CURRICULUM

YEAR ONE:
THE FOUNDATION

In the Foundation Year, students have 20 Studio classes in which to work on projects and 
6 Forum classes of instruction. The classes intertwine to support a consistent plan of skill 
acquisition.

 In the Studio classes, students have the same teacher throughout the three year
program. The teacher will instruct and give Studio assignments, help interpret Forum 
assignments, assess progress and act as advisor as students build portfolios and resumes. 

The Forum classes are held in conjunction with the USA LOCAL 829 Apprenticeship Program.
Forum instructors are professional scenic artists interested in passing on the traditions of the 
craft. A variety of professionals teach the different Forum classes to give students multiple 
points of view. 

FOUNDATION TOPICS INCLUDE:  
-Panel Molding & Painted Ornament Opaque Priming (4 sessions) 
-Opaque Landscape: Carot
-Building a Palette for Backdrop Painting, Glazing Methods (4 sessions) 
-Tromp L'Oeil Ornament on Marble Panel (4 sessions)
-Painters of the 16th and 17th Centuries, Opaque (4 sessions) 
-Painters of the 18th Century, Opaque, B&W with Color Research (4 sessions)
-19th century Movements: Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Impressionism and Realism (4 sessions)
-Theatrical Drawing Preparation (2 sessions)
-Tools and Materials for the Theater 
-Color Theory and the Gray Scale Paint Mixing
-Estimate Volume (2 sessions) 
-Drawing Layout for Backdrops
-Marble Techniques I (Film and TV) Part II (Stage)
-Painted Metal Techniques
-Perspective and Geometry for the Scenic Artists (2 sessions)
-Introduction to Hand Lettering (2 sessions)
-Sculpting and Carving in Foam (3 sessions) Casting Techniques (2 sessions)
-Understanding the Designers' Presentation (Blueprints, Models, Sketches) 
-An Afternoon with the Designer 
See the complete course description for the first year.