Course Syllabus Art Class 1&2 2026/2027
En Español
Dan Allen 11th Grade Art 1 / 2
office hours: Monday and Tuesdays 3:30pm-4:30pm
dallen@hightechhigh.org
This semester, students will explore the intersection of art, history, and storytelling through an interdisciplinary practice that blends rigorous research with creative expression. Students will investigate the evolving technologies and perspectives of art while practicing diverse techniques, including sculpture, digital image creation, performance art, drawing, color theory, and painting.
In addition to building technical skills, students will develop a deeper understanding of design, aesthetics, and artistic curation. Daily practice will focus on honing creative abilities and fostering an appreciation for artistic traditions and innovation.
Every student will independently design, construct, publish, and present:
A Technical Skill Portfolio: Foundational 2D and 3D works in Charcoal, 2D Graphic Design, Hand-built Ceramics, Plaster Casting, and Acrylic Painting.
A Signature Series: A cohesive body of 3 to 5 connected artworks driven by a self-directed conceptual theme.
A Custom Physical Packaging Suite: A gallery-ready box or linen folder, custom-branded stickers/hangtags, tissue wrap, care instructions, and a signed Certificate of Authenticity (CoA).
A Live Artist Website: Built via Google Sites, featuring high-res studio photography, a process archive blog, an artist resume, and an artist statement.
Two Public Exhibition Displays:
Mid-Year Showcase (December 16, 2025 | 5:00–6:30 PM)
Capstone Exhibition & Collector's Launch (April 30, 2026)
Unit 1: Observation, Mark-Making & Digital Brand Identity
Timeline: Weeks 1–7 (Aug 19 – Oct 3) | ~32 Instructional Days
Media Focus: Charcoal, graphite, ink, vector/digital layout (Canva/Illustrator), web setup.
Calendar Markers: Aug 28 (Senior Portrait Day), Sep 7 (Labor Day - No School), Sep 18 (Staff vs. Student Volleyball Game).
Essential Question
How do artists translate observation into spatial authority while establishing a unique visual identity across physical and digital spaces?
Core Projects & Student Deliverables
Large-Scale Public Mark-Making: Charcoal, gesture, perspective, and proportion rendered on large-format surfaces.
Chiaroscuro Value Study: High-contrast graphite/charcoal drawings focusing on value scales, light source control, and form shadows.
Personal Brand Identity Kit: Custom design of an Artist Logo/Stamp, 3-color brand palette, and professional typography suite.
Website Shell Launch: Building the skeleton of the student's Artist Website (Home Page, Bio, and initial artwork uploads).
Diverse Artist Models
Zarina Hashmi (Indian-American, 1937–2020) — Minimalist line, spatial grids, memory mapping.
Martin Ramírez (Mexican-American, 1895–1963 / Outsider) — Line repetition, rhythmic line work, architectural perspective.
Bill Traylor (African-American, 1853–1949 / Self-Taught) — High-contrast silhouettes, flat 2D graphic shapes, visual storytelling.
Toyin Ojih Odutola (Contemporary Nigerian-American) — Intricate ballpoint pen/graphite line work constructing skin value and identity narratives.
Unit 2: Spatial Mass, Tactile Form & Packaging Design
Timeline: Weeks 8–14 (Oct 6 – Nov 20) | ~30 Instructional Days
Media Focus: Clay (pinch, coil, slab, glazes), plaster mold-making, cardboard/paperboard box construction.
Calendar Markers: Oct 9 (Staff Day - No School), Oct 12 (Indigenous People's Day - No School), Oct 20–22 (SLC Half Days), Oct 30 (Homecoming), Nov 11 (Veterans Day - No School).
Essential Question
How do physical objects communicate cultural memory, and how does intentional packaging elevate fine art into an unboxing experience?
Core Projects & Student Deliverables
Plaster Cast Relics: Positive/negative space exploration using press-clay molds and plaster casting.
Architectural Ceramic Vessels: Slab and coil-constructed ceramic forms featuring carved surface textures, sprigging, and glaze testing.
Product Packaging Box Prototype: A hand-built custom box or folding container lined with tissue or foam, designed specifically to safely house and ship the student's ceramic piece.
Diverse Artist Models
Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo / Indigenous, 1887–1980) — Ancestral hand-built coil ceramics, burnishing, traditional surface design.
Judith Scott (Neurodiverse / Outsider, 1943–2005) — Bound, wrapped 3D assemblage, fiber mass, non-verbal sculptural expression.
Roberto Lugo (Contemporary Puerto Rican-American) — Classical ceramic shapes fused with graffiti, streetwear culture, and social justice portraiture.
KAWS (Brian Donnelly) (Contemporary American) — Fine art toys, custom box design, packaging as a valued collectible art piece.
Timeline: Weeks 15–18 (Nov 30 – Dec 18) | ~14 Instructional Days
Media Focus: Acrylic on panel/canvas, impasto gels, digital photography, layout curation.
Calendar Markers: Nov 23–27 (Fall Break), Dec 14–15 (Exhibition Setup), DEC 16: ALL-SCHOOL EXHIBITION (5:00–6:30 PM), Dec 18 (End of Semester 1).
Essential Question
How do artists synthesize color harmony, material texture, and curation to share their voice with a public audience?
Core Projects & Student Deliverables
Acrylic Texture & Color Harmony Painting: Acrylic painting utilizing monochromatic, complementary, or analogous palettes with impasto textures.
Mid-Year Physical Exhibition: Wall installation of drawing, ceramic, plaster, and painting works for the December 16 event.
Mid-Year Digital Web Launch: Printing wall labels with custom QR codes linking exhibition guests directly to the student's published website.
Diverse Artist Models
Etel Adnan (Lebanese-American, 1925–2021) — Direct palette-knife landscapes, flat color blocking, emotional chromatic relationships.
Minnie Evans (African-American, 1892–1987 / Visionary) — Symmetrical color arrangements, vivid dream-inspired organic palettes.
Thornton Dial (African-American, 1928–2016 / Assemblage) — Heavy textured impasto paint mixed with industrial found materials.
Kaikai Kiki Co. / Takashi Murakami (Contemporary Japanese) — Fine art painting merged with digital branding, retail ecosystems, and pop aesthetics.
(January 5 – April 30, 2026)
Date
Unit/Event Details
Jan 5
Unit 4: Proposal & Conceptual Mood Boards
Jan 26 - Mar 26
Unit 5: Signature Series
• Piece #1 (Feb 13), Piece #2 (Mar 6), Piece #3 (Mar 26)
Mar 29 - Apr 17
Pause: Spring Break & Intersession
• No Studio Access
Apr 20
Unit 6: Curation & Packaging Suite
Apr 30
Exhibition
• Last day before Internship
Timeline: Weeks 19–21 (Jan 5 – Jan 23) | ~14 Instructional Days
Media Focus: Research spreads, material testing, written proposal, digital mood boards.
Calendar Markers: Jan 4 (Staff Day - No School), Jan 11 (Sem 1 Grades Due), Jan 18 (MLK Jr. Holiday - No School).
Essential Question
What central idea, personal question, or cultural narrative will define my personal artistic voice?
Core Projects & Student Deliverables
Signature Series Proposal: Formal written pitch defining a cohesive concept (e.g., Environmental Decay, Migration & Identity, Mental Health, Consumerism, Architectural Memory).
Material Research & Process Blog Entry: Experimentation with medium choice (Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Plaster, or Mixed-Media) published to the website process archive.
Diverse Artist Models
Yayoi Kusama (Contemporary Japanese) — Obsessive systematic repetition, motif continuity, processing internal psychology through series.
Firelei Báez (Contemporary Dominican-American) — Conceptual painting layered over colonial maps and archival documents.
James Hampton (African-American, 1909–1964 / Visionary) — Single-minded conceptual focus, large-scale assemblage built out of foil and cardboard over 14 years.
Timeline: Weeks 22–29 (Jan 26 – Mar 26) | ~40 Instructional Days
Media Focus: Student Choice (Drawing, Acrylic, Ceramics, Plaster, 2D Design, or Mixed-Media) + Digital Studio Photography.
Calendar Markers: Jan 29 (Club Fair), Feb 15 (Presidents Day - No School), Feb 19 (Staff vs. Student Basketball Game), Mar 9–11 (SLC Half Days), Mar 12 (Staff Day - No School).
Production Milestones (3–5 Connected Artworks)
Milestone 1 (Jan 26 – Feb 13): Completion of Series Piece #1. In-progress critique using the Feldman Method (Describe, Analyze, Interpret, Judge).
Milestone 2 (Feb 16 – Mar 6): Completion of Series Piece #2. Mid-series continuity evaluation.
Milestone 3 (Mar 9 – Mar 26): Completion of Series Piece #3 (and optional Pieces #4/#5).
Studio Photography Days (Mar 23–26): Studio lighting setup for high-res documentation of completed series pieces.
Diverse Artist Models
El Anatsui (Ghanaian, b. 1944) — Repetitive material transformation using bottle caps to create wall hangings.
Nek Chand (Indian, 1924–2015 / Outsider) — Scale, dedication, and continuity across thousands of connected mosaic sculptures made from discarded materials.
Dates: March 29 – April 17
Breakdown: Mar 29 – Apr 9 (Spring Break), Apr 12 (Staff Day), Apr 13 – Apr 17 (Intersession).
Studio is closed for physical production during this 3-week block.
Timeline: Weeks 30–31 (Apr 20 – Apr 30) | ~9 High-Intensity Days
Final Milestone: APRIL 30: FINAL CAPSTONE EXHIBITION (Prior to May 3 Internship launch)
Essential Question
How does an artist package, document, and present a complete body of work to collectors and the public?
Core Projects & Student Deliverables
Installed Signature Series Display: Gallery-ready installation with mounted works, pedestals, lighting design, and professional wall labels.
Collector's Physical Packaging Suite: Custom branded box/portfolio containing artwork, custom tissue wrap, care instructions, stickers/hangtags, and a signed Certificate of Authenticity.
Published Final Website: Complete web portfolio updated with high-res photos of the Signature Series, final artist statement, and downloadable resume.
Public Artist Talk: Live engagement and presentation during the April 30 Showcase.
To maintain studio accountability during ~60-minute single blocks:
Time
Duration
Activity/Description
00:00 - 00:10
10 Mins
Framing & Demo: Objective, safety check, micro-demo and material retrieval.
00:10 - 00:50
40 Mins
Studio Production: Focused build time, teacher-student conferences, and target milestone tracking.
00:50 - 01:00
10 Mins
Studio Reset: Mandatory clay wrapping, brush washing, table cleaning, and tool check.
BY THE END OF THIS COURSE YOU WILL HAVE:
– Revised and refined your artworks through a series of critiques and revisions.
– Refined your work ethic and creative skills.
– Learned to communicate effectively through imagery.
– Used academic language to describe the process and aesthetic merit of your artwork.
– Participated in our end of semester Exhibition.
BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS:
– Arrive to class prepared, on time and ready to commit yourself fully to your course work.
– Be polite, kind, a good listener and a thoughtful communicator to all members of our classroom community.
– Don’t waste your time in class. Put forth focused and committed effort in everything you do.
– Distracted use of technologies during class discussions and project work time will result in lower grades. Continued distracting behavior will be the cause for parent/teacher interventions and discussions with our Dean. Here’s a link to the student hand book.
Attendance Matters
HTHMA is a project-based school, so much of the learning happens in real-time through collaboration, discussion, and hands-on work that can't be replicated at home. Students who miss 10% or more of the school year (about 18 days or 2 days a month) are considered chronically absent by the state and HTHMA. Chronic absenteeism may lead to academic interventions and can put a student at risk of not earning credit.
Punctuality Matters
Being on time is key to keeping things running smoothly. Repeated tardiness, especially to the first period and after lunch, may lead to check-ins or calls home. Students who are consistently late returning from lunch may lose off-campus lunch privileges. Let’s keep it tight and respectful of everyone’s time.
Phone-Free Policy
As part of our commitment to academic success, social-emotional growth, and community well-being, we will continue enforcing our Phone-Free School Day policy. HTHMA is a phone-free campus during school hours. Students will place phones and AirPods in a lockable classroom case during 1st period and get them back at 3:35 PM. No phones, games, or Bluetooth devices are allowed during school, including lunch and breaks. Repeated violations will result in parent pickup. This policy aligns with California’s new Phone-Free School Act (AB 3216) and supports focus, well-being, and connection on campus.
Food & Drink Policy
To protect school technology and maintain a clean learning environment, food and drinks are not allowed near computers or Chromebooks at any time. Water in closed containers is allowed. Please eat snacks and meals away from devices, and help keep our classrooms clean and tech-safe.
Digital Citizenship & Macbook Use
Macbooks are learning tools and are to be used only for instructional purposes. Any misuse of technology, including accessing inappropriate content, off-task browsing, gaming, or using devices in ways that disrupt learning, will not be tolerated. Misuse may result in loss of Macbook privileges and further consequences as outlined by school policy.
MATERIALS/THINGS THAT HELP
–Glue, nails, tape, computer, image editing programs on your computer, video MP4 format/digital video, Paper, a computer printer, pens, pencils, newspaper, junkmail, charcoal, pastels, paint, aluminum foil.
– Willingness to explore your surroundings.
– Patience and a professional attitude.
GRADING
This is a lab class, which means that attendance is primary. Very little of the techniques we’ll explore during this semester can be completed outside of class. Along with following the course calendar of projects, daily art practice will inform and enrich your art education.
Every student will create a Google Drive Folder Titled (your name) Art Folder and share it with me (dallen@hightechhigh.org) This is how students will turn in all assignments.
Grade forgiveness (doesn’t apply to the final project)…….. Your lowest Daily Drawing: At the beginning of class, Students will complete the drawing task
Reflection:
In Class Collective Work Time: In project work time during class, students will work on their weekly creations together. This will allow for the transfer of ideas and techniques between students while fostering a community of artists that support each other and encourage each other to go further :)
Final Project:
EXCELLENCE IN THIS COURSE MEANS:
– That you are mindful of the course calendar and turn your work in on time. Late work is only accepted in the case of sickness (with doctor's note). If you are absent then reference the course calendar and handle your work.
– If you are having difficulties – seek help (I have regular office hours Monday and Wednesday after school Together we'll get it done :)
– If you are successful at the coursework then keep pushing yourself to go further and do more with each assignment. There is no downtime in this class – we strive for excellence and everything can be improved upon. Students that push themselves and strive for excellence will excel in this course
AFTER YOU HAVE READ THE ABOVE SYLLABUS WITH A PARENT/GUARDIAN, SIGN AND RETURN THIS SIGNATURE PAGE
No Late Work will be accepted. Student work received after the due date will count for 0 points.
Requests for an extension of time to finish assignments will be honored if the request is made by submitting this Form before the assignment due date. A new deadline will be set by the student and work will be turned in by that new due date.
Student Signature:
Parent Signature:
11th Grade Art 1 & 2
Syllabus Signature Page
By signing below, I certify that I have read and understand the policies and expectations for 11th Grade Art 1 & 2.
My signature also confirms that I agree to all the terms listed in this syllabus.
Printed Student Name
__________________________________________________________
Student Signature _________________________________________________
Date _______
Printed Parent/Guardian Name
___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature __________________________________________
Date _______
Preferred Parent/Guardian Email ______________________________
Phone _____________
For Parents/Guardians: Please initial/sign for all things to which you consent/apply to you.
Are you willing to chaperone for field trips (with advance notification)? Leave blank if you are unable to do so.
Yes, I am able to chaperone: _______
Yes, I am able to chaperone and drive students: _______ # of seats are in your vehicle: ______
My student has permission to go on walking field trips with Dan Allen within a one-mile radius of High Tech High Media Arts for the duration of the 2025-2026 school year. _______
High Tech High Media Arts – 1st Period Contract
In alignment with our school’s official phone policy and the Phone-Free School Act, we are implementing a phone-free school to promote student engagement, focus, and academic success. This means that students will turn in their phones to me at the start of 1st period and retrieve them at the end of the school day.
By signing this agreement, students and families acknowledge the expectations of this policy and understand that it is in accordance with our school’s phone-free initiative and the Phone-Free School Act.
✔ Student: I understand that I am expected to store my phone with my 1st-period teacher each morning and follow the school’s phone policy. I recognize that this will help me stay engaged and focused in class.
✔ Parent/Guardian: I support this policy and understand that if I need to reach my child during the school day, I will contact the school directly.
Student Signature: ___________________________ Date: ____________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________ Date: ____________