Visual Arts

The Department of Visual Arts is a premiere collegiate and pre-professional visual art training program for young creatives with a strong emphasis in painting, drawing and ceramic arts.

Visual Arts Overview

The Department of Visual Arts at The School of Arts + Enterprise is a premier training program for students who are interested in painting, drawing and 3-D art mediums. Focusing on traditional art methods, combined with cutting edge new mediums and a nationally award winning partnership with the American Museum of Ceramic Arts. The SAE’s Department of Visual Arts  offers a hands-on and student centered approach to learning, with traditional methods of painting and drawing at the forefront. The Department of Visual Arts has a long commitment to collegiate curricular level focus on Curation and Exhibition work – as The SAE is home to two professional quality galleries on our campuses. Our fully credentialed, industry-based teaching faculty offers diverse and college level student learning opportunities with graduates at some of the most prestigious and exciting universities across the country.

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Middle School Visual Arts

6th – 8th Grader Students are exposed to all aspects of the visual arts world with an emphasis on painting and drawing and the fundamentals of design.

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Visual Arts Major

9th – 12th grade students with a Visual Arts Major receive dynamic pre-professional training in preparation for a career in the visual arts or gallery industries.

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The AMOCA Ceramic Arts Dual Major

Visual Arts students are offered access to the nationally award winning partnership SAExAMOCA, as part of the AMOCA Ceramic Arts Dual Major housed at the American Museum of Ceramic Arts and taught by their artisans.

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What Our Students Say

“The SAE has allowed me to find myself as an artist and as a person. The school provides a plethora of professional materials that helped me narrow what I wanted to pursue in my professional career. The SAE has also provided access to other professional studios and artists, giving me opportunities no other school could. Being surrounded by so many artists has nurtured my passion for art.” Antonella Bogo — Visual Arts Major + AMOCA Ceramic Arts Dual Major — Class of 2025

colorful mug in ceramic studio
group admires art in a gallery. One person hold their phone up to take a photo.
student walks by colorful artwork displayed on a wall
colorful ceramic pots on display
student works on ceramics at a desk
art displayed on a wall in a gallery
exterior view of SAE building

Department Leadership

Carol Goldwater | Head of Visual Arts

Dr. Goldwater earned her Master of Fine Arts (Doctorate), Master’s and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing, Painting, Photography and Printmaking at the Otis College of Art and Design (formerly Otis Parsons School of Design). In addition she has a single subject CTE Credential in Visual Arts and being a CTE mentor teacher, Carol holds a Lifetime Teaching Credential in the Visual Arts for K-12 and Community Colleges in California. The current Head of Visual Arts, Carol has been at the SAE for 11 years, having previously taught at Otis College of Art and Design, Orange Coast College, Fullerton College, and Long Beach City College for several years. Carol also worked in the contract furniture industry for 25 years designing interior spaces for clients such as Disney, Dodger Stadium, Google, Orange County Performing Arts, USC, Western University and several others.

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Creative Arts
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Theater Arts