A lot of people say that they “don’t get art”. Those same people tend to think of art as either weird paintings in museums or outrageous, random, intentionally confusing ‘artsy stuff’ (think Lady Gaga).

Those people are right – there’s a lot of that in the world of art. But what they might not realize is that art is everywhere. It’s all around us, all the time, especially since the invention of the smartphone. What they might not realize is that design is art, and every man-made thing that you can see has been designed by someone. That includes movie posters, apps, the McDonald’s logo, the forms you fill out at the doctor’s office – it’s all design, and design is art.

Mr. Curtis, Art Instructor

Mr. Curtis, Art Instructor

I’m Mr. Curtis, an art instructor and professional graphic designer. In addition to teaching this class, I’m an actively exhibiting fine artist, focusing on conceptual art that deals with themes of digital reality and how it intersects with our physical world. I also write the webcomic “Lost in the Vale”, illustrated by my wife, Crystal. When I’m not doing those things, I’m a freelance web designer and programmer and an avid gaming enthusiast. I love board games and pop-culture, so now you know how to distract me. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that…

Most of all, I love art and I love showing people how important art is to our lives and our culture. If you don’t love art, that’s okay, because I also love challenges! Keep an open mind, pay attention, and do your work and we’ll have a good time looking at (and making) a lot of super-cool stuff – a lot of which you probably never thought of as art!

Now what?

Mr. Curtis explains his piece "Triclops", 2012

Mr. Curtis explains his piece “Triclops”, 2012

Check out the rest of the site to get a feel for how the class works, what’s expected of you, and how you can have fun making cool stuff.

  • Expectations – What you’ll be doing and how you should do it. This covers class rules, group work details, and class rewards (and consequences, but let’s try to avoid those).
  • Organization – How the class is structured, both literally and figuratively.
  • Grading – A breakdown of the assignments and projects we’ll be doing, and some info on how you can earn extra points.
  • Technology – Details on the software and hardware we’ll be using in class, and what accounts we’ll be using online. Check out Device Rentals if you think you’ll have an issue accessing technology or the internet during this class.
  • Links – Helpful resources for class, school, and art