High School Art

This basic course introduces students to the building blocks of art including: principles and elements of art and design, color theory and art criticism through a series of engaging activities.

This course is designed as an introduction to color theory and painting techniques in both acrylic and watercolor. Students will discover different artists, painting styles, and painting movements from art history and partake in critiquing their work. 

Drawing explores a variety of drawing materials, increases students’ understanding and appreciation of drawings made by others as well as experience and interpret historical styles in drawing.  Drawing will reinforce and increase the experience of the use of good 2D design principles and help students gain the knowledge, skill and confidence needed to improve and evaluate their own drawing efforts.  

Students will experience a variety of sculpting techniques, types of sculptures, and sculpture media to create unique 3 dimensional artwork.  Classic and contemporary sculpture artists will be explored. 

Students will experience a variety of crafting techniques, culturally-influenced crafts, and an investigation of contemporary artists. 

Students will experience a variety of ceramic techniques, engage in the exploration of personal expression through clay, throwing on the pottery wheel, and an investigation of ceramicists. 

This course is an introduction that explores the elements of art and principles of design through the use of a sketchbook, major projects, and is a rigorous course meant to be a foundational building block leading into the year-long courses advanced art portfolio preparation and advanced art portfolio preparation. Self-reflection and inquiry are proposed through self critiques and community art critiques.