Crossland Evening/Saturday High – Online Online Fundamentals of Art

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

What words can you use to describe the parts that make up great art? What terms do artists apply to their creations in order to achieve their intended results? Fundamentals of Art, an entry-level one-semester course, introduces you to the theory and practice of art. You will begin your study with intensive application of the terms of art to give you the vocabulary you need to critically and insightfully discuss—and eventually write about—art. This course discusses and demonstrates the elements (line, color, shape/form, space, value, and texture) and principles (balance, harmony, unity, emphasis, repetition, rhythm, contrast, and composition) of art through the incorporation of famous works of art, as well as with the use of interactive graphics and activities. You will study classic representations of art that demonstrate particular elements and principles, such as paintings by Pissarro, da Vinci, Cimabue, Manet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Renoir, and Monet. This course focuses on teaching you to analyze works of art rather than to create art. Before enrolling in this course, you should have basic skills in analysis and writing about subjects using evidence to support your ideas.