SDA School of Arts and Design: Spring Quarter 2025

Course Schedule for 9th–12th Graders

This spring, all classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays, providing flexibility for students. Classes are available in person, live online via Zoom, or through prerecorded sessions. Personalized mentorship ensures every student stays on track and receives support tailored to their needs.

Quarter Duration: February 18 – March 23
Location: SDA School of Film and Media Arts, 16520 Bake Pkwy Ste 105, Irvine, CA

Schedule for 9th Graders (Beginners)

Saturday

• 9:00 – 11:00 AM
  A101: Academic Drawing and Sketch (Required)
  Overview: Learn basic drawing techniques such as shapes, shading, and proportions.
  Ideal For: Beginners starting their art journey.
  
  

• 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  A103: Color Theory (Required)
  Overview: Understand the basics of color relationships and their use in art.
  Ideal For: All beginner-level students.
  
  

• 2:00 – 4:00 PM
  AP110: Animation in Procreate (Selective)
  Overview: Get started with animation basics using Procreate. Learn about keyframes and movement principles.
  Ideal For: Beginners curious about animation.
  
  

Sunday

• 9:00 – 11:00 AM
  A102: Digital Arts (Selective)
  Overview: An introduction to digital art tools and basic techniques.
  Ideal For: Students new to digital art.

Schedule for 10th Graders (Intermediate)

Saturday

• 9:00 – 11:00 AM
  A101: Academic Drawing and Sketch (Required)
  Overview: Continue building foundational skills with a focus on precision and structure.
  
  

• 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  A103: Color Theory (Required)
  Overview: Apply color theory to more complex compositions.
  
  

• 2:00 – 4:00 PM
  AP110: Animation in Procreate (Selective)
  Overview: Explore more advanced animation basics.
  
  

Sunday

• 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  A106: Concept Art Development (Required)
  Overview: Begin creating concept art, focusing on character and environment design.

Schedule for 11th Graders (Advanced)

Saturday

• 9:00 – 11:00 AM
  A101: Academic Drawing and Sketch (Required)
  Overview: Master advanced drawing concepts such as proportions and texturing.
  
  

• 2:00 – 4:00 PM
  A201: Advanced Drawing and Sketch (Advanced)
  Overview: Focus on realism, texture, and detail in advanced drawing projects.
  
  

Sunday

• 2:00 – 4:00 PM
  A301: Storyboarding and Sequential Art (Advanced, Selective)
  Overview: Create visual narratives using storyboarding techniques.
  
  

• 5:00 – 7:00 PM
  A130: Perspective Drawing and Spatial Composition (Advanced, Selective)
  Overview: Learn to create compelling spatial compositions with advanced perspective techniques.
  
  

Schedule for 12th Graders (Portfolio and Application Focus)

Portfolio & Application Season:

• Students will focus on finalizing their portfolios and preparing college applications.

• Classes are replaced with one-on-one sessions with the consulting team to ensure their applications are strong and tailored to target programs.

Consulting Team Includes:

• Portfolio Reviews: Professional feedback on final artworks.

• Application Guidance: Assistance with essays, forms, and supplemental materials.

• Mentorship Support: Ensuring readiness for interviews and presentations.

Flexible Learning Options

• In-Person: Participate in live classes at our Irvine campus.

• Online Live: Join interactive Zoom classes.

• Prerecorded Sessions: Study at your own pace with recorded content.

• Mentorship: One-on-one guidance for personalized learning and feedback.

Contact us to sign up for the program that best suits your needs!

SDA School of Arts and Design - Research Program Design

Spring 2025 Theme: Art Movements and Personal Evolution

SDA School of Arts and Design introduces a specialized Art Research Program for Spring 2025. This program provides students with opportunities to explore artistic themes in depth, develop critical thinking, and produce high-quality research papers. Designed as an optional enhancement to the regular curriculum, the research program helps students build a strong foundation in art history, analytical skills, and academic writing. The program’s deliverables can be used for college applications, publishing, and competition entries.

Research Program Design

Theme: How Art Movements Shape Personal Artistic Styles

Program Objectives

1. Academic Exploration: Dive into a specific art movement and its historical, philosophical, and technical development.

2. Analysis and Innovation: Analyze the influence of an art movement on personal creativity and validate findings through artistic experimentation.

3. Scholarly Output: Produce a research paper or analysis report and present findings for feedback or publication.

Research Directions (Students Can Choose)

1. Modern Art Movements: Impressionism, Expressionism, Surrealism, etc.

2. Art and Technology: Fusion of digital and traditional art.

3. Cultural Influences: Comparing art movements across different cultures.

4. Personal Artistic Development: Drawing inspiration from historical movements to evolve one’s style.

Research Program Framework

1. Project Phases

• Phase 1: Topic Selection and Research
  
  

  • Identify a personal area of interest within the theme.

  • Learn research methodologies and gather academic resources.

  • Analyze representative artworks and submit a proposal.

• Phase 2: Research and Artistic Experimentation
  
  

  • Write a preliminary research paper and validate theories through art creation.

  • Create an artwork inspired by the research, integrating theory and practice.

  • Refine the paper and artwork with mentor feedback.

• Phase 3: Presentation and Publication
  
  

  • Finalize and submit the completed paper.

  • Participate in SDA’s Research Showcase to present findings.

  • Submit exceptional papers for publishing or competitions.

Support and Resources

1. Mentorship: Weekly one-on-one guidance to refine research topics and overcome challenges.

2. Resource Access: Online database access, academic texts, and video resources.

3. Workshops: Regular academic writing workshops to enhance paper structure and language.

4. Creative Guidance: Artistic mentors to assist in creating research-inspired artwork.

Deliverables and Presentation

1. Research Paper
   
   

   • Length: 3000–5000 words

   • Includes historical context, artistic analysis, and creative process documentation.

   • Suitable for college applications, publication, or competitions.

2. Artistic Work
   
   

   • Create a professional piece inspired by the research theme.

   • Perfect for inclusion in personal portfolios to showcase artistic and academic growth.

3. Showcase and Competitions
   
   

   • Research Showcase: Present findings to peers and mentors at SDA’s event.

   • Competitions: Exceptional research papers and artworks will be submitted to national art and writing competitions.

Program Schedule

Friday Afternoons

• 5:00–6:30 PM

  • Topic Proposal and Research Methods

Saturday Evenings

• 6:00–7:30 PM

  • Paper Writing and Editing Workshops

Flexible Mentorship Hours

• Individual appointments available from Wednesday to Friday for personalized guidance.

Program Enrollment and Fees

• Enrollment Period: Open until February 10, 2025

• Program Duration: 6 weeks

• Fees:

  • Standard Research Program: $12000

  • Advanced Program (including competition submissions and publication support): $18000

This research program is an excellent opportunity for students to enhance their artistic and academic skills while adding standout achievements to their college applications!