Visual Arts

DRAWING AND PAINTING A

This course introduces students to the elements of art and the principles of design with a focus on drawing and painting. Students learn the language of art critiquing in order to evaluate their own artwork and the works of others. Students learn basic rendering techniques to create depth in all medium/material, and also learn to develop hand-eye coordination. Students use references from photos of celebrities, animals, or themselves to create artwork that focuses on composition and proportion through the use of line, texture, and value. This course takes students from the basics of drawing and painting through finished work, utilizing a variety of media including pencil, pen, ink, charcoal, oil pastel, colored pencil, watercolor, and tempera paint. This class introduces students to the various careers in the arts and focuses on the technical development of an artist. This course meets the UC/CSU a-g requirements in the following category: (f) - Visual and Performing Arts.

DRAWING AND PAINTING B

This intermediate course focuses on drawing principles emphasizing composition, innovation, and technical application of diverse drawing materials and techniques, that build off the basic ideology learned the previous year. Students will revisit media used before such as charcoal, graphite, scratchboard, oil pastel, colored pencils, watercolor, and pen/ink. Additionally, they will be introduced to new media such as acrylic painting, neutral prisma colored pencil, various grades of pencils, crowquill pens, spray paint, and numerous other mixed medial techniques, that will show students how these various media can complement each other. Since student artwork becomes more creative and personal by the second year of art, students are responsible for all visual resources that will aid them on their projects. Subject matter will go from representational to abstract and techniques will move from polished and tight to minimal and loose. Students enrolling in this class must be self-disciplined and passionate about art. Students’ grades are based on visual resources, concepts/projects, preliminary work, in-class drawings, and critiques. This course meets the UC/CSU a-g requirements in the following category: (f) - Visual and Performing Arts.

Prerequisite: Drawing and Painting A

CERAMICS A

Ceramics A is a beginning course introducing basic hand-building techniques, decoration methods, molds, and casting. Sculpting techniques are introduced through the creation of a realistic human head. The course covers general art concepts, vocabulary, historical implications and aesthetics. It reinforces skills and knowledge through application, exploration, and practice in a sequenced program of projects and class work. Commercial molds are used as a basis for modification and decoration of castings. Two-piece molds are designed and created. Wheel-throwing and expressive sculpting are culminating activities. This course meets the UC/CSU a-g requirements in the following category: (f) - Visual and Performing Arts.

CERAMICS B

Ceramics B is the level at which students interested in continuing Ceramics begin to specialize. After a basic technical review, they select areas they wish to explore. Students write project proposals and experiment with new materials. The focus in Ceramics B is the development of new glazes and surface decoration from raw materials and applying them to a series of projects. Ceramics B students take the same tests and classwork as Ceramics A without additional instruction; working from their notes. This course meets the UC/CSU a-g requirements in the following category: (f) - Visual and Performing Arts.

Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Ceramics A or teacher permission.

PHOTOGRAPHY 1

Through the completion of specific projects, the student safely learns to control the photographic process from camera to printing, which will allow them to expertly express their creative and technical abilities. This course is counted towards the practical arts graduation requirement. This course meets the UC/CSU a-g requirements in the following category: (f) - Visual and Performing Arts.

PHOTOGRAPHY 2

Photography 2 is a continuation to the art of black and white photographic printing, with an introduction to experimental image making. You will apply camera techniques and design theories learned in previous photo classes to develop your individual body of work. With an emphasis on studio production, this course is designed to develop higher level thinking, art-related technology skill, art criticism, art history, and aesthetics. This course meets the UC/CSU a-g requirements in the following category: (f) - Visual and Performing Arts.

UC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

This course trains students for entry-level employment in the photography field. Students learn types and operations of cameras and accessories common to the photography industry. This course will include discussions of a variety of camera and lenses, proper printing techniques, studio lighting, lighting equipment, exposure meters, print finishing, and portfolio presentations. This course meets the UC/CSU a-g requirements in the following category: (f) - Visual and Performing Arts.