Department of Art
Developing your talent into a career in art.
"Starting my career has been a huge adjustment, but I think I was well
prepared due to my internships and experience doing in-depth projects. I
feel that the diversified education I received at Otterbein has helped
me develop the attitude and world view that has made me a trainable,
competitive candidate for any position."
Kelli Sproles ’08, art
Art Concentrations
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Art Education students may complete the coursework required for K-12 teacher licensure. Art Educators at Otterbein meet Art Major requirements in studio and art history, and present a senior exhibition of their work. Visits to a variety of schools in the greater Columbus area provide a thorough preparation for a career in art education. See the
Department of Education site for more information about licensure programs at Otterbein. We offer art minors in arts administration, art history, and studio art.
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The ceramics program at Otterbein University offers you the opportunity
to explore a variety of themes and ideas in ceramics. You explore
ceramic form in both a sculptural and vessel format, allowing you to
discover your own interests and develop your own personal style.
Students in ceramics learn about history of ceramics and ceramic form
while exploring contemporary approaches, practices and themes.
While discovering your style, you will also delve into material
knowledge through hands-on experience such as glaze calculation and
various types of kiln firing techniques. Students use an array of tools
and techniques, including gas and electric kilns for low-fire and
high-fire applications, raku kiln, wheel throwing, hand building, and
ceramic material calculation and formulation.
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Communication Design is art in service to ideas and action. It is art
that knows that communication is relevant. Graphic designers bring
together the disparate elements of ideas, shapes, textures, colors,
images and words. The study of all fine arts informs the design process.
Otterbein's liberal arts structure ultimately prepares you to adapt to
an ever-changing world.As a Communication Design major, you will build
the necessary foundation to challenge existing attitudes and create new
methods by which our society visually communicates. There is no mold,
set of standards, or software program to which you must conform. One
acquires knowledge through intense research and exploration, hard work
and self-discipline. Foundations are developed early using pencil and
paper, pen and ink, and an open mind. You will begin acquiring
typographic skills by constructing letterforms by hand - a process that
informs "visual dynamic" literacy.
Once you develop good typography skills, assignments begin incorporating
image manipulation, computer production and output. Many of the
challenges undertaken in class are design solutions for clients in the
Columbus area. These opportunities introduce class competition,
client/designer work relationships, monetary compensation and actual
experience. Reference to the history of Communication Design is
expressed in many assignments. This informs the creative process and
avoids "reinventing the wheel."
You will spend your senior year completing a portfolio to be presented
in both traditional and electronic formats. The portfolio will include
class assignments, actual client work and a self-promotion piece in the
form of a book.
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Intermediate Drawing
Intermediate drawing emphasizes drawing from the human figure. You will
work with a variety of drawing materials and are introduced to rendering
techniques that involve development of line, form, and color.
In-class studies based on observation of the model include anatomical
studies, proportion, and movement. These observational studies serve to
give you confidence in working with the figure and a range of drawing
processes. The ability to work with these materials and render the human
figure are applied to more conceptual projects throughout the term.
You will be introduced to project assignments through slide lectures and
videos which cover the use of the figure throughout history. You will
research figurative traditions from global cultures and are asked to
incorporate these elements in drawing projects.
Group critiques, sketchbook and writing assignments are integral to your
understanding the creative process of the contemporary artist and
approaches to drawing. Field trips, visiting artist lectures and gallery
talks offer you a broad range of ideas in the development of their
personal vision.
Advanced Drawing
Advanced drawing emphasizes the individual development of your personal
vision and expression in drawing. This dedicated time and space offers
you an opportunity to apply the conceptual and technical skills
developed in previous course work.
You will explore a variety of media and methods based on personal
interests determined after consultation with the instructor. Traditional
and alternative methods in drawing are presented to the advanced
student through slide lectures, videos and gallery or museum visits.
You will choose specific methods and approaches to apply to a series of
works for your final project. Writing assignments and individual and
group discussions encourage you to develop critical thinking, writing
and verbal skills.
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Painting classes at Otterbein provide you with basic knowledge of the
tools, materials, and techniques used in various painting media.
Classes build upon the foundations gained in 2-D Design and Drawing. The
course emphasis is upon fundamental principles of visual organization
and composition in painting, vitality and personal expressiveness, and
upon disciplined, committed interaction between the artist and the work
in process. A series of assigned painting projects along with
individually selected painting problems help you develop painting
skills. Instructors will work with you one-on-one, as well as in group
critiques.
Additional components of painting classes include keeping a sketchbook,
writing an artist's statement, viewing videos about artists, and
studying slides of art historical examples. Painting classes are
augmented by field trips, museum visits, exhibitions and talks by
visiting artists. Recently, students have benefited from visits by
international artists-in-residence.
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The Department of Art offers courses in beginning, intermediate, and
advanced photography. The beginning and intermediate courses focus on
the development of technical and creative skills in black and white
photography. The focus of the advanced course rotates annually between
The Fine Print, Color, and Alternate Photographic Approaches.
Through content-based assignments and final portfolio projects followed
by group and individual critiques, you are presented with a strong
foundation in the technical and aesthetic aspects of the medium.
An emphasis is also placed on visual awareness: the ability to see
perceptively and to translate that perception into expressive
photographs. You are also encouraged to express their visual ideas in
written form through artist statements and personal journals.
Faculty regularly present slide and video lecture material on the
History of Photography, concentrating on 19th and early 20th century in
the beginning class, the 1920s through the 1960s in intermediate, and
1970s to contemporary in the advanced course. Field trips to local
galleries and museums, and lectures by visiting artists offer you the
opportunity to see original photographic work. Through on-campus
exhibitions, the Art Department is developing a substantial Permanent
Teaching Collection of 20th century photographs.
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Printmaking students link their creative ideas to intaglio and relief
processes. Print content is determined by your personal creative
interests.
You will learn etching, drypoint, aquatint, linocut, woodcut, and
collagraph techniques, and are introduced to a variety of tools for
creating plates and blocks. Japanese and European papers are used in
both hand-printing and on an intaglio press. Sketchbooks play an
important role in helping you to identify the appropriate process for a
particular print project.
Portfolios of professional artists' prints are viewed in class. A range
of critique approaches is employed to help you produce the strongest
possible images.
The class culminates in the completion of print portfolios that reflect
your interests and your mastery of printmaking techniques.
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Sculpture is taught in a studio-based course where you will develop
skills in figure modeling, model making, glass casting, wood
fabrication, plaster work on armature, subtractive surface development
and conceptual project presentation.
In small classes, you will develop personal solutions to problems. Close
interaction with an instructor and your peers provides for ongoing
lively discussion.
The sculpture studio is equipped with large sturdy surfaces; hand and
power tools for wood working; a computer-controlled annealer for glass
and ceramic casting, and a wide range of materials for multi-media
design.
Art Minors
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The Arts Administration minor is an interdisciplinary course of study
preparing students for work and engagement in arts organizations and
creative industries. Arts administrators create connections between art
and community; as a discipline Arts Administration primarily encompasses
non-profit or public organizations. Arts administrators require skills
in business and communication as well as deep knowledge in an area of
the Arts.
As a field of study, arts administration therefore combines coursework
in the Arts and Humanities with business, policy, and communication. The
Arts Administration minor promotes Otterbein University’s mission and
liberal arts focus through this interdisciplinary approach.
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The discipline of Art History engages in the analysis of contemporary
and historical visual and material cultures. The Art History minor at
Otterbein University encourages students to explore the production,
function, and meaning of the visual arts in cultures across time and
place and to consider the value and significance of cultural heritage.
As a discipline within the Humanities, Art History supports the mission
of the college by furthering a commitment to the knowledge, skills, and
values necessary to becoming a responsible global citizen.
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The Studio Art minor at Otterbein University provides students in other
majors the opportunity to pursue their interest in art study and
practice at a level that complements and enhances their other academic
pursuits. Students in the Studio Arts take 4 studio art courses of their
choice (one in the foundations art series) and one Art History course
of their choice.
Facilities
The Art and Communication Building was renovated in 2006. Painting students enjoy well-lighted, generous, individual studio spaces. The sculpture studio is equipped with large sturdy surfaces; hand and power tools for wood working; a computer-controlled annealer for glass and ceramic casting, and a wide range of materials for multi-media design. The Department of Art has two well-equipped Macintosh Labs. Students have access to high-definition video cameras, portable sound recorders and large-format inkjet printers.
We also operate three art galleries: The Frank Museum of Art, the Miller Gallery and the Fisher Gallery. Read more about our galleries and collections.
Portfolio Review & Talent Awards
Each year, the Department of Art offers Talent Awards to incoming art majors. Awards range from $2,000 to $16,000 over a four-year college career.
These competitive awards are offered based on portfolio reviews and interviews with faculty members. Portfolio reviews occur between January and April each year and the department requires all prospective students to schedule a portfolio review. More information about portfolio reviews can be found on the
Admission site.
Service Learning
We offer a 4-semester-hour service learning course, ART 1350: Introduction to Arts Administration. This is the foundation course for the arts administration minor, and includes an examination of topics such as philanthropy and the arts, leadership and public policy issues in the arts, arts marketing, and common challenges facing all arts disciplines.
Honors Program
Based on superior academic achievement, we invite many art majors to participate in the Honors Program. Working with a faculty adviser and additional faculty committee members, honors students develop studio and research skills that lead to outstanding projects. The projects are ideal preparation for graduate study in art and art history.
Student Organizations & Opportunities
We encourage our Art students to get involved during their time at Otterbein and offer a variety of opportunities.
Read more. Internships
The Department of Art aims to prepare you not just to be an artist, but a successful professional and contributor to the field. Located conveniently in the greater Columbus, Ohio region, the city offers a plethora of internship and job opportunities for you to seek real-world arts experience while at Otterbein University.
The internship program enables you to work in diverse settings including:
• The Frank Museum of Art
• The Columbus Museum of Art
• Mills James Video Production Company
• The Wexner Center for the Arts
• COSI
• Global Gallery
• Fiber Optics
• Graphic Design in Los Angeles
• RMD Advertising
• Core Communications
• Raspberry Press
• McGraw Hill Press
• The Contemporary Art Institute, Chicago
• Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
• Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.
• West Camp Press
• Dublin Arts Council
• Otterbein University Alumni Office
• Salvato, Coe, Gabor Associates
• Internships relating to spending a semester at the Philadelphia Center
News
Carly Marburger, English education and art double major, was featured in the Tan and Cardinal, April 24, 2013 edition, "When words collide."
Otterbein's Vijay Kumar exhibit named one of the best exhibits of
2012 by The Columbus Dispatch. Read the full article here.