# Lifelong Learning (General NC) (NCART) (NCART) courses MiraCosta College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 10 courses Source: https://catalog.miracosta.edu/continuingeducation/noncreditcourses/ "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026. ### NCART 11 — Intermediate Techniques in Painting - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course is designed for students with prior experience in drawing and painting who are ready to further develop their artistic skills. The course emphasizes advanced techniques in drawing, color theory, and composition. Students explore a variety of painting subjects, including still life, florals, landscapes, and abstract works, using media such as acrylics, oils, watercolor, pastels, and mixed media. ### NCART 12 — Advanced Techniques in Painting - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course is designed for students who know how to paint and draw and who feel confident about their abilities. The course covers advanced composition, color use, landscapes, and portraits. Students create a suite of paintings on a theme of their choice or follow a class syllabus designed to challenge the more experienced artist. Students are encouraged to use all media, including acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pencil, pen, and ink. ### NCART 13 — Acrylic Painting - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course introduces students to the fundamentals of acrylic painting, with an emphasis on color theory and essential techniques. Through a combination of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on practice, students plan and create a variety of paintings, including still life, abstract compositions, seascapes, and works emphasizing perspective. Students are responsible for providing their own materials. ### NCART 15 — Portrait and Figure Drawing and Painting - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course covers the fundamentals of drawing and painting portraits and the human figure, with an emphasis on accurate anatomy, proportion, and effective use of materials. Students work from clothed or nude models, photographs, and masterworks, and are expected to provide their own supplies. ### NCART 17 — Painting and Drawing - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course uses drawing as a foundation to inform and enhance students painting practice. Working primarily with graphite and charcoal, students explore color through water-based media, such as gouache, watercolor, and acrylic. The course encourages creative experimentation with mixed media, including ink, pastel chalk, and oil pastels. Students are responsible for providing their own supplies. ### NCART 20 — Basic Drawing and Sketching - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course covers the basic principles and techniques in drawing and sketching. Topics include the use of line to define form, cross-hatching, shading, rubbing, blending, values, and color. Students practice thumbnail sketches and use a variety of materials, such as graphite, colored pencils, markers, pen and ink, charcoal and pastel chalks, and oil pastels. Students are expected to furnish their own supplies. ### NCART 31 — Watercolor Painting, Beginning - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This class is designed to acquaint beginners with the techniques, properties, and materials of transparent watercolors. It exposes students to basic art elements, such as value, composition, color, textures, and drawing principles. Students plan and create several watercolor pieces that are critiqued by the instructor, and students must provide their own materials. ### NCART 32 — Watercolor Painting, Intermediate - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer This course in transparent watercolor painting is designed to improve the watercolor skills of an intermediate watercolor student. Assignments stress more advanced composition elements and originality. Students practice planning and executing watercolor pieces after faculty lecture and demonstration, and their work is evaluated during group critique sessions. Students are expected to provide their own supplies. ### NCART 35 — Watercolor Painting on Location - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer In this watercolor painting course, students apply previously learned skills in real-world settings through required, free weekly field trips to various outdoor locations across North County San Diego. Each class session takes place on location at a different site, where students practice watercolor techniques, explore principles of design and composition, and refine their drawing skills. The course encourages creative ways of seeing color and light while deepening awareness of the surrounding environment. Students provide their own materials and arrange their own transportation to each site. A list of locations will be provided on the first day of class. ### NCART 70 — Multimedia Sculpture - **Hours:** Lecture 2.75 hours - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/ncart.md) - Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer Students learn sculpture techniques through a variety of media, including paper, plaster, clay, and assembly as well as from a variety of artists working in various media. The class offers creative ideas for the novice as well as new techniques for practicing artists. Students are expected to provide the materials needed to complete class projects.