College Prep Portfolio Program

Huntington Fine Arts offers a comprehensive, intensive College Prep Portfolio Program to students in 11th and 12th grade to bridge the gap between high school and college. HFA gives young artists an opportunity to work in a professional studio with instructors who are professional, working artists.

Students participate in a minimum of three classes per week for 32 weeks from September through April in drawing, painting and sculpture. Portfolio students are encouraged to take advantage of unlimited class time during their portfolio preparation. Students receive constant evaluation by HFA faculty to determine individual direction and fulfill educational goals.

Foundation Portfolio Program

The Foundation Portfolio Program is for students in 7th through 10th grade. Students participate in Drawing and Painting and Sculpture Class each week. Students will meet with the Director for progress evaluations as needed.

We have found that students who start the Foundation Program in their beginning years of high school and continue through to the College Prep Portfolio Program end up with superior choices for college and most importantly, with a portfolio that achieves scholarship awards and recognition.

Non-Program Classes

Students participate in Drawing, Painting, or Sculpture class choosing one or two classes per week for 10 weeks. Non-Program Classes are designed for students who are not enrolled in one of our Portfolio Programs.

Young Artists Program

This program is structured for young artists (ages 8 to 14) yearning to create. Students are taught on an individual basis as teachers guide each student to success.

Students begin by drawing with charcoal on a large scale using a photo library of animals as their reference. Through the layering of pastels, students learn color, value, composition and dimension. As a student develops, they are encouraged to draw from observation using the studio’s still life. Sculpture is taught using a three dimensional reference. By building with and manipulating clay and adding texture, students will learn about lights, darks and proportion.

Drawing

Figure Drawing

Working from the live model, the essence of the human form will be explored through anatomy and composition. The human figure is the basis of all creative expression. Students will learn to “see” and evaluate through relationship, perspective, light and shadow and negative space with shades of light and dark. Students will progress from superficial vision to the interpretation of the fluidity of the human form through the use of all media including charcoal, pastel, ink, watercolor and oil paint and sticks. The student’s own style of representing the figure will be developed. Figure drawing class consists of gestures, short studies and long poses.

Critique

The last half hour of each class is critique when students display their work. Students build a constructive, critical vocabulary and self-confidence through the discussion of their work and the artwork of others. Art historical references are discussed through the analysis of one’s work. The instructor guides the class to critique each individual’s drawings. Students build a vocabulary to discuss and learn from each others’ successes. There is no competition between students; they are in competition with their own best work in their quest for achievement. The class becomes a support system for each individual.

Still Life Drawing

Learning about light, volume, depth, perspective, luminosity and composition while drawing from observation is extremely rewarding and valuable to one’s creative education. Students choose from the Studio’s still life and will be instructed beginning with thumbnail composition studies to a large-scale drawing with charcoal and pastels.

Painting

Students may begin with thumbnail sketches of a still life of their choosing. A charcoal and/or pastel drawing is developed on a larger scale from direct observation. Lessons learned in drawing about tone values become invaluable in the creation of an oil painting. Each student is taught individually starting with the technicalities of the application of oil paint and an analysis of color. Students are instructed how to create the illusion of dimension through the achievement of tone variation, perspective, composition and form. Students are taught individually from their own point of development.

Sculpture

While in drawing and painting you are creating the illusion of dimension, in sculpture you are actually working to create full dimension. Students are introduced to three dimensional form through the human form. Sculpture classes start with a basic head in clay. By creating a bust, self portrait or a figurative sculpture, students master form and structure and discover how to portray lights and darks in clay. Students may work from the live model, doing sketches in clay.

All media including clay, wax, stone, wood, plaster, metal, light and found objects are encouraged and explored. While students are working on their own projects, individual instruction covers methods and tools with special emphasis on conceptual development.

Casting

The traditional art of casting in plaster is taught individually or in a group. Using the waste mold plaster casting process, students will create a permanent plaster sculpture of their original form. This class offers our young students the unique opportunity to learn an advanced process that is taught in college.

Installation

Alternative sites and found materials will inspire sculptural studies in space. Students will create large-scale works that respond to their site with a “leave no trace” philosophy. Works will be documented by the student using photography and/or video. Informed by contemporary approaches to installation and environmental art, the student will develop forms and methods that embody their concepts while expanding their awareness and experience of space. Instruction is provided on an individual basis.

Portrait

Students will work from direct observation from several different portrait models that will hold the same pose for two consecutive classes. Oil paint, pastel, charcoal are all mediums that are encouraged to be explored. Students are taught the anatomy and structure of building a portrait using lights and darks.

Students are taught individually and are guided through anatomy, proportion, composition and tonal qualities. Oil paint color mixing techniques are explored with reference to different skin tones as well as background colors and how they relate.

Self Portrait

Working from direct observation using a mirror, students will have the opportunity to create a self portrait while understanding anatomy, proportions and flesh tones. Students will begin this exercise with drawing in charcoal and pastels working toward a finished oil painting that expresses the student’s unique personality.

Photography

Students will learn to use their digital cameras both in the program modes and manual functions. Project ideas will include time exposure, using the B-setting as part of the shutter dial, as well as “painting” with light. Some work with portrait, both formal and informal. Students provide digital camera.

Some time will be spent learning about film photography. Students will experience shooting with film, developing film and enlarging images in the darkroom.