Fleming College: Learn | Belong | Become

Program Highlights

The Visual and Creative Arts Diploma (VCAD) offers you unique and flexible options for earning a diploma in the visual arts. Choose the learning path that is right for you. It’s your diploma, your way.

VCAD = foundation courses + elective courses

 

Foundation Courses

These  courses are required to develop the foundational skills for Visual and Creative Arts Diploma candidates:

• 3D Design
• Art History - The Recent Century
• Contemporary Art Investigations
• Design I
• Drawing Disciplines
• Media Explorations I
• Visual Documentation
• Business for Artists
• Concept Development
• Design II
• Media Explorations II
• Portfolio and Presentation
• 2 General Education Electives

Elective Courses

The elective courses build upon the foundation courses and focus on studio-based learning and techniques. You can acquire these elective courses thorugh one of two learning pathways: the Specialist Option; or the Generalist Option.

Specialist Option

Take one of our 15-week Art Certificate programs: 

• Artist Blacksmith
• Ceramics
• Digital Image Design (Pending Approval)
• Drawing & Painting (Visual Arts Fundamentals)
• Glassblowing
• Jewellery Essentials
• Photo Arts
• Sculpture
• Fibre Arts

Generalist Option

Or, you can obtain your elective courses by taking a Generalist Option. Choose 12 courses plus a two-week capstone course. Study at your own pace, including spring, summer and fall courses (see the Haliburton School of The Arts Calendar for these courses).

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Why Choose Fleming?

What it Takes to Succeed

An interest in art, drawing, and painting is essential to your success in this program. Other skills, abilities, and personal qualities that would be an asset include:

• Oral and written communication
• An open mind
• Willingness to learn from others
• An interest in exploring your creativity
• Ability to commit to an intensive format

Career Opportunities

You have started a life long learning experience in the world of art with endless options in your pursuit of a career in the art field. You might continue to pursue a career by taking more advanced studies or work as a studio artist to further develop your talents, become a teacher or work in a gallery, museum or art/craft retail operation.

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including: 

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12) 

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted.

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

Related Programs

If you are a graduate of Sheridan College's Art Fundamentals Certificate program, you may obtain a diploma in Fleming's Visual and Creative Arts by completing a specialization in one of the following areas:  Ceramics, Fibre Arts, Glassblowing, Artist Blacksmith, Sculpture, Photo Arts, Jewellery Essentials, Visual Arts Fundamentals - Drawing and Painting. Details are available at Transfer Credit Articulation Agreement.

Additional Costs

Material fees of approximately $800.00 for the first two semesters.

University Transfer Agreements

• Athabasca University
• Emily Carr University of Art + Design
• Ontario College of Art & Design
• University of New Brunswick
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Course	Hours
Semester 1
3D Design - Studio	47.50
Art History - The Recent Century	47.50
Contemporary Art Investigations	60.00
Design I	47.50
Drawing Disciplines	47.50
Media Explorations I	24.00
Visual Documentation	30.00
General Education Elective
Semester 2
Business for Artists	47.50
Concept Development	142.50
Design II	47.50
Media Explorations II	24.00
Portfolio and Presentation	24.00
General Education Elective

Semester 1

3D Design - Studio

Course Number: ARTS0959

In this course, students explore the use of various combinations of traditional and non-traditional materials, considering form, line, plane, textures, balance, unity, and negative/positive space in the study of three-dimensional constructions. This creation of hand-built forms in sequential learning cycles is designed to increase the capacity to 'think with materials' while developing personal choices in content and themes. Students will use techniques involving proportion and measurement in order to construct objects/forms/figures that are built to scale from prototypes. Particular attention will be given to the chosen point of view and environment for the object. Through interactive studio lectures, discussions, and collaborative activities, students expand critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they examine their relationship to sculptural practices.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Art History - The Recent Century

Course Number: ARTS0956

This survey course provides an introduction to the major styles and movements of Western art history, from the sources of Impressionism to the end of the twentieth century. It will briefly reference the roots of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists from ancient art to the movements of Neo-Classicism and Romanticism. The course provides an important frame of reference for further explorations in contemporary art issues or art history. Using studio, lectures, research, and presentations, emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of the key styles, methods and principles of artists and art processes of interest to the individual student.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Contemporary Art Investigations

Course Number: ARTS0957

What is happening today, and what is happening in the streets in art should be an ongoing connection which enables the artist to relate themselves, their values, and their own work to the vast realm of events constantly unfolding in current realms of art, craft, design, science, and technology. The boundaries of these worlds are disappearing as collaborative endeavours share the materials, techniques, and design processes in the development of new insights. Through critical exercises, research, and presentations, students will develop a strengthened vision and vocabulary about visual art. They will engage in a study of the art worlds at local, national, and international levels as well as in the process of the critique, both subjective and objective, discussing their own and the work of other artists. Emphasis will be placed on appreciation and application of the different mechanisms and the benefit of the wealth of insights afforded by the critique. This course will include a three day visit to a variety of urban arts venues; a rich experience which will support the students as they begin to establish their personal themes and goals in their own visual arts practices.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Design I

Course Number: ARTS0960

Effective works of art engage the viewer on sensory, emotional, and intellectual levels. Through an understanding of the principles and elements of design in the development of the art object, the student is able to reflect on both their own work and that of others. This course engages the student in an interactive examination of the basic elements and principles of two and three-dimensional design through a variety of applied exercises, examination of examples from design history, the built and natural environment, and application to one's own work. Using group work, research, discussion, critical thinking, and design projects, students begin to recognize and understand the powerful implications of different design solutions.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Drawing Disciplines

Course Number: ARTS0961

In this overview the students will investigate the intent and purposes addressed in each of the disciplines of drawing. Visualization, ideation, notation and communication sometimes demand a more spontaneous process than that of rendering which usually provides more realism and detail in drawing the figure, environment, and objects. Observational, technical, and conceptual drawings will be examined in both historical and contemporary applications for the purposes of record, design, description and expression. Students will apply basic skills in each of these areas, from loose sketching to careful rendering processes that are used in fine art, craft, illustration and design. They will examine and identify the aspects of various drawing media and supports used in mark-making, as well as an understanding of how they can continue to develop drawing skills for their purposes after the completion of the course.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Media Explorations I

Course Number: ARTS0962

Artistic expression can be realized through a wide range of media and artistic disciplines. In this course students have the opportunity to examine a variety of these through studio samplings, demonstrations, video references, and research with faculty and guest artists. Students will also be encouraged to investigate various combinations of media. The fall semester will include introductions to materials and basic processes for working in media such as clay, metal, textiles, paint media, and traditional photography.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Visual Documentation

Course Number: ARTS0963

This course focuses on the fundamental skills and organization required to create images for documentation and presentation of works. Students will use digital photography to produce these images for display in print and digital formats for a variety of purposes, including the artist's presentations and portfolio. Attention will be given to staging, lighting and framing work for the specified output. Images will be taken to the computer for the purposes of adjustment, cropping, and compositing of montages. Students will explore various methods of selecting, editing, and sequencing a series of images for a specific purpose, e.g. marketing, grant or commission applications, teaching, narrative, autobiographical, curatorial etc.

Units: 30.00
Hours: 30.00

Semester 2

Business for Artists

Course Number: BUSN0099

Through discussion, examples and practical application, this course addresses the many aspects of business practices that apply to visual artists and artisans. Sound business practices ensure that more time and resources exist for artistic production. Knowing how to research and work with legal rights and responsibilities, financial structures, copyright, contractual obligations, ethics and negotiation skills, enables the student to engage in their chosen practice with improved management of time and money which are critical to survival and success. Through a combination of theory and practice, this course also examines the ways in which artists can assess the market, promote their work, and price it appropriately according to specific venues. Students will explore the processes required for responding to a call for submissions, commissions, and writing grant proposals.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Concept Development

Course Number: ARTS0964

This course is designed to provide the student with a focused and challenging studio experience where they will choose and execute personal themes in studio projects. Exercising self-reflective considerations, the students will undertake the development and presentation of one or more series of works. The progressive nature of the studio process will be discussed and demonstrated through individual and group discussions with the instructor. Cultural, political and social comparisons will be referenced to the developing body of work in both historical and contemporary perspectives. Students will work with the instructor in determining their choice of media.

Units: 142.50
Hours: 142.50

Design II

Course Number: ARTS0965

This course extends the skills and knowledge acquired in Design I. Through a variety of exercises and projects, students develop problem-solving skills by applying the design process to achieve a variety of solutions. Students also examine current issues of design and style, and how they are affected by social and technological developments. Emphasis will be placed on effective communication and presentation skills in demonstrating the results of research as applied to their design solutions.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50

Media Explorations II

Course Number: ARTS0966

This is a continuation of Media Explorations I. Students will have the opportunity to continue their experience working in a variety of media including various sculpture, glassblowing, and jewellery processes. Students will investigate the work of artists who combine traditional and non-traditional materials in their work. Experimentation will be emphasized with attention to the use of tools along with research to solve structural and material design issues.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00

Portfolio and Presentation

Course Number: ARTS0967

Students will develop the processes and support material for use in presenting and promoting their work to interested clients, prospective galleries, juries and other audiences. Applying the skills developed in the Visual Documentation course, they will create image portfolios, as well as write curriculum vitae, artist's statements and related documents with professional style and content. Visual impact in presentation materials will be considered through experimentation with colour systems, typography, layout, and image sequencing. Students will use word processing and image adjustment software to develop both print and digital versions of their portfolios and presentations.

Units: 24.00
Hours: 24.00