Explore the Student Art Collection (by Media)

The process of creating ceramic art is often achieved by using workable clay to slab build, wheel throw, slip cast or by using various other methods. Once the clay is worked to its desired form, the clay is hardened by exposing it to high temperatures in a kiln. During that process, glazing can be used to add color or finish to a form. Although the process has very specific technical aspects that require good timing and accuracy, there are many areas within the process that allow creativity and experimentation.

Drawing can be loosely described as any form of mark making. Instruments used to create drawings include graphite, pen and ink, colored pencil, pastel, charcoal and even some unconventional materials. Likewise, a viewer can find drawings on surfaces far more diverse than standard paper. The combination of instrument, substrate and technique are manipulated to create artwork that can be categorized as abstract, representational or nonrepresentational.

Digital art uses software and technology accessible on a computer to transform the way two-dimensional art is made.

An artwork is classified as mixed media when the artwork is composed of several different materials or objects. An acrylic painting that finds itself partially covered in wax and adorned with bottle caps is one instance where an artwork could be considered mixed media.

Often found in public spaces, murals are applied directly to a wall or surface perpendicular to the ground. This art form is often thought to be accessible to a large audience at once in a public space.

While traditionally created on canvas with brush and paint (oil, acrylic or watercolor), artists can use a variety of substrates to paint on, instruments to use and substances to paint with achieving various results. Similarly, artists have explored different genres and subject matter in painting. Common subject matter includes historical paintings, portraits, scenes from mundane life, landscape and still life paintings.

Photography is made using light. An electronic sensor that retrieves an image can be used to make a photograph, like what is found in a digital camera, or a light sensitive material can be used chemically, commonly used with a film camera or a sun print. Traditional film photographs are made with light, which passes through a lens, creating a two-dimensional reproduction on a light sensitive surface. Digital photography has become more common and allows images to be altered digitally on a computer. Photographic film can also be manipulated chemically during the dark room process.

Reproductive prints are a copy of an original artwork. These prints can often be printed on a variety of surfaces included paper and canvas.

Using a variety of methods to transfer an image to another surface, printmaking is an art form that often lends itself to having the ability to create duplicates. Due to the transferring process, these duplicates each have unique qualities and can vary slightly. The four main categories of printmaking are relief, intaglio, lithography and screen printing.

The CSUN Public Art Course (ART 488CS) is offered to students to develop the skills required to plan, propose and complete a public artwork during the academic semester. The USU has collaborated with the CSUN Department of Art by providing space, audience and financial support to fully realize students’ artistic ideas.

Any object that exists in the third-dimension is thought of as sculpture. Artists often utilize tools to construct and assemble forms. These tools are used to carve, cut, build, combine, adhere, weld and fasten, creating forms made from additive and reductive processes. Sculptures can be crafted using a variety of materials from wood and plaster to metal, wax and plastic.