(WINTER 2010)

An elective course in the Certificate Program in Appraisal Studies in Fine & Decorative Arts and Specialized Studies in Connoisseurship in Fine & Decorative Arts.
How do you describe a Jackson Pollock painting? How do you measure a Frederic Remington bronze sculpture? How do you identify aquatints, etchings, engravings, lithographs, and giclées? This course introduces you to the process of inspecting and describing paintings, sculpture, and works on paper for fine art appraisal assignments, gallery, insurance schedule, personal collections and other commercial applications. Focusing on in-class assignments, working individually and in groups, to acquire the skills necessary to quickly, correctly and efficiently inspect and describe fine art that adhere to the Object ID criteria and conform to current ASA and USPAP standards. Please bring to class a cloth and metal tape measures, a 12" ruler, a magnifying class or 10x loupe and curatorial gloves. Refund deadline one week prior to start date.

Holly Mitchem, M.A., A.S.A., is an accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers (A.S.A.) specializing in fine arts. Her firm, Mitchem Arts, located in Ojai, specializes in providing fine arts valuation services and expert testimony for attorneys, corporations, insurance companies, and private clients. Ms. Mitchem has served as Personal Property Chair on the governing board of the Los Angeles Chapter of the ASA. Ms. Mitchem regularly teaches classes in valuation methodology and art and design history, and has a special interest in California art and design.