Art

Art I 

The objectives for Art I emphasize the development of ability to recognize visual arts content, concepts and skills to create, discuss, and understand original works of art. The objectives represent a thematic approach to the visual communication and production, cultural context and chronological art history, judgment and criticism, and aesthetics through which students will develop understanding and appreciation for the visual arts. Students use art-making processes to communicate ideas and personal life experiences. They maintain portfolios documenting their artistic growth. They select representative work to take to the next level of study. 

Prerequisites: None 

Grades: 9-12 

Art II 

The standards for Art II help students extend and refine the ability to investigate and respond to the visual arts. Students examine the importance of content, concepts, and skills involved in the creation of original works of art and design. Students continue to maintain portfolios and select representative work to take to the next level of study. 

Prerequisites: Art I 

Grades: 9-12 

Art III 

The standards for Art III continue to emphasize the acquisition of concepts and development of skills as well as enable students to organize and analyze visual arts content. Students increasingly focus on art history, critical evaluation, and aesthetics as well as creative problem solving. Study at this level affords students the opportunity to develop personal directions in the production of their works of art or to further their academic study in the visual arts. Students add works of art and other products to their portfolios to take to the next level of study.

Prerequisites: Art II 

Grades: 10-12 

Art IV 

The standards for Art IV help students reinforce competence and confidence in skills of analysis, evaluation, and creation of works of art. Content and concepts associated with art criticism and aesthetics are central to the refinement of art production skills. The student-directed approach at this level richly enhances personal expressive abilities. An advanced level of performance that reflects critical and independent thinking and innovation is expected. Students continue to maintain process art portfolios. The culminating portfolio must show evidence of quality, concentration, and breadth of work produced throughout the high school art program. 

Prerequisites: Art III 

Grades: 11-12

Art IV Honors 

The standards for Art IV Honors help students reinforce competence and confidence in skills of analysis, evaluation, and creation of works of art. Content and concepts associated with art criticism and aesthetics are central to the refinement of art production skills. The student-directed approach at this level richly enhances personal expressive abilities. An advanced level of performance that reflects critical and independent thinking and innovation is expected. In addition to standard inclass projects, students will be required to complete one independent work each marking period to add to their ongoing art portfolio. The culminating portfolio must show evidence of quality, concentration, and breadth of work produced throughout the high school art program. 

Prerequisites: Art III 

Grades: 11-12 

Art V Honors 

This course reinforces students’ competence and confidence in skills of analysis, evaluation, and creation of works of art. Content and concepts associated with art criticism and aesthetics are central to the refinement of art production skills. The student-directed approach at this level richly enhances personal expressive abilities. An advanced level of performance that reflects critical and independent thinking and innovation is expected. In addition to standard in-class projects, students will be required to complete one independent work each marking period to add to their ongoing art portfolio. The culminating portfolio must show evidence of quality, concentration, and breadth of work produced throughout the high school art program. 

Prerequisites: Art IV Honors 

Grade: 12

Ceramics I

In this class, students will receive a yearlong introduction to the art of ceramics and basic sculpture. Throughout the course, students will engage in comprehensive projects, which explore art history, world cultures, technical skill and production, and meaningful artistic expression. Students will also learn the fundamentals of art criticism and judgment, while developing a sense of craftsmanship and aesthetics. 

Prerequisites: None 

Grades: 9-12 

Ceramics II 

In this class, students will continue their exploration of the art of ceramics. Throughout the course, students will engage in comprehensive projects, which explore art history, world cultures, technical skill and production, and meaningful artistic expression. Students will also learn the fundamentals of art criticism and judgment, while developing a sense of craftsmanship and aesthetics. 

Prerequisites: Ceramics I 

Grades: 10-12 

Ceramics III 

In this class, students will continue their exploration of the art of ceramics. Throughout the course, students will engage in comprehensive projects, which explore art history, world cultures, technical skill and production, and meaningful artistic expression. Students will also learn the fundamentals of art criticism and judgment, while developing a sense of craftsmanship and aesthetics. An emphasis will be placed on portfolio development and exhibition. 

Prerequisites: Ceramics II 

Grades: 11-12 

Ceramics IV Honors 

Building on the previous levels of ceramics, students are responsible for developing a personal artistic relationship to clay as an art medium. This course emphasizes more advanced firing techniques and glaze development. A continued emphasis will be placed on portfolio development and exhibition. 

Prerequisites: Ceramics III 

Grade: 12

Digital Photography I 

This course covers basic concepts and practice of digital photography, including the understanding and use of the camera, lenses, and other basic photographic equipment. The course will address aesthetic principles as they relate to composition, space, exposure, light and color. 

Prerequisites: None 

Grades: 9-12 

Digital Photography II 

This course expands on the concepts addressed in Digital Photography I, including the practice of digital photography, the understanding and use of the camera, lenses, and other basic photographic equipment. The course also dives deep on more advanced photographic equipment, as well as aesthetic principles as they relate to composition, space, exposure, light and color. 

Prerequisites: Digital Photography I 

Grades: 10-12 

Digital Photography III 

This course expands on the concepts addressed in Digital Photography II, including the practice of digital photography, the understanding and use of the camera, lenses, and other photographic equipment. The course also dives deep on more advanced photographic equipment, as well as aesthetic principles as they relate to composition, space exposure, light, and color. 

Prerequisites: Digital Photography II 

Grades: 11-12 

Digital Photography IV Honors 

This course expands on the concepts addressed in Digital Photography III, including the practice of digital photography, the understanding and use of the camera, lenses, and other photographic equipment. The course also dives even more deeply into advanced photographic equipment, as well as aesthetic principles as they relate to composition, space exposure, light, and color. 

Prerequisites: Digital Photography III

Grade: 12 

This class is designed to expose students to the painting and design challenges of set design, an important part of theater production. Students will pull from their fine arts skills, communication skills, and time management skills to build set designs, focusing on painting tasks that help create the illusion of environment to truly flesh out setting in theatrical pieces. This class is taught alongside Technical Theatre but is contrasting as it is more immersed in the craft of illustrative painting to capture the unique vision of the director for each theatrical work. 

Prerequisites: None 

Grades: 9-12

Graphic Arts Design I 

This course explores digital visual communication through the understanding of the elements and principles of design, as well as the design process from idea development through the final execution of a document or project. This course is a must for anyone interested in pursuing a profession that includes computer graphics. 

Prerequisites: None 

Grades: 9-12 

Graphic Arts Design II 

Continued visual arts study of the elements and principles of design as they apply to practical visual solutions for works of art and some logo design. Adobe Illustrator vector software will be used throughout the course. The focus will be on finding creative, innovative solutions that communicate assigned problems using technical skills. 

Prerequisites: Graphic Arts Design I 

Grades: 10-12 

Graphic Arts Design III 

This course is an intense visual arts study of the elements and principles of design as they apply to digital visual solutions. Students will explore content through the lens of marketing with projects focused on solving real world problems for the school and community, emulating the designers’ work experience. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop will be used throughout the course. The course focus will be finding real-world, creative, professional, and innovative projects that communicate solutions to problems using advanced technical skills. 

Prerequisites: Graphic Arts Design II 

Grades: 11-12 

Graphic Arts Design IV Honors 

This course is a capstone visual arts study of the elements and principles of design as they apply to digital visual solutions. Students will explore advanced content through the lens of marketing with projects focused on solving real world problems for the school and community, emulating the designers’ work experience. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop will be used in greater depth throughout the course. The course focus will be finding real-world, creative, professional, and innovative projects that communicate solutions to problems using advanced technical skills. 

Prerequisites: Graphic Arts Design III 

Grade: 12