Certificate

Foundation Visual Arts

Foundation Visual Arts

Certificate | 1 year | 2 semesters

 

Study Foundation Visual Arts (FVA) at NBCCD, a program that draws inspiration from the Bauhaus School, founded by Walter Gropius, which revolutionized 20th-century art education by uniting fine art, design, and craftsmanship. Emphasizing experimentation, material exploration, and liberation from traditional thinking, the Bauhaus approach shapes your first year as a catalyst for personal discovery, creative growth, and diploma success.


In this program, you will:

  • Fine-tune your creativity and develop foundational principles and skills in drawing, colour study, ​the creative process, art history, design, language, and ​time design.
  • Develop dexterity and visual problem solving with hands-on, project-based curriculum.
  • Explore our studios to help determine your direction for the future.
  • Use your foundational skills to excel in any of our specialized diploma programs in the following year.

 

Note: Students start in FVA before choosing to specialize in one of our diploma programs.

 

NEWS

NBCCD Instructor Showcases Spectre at Rewilding Exhibition | Canadian Museum of Nature 

NBCCD FVA Alumnus Set to Open Exhibit Celebrating Black Women, March 2023

 

Interested in finding out more?

Email the Recruitment Office: nbccdrecruiting@gnb.ca

  • Distance Learning and Locations

    ONLINE

    Foundation Visual Arts (FVA) is an in-person program offered in New Brunswick. Want to study at NBCCD, but limited by travel? Study online with our new option of a fully-online FVA program. Click here for more details on FVA Online.

    FREDERICTON

    NBCCD main campus is located in downtown Fredericton. Join us in-person to receive hands-on training.

  • Curriculum Standard

    Foundation Visual Arts 2025-2026 Curriculum Standard

    The Curriculum Standard is an introduction to the program which includes the program’s critical performance, a program description, program learning outcomes, and the program’s potential career opportunities. This is followed by information on duration, credits, admission requirements, advanced placement, certification, articulations, and prior learning assessment and recognition.

    This document also contains a program delivery sequence and the course profiles with specific course learning outcomes and grading basis.

    In addition, the Curriculum Standard is used as a tool for revision and evaluation of the program and for the promotion of transfer agreements with other post-secondary institutions.

  • Areas of Study
    • Skill Development (Fine Craft, Applied Design and Visual Arts Practice)
    • Elements and Principles of Design
    • Creative Process and Visual Problem Solving
    • Drawing From Observation
    • Historical Trends and Contemporary Theory
    • Colour Theory
    • 2D and 3D Design
    • Time Design

    • Media Explorations (choose five to explore: 3D Digital Design, Ceramics, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Jewellery/Metal Arts, Photography/Videography, Textile Design)

  • Career Possibilities

    The Certificate in Foundation Visual Arts provides foundational knowledge in design and visual art vocabulary, dexterity, critical thinking and visual  problem-solving skills.  From here, NBCCD students continue in one of our 8 diploma programs. Visit our programs page to learn more.

  • Course List

    Fall

    DSGN 1000
    2D Design

    DRAW 1000
    Drawing from Observation

    FVAD 1004
    Colour Study

    HIST 1000
    Visual Culture 1

    COMM 1000
    Communication and Critique

    MEXP 1000
    Media Explorations       

    Winter

    DSGN 1001
    3D Design

    DRAW 1001
    Drawing From Observation: Form and Expression

    HUMN 1001
    The Creative Process

    HIST 1001
    Visual Culture 2

    DSGN 1004
    Time Design

  • Portfolio Requirements
  • Apply Now

    Apply here.

    Go to Admission Requirements to learn what documents you need to support your application and how to pay your application fee.

    Priority Application Deadline: December 15

    We encourage applicants to apply by this date for the best chance of securing a spot. However, applications will continue to be accepted after December 15 until the programs is full.

  • Jillian Acreman (jillian.acreman@gnb.ca)
    Instructor, Studio Head, Foundation Visual Arts (Fredericton)

    Jillian values community and a lateral classroom dynamic. She takes a divergent approach to teaching, always leaning into exploration and experimentation.

Sample CourseColour Study

Explore the Art of Colour Translation in Our FVA Online Program
In the Colour Study course, Foundation Visual Arts (FVA) students undertake an inspiring assignment: Translation of a B&W Portrait to Colour. Guided by the vibrant works of renowned artist Bisa Butler, students reimagine a black-and-white portrait into a stunning, full-colour piece using the medium of their choice. This creative challenge encourages them to sample and apply colour design strategies learned throughout the course.
Preparing for Your Artistic Future Through Practice
This project helps students learn essential colour theory principles, from harmonious palettes to bold contrasts, ensuring they’re prepared for advanced studies in diploma programs or careers as professional artists. By learning how to integrate these strategies into their artistic process, students build a foundation they can carry into future projects, whether in painting, textiles, digital art, or other mediums.
See It in Action
Caleb Anderson, an FVA current student, captures the essence of this assignment perfectly. Check out their vibrant and inspiring translation below and see how the principles of colour design come to life!
Discover how FVA empowers aspiring artists to develop versatile skills and create work that resonates with emotion and meaning.
Caleb's Translation of a B&W Portrait to Colour

More Sample Courses

  • Drawing from Observation

    In this course, students acquire the ability to draw from observation through the application and exploration of drawing elements, principles and strategies. They produce drawings that investigate line, shape, space, value and perspective. In addition, students experiment with a variety of materials such as pencil, charcoal and ink. Through progressive assignments, they are prepared for continued exploration in drawing.

  • The Creative Process and Social Engagement

    In this course, students learn new strategies to develop and expand their creative habits and abilities. They explore convergent and divergent approaches to problem solving through research, mind-mapping and journaling. Drawing on personal experience while working in a variety of media, students cultivate an awareness of how art can affect social change.

  • Time Design

    In this course students will learn introductory time design concepts through exploration of film, visual books, and other time-based media. Students will apply knowledge during in-class exercises that will require them to demonstrate understanding and engagement with each topic.

  • Media Explorations

    Through this course, students will engage with the following studios: Ceramics, 3D Digital Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Jewellery/Metal Arts, Photography/Videography and Textile Design. This course is designed to familiarize students with the studio and assist them in determining an area of specialization for further and more comprehensive studies. Through presentations and hands-on tasks, students will become familiar with the studio programs, and their post-graduation career possibilities.

    Student weaving on a loom during Media Explorations in the Foundation Visual Arts program at NBCCD.

    A student weaves on a loom during Media Explorations in the Foundation Visual Arts program. This introductory course encourages students to explore new materials and techniques, building skills and confidence across a variety of artistic mediums.

FVAOnline

Want to learn Foundation Visual Arts from the comfort of your living room, or home studio? Apply now to fill one of our limited seats in our fully online FVA program. You’ll get plenty of one-on-one time with your instructors, and will tap into all the same resources the College provides.

Learn more

Build transferable skills that support your creative future

In the Foundation Visual Arts certificate program, you’ll refine foundational capabilities—dexterity in craft, design thinking, visual problem-solving, and critical analysis—through a hands-on, project-based curriculum. These skills don’t just help you discover your creative direction; they prepare you to move confidently into your chosen diploma studio at NBCCD, whether that’s Fashion Design, Graphic Design, 3D Digital Design, or any other immersive specialty.

Explore Our Programs

NBCCD offers a range of programs designed to help you find your creative voice. Each program combines studio practice with professional preparation, so you graduate with both the portfolio and the confidence to thrive in today’s creative industries.

NBCCD Programs

 

Degree Pathways

Your education doesn’t have to stop here. Thanks to articulation agreements with universities across Canada, NBCCD graduates can carry their credits forward into a bachelor’s degree.

Learn more

Ready to get started?Apply Now

At NBCCD, we believe in nurturing creativity, innovation, and strong business skills, ensuring that our graduates are not just skilled artisans but also savvy entrepreneurs, ready to make their mark in the ever-evolving world of craft and design.

How to Apply

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