Art Courses

Half Year – 0.50 Credit 

9110 - Level 1 (ECE)

9310 - Level 2

Offered for grades 10, 11, and 12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Drawing and Painting.

This course provides a continuation of drawing skill development, emphasizes increased individual exploration of art mediums, and encompasses the development of a focused body of work. Students will be responsible to complete weekly sketchbook assignments and participate in individual and class critiques. Students will work with a variety of professional media and explore innovative and traditional techniques. Students may enroll in this course at level 1 for UConn ECE credit. This course may be taken for four semesters with 0.50 credit given for each semester. This course should be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art. 

Half Year - 0.50 Credit

9410 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Through traditional and contemporary processes, students in Animation learn to make original images appear to move and come alive! Students use Adobe Animate, iPad apps and other technology to render animations for story-telling and personal expression. Emphasis is placed on creative problem-solving, storyboarding, and the Principles of Animation. This hands-on course provides a foundation for future work with animation and digital art while exploring sophisticated software used by professional animators. Previous animation and drawing experience is not required. This course may be taken for four semesters with 0.50 credit given for each semester. This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art. 

2-D, 3-D, or Drawing Portfolio

Full Year – 1.00 Credit

9150 - Level 1

Offered for grades 11 and 12

Prerequisite: 1.5 credits in art, including Advanced Drawing  or by portfolio review with the instructor. 

Students in Advanced Placement Studio Art will choose to create a 2-D Art and Design Portfolio, a 3-D Art and Design Portfolio, or a Drawing Portfolio. Students enrolled in the class explore and build upon the techniques, skills, theories, and principles learned in prior art courses. Students will expand and master their skills in drawing, painting, design, and/or 3-D media, grow artistically and creatively while developing a personal style, and engage their critical thinking and problem solving skills. This course will address three major concerns that are constants in high school art: (1) measurable quality in a student’s work as demonstrated through exceptional technical skill and conceptual merit (2) the student’s commitment to concentration on a particular visual interest or problem, and (3) the student’s need for experience in the formal, technical, and expressive means of the artist in the context of specific lineage, historical models, and contemporary theories and practices. Students have the opportunity to earn AP credit by going through the portfolio application and submission process. Students will be required to complete summer art assignments prior to entering this course in the fall. 

Half Year – 0.50 Credit 

9321 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

This introductory course provides students with experiences to explore artistic skill development, personal expression and creative thinking. Art Foundations represents an overview of the visual arts program at GHS and helps students learn what type of art they are interested in. Students have the opportunity to explore 2-D , 3-D and digital media and processes, including drawing, graphic design, painting, illustration, sculpture, and crafts, while learning about art-related careers. Students will create original artwork while exploring a variety of multimedia and technology-based visual arts with an emphasis on collaboration, problem-solving skills, craftsmanship, and artistic literacy.  This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art.  

Half Year – 0.50 Credit

9330 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

This course introduces students to the techniques and processes of working with clay. Students will develop skills in problem solving and how to work three-dimensionally, while practicing a variety of hand building techniques including coil building, slab construction, pinch, press mold, sculpture, as well as throwing on the wheel. Students will learn surface treatment methods and various glazing techniques and applications for the production of functional, decorative, and artistic forms. Through these ceramic processes, students learn innovations and adaptability as well as how to articulate and communicate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively. This course may be taken for four semesters with 0.50 credit given for each semester. This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art. 

Full Year – 1.00 Credit

9355 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12

Prerequisite: Application

In this course student “Collaborator” peer models will acquire leadership skills by facilitating and participating in the creative process, helping develop and tailor art experiences across a variety of art media and practices to help their peers develop cognitive, social/emotional, and behavioral skills. Activities range from experiences in the fine, applied, craft, and STEAM arts. Students will develop relationships and foster an appreciation and understanding of individual differences, strengths, interests, and needs. Curriculum is designed to make the course meaningful, motivating, accessible, and joyful for all participants.  This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art. 

Half Year – 0.50 Credit

9351 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Students are introduced to new forms of art making through exploration of traditional and nontraditional media and materials, in the fields of crafts, fine art, and design, using processes such as fused glass, jewelry, fiber arts, and upcycling. Emphasizing alternative media and problem-solving, students create original artwork while having the opportunity to be a peer model, building leadership, peer connections, and community through collaborative roles. Inclusive and accessible experiences encourage consideration of aesthetics, functionality, decoration, and utility. This course may be taken for four semesters with 0.50 credit given for each semester. This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studo Art. 

Half Year – 0.50 Credit 

9200 - Level 1

9210 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Design Careers in STEAM offers the opportunity to develop creative and artistic solutions to real-world scenarios. Students will use the creative process and design thinking to explore applied design fields such as Architecture/Interior, Product, Industrial, and Interface Design. Students will also learn about social innovation design and how to bring about real change in the world. Design Careers in STEAM will use the professional collaborative design team model (Project Manager, Art Director, Designer role) to conceive, develop, manage, and produce. Students will have opportunities to apply knowledge from other disciplines and bring their concept to prototype.

Students choosing level 1 will work as leaders in the class, explore research on STEAM fields, and can opt to utilize the Adobe Education Exchange to gain greater proficiency in an Adobe Creative Cloud program(s), This is a STEAM pathway and applied design pathway course for students on or interested in a career or college path. This course may be taken for four semesters with .50 credit given for each semester. This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art.

Half Year – 0.50 Credit

9402 - Level 1 (ECE)

9401 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Students will use computer design technology as a creative tool and incorporate digital media in the production of visual art and design.

Emphasis is on the creation, manipulation, and display of the digital image. Collaboration is encouraged to expand ideas and build computer skills. Experiences may include collaborative group advertising, fine art creation, graphic communication page layout, photographic manipulation, presentation, and class critique. Students learn professional applications of art and design software, including the Adobe Suite programs such as Photoshop and Fresco to create original images. Previous computer experience or art experience is not required. Students may enroll in this course at level 1 for UConn ECE credit. This course may be taken for four semesters with 0.50 credit given for each semester. This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art. 

Half Year – 0.50 Credit 

9370  - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

A variety of drawing and painting techniques are introduced with traditional and experimental media and subject matter. Observational drawing methods are practiced to create depth on a 2-D surface, and color theory is explored through painting and color media. As students’ progress, risk-taking and personal choices are encouraged as they build a repertoire of more advanced skills and become more self-expressive in their work. This course may be taken for four semesters with 0.50 credit given for each semester. This course can be taken as a prerequisite for Advanced Drawing. 

Half Year – 0.50 Credit

7595 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Fashion Design is an introductory course for students interested in working individually and in small teams while learning about careers in the fashion/apparel industry. Through the exploration of historical and modern trends, notable designers, fashion illustration, and sewing/construction, students will extend their artistic expression to create unique designs and wearables. Students will learn essential trade practices, including concept development, sewing techniques, and sustainability for finished garments. This course may be taken for four semesters with .50 credit given for each semester (FA, H, G, S). 

Half Year – 0.50 Credit 

9393 - Level 1 (ECE)

9392 - Level 2 

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

Students will explore video arts and film-making as an art form. Video art, experimental film, and historical film genres will be discussed, analyzed, and used to inspire the creative process. Students will plan and develop ideas for original story-telling using digital video media, learning to use cameras, lighting, and sound equipment. Students learn professional processes of script-writing, videography, storyboarding, and digital editing to create independent and collaborative films and video. Students will use professional video software, including Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Rush to create original videos. Students may enroll in this course at level 1 UConn ECE credit. This course may be taken for four semesters with .50 credit given for each semester.  This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art.  

Half Year – 0.50 Credit

9380 - Level 2

Offered for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

This course in multimedia construction encourages the exploration of materials and processes as students develop 3-D problem- solving skills, sculptural techniques and artistic expression. Working with materials such as clay, wood, wire, plaster and found objects, students plan, design and construct uniquely expressive forms and participate in class critiques. Additive, subtractive, modular, and relief sculptural processes are explored. STEAM processes and technology offer students the opportunity to explore connections through sculpture. This course may be taken for four semesters with 0.50 credit given for each semester. This course can be taken as a prerequisite for AP Studio Art.