Fine Arts: Visual Arts

This is an introductory level visual arts course. In this class, students create both two and three-dimensional artwork using a variety of art materials, learn about different artists, engage in artistic criticism and aesthetic discussions, and investigate career opportunities in the arts. In addition to creating artwork, students will also be reading, writing, and speaking about art. From start to end, students track their progress in their sketchbook. By the end of the year, students should be able to see their skills grow with each sketchbook page and project they create. 

Grades: 10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day:  10 min

This IB Middle Years Program Visual Art course will familiarize students with art and design fundamentals, contemporary and traditional art making processes, methods for close reading and interpreting art, and the ways in which artists are influenced by and shape the world. You will also articulate and express your ideas visually, verbally, and in written form. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Students will identify and discuss themes present in artwork. Through peer conversation, journal activities and class discussion students will relate their own interpretation of artwork. While experimenting with techniques and developing skills, students will create a portfolio of resolved pieces of artwork which will be exhibited throughout the campus. Media explored: Students will experiment and gain skills with  drawing and painting media, stop motion video, printmaking methods, and conceptual topics.

Grades: 9th, 10th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day:  30 min

In this computer-based art course, you will master art and design fundamentals while exploring how creators interact with the world. By applying design elements and principles, you will learn to communicate complex ideas through the arrangement of image and text. You will utilize industry-standard software to produce a variety of works, including product designs, logos, and digital illustrations—while also using paper for planning, sketching, and refining ideas. The course emphasizes both process and product, balancing hands-on creation with the study of historical and cultural styles and requiring you to articulate your creative steps through visual, verbal, and written expression.

Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day:  10 min

In this Middle Years Program (MYP) Visual Art course, you will master art and design fundamentals while exploring how creators interact with the world. By applying design elements and principles, you will learn to communicate complex ideas through the arrangement of image and text, using industry-standard software to produce works including product designs, logos, and digital illustrations. The course balances hands-on creation with the study of historical and cultural styles, requiring you to articulate your creative process through visual, verbal, and written expression. Students enrolled in the Honors section should expect a faster pace and higher workload, including more frequent production of finished work and deeper, independent research and writing to prepare for Art I MYP and DP and CP classes. While projects align with the standard curriculum, honors students are held to more rigorous evaluation criteria, with final works assessed against standards of technical mastery and intentional communication.

Grades: 9th, 10th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day:  20 min

This class is recommended for students who are ready to work hard in the art studio and enjoy creating with their hands and problem solving prompts with art materials and new techniques. We will explore printmaking, painting, sculpture, mixed media, and other materials in which students show an interest. Students will build on the skills and techniques acquired in Art 1 and begin to develop a personal style.

This secondary level art course gives students an opportunity to create artwork based on their own ideas sparked by media instruction and prompts given by the art teacher. New artists and concepts will be introduced while students complete self-generated ideas in sketchbooks showing evidence of moving to a higher level of artistic competence.

Grades: 10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: C or higher in Art 1 and approval of Art 1 teacher
Hours/Min per day:  30 min

This course introduces students to the world of film and animation from initial concept to final post-production. As a Visual Art credit, the curriculum focuses on the power of the moving image, blending film history and global perspectives with hands-on practice. Students will view and analyze over 30 diverse films, exploring the conventions of genres such as horror, comedy, documentary, drama, and animation. By studying film language -- including storyboarding, photography, and editing -- students will transition from viewers to creators. Using accessible software and equipment, students will produce a series of short media projects, critiquing their work through the MYP Arts Criteria (A–D) to understand the cultural and visual impact of their own storytelling.

Grades: 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day:  10 min

This is the first-year on a two-year journey of "Art-making as Inquiry."  Students begin junior year with guided inquiry into media, artists, and creative strategies with the goal of becoming independent studio artists. Students will create two portfolios, one showing evidence of the inquiry and studio practice, and one comprised of a cohesive body of artwork. Senior year will require a largely independent "Artist Project" in which each student develops an artwork designed for a specific audience and location, this "capstone" project will be sent to IB for scoring along with the Art-making Investigation Portfolio. Students must be independent and willing to explore, fail, reflect, revise, and investigate in the search for growth and resolve.

Grades: 11th
Pre-reqs:  H. MYP Art I or MYP Graphic Arts, IB Status
Hours/Min per day:  30 min

This is the second year on a two-year journey of "Art-making as Inquiry." Senior year will require a largely independent "Artist Project" in which each student develops a larger artwork designed for a specific audience and location; this is sort of capstone project and will be sent to IB for scoring along with the Art-making Investigation Portfolio.

Students begin junior year with guided inquiry into media, artists, and creative strategies with the goal of becoming independent studio artists, so senior year is a continuation of creating the two portfolios, one showing evidence of the inquiry and studio practice, and one comprised of a cohesive body of artwork. The Selected Resolved Artworks (a collection of 5 cohesive artworks) is curated and scored internally as part of the IB exam. Students must be independent and willing to explore, fail, reflect, revise, and investigate in the search for their artist-voice and art making skills.

Evidence for senior year IB diploma exam consists of three tasks:

Art-making Inquiries Portfolio-30%, Artist Project-30%, and Selected Resolved Artworks- 40%

Grades: 12th
Pre-reqs:  Visual Art - IB HL or SL Visual Arts I
Hours/Min per day:  30-60 min