Volker is a fantastic teacher, and person.

Very understanding, even if your horrible at drawing. Grades on improvement.

Mike is a really nice guy. He was pretty fair in assigning grades, a little tough sometimes. If you really tried you'd get a good grade.

Nice guy, class is ok, but a little boring. Warning, you will have 100 sketches due. Go to class, he bases a lot of grade on attendance I guess.

This class was fun. I recommend it to anyone (even if you don't think you can paint). Grades on improvement rather than natural talent.

Knows what he's doing. He will let you go off on your own which is good if you know what your doing, bad if you don't. Instructions are clear but dosen't give much group technique instruction, you learn by mistakes.

Mike's great! You'll love him! He's very helpful when it comes to answering questions...he sometimes grades tough, but he does it on one's personal best, so you do not have to be the best artist to get a good grade...just try your hardest. =)

very cool guy

Really nice prof. I sucked as a painter but still got a "B". He did admit that he rarely gives "A's". He gives you a chance to touch-up your paintings for a better grade at the end of the semester which is awesome.

There was approximately 3 days that I didn't nap in this class. Definitely don't recommend taking his class at 8:00 in the morning. If he didn't take attendance you would only need to go one time a week because he repeats each class.

A nice guy for studio classes. Funny. Sometimes brings cookies to class.

He is an extremely helpful man who is funny and an awesome painter. Easy to talk to and kind. I highly recommend taking him.

This class is great.The tests are so easy.study exactly what is on the review sheet.the only thing is he makes you do a100 page sketchbook with 100 drawings in it. thats a LOT. Hes a good teacher tho.make sure to go to class, he has mini pop quizzes, but dont worry, he gives you credit for trying.

I'm not a morning person so it sucked that Attendance pratically required, there's a 100 sketches assignment, and a few art exhibits. I was scared at first... don't even take notes... it's all in the book what you need to know from his review sheets. Just study the reviews and you'll be fine!

He is so funny... aww he reminds me of my dad. the class is boring but he's just so aww :)

Mike is an awesome professor! He is always willing to help and is very understanding if you have any problems and can't turn in a project on time. He's a really nice guy, I would highly recommend him!

Just show up to class. Do work for a different class if you want. But just be there for the quizes. Tests not difficult.

Lectures are boring. He goes way in depth in lectures and then tests just follow the review sheets and are nothing to do with lectures. Easy class.

kind of a hard grader, but will help you out in a jam

Loved the class. It was a challenge at times, but, I did get better at drawing. Written final exam was beyond easy. Reasonable about grades and time limits for projects. Nice guy, but dude hates lines. To get a good grade in this class be sure to blend and shade well and hide your lines. Mike is a great guy, I enjoyed the class.

this guy is a terrible teacher. he thinks he is so cool, but he isn't. the sketchbook is great, bring on the book, but the lectures are ridiculous. he talks about the same things over and over at a snails pace. my roommate takes art 126 from a diff prof and covers about 5x the material (we are on ch 4 and she is on 20). study guides help.

an easy professor if you go to class and take notes, i think he's comical. he basically gives you the exam as a review. only hw that is relatively hard is the papers but if you ask for help its an easy A

The only reason I go to class is because he gives out random "note card quizzes". These usually just require writing your name down. If anyone is failing, it's their own fault. He makes study guides that are EXACTLY what is on the test, so all you need to do is look up the answers the day before the test, and you'll be fine.

Great class to take if you're just using it as a UP. Lectures get boring, good sleep time. But the guy knows his stuff. Also, he grades easy on papers, study guides are pretty much exactly the test, and the notecards, awesome idea :)

He's pretty straight forward. Boring class, but what more can you expect. Gives random quizzes so go to class. His exams are basically word for word what he puts on the study guide. Nothing more, nothing less. The one down fall is you do two papers throughout the semester and he grades them extremly rough! Like we're journalism majors or something.

Volkner is one of my favorite teachers at CMU. He always starts the class slow in case there are last minute people, sometimes with a joke or current new. Quizes are given in class sometimes so attend often. The tests are strait off the study guides given. Everything was put on blackboard. Volkner is an EXCELLENT teacher and I recommend this class!

Awesome guy..had him for ART 126..does the best he can with a class that is full of ppl who pretty much just need to get through it and isn't ALL that interesting..he makes it fun. Great guy

he makes a lot of jokes most are okay but kinda cheesy. he tries his best to make a boring class fun. everyone sleeps the whole time.

The class is extremely boring. I slept through 90% of the lectures, but you should go because he gives 5 point pop quizzes ti keep attendence. He gives study guides that are practically word for word what is on the exam.. just read the book to fill out the study guide and theres no reason not to do great on the exams.

Awesome teacher, tells jokes every class. Not hard at all. Go to class, and youll get an easy 5 points almost everytime. He doesnt even care if you sleep.

Professor Volker is a great guy who does the best he can to make an art history class fun. He'll talk for a couple minutes before on random events. Some parts are extremely boring like the old art history, but it's manageable. Go to class, easy pop quizzes. Exams are easy, just study and read. You should do just fine.

His jokes aren't very funny, but at least he tries to keep the class light hearted. He knows a lot about ART. His exams were based right off the study guide, so buy the book and use it. It's an easy A. Oh, and if you miss class twice, everytime you don't show up, your grade is dropped one letter each time... SO GO!

Hilarious. I had a professor crush on him. He has a SUPER lame sense of humor but I thought he was funny. Loves his subject. Exams are amazingly easy practically word for word off his reviews he gives extra credit just for going to class sometimes awesome prof.

Volker is awesome! If I ever had to take another art class I would take it with him. tests are easy if you do the study guides he gives. questions are almost exaclty the same. His jokes are awesome, but i guess you have to get his humor. I loved the class even though sometimes i slept.

he's a nice guy and somewhat funny. gives easy quizzes just to check attendance, so those are an easy 5 points if you show up. the study guides give the exact questions on the exam.

Awesome class, so so so easy if you just show up. I literally sat on my laptop the whole time and got an A. Test are word for word study guide which follow the book. take this class!

Great teacher. Easy class, tells corny jokes. Just a really great guy, i would recomend this teacher to anyone. He shows it is possible to learn something without having a boring lecture and dry text. He made the class for me, and i learned quite a bit....Best teacher i've had in a long while....YEAH VOLKER!

Great teacher... do study guides and go to class and ull get an A!!

good teacher. boring class. he does random attendance days so class is pretty much mandatory. however its a lecture hall so its fine. lots of one page reaction papers. 2 bigger papers. gives 4 exams with reviews before if you do the reviews you are guarenteed to do well on the exam. easy class.

Awesome guy, super easy class if you just show up and are not disruptive. He gives you study guides, a few writing assignments, and extra credit. What more could you ask for? Take the class. Easy A.

One of the coolest down to earth people. He's a professor, but talks to you and is generally concerned with what's going on in your life. You can tell he loves to teach which makes the classes enjoyable. Pick him!

I loved him. I had no drawing experience before this class so I was intimidated going in, but he is the perfect professor. He is not an artist that teaches, he truly cares about his students. You really need to work to get a great grade, but he will improve your skills tremendously.

Very boring class. Every class is a lecture and most of the 300 students in the room fall asleep. Easy class. Come to class everyday for those daily "quizzes". DO THE STUDY GUIDE. That's the only way you will pass the test. The questions off the guide go exactly with the exam. Bring something else to do while in class.

Very easy class. I'm filling this out in one of his lectures. Very boring so bring something to do in class..just do the study guides and show up to class and sleep. Easy credits.

Mike is a great guy, I had him for painting. He really cares about his subject and his students. He will always give you help were needed but also tries to push you to be a better artist. He understands that every student starts at a different level and grades based on that. He talks a lot and tells bad jokes but is sorta lovable to us art kids

this guy is hilarious

very funny guy. loves his students pushes studentsto do their best. He will set aside time for each student in need. He grades off of potential and how u start off in the class and what kind of work he knows u are capable of. even if you are an awesome artist you may get a lower grade than others because he is pushing you to your full potential.

If you are going to take Mr. Volker for an art class,do so. (I cannot speak for his lecture class) He is a hard grader but he really cares about his students and wants them to improve in any way they can. If you take the time to go to class and get to know him he will take a liking to you very easily, especially if you show you're working hard.

Quite possibly the best teacher I have ever had here. He is so helpful and he really cares about his students. I came into this class scared as hell, cause I have no drawing skill what so ever. And by the end of the semester I was upset it was over. One of the best teachers I have ever had.

Very passionate about subject, Pretty hilarious guy. The lectures are excruciatingly painful but even he mentions it every class. Don't get on your phone, He will call you out to a lecture hall of 200 people. Overall good professor, Just do your work.

Professor Volker is by far one of the best teachers I've had at CMU. He posts all his power points on BB and gives out a ton of extra credit! I finished this course with above a 100% His test are super easy and straight from the study guide. Lecture can sometimes be boring but you get easy points from just going!

I love this man! I had never painted anything before in my life and he was the most helpful and genuine prof i've ever had. He will extend due dates and show you things with his own brush. He's knowledgeable and talented. I've learned so much!

Very boring class, attendance is 20% of the overall grade. DO the study guides before exams and you will do good. Do the class project and go to gallery visits. Very easy class, drags on though.

Attendance is worth 20% of your grade. Do the study guides before exams, go to the art galleries, right your reaction papers, and do the extra credit and end up with more then a 100% in the class. Very boring though.

One of the best studio art teachers at CMU in my opinion. He was very helpful and encouraging but was never pushy with his suggestions. He gives a good balance of criticism and complements of your work. He's also a super nice and funny guy that honestly cares about his students.

Volker is a super nice guy with a great personality. Although we took a lot of notes I highly recommend this course for a UP. He gave tons of extra credit and great study guides for the exams, he even made the final open book. Attendance is mandatory in which he asks Qs at the end of class and I did use the book quite a bit to study for exams

Mike became a good friend of mine. I'm a business major that accidentally took the wrong art class but it was my favorite college course and he was my favorite prof

Volker is the best art professor I've ever had. He is easy to get along with, very clear with his assignments and always there to help. You have to go to class, but it is such a stress relieving class. TAKE HIM! You won't regret it. -Mariah

Great guy!!! Really cares about the students and is so much fun!

He's a funny guy that is always there to help when you ask for it. He loves to chit chat & get to know his students. He's not the easiest grader, but as long as you put your best into it, he'll reward you.

Mr. V is an awesome professor. I had never taken a drawing class and he was very supportive. He cares about his students and tries to inspire everyone to step out of their comfort zone and discover other styles of drawing. He is knowledgeable and will even bring in books for you to look at if you are struggling with something and need more visuals.

Prof. Volker is a fine professor. I took this as a non-art major and struggled mightily with the course overall. But he was there to support me along the way and will take as much time as needed until the student understands. He knows exactly what he is talking about and will help you if you put forth effort. DO NOT TAKE IF YOU'RE NOT AN ART MAJOR.

Michael is an amazing professor! I had never taken an art class before and he made it really easy to understand. All you have to do to get a good grade is make a visible effort. If you leave class early all the time and don't stay after on critique grades he'll grade your work harder but if you ask questions on what you can improve on he'll help.

Volker is awesome. He will get to know you and he likes to talk to all of the students to get a feel for where they're at artistically and what they care about. Make sure to go to critiques because he gives valuable feedback that will help you understand what he pays attention to when grading. Overall an awesome and passionate professor.

I LOVE THIS PROF! he is so caring, funny, and nice. he understands he teaches intro classes and makes sure that everyone understands the material well. He always makes sure everyone is having a good time and communicates very well! I will be taking his class again. i learned a lot! There was never a day where i was in a bad mood in his class

He likes to socialize with his students. I learned in a variety of ways this semester. This was a hands on class where we learned painting through experience. He gave us 3 lectures and offered to do a collab painting with the class later in the semester. Hes good at influencing others with his words. I feel more confident through painting now.

Mike is the best. Eccentric, rambles, but if you care, he cares. I've had him for 3 classes now. He is a great teacher, hands-on. Convinced me there was pink in the sky of my painting even though I didn't believe him, I put it there and sure enough, it made it look real. He's hilarious, lots of stories he loves to share