This class provides the beginning student experience in handling a variety of painting material to foster growth in visual, scientific, conceptual, and aesthetic responses. Explore painting from the Renaissance to the current era through examination of paintings and scholarly periodicals. Focus on proficiency through observational painting from the model, the still life, and interior and/or exterior spaces, perspective, light structure/chiaroscuro, positive negative spatial relationships, color theory and relationships, handling of materials, and abstraction. Develop artistic vocabulary and critical and conceptual thinking habits through participation in mandatory group critiques. Deepen your introspection through creation of a cohesive portfolio, body of work, or artifact for final presentation. This course is articulated with a Kirkwood college credit course. To successfully complete this course, students must pass all required components as this class qualifies as a pathway into a Kirkwood credit program.