Monica Fogg is a lecturer in the College of Design and an artist and designer who has taught courses in watercolor, drawing, painting, color theory, design, visual presentation, and art history. She previously taught Freshman Seminars Abroad in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 and led Global Seminars in 2015 and 2017. She is teaching the Impressionism in Paris & Southern France Freshman Seminar Abroad over spring break and leading the Capturing Greece: Color, Light, & Form Global Seminar over May session.
1. What are you most looking forward to about teaching these seminars abroad? Truthfully, I most look forward to the interaction with students in ways unique to these educational adventures. I get to participate with them in the discovery process and witness a freshness of discovery. 2. Why did you choose France for your Freshman Seminar Abroad? The program that goes to France looks at the rebellion that was part of Impressionism. We now cherish the wonderful art of that movement, but many forget that it was considered outrageous and scandalous at that time. It led the way for many movements to come. So we get to consider cultural aspects of that. We witness some of the results and visit places that inspired those artists...while experiencing the current grace of French culture. It is an approachable way to begin looking at cultural differences. 3. Why did you choose Greece for your Global Seminar? Color, light, and form are such a dynamic part of visuals of Greece. We see this in ancient built structures as well as in natural land and water formations. They also have impact on the local culture—historic, agricultural, and living of life. 4. What do you think will be the highlights of each program? Exploration is part of discovery. Engaging in a visual journal, students experience and remember the adventure in a deeper way. Our time is not about getting to as many sites as possible, but about “being present in the moment”—and experiencing a moment while reflecting on past and present. In France, one of my favorite moments is when we walk through the olive grove that inspired Van Gogh’s painting (that we see on a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art prior to departure). It is truly a “connect the dots” moment for many students. While in Greece, we will be discussing color theory quite a bit, as well as the history of the color blue. I am looking forward to experiencing different blues in sky, water, and land in a unique geographical setting. |
Creative Retreats
Monica is developing workshops to inspire creativity in busy lives. See Workshops for more information.
With over two and a half decades of teaching experience, her strength lies in reaching people who have different styles and levels of experience. She stimulates exploration of formal, technical, and conceptual issues. She has taught courses in watercolor, drawing, painting, color , design, illustration, visual presentation and art history. Recent courses at the University of Minnesota - College of Design include: Building Vision – a course in which students develop ways of seeing, using drawing methods to explore ideas and visual story-telling. Impressionism in Paris and Southern France – a course in which Monica takes students to France where they investigate vision, creativity and history via exercises in drawing and watercolor. Japanese Design and Aesthetics – a course in which Monica takes students to Japan, where they practice perception and creative processes, using various drawing methods to explore visualization, creativity and story-telling.
Is an award winning artist. Her work is informed and inspired by forms found in nature and is in collections throughout the United States
Her art has enhanced her design or fabrication work for corporations, set work for Guthrie Theater and Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and Hollywood credits (“Grumpy Old Men” and Disney’s “Mighty Ducks.”) 
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