels. Jeanne helps students to sharpen their observational skills, develop their own approach to design and build a drawing with pastels. Demonstrations are given on how to begin the drawing with charcoal, followed by a watercolor underpainting to establish light and dark values, and finally on ways of applying pastels. Cross-hatching and layering are discussed in terms of color mixing to achieve a desired luminous effect. Students work from still-life set-ups with the complex combination of subject and medium providing a challenging, exciting and ultimately, rewarding experience. All levels of students are welcome, as participants work at their own speed.

Applies to the following certificate programs (12 contact hours): CB-E, DS-E, NS-E

Amy Leidtke

Everyone loves a kaleidoscope! You can spin it, turn it and shake it, then voila -- a new mini masterpiece of sparkling color, shape and design every time! This hands-on make-and-take workshop introduces participants to a variety of kaleidoscopic elements, such as optics, reflection and tessellating patterns. We experiment with mirrored geometric volumes, building a variety of hand-held toys. Each participant designs and constructs a kaleidoscope, kaleidoviewer and kaleidocycle. All are encouraged to bring in their own kaleidoscope for show and tell. Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over, and adults and children must register separately.

Amy Leidtke

Important: For all family workshops, children must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older, and adults and children must register separately.

Amy Leidtke

Important: For all family workshops, children must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older, and adults and children must register separately.

Dennis DelSignore, John Orton

Joyce Holland

Joyce Holland

Joyce Holland

Dennis DelSignore, John Orton

Sarah Vukovich

Kathleen Scully Berenback

Did you know that you can use herbs and essential oils to naturally clean and disinfect your home, while eliminating the expense and eco-impact of harsh, commercial products? Led by a certified herbalist and aromatherapist, this hands-on class teaches you to make your own cleaning products, guaranteed to be safe and effective. You even learn how to customize them to your own personal scent preferences! Discover how simple it is to make these products and how satisfying it can be. A modest initial investment in a few key ingredients and a little know-how results in quality, all-natural products for years of safe, aromatic cleaning. Participants make several products, including an all-purpose detergent, a glass cleaner/disinfectant spray and more, all of which can be taken home and customized with a favorite scent.

Chris Eramo, Paul Santos

Do you watch home makeover shows and wish your home could be transformed in a weekend? Well, we have the next best thing: the ins and outs of the latest home decorating phenomenon -- staging. Boston Staging and Design's Chris Eramo and Paul Santos show you how to redecorate your home using your existing furnishings. You learn how to make your rooms look larger while emphasizing their architectural strengths, and how to "shop" in other rooms to make the most of every space. The class is excellent for those who want a fresh new look on a budget, as well as those seeking to sell their homes. Note: Class meets at a private home in the Providence area; directions are sent to registered participants.

Chris Eramo, Paul Santos

Cathy Wilkerson

Your windows are your visual channels to the outside world. For this reason, window dressings and treatments, along with knowledgeable choices of fabrics and styles, can add immeasurably to the beauty and comfort of your home. In this class, we explore the range of styles, fabrics and hardware available. We discuss the differences between draperies and curtains, the aesthetic value vs. the practicality of using decorative hardware, as well as the implications of using sheers vs. blinds. Whether you are decorating a home, an apartment or a converted loft space, and whether you have tall, small or bay windows to transform, this class provides stimulating and practical solutions to your design challenges.

Amy Bartlett Wright

Students in this course learn to illustrate with the microscope, using insect specimens as intriguingly complex subject matter. Instruction includes basic methods of drawing accurately, proper use of microscopes, handling pinned specimens, and the fundamentals of insect anatomy. The instructor also demonstrates how to generate a symmetrical image and how to "repair" a damaged specimen through illustration. Students may choose to illustrate their chosen insect in the classic overhead posture (as seen in traditional scientific illustration) or to position it in a more lifelike stance. Preliminary drawings are done in pencil and serve as a basis for final color rendering in a medium of the student's choice: colored pencil, watercolor, gouache, acrylic or a combination. Note: Specimens are provided in class.
Prerequisite: Previous experience with realistic drawing
Applies to the following certificate program (18 contact hours): NS-E

Trudy Nicholson

Trudy Nicholson, award-winning illustrator and master of the scratchboard technique, introduces students to the visually powerful medium in this two-day workshop. Clear, crisp images, dramatic lighting and exquisite detail are among the striking effects that can be achieved on scratchboard. Through demonstration and practice, students are introduced to methods for creating line and texture on scratchboard, planning a composition, transferring a sketch, balancing lights and darks, making corrections, and adding color. Students bring to class simple subjects such as shells, feathers, fruits and pinecones, from which they sketch a composition. They then transfer these sketches to scratchboard and begin a pencil or pen-and-ink illustration. Participants who wish to add color should bring watercolors. This unique illustration medium can be used by a variety of illustrators for highly representational, eye-catching and powerful images.

Applies to the following certificate programs (12 contact hours): CB-E, NS-E, SA-E

Marcia Connors

Join us for a guided tour of the Boston Design Center, New England's only total resource for the interior design industry. The Boston Design Center houses 87 showrooms carrying more than 1,200 international lines of exquisite home and workplace furnishings and accessories. In showrooms of firms the likes of Brunschwig & Fils, Kravet, Robert Allen | Beacon Hill and F. Schumacher & Co., one can find beautiful, unique fabrics, wall and floor coverings, furniture, fixtures, accessories, antiques, lighting, kitchens and much more. Rub elbows with professional designers, get inspired and gain inside knowledge as you explore this treasure trove of interior design. Note: Class meets at the Boston Design Center; directions are sent to registered participants. Participants should plan to buy lunch in Boston.

Cathy Wilkerson

Join a professional home furnishing textiles designer for this two-part workshop -- an inside look at the construction of upholstered furniture and custom draperies. In the first meeting, Upholstery Tour, students learn how form and function impact the purchasing of sofas, chairs and other covered seating, and learn to evaluate comfort and quality for style and details of fabrics or leathers, as well as the frame, springs and padding. In the second meeting, Workroom Tour, students get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of window treatments that are appropriate, beautiful, well-constructed, and suited to the customer's needs, with such considerations as fabric pattern repeats, serged seams, hems, linings, and choice of heavy, midweight and sheer fabrics. The workshop offers students insights into the design process of the home furnishings business that will make them sharper consumers or design professionals. Note: This class meets on-site at a local workroom and upholsterer; directions are sent to registered participants.

Kevin Baker

"Something there is that doesn't love a wall," said Robert Frost. Once used to mark boundaries, pen animals and put unwanted fieldstones to use, stone walls have experienced a revival as a component in home landscaping. This workshop gives students a solid grounding in the history, planning and construction of New England dry stone walls through slide-illustrated lectures and hands-on participation. Students learn about planning new walls, including the pros and cons of do-it-yourself versus contractor-built walls, pricing, project feasibility and size, and sources for materials, as they develop a greater appreciation for New England's historic landscape.

Michael Veracka

Brick, stone and cobblestone date back centuries and have been used as paving materials everywhere from the Appian Way to the streets of Nantucket. Learn the basic techniques for creating beautiful (and relatively inexpensive) dry-laid patios, terraces, driveways and walkways, using salvaged or "found" brick and stone. Topics covered include project design, preparing and leveling foundations, locating materials, combining them creatively, and building for the long term. For this reason, the class is sure to interest homeowners and do-it-yourselfers, not to mention landscape professionals.

Michael Veracka

Trees and shrubs create a palpable presence and give character and beauty to the landscape. They also provide vital clues that inform gardeners' and designers' planting strategies. Students in this course enjoy the opportunity to learn about and gain appreciation for plants as special entities in themselves, and also as integral devices for enhancing meaning, form and function in architectural spaces of all sorts. Students learn to identify trees and shrubs accurately, and thus gain an understanding of suitable growing conditions. The basics of plant classification, morphology (study of form and structure), and how to use a tree identification key are all covered. In addition, we examine how shape, height, color and texture vary with each species, and how they give a sense of scale and architectural massing to the landscape.

Taleen Batalian

Encaustic, an ancient technique used to create commemorative wax portraits in Roman and Egyptian art, is once again becoming a popular medium for artists. Also called hot wax painting, encaustic is the process of creating an image from molten beeswax colored with pigments and then applied to a surface -- either wood, masonite or canvas. The wax cools in minutes, enabling the application of many successive coats. Smoothing and scraping the wax, painting between each layer, and using heat to bind the layers creates a finish with a lustrous enamel-like appearance. By working from both invented imagery and direct observation, students of all skill levels are encouraged to experiment and allow their paintings to evolve as they reheat and rework surfaces until the desired effect is achieved.

Applies to the following certificate programs (12 contact hours): CB-E, DS-E, NS-E

Amy Bartlett Wright

The wetlands, woods, meadows and marshes of the Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge in Bristol -- home to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's award-winning Environmental Education Center -- are the backdrop and visual resource for this intensive plein air weekend workshop, led by noted natural science illustrator Amy Bartlett Wright. Class begins with a lecture about nine ways to convey depth in the landscape, followed by a demonstration on specific techniques and procedures for working outside. Working en plein air (outdoors) presents many challenges, including fast-moving and sometimes dramatic changes in light, weather and potential animal activity, which only add to the excitement and give energy to the work. The instructor demonstrates methods of working quickly, efficiently and effectively to capture the essence of a scene -- valuable tools and lessons for any studio painter. Note: Students may choose to work in graphite, colored pencil, pastel, watercolor or acrylic, alone or in combination. Class meets at an off-campus location; directions are sent to registered participants.

Applies to the following certificate programs (12 contact hours): CB-E, DS-E, NS-E

John Hames

At its core, photography is a simple process: light is reflected from an object, directed and then recorded onto a photosensitive material. This is the pinhole camera just as it has been used for hundreds of years. Technology marches on, and digital concepts have complicated photography with JPEGs, pixels and light metering, which often obscure the art of photography. Join us to find the middle ground in this workshop that introduces the concepts and practices of digital pinhole photography on the very day when people around the world celebrate Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. Open to absolute beginners and seasoned photographers alike, this course asks only that participants bring a sense of discovery to class as they revisit photography's history through the eyepiece of its future.

Applies to the following certificate program (6 contact hours): DI-E

Walter Zesk

This intensive workshop provides an opportunity for architects, engineers and contractors to stay current with advances in construction visualization technology. The latest innovation is Building Information Modeling, or BIM, a system that allows for parametric, object-based design with full reference for dynamic data change and update. Building on their existing knowledge of CAD, participants examine BIM through the lens of Autodesk's Revit Architecture. They gain familiarity with the Revit interface while participating in a practical series of increasingly complex design exercises and leave with an appreciation for how Revit can help to increase accuracy, bolster collaboration and efficiently generate documentation.
Prerequisite: Experience with CAD
Applies to the following certificate programs (14 contact hours): AN-E, ID-E

Jane Kernan

This intensive three-day course introduces Maya, the Academy Award-winning software. Think of Shrek, Monsters, Inc. and the Lord of the Rings trilogy to get an idea of what Maya can do. In this brief start-up course, learn the basic steps necessary to create 3D digital models using its robust polygonal modeling tools to set up a simple skeleton system, which can then be animated and simulated with keyframes. The final outcome is a sample 3D animated character and a 15-second QuickTime movie. No previous 3D experience needed!
Prerequisite: Basic computer experience
Applies to the following certificate programs (18 contact hours): AN-E, VE-E, WE-E

Bruce Campbell

Whether teaching preschoolers or adults, or any age in between, you can easily develop a whole new conceptual framework for creating vital educational activities and experiences for students by exploring the possibilities of online media. Bring to class some lessons, exercises, digital images or website addresses you love and, using Macromedia Flash, turn that "content" into interactive multimedia that will truly engage your students, enhancing both their level of interest and their level of comprehension. Participants are shown little-known sources for templates, free tools and online learning support documents. The workshop also introduces interactive applications for facilitating student-to-student and student-to-teacher communication, as well as for conducting class forums. Finally, each participant leaves the workshop with an invaluable packet of information for future reference.

Applies to the following certificate programs (14 contact hours): AN-E, WE-E

Fred Spencer

Good web typography enhances legibility while enhancing the character of the content; ideally, it draws interest to the page without compromising usability. No longer forced to select clunky layouts and default styles, today's designer turns to cascading style sheets (CSS) and other technologies for a measure of typographic control that could only be dreamt about a few years ago. Such control provides designers with the keys to achieving a solid layout, clear user interface, elegant visuals and a stronger web design overall. This intensive, hands-on workshop introduces students to the art of typography as applied to the web, and provides the practical skills to start implementing these techniques immediately. The material offers an entry point into web development for graphic designers, as well as a crash course in graphic design fundamentals for web developers.

Applies to the following certificate programs (14 contact hours): AD-E, PD-E, WE-E

Fred Spencer

We have embraced the handheld; it's undeniable that there is an eager new audience waiting for multimedia experiences that open first on their handheld device. From Blackberrys to iPhones, mobile devices are the newest blank canvas for the development of rich content. But this burgeoning platform has unique design requirements and considerations. In this course, web designers discover the key components of modern, mobile device design that include targeted, standards-based web development, and Flash Lite, which uses Adobe's Device Central as a workflow hub and test bed. Students go on to practice published distribution methods following a model established by real-world mobile device businesses. The workshop concludes with a peek into the current marketplace and the future of 'next-gen' development.

Applies to the following certificate programs (14 contact hours): AD-E, AN-E, VE-E, WE-E

Dean Abanilla

This seminar investigates the nature and meaning of personal privacy in our rapidly changing digital society. Through readings and class discussions, we explore the history of privacy, and the current influences that are shifting its definition. As we look at the infrastructure of the World Wide Web, we learn how our online activities are captured, logged and preserved as valuable data. Students learn to think critically about how browsing and social networking behaviors, as well as TOS (or Terms of Service), may affect ownership of personal data and other aspects of our lives -- both online and off.

Applies to the following certificate programs (6 contact hours): AD-E, AN-E, DI-E, VE-E, PD-E, WE-E

Fred Spencer

With a mobile browser market share of more than 60 percent, and more than one billion downloaded applications, the iPhone is the hottest platform for mobile device development. This fast-moving course introduces you to the Apple iPhone, Mobile Safari and the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK). Building on their knowledge base of object-oriented programming models, students examine and complete a Web App (HTML 5 / CSS 3 / JavaScript / touch behaviors) and build a simple, native application, using Xcode and the Cocoa Touch API. Finally, your instructor presents strategies for App Store approval, which are essential to getting your product off your screen and into the pockets of this expanding customer base. Note: While not required, Design for Mobile Devices is recommended.
Prerequisites: HTML I: The Language of the Web and Cascading Style Sheets or equivalent experience with HTML and CSS
Applies to the following certificate programs (14 contact hours): AD-E, AN-E, VE-E, WE-E

Fred Spencer

We have embraced the handheld; it's undeniable that there is an eager new audience waiting for multimedia experiences that open first on their handheld device. From Blackberrys to iPhones, mobile devices are the newest blank canvas for the development of rich content. But this burgeoning platform has unique design requirements and considerations. In this course, web designers discover the key components of modern, mobile device design that include targeted, standards-based web development, and Flash Lite, which uses Adobe's Device Central as a workflow hub and test bed. Students go on to practice published distribution methods following a model established by real-world mobile device businesses. The workshop concludes with a peek into the current marketplace and the future of 'next-gen' development.

Applies to the following certificate programs (14 contact hours): AD-E, AN-E, VE-E, WE-E

Nicholas Holcomb

Proud of the artwork on your skateboard deck? Like many skaters, you probably are -- choosing your board as a salute to a graphic style or specific brand. In this DIY skateboard workshop, you can take your artwork skills even further, and learn how to build a board from the plywood up. Bend it, glue it, sand it and paint it until you have a one-of-a-kind deck design that's ready for grip tape, trucks and wheels. It may be your first DIY board, but we bet it won't be your last!