Art history enthusiast earning A.F.A. in Art
Annabelle Knowles, 19, is earning an Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) in Art at Inver Hills Community College. Annabelle is a sophomore on schedule to graduate from Inver Hills in spring 2020. She is looking forward to earning her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art History at Hamline University.
Annabelle is open to attending graduate school to earn an M.A. in Art History. Her career goals are centered on working as an art historian or museum curator.
“I took a class called Art from Prehistory to 1400 from Jennifer Joffe, who teaches art history at Inver,” Annabelle said. “I loved the class.”
Since completing her first art history course, Annabelle has taken Art from Renaissance to Present and is taking World Art during fall semester 2019.
Art history and culture courses at Inver Hills
ART 1106 • Art from Prehistory to 1400 • 3.0 credits
Explores major works in painting, sculpture, architecture, and decorative arts from prehistory to 1400. Both the styles and methods employed in the creation of the works of art and the cultural, religious, economic, and political philosophies that influenced them will be studied.
ART 1107 • Art from Renaissance to Present • 3.0 credits
Explores major works in painting, sculpture, architecture, and decorative arts from the 15th century through the present. Both the styles and methods employed in the creation of the works of art and the cultural, religious, economic, and political philosophies that influenced them will be studied.
ART 1109 • World Art • 3.0 credits
Surveys major works in painting, sculpture, architecture, calligraphy, and decorative arts from non-western cultures around the world dating from prehistory to the present. Art from Pakistan, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, the Islamic world, the Americas, Africa, and the Pacific will be studied. Both the styles and methods employed in the creation of the works of art and the cultural, spiritual/religious, societal, economic, and political philosophies that influenced them will be studied and students will learn to recognize and appreciate cross-cultural differences and similarities.
More about Annabelle…
Originally from Farmington, Minnesota, Annabelle graduated from Farmington High School in 2018. She works 25 hours a week while going to Inver Hills as a sales associate/fitting room expert at Gap in the Mall of America, covering four different stores.
Annabelle’s father, Christopher, retired as a command chief master sergeant (E-9) from the U.S. Air Force. He served as a flight medic during his military career and now works at the VA Medical Center. Annabelle’s mother, Kristin, also served in the Air Force. She was a surgical tech and now works as a health care administrator.
Annabelle has two brothers. Jeff, 28, is an USAF veteran; he works as a coach at the Foss Swim School. Marcus, 24, went to Inver Hills, has two associate degrees and is looking at attending culinary school. The family has one dog, a 10-year-old Shih-Tzu/Maltese mix named Buddy.
More about the A.F.A. in Art…
The Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) in Art is a pre-professional program for students intending to transfer to a four-year program in pursuit of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree as well as for students interested in entering the art job market. Students will take 40 credits in art courses and 20 credits in general requirements.
Inver Hills offers courses in the following artistic areas:
- Ceramics
- Digital Art
- Drawing
- Painting
- Glass
- Photography
- Sculpture
Many of our students take art courses as part of their liberal arts requirements while others complete their freshman and sophomore years at Inver Hills and then transfer to a Bachelor of Fine Art program at a four-year college or university. If you are aiming to launch your career, earning an A.F.A. gives you the power and know-how to find your niche as a creative professional.
Transfer options
The A.F.A. in Art program at Inver Hills has articulation agreements with the following universities:
- St. Cloud State University: Art, Art Education, Studio Art
- Minnesota State University, Mankato: Bachelor of Fine Art
- Winona State University: Art (Studio Art option), Art (Graphic Design option), Art Teaching
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls: Art
Articulation agreements in the planning stages:
- Hamline University: B.F.A. Art History
- Bemidji State University: Exhibit Design Graphic Design
- Metropolitan State University
Annabelle Knowles • Q & A
Why did you choose Inver Hills?
My older brother Marcus went to Inver and recommended the college.
What is one thing every artist should know?
No one is born good at art.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Painting with watercolors
What do you like best about studying art?
Learning the history of art and discovering the connections between art and culture—especially how those connections change over time.
What is the most challenging aspect of creating art at the college level?
Going outside my comfort zone. Earning my A.F.A. meant taking a lot of art courses where I didn’t have any experience, including Digital Photography I and II, which I really liked as it turned out.
Three words that describe you as an artist:
BEGINNER. CURIOUS. OPEN.
What advice would you give students thinking about making art their career path?
You need to know how much work you’ll be putting into it. This isn’t an office job—you’re making art.
Out of all the works of art you’ve created, what is your favorite?
My final project in Digital Photography II. I made a collage about my grandparents combining old photos with new photos to show them looking back on their lives.
What is your favorite artistic period?
I like how during the Edo period art was more and more consumed by everyone, royals and average people, because of the mindset they had about not living long and you should spend your money and enjoy life.
What is your greatest strength as an artist?
I have a passion to keep learning and getting better.
What one word best describes your experience at Inver Hills?
FUN
Annabelle Knowles • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball
Place you would most like to visit: Japan
- Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Went on a trip to Oahu, Hawaii
- Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Pay off my parents’ debt 2) Buy a house in Hawaii 3) Invest
- Favorite TV show you’re watching now: One Day at a Time (2017)
- Best movie you’ve seen lately: A Silent Voice: The Movie
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Become an accomplished art historian
Your national bird if you were your own country: Anna’s hummingbird
- Dream occupation: Translator of all languages
- Person you would most like to meet: Kim Jong-hyun
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Fully learn more languages
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Too materialistic
Learn more about the A.F.A. in Art at Inver Hills by contacting:
Rob Kolomyski
Painting and Drawing Faculty
651-450-3256
