Art Foundations: Portfolio Development in Drawing & Design
Use the campus as a classroom to explore contour line, value, composition and the principles of design.
About the Course
Hone your skills and develop your creative vision in this immersive studio art experience. You’ll explore the core principles of drawing and design—line, shape, scale, value, perspective, and gesture—and discover how form and composition give meaning to art. Through hands-on exercises and projects, you’ll experiment with wet and dry media as well as collage, building technical ability and artistic confidence.
Studio work is enhanced through visual presentations, discussions, and peer critiques that encourage growth and self-expression.
Course Details
- Credits: 3
- Location: Adelphi University, Garden City, NY campus
- Dates: July 12–August 1, 2026
- Schedule: Monday–Thursday (studio hours vary)
Inside a pre-college art class, where high school students gain a hands-on studio session at Adelphi’s Garden City, NY campus.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of the course, you will:
- Explore the fundamentals of drawing and design
- Demonstrate basic drawing skills using a variety of materials
- Render a range of subjects from direct observation and interpretation
- Articulate thoughtful critiques of your own and others’ work
- Research an artist of your choosing and create a self-portrait inspired by their style (design and medium)
Meet Your Professor
Katherine Volpe is a New York-based artist and adjunct professor at Adelphi University and St Joseph’s University. In 2018, Katherine received an MFA degree from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. During her time in the program, she was one of three finalists for the 10th Annual Fourth Wall Competition, and was awarded a museum exhibition in the Historic Landmark Building. In 2017, Volpe was nominated for the Dedalus Foundation Fellowship, and in 2018 the recipient of PAFA’s Venture Fund. Her work has been exhibited in several museums throughout Philadelphia, including the Historic Landmark Museum and the Woodmere Museum. Volpe had her first Solo Exhibition in 2022 at Waynesburg University in the Benedum Gallery. Group exhibitions include galleries in Center City Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill and Bala Cynwyd. Volpe’s work has also been shown in NYC, including galleries in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island City. Publications and interviews include Waynesburg University Press of her Solo Exhibition in 2022, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s article for “Responders” museum exhibition in 2018 and “MAP” exhibition catalogue of 1969 gallery, NYC. Katherine most recently had four of her paintings acquired by the 9/11 Memorial Museum in NYC into their permanent collection in 2024, and has several works in their online database. She is committed to constantly learning, and giving everything she has in practice to each of her students.
