Commercial Art

Course Description

The Commercial Art student learns to serve the communication media in today's world: greeting cards, cartooning, caricatures, books, newspaper, magazines, catalogs, bulletins, posters, packages, displays, and signs. The student will be instructed in practical work as well as basic theory. The practical work includes drawing, figure construction and anatomy, cartooning, airbrush techniques, layouts and graphic design, lettering and typography, mechanical overlays, and portfolio assembly.


Program Elements

The program elements consists of: elements and principles, figure construction/anatomy, cartooning, layout/design, advertising art, intro to airbrush techniques, electronic computer art, mechanical overlays/key art, graphic design/lettering, typography, and portfolio assembly.


Grading Procedures

The grading procedures consist of: 15% bookwork, tests, quizzes, lectures, and 85% hands-on competency based work experience through practical in-shop projects.


Student Requirements

A student is expected to attend class regularly, complete assigned projects according to deadline, work diligently for a good daily grade, clothing and grooming appropriate for commercial arts studio, or advertising agency setting.


Student Costs

A student needs a notebook, and a pencil.


Suggested Prerequisites

Here are the suggested prerequisites: art courses, typing, drafting, math, computers, and cad/Cam.


Career Path

Some of the career paths that you can follow are: advertising, animation, architecture, art education, computer graphics/digital design, environment design, fashion design, film, graphic design, illustration, product design, and transport design.


Some Skills You Will Learn

The student will learn lettering, layout/design, airbrush techniques, figure construction/anatomy, perspective merchandising illustration, drawing, painting, cartooning, graphic design, animation, and mechanical overlays.


Post Secondary Opportunities

Qualified CWCTC students are able to apply for advanced standing at Westmoreland County Community, 2 and 4-year colleges, the Armed Forces, trade and technical schools and apprenticeship programs.


Career Services

Career services at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology center include: co-op, career internships, career shadowing, career clinical experiences, and career mentoring.


For More Information

For more information, please contact your home school counselor, contact CWCTC counselor at (724) 925-3532, attend the CWCTC assemblies, attend the CWCTC tours for interested students, and attend CWCTC open house.