Browse all Art Department courses →
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
No released grades for this term.
87 courses
Introduction to Art explores the definition of art through historical, theoretical, and practical lenses, developing visual literacy and a survey of global art movements and media.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Matthew Mauk
Weekly workload consisted of 2–3 short writing assignments and one art project, which was manageable if spaced out.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 20262D Foundations applies 2D design principles for image creation and graphic arrangement, building analog and digital skills for photography, graphic design, drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Annmarie Suglio
Expect a commitment of roughly four hours per week to create art, as the syllabus requires consistent studio time despite the class being considered an easy A.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 20263D Foundations uses hands-on problem solving to teach creating objects in three dimensions, providing foundational skills for sculpture, ceramics, wood, glass, and metals.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Sarah Deppe
While assignments were described as fun, students noted that significant time was required for work outside of class to complete them.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to digital forms covering digital imaging, vector graphics, web design, and 3D modeling with emphasis on creative development and technical skills.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Meg Mitchell
Projects were spaced out well, and TAs graded work generously. One student described the exams as easy and noted the class was otherwise manageable.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to basic drawing for non-art majors covering line, shape, composition, space, perspective, value, and texture to build foundational drawing skills.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Matthew Mauk
Instructors expected significant effort on every assignment, which some students found difficult at first but ultimately rewarding.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introductory digital photography course for non-art majors covering camera fundamentals, digital workflow from capture to publication, and manipulation using Adobe tools.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · FATEMEH FANI
Assignments included mandated editing on school computers and tasks not listed in the syllabus, with due dates often unclear to students.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Examines current artists' motivations, intentions, and processes and their relationship to general developments in contemporary art.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Michael Jay McClure
Past reviews described exams as hard and emphasized that success required reading material and thinking out of the box, though following instructions helped.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Drawing Foundations explores exploratory drawing methods and concepts in Modern and Contemporary Art, providing foundational skills for drawing, painting, printmaking, and book art.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Derrick Buisch
Derrick Buisch was reported to be lenient regarding due dates and project ideas, suggesting a flexible workload structure.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Sculpture I introduces basic sculpture concepts and provides a survey of studio practices, including woodworking, metalworking, casting, and textiles.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Painting covers technical processes, studio practice, lectures, discussions, and critiques to build foundational skills in painting materials, color, and composition.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Carol Pylant
Carol Pylant expected a lot from students, requiring significant time spent on paintings to achieve strong grades.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026CERAMICS I covers clay properties and forming fundamentals like hand-building and throwing, plus glazing and firing techniques including reduction and oxidation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Gerit Grimm
One student reported completing 32 works, ranging from cylinders to teapots, by the end of the semester, noting that the instructor pushed them through many skills.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Life Drawing I covers anatomical structure and intrinsic forms in drawing from models, developing technical control across various media.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Frederick Stonehouse
A past student rated the course difficulty as low, indicating it was not overly demanding.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleWatercolor I covers painting with watercolor and mixed media on paper, exploring experimental and traditional uses while emphasizing drawing, composition, and imagination, including field trips.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Freida Tesfagiorgis, Anthony Black
Workload varied by instructor; one required memorizing slide material with no book needed, while another involved one exam and two papers. Exams were generally described as easy or reasonably graded.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleART METAL I covers basic jewelry techniques and metal fabrication, including piercing, soldering, forming, and stone setting, while developing creative concepts and understanding studio tools.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lucas Pointon
The class required significant outside work, with one student averaging 4-6 hours per week and another noting a big chunk of time needed weekly to finish projects.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores color phenomena and visual perception in art through lectures and readings on design theory, philosophy, and history.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Derrick Buisch
The course featured loose project guidelines and minimal outside work, making the workload manageable for students.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Relief printmaking course covering woodcut, linoleum cut, and color printing through studio practice, lectures, and critiques.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Andrew Rubin
Earning a high grade required putting in the time to complete projects and demonstrating a level of caring about learning.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleIntroduction to making comics as a subject and means of academic inquiry, learning various ways to make pictures and stories using class materials.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Lynda Barry
The course was rated as easy, with the reviewer noting they were able to explore art in the way they wanted.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Intermediate Drawing I explores conceptual drawing in various media with an emphasis on conceptual and formal solutions.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jack Damer
The course involved inexplicable assignments and required navigating gray areas in the work.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleSculpture II continues investigation in sculpture studio practices, emphasizing concepts and technique. Students apply advanced woodworking, metalworking, casting, and textile techniques to create refined sculptural works.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Lithography course covering direct drawing on stone with crayon and tusche, transfer techniques, and color processes through studio practice, lectures, and critiques.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jack Damer
One historical student noted that the instructor did not provide grades until the end of the term, which created uncertainty regarding performance.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleIntermediate Painting I focuses on developing technical processes and concepts through the study and application of oils, acrylics, and collage materials.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleCERAMICS II covers hand-building, throwing, slip-casting, press molding, glazing, decorating, and firing techniques including reduction, oxidation, and primitive methods.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Gerit Grimm
One student advised that showing genuine interest and putting in a lot of effort helped them do well in the class. This reviewer rated the difficulty as low.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026 · limited sampleEtching course introducing intaglio printmaking techniques and studio problems in platemaking and printing.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleLife Drawing II investigates anatomical structure and intrinsic forms through drawing from models while developing artistic concepts and technique.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Jane Hutchison
Students reported the course was easy to pass, with one reviewer noting they received an A despite the instructional challenges.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2023 · limited sampleWood Working explores wood as a medium for constructing creative and functional three-dimensional forms.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Serigraphy course covering silk screen materials, techniques, and its role as a fine art form. Students learn to describe, identify, apply, and evaluate major printmaking processes.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Emily Arthur
Students worked on projects for most of class time, needing to attend sessions outside of class to complete work, though the load was manageable if productive.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sampleService Learning in Art explores community-based practices where students work with a community partner in an art-related capacity to foster civic responsibility.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Gail Simpson
The course involved sitting in chairs for two hours with a break in between, which one student felt was a bit long.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Watercolor II continues investigations in watercolor and mixed media on paper, focusing on developing concepts and technical skills.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Reviews common welding and metal fabrication techniques available to artists, including various welding processes, brazing techniques, torch work, cutting devices, bending methods, and finishing techniques. Mild steel will be the primary material of exploration.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Basic Graphic Design introduces fundamental principles, covering formal, conceptual, and technical aspects with emphasis on process, presentation, and craftsmanship.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Henrique Nardi
The course featured lots of quick turn-around assignments with unclear rubrics, which some students found challenging to manage.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026