Visual Arts Syllabus

A complete, free survey of the visual arts — from prehistoric cave paintings to AI-generated imagery. Eleven courses covering art history, traditional media, lens-based and applied arts, the contemporary landscape, and the AI revolution reshaping visual culture. All drawn from a single Quarex shelf.

11Courses
110Chapters
672Topics

Foundations

The big picture — how art evolved over millennia, and the fundamental skill that underlies every visual discipline.

1 Art History: From Prehistory to the Present 10 ch.
  1. Prehistoric Art and Cave Paintings
  2. Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture
  3. Classical Greek and Roman Art
  4. Medieval Art and Gothic Cathedrals
  5. Renaissance: Italy and Northern Europe
  6. Baroque and Rococo Periods
  7. Romanticism and Realism
  8. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
  9. Modern Art Movements (1900–1950)
  10. Contemporary Art (1950–Present)
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2 Drawing: Techniques and Principles 10 ch.
  1. Drawing Materials and Tools
  2. Line, Form, and Contour
  3. Perspective and Spatial Depth
  4. Light, Shadow, and Value
  5. Texture and Surface Quality
  6. Composition and Design
  7. Figure Drawing and Anatomy
  8. Portrait Drawing
  9. Landscape and Environment
  10. Expressive and Gestural Drawing
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Traditional Media

The core disciplines of studio art — paint, stone, metal, clay, and the printmaker’s press.

3 Painting: Materials, Methods, and Expression 10 ch.
  1. Painting Media: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor
  2. Color Theory and Mixing
  3. Brushwork and Application Techniques
  4. Canvas Preparation and Grounds
  5. Underpainting and Layering
  6. Glazing and Scumbling
  7. Palette Knife and Impasto
  8. Watercolor Techniques
  9. Mixed Media Approaches
  10. Varnishing and Preservation
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4 Sculpture: A Comprehensive Guide to Forms and Techniques 10 ch.
  1. Sculpture Materials: Stone, Metal, Clay, Wood
  2. Modeling and Additive Techniques
  3. Carving and Subtractive Methods
  4. Casting: Mold-Making and Bronze
  5. Assemblage and Found Objects
  6. Kinetic and Mobile Sculpture
  7. Installation Art
  8. Relief Sculpture
  9. Public and Monumental Sculpture
  10. Contemporary Sculpture Practices
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5 Printmaking: Processes and Practices 10 ch.
  1. Relief Printing: Woodcut and Linocut
  2. Intaglio: Etching and Engraving
  3. Aquatint and Drypoint
  4. Lithography Techniques
  5. Screen Printing (Serigraphy)
  6. Monotype and Monoprint
  7. Collagraph and Experimental Methods
  8. Digital Printmaking
  9. Editioning and Print Documentation
  10. Print Studio Safety and Setup
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Lens, Page, and Screen

Photography, illustration, and graphic design — visual arts that communicate, narrate, and solve problems.

6 Photography: History, Theory, and Practice 10 ch.
  1. History of Photography
  2. Camera Fundamentals and Types
  3. Exposure: Aperture, Shutter, ISO
  4. Composition and Visual Language
  5. Lighting Techniques
  6. Black and White Photography
  7. Color Photography Theory
  8. Digital Workflow and Post-Processing
  9. Photographic Genres and Styles
  10. Contemporary Photography Practice
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7 Illustration: Concepts and Techniques 10 ch.
  1. History of Illustration
  2. Editorial Illustration
  3. Book Illustration and Publishing
  4. Children’s Book Illustration
  5. Scientific and Technical Illustration
  6. Fashion Illustration
  7. Concept Art for Games and Film
  8. Storyboarding
  9. Character Design
  10. Digital vs Traditional Illustration
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8 Graphic Design: Principles and Applications 10 ch.
  1. Graphic Design History and Movements
  2. Typography Fundamentals
  3. Layout and Grid Systems
  4. Color in Graphic Design
  5. Logo and Identity Design
  6. Print Design: Books, Posters, Packaging
  7. Digital and Web Design
  8. User Interface (UI) Design
  9. Motion Graphics
  10. Design Thinking and Process
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The Contemporary Landscape

Art after 1945 and the digital revolution — where the field stands now and where it’s going.

9 Contemporary Art: Themes and Movements Since 1945 10 ch.
  1. Abstract Expressionism
  2. Pop Art and Consumer Culture
  3. Minimalism and Conceptual Art
  4. Performance and Body Art
  5. Installation and Environmental Art
  6. Postmodernism and Appropriation
  7. Identity Politics and Art
  8. New Media and Digital Art
  9. Globalization and Contemporary Art
  10. Social Practice and Relational Aesthetics
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10 Digital Art and Design: Tools and Concepts 10 ch.
  1. Digital Art History and Evolution
  2. Hardware: Tablets, Displays, Input Devices
  3. Software Overview: Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate
  4. Digital Drawing and Painting
  5. Vector Graphics and Illustration
  6. 3D Modeling and Rendering
  7. Digital Collage and Photo Manipulation
  8. Animation Fundamentals
  9. Generative and Algorithmic Art
  10. NFTs and Digital Art Markets
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11 AI Art: Generation, Ethics, and Creative Practice 10 ch.
  1. What Is AI Art?
  2. How AI Image Generation Works
  3. The Major AI Art Platforms
  4. Prompting and Directing AI
  5. AI as a Creative Collaborator
  6. Copyright, Training Data, and Intellectual Property
  7. Impact on Working Artists
  8. Authenticity, Authorship, and What It Means to Create
  9. Aesthetic Criticism of AI Art
  10. The Future of AI and Visual Culture
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