Art education encourages the development of creative and human resources within oneself. Art has the power to guide an individual through a discovery of personal self-expression. Art makes life more interesting and enjoyable, and provides an outlet for experiencing emotions, thoughts and deeper understanding of the world. Some courses are offered every other year.
Experimental Art
Prerequisite – Studio in Art
1/2 Credit, Grades 10-12
This mixed media art class focuses on the development of drawing and design skills and their importance in the creative process. Students learn to move pencils naturally and spontaneously in a safe environment. The emphasis is on non-objective and intuitive approaches to design. A variety of papers, pigments, drawing and painting tools, in addition to found objects, are used to encourage students to create. Students learn to hone imaginative skills while experimenting with techniques to support artistic movement in a new direction never before explored.
Media Arts
Prerequisite — None
1 Unit
Grades 9-12
Media Arts, is a full-year foundation course designed to explore how to solve visual literacy problems through an introduction to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Premiere Pro. These programs will allow students to explore basic photo editing, graphic design and video editing while learning about digital cameras for taking photos and shooting video. Students are required to demonstrate creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills using critical and higher order thinking. Students are expected to communicate through class discussions and writing, and collaborate regularly. At the end of this course students are able to: Identify the elements of art and principles of design and demonstrate creative and personal artistic expression; be independent and self- directed learners; develop an appreciation for the history of art and art-related courses/careers; and demonstrate an understanding of global and aesthetic awareness.
Studio in Art
Prerequisite — None
1 Unit
Grades 9-12
Studio in Art is a full-year foundation course with an emphasis on studio problem-based learning activities that explore the electives of the Art Department. Students work on a variety of activities using various mediums such as pencils, charcoal, pastels, water colors, acrylic paints, pen and three-dimensional materials. Students are required to demonstrate creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills using critical and higher order thinking. Students are expected to communicate through class discussions and writing, and collaborate regularly. At the end of this course students are able to: Identify the elements of art and principles of design; demonstrate creative and personal artistic expression; be independent and self-directed learners; develop an appreciation for the history of art and art-related courses/careers; and demonstrate an understanding of global and aesthetic awareness.
Sculpture
Prerequisite — Studio in Art
1/2 Credit, Grades 10-12
This course explores the elements of shape and form through the creation and development of three dimensional art works. Students will be exposed to a number of past and present sculptors. At the end of this course, the student will be able to: demonstrate self-expression through the use of a variety of materials such as clay, wood, wire, paper mache, natural and found objects; demonstrate the technique of carving, modeling, casting and assemblage,; develop problem-solving skills when working from historic sculptural works to create their own works; acquire a greater understanding of sculpture’s role in our society and environment; and prepare, present and display finished art work. This is a hands-on course that requires the student to actively participate and self-evaluate on a daily basis.
Studio in Drawing and Painting
Prerequisite — Studio in Art
1 Unit
Grades 10-12
This full-year course is intended to develop students’ observation and technical skills in both drawing and painting. Students learn to see the world as artists and begin to translate and personalize surroundings on paper. The first half of the course is dedicated to developing drawing skills before being introduced to painting. Most of the second semester is devoted to painting techniques using watercolor and acrylics. A limited neutral palette is used to further establish the use of value when creating realistic imagery. Culminating artwork is a result of personal challenges, effort and creative problem-solving.
Studio in Advanced Drawing and Painting
Prerequisite — Studio in Art and Studio in Drawing and Painting
1 Unit
Grades 11-12
This full-year course supports students’ further development of observation skills, with more challenging subject matter such as the portrait, figure and perspective. Students also explore the potential of personal expression and development of a personal style in individual work. Drawing and painting is the focus for portfolio development; however, experience in three dimensional and non-traditional media may be explored. Students are expected to be self-motivated in order to reach and surpass personal challenges. Student work produced throughout the year must demonstrate skill growth, idea development and process.
Studio in Ceramics
Prerequisite — Studio in Art or a Music course
½ Unit
Grades 10-12
Ceramic clays are used extensively and in conjunction with other materials in making pottery and sculpture. Creative, original use of the media and production of substantial work is encouraged. Students must demonstrate aesthetic growth. Students explore direct modeling, hand building, casting and carving as they study the history and techniques of ceramics. Runs opposite of Studio in Sculpture every other year, based on demand/enrollment.
Studio in Digital Photography
Prerequisite — Studio in Art or a Music course
½ Unit
Grades 10-12
This course introduces students to the world of digital photography (using their own digital camera or a phone camera [preferred but not required] with instructor approval). Students learn the basic processes and techniques of working with digital photography. This course includes instruction on camera operation, shooting styles, image manipulation, image adjustments and corrections using image editing tools in Adobe Photoshop. Students also learn how to use digital photography as a creative tool for self-expression, social exploration and still documentation.
3D Printing
Prerequisite — Studio in Art, Geometry
½ Unit
Students will apply 21st Century Skills and STEAM to explore the world of 3D printing by drawing, designing and printing various objects. Students will review industrial and technological developments in human history and how they have led to today’s manufacturing and consumer environment. Using PBL (Project Based Learning), students will work together to research the need for product, design it on paper (review Da Vinci The Codex Atlanticus), and using a web based software manipulate their design into digital existence, and finally watch as their design is printed into reality using state of the art 3D printing technology.
Studio in Graphic Design
Prerequisite — Studio in Art or a Music course
½ Unit
Grades 10-12
In this half-year course, students develop basic knowledge and understanding of the graphic arts field, its processes and procedures, as well as production of computer generated images and design. The course concentrates on design within all categories of print media including posters, brochures, book covers, music covers, and photography manipulation. This course emphasizes commercial design elements of visual communication with the intent to expand students’ media and design literacy as well as explore the role media plays in shaping cultural and social attitudes. Students explore the fundamentals of industry standard software, such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, to create corporate identity systems, poster designs, photo layouts and various illustrations.
Studio in Sequential Art
Prerequisite — Studio in Art
½ Unit
Grades 10-12
This half-year course focuses on the development of cartoon characters and storylines. Students complete self-directed research, design, creation and manipulation of characters in a variety of mediums including traditional two-dimensional pencil and ink, computer renderings and three-dimensional constructions. Students are expected to problem solve independently and collaboratively to hypothesize, experiment, think critically and construct ideas through project-based learning. At the end of this course, students are able to: demonstrate a progression from portrait and figure proportions to exaggerated expressions and figures, as well as effective cartoon lettering and perspective to supplement an action figure; create recognizable characters of famous people; produce professional style comic strips, single panel cartoon and graphic novel pages; and prepare, present and display finished art work. Runs opposite of Studio in Experimental Art every other year, based on enrollment/demand.
Studio in Two-Dimensional Design
Prerequisite — Studio in Art
½ Unit
Grades 10-12
This half-year course in two-dimensional design focuses on exploring the nature of color, the use of color as an element of composition and as a means of expression in art. The course introduces principles and elements of art that govern the use of form. Projects focus on the execution of both black-and-white and color designs in a variety of art materials while taking into account references to art history, compositional elements, color theory and media experimentation. Runs opposite of studio Watercolor Painting every other year, based on enrollment/demand.
Studio in Watercolor Painting
Prerequisite — Studio in Art
½ Unit
Grades 10-12
This half-year course provides students with an opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation for watercolor painting. Students are introduced to the work of master painters and the history of painting. Students become acquainted with various skills and techniques associated with painting in watercolor. Drawing skills are important and will be stressed when planning and developing composition. Students work from still life, landscape and the human figure. Runs opposite of Studio in Two-Dimensional Design every other year, based on enrollment/demand. It is strongly recommended that students take drawing prior to painting. This class is offered every other year.