Art
Supervisor of Art & Music (Morris Hills):Mr. Robert Merle, rmerle@mhrd.org
Supervisor of Art & Music (Morris Knolls): Mrs. Erin Morgan, emorgan@mhrd.org
First-Year Art Courses
INTRODUCTION TO ART (VP970)
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: None
The Introduction to Art course provides an introduction to the basic concepts and skills required for the creation of art. Introduction to Art will build students' creative thinking skills, ability to develop original ideas, and their technical skills. To understand design, the students will look in depth at its elements and its principles. Several drawing methods and painting skills will be introduced, and will provide a basis upon which students can build in more advanced courses such as Advanced Art Techniques, Advanced Digital Art and Design, Digital Photography, etc.
CARTOONING AND ANIMATION (VP975 )
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: None
Cartooning and Animation is a full year elective course which will give students who have an interest in cartooning and animation an opportunity to further their drawing skills. Students will build a portfolio of quality work. Projects will include: hand-developed cartoon characters, comic strips, political cartoons, caricature and short animation (both drawn and digital), flip books, comic books, and stop action short clips.
DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN (VP973)
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: None
This course serves as an introduction to the basic design elements and principles, and how with the use of computers, they can be applied in fine and commercial art. Students will create graphics, edit photographs, and animate images (GIFs). Students will work with software programs such as Photoshop, iMovie, iPhoto, and Corel Painter. Careers in computer animation and graphics will also be explored, as well as advances in the industrial use of computer art.
MIXED MEDIA SCULPTURE (VP977)
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: None
In this hands-on course students will create art pieces through a variety of 3-D media such as clay, paper maché, wire, cardboard, duct tape, found objects, and finishes. Students will craft figurative and abstract works, jewelry, masks, and functional pieces of art. Both additive and subtractive methods will be used to expand knowledge of form, structure, balance, and function. This course would be beneficial to students interested in art, architecture, engineering, fashion/costume and accessory design and product/industrial design.
Upper Level Art Courses
ADVANCED ART TECHNIQUES (VP971)
Grades 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Introduction to Art, Digital Art and Design, Mixed Media Sculpture, OR Cartooning and Animation
Advanced Art Techniques continues the study of two-dimensional art introduced in Introduction to Art, Cartooning & Animation, Mixed Media Sculpture or Digital Art and Design and provides the student with more advanced techniques and mediums. Attention will be given to drawing from life, from references, creating original work, working with watercolor, and acrylic painting techniques. Drawing media will include pencil, charcoal, pastels, and ink. Emphasis will be on enhancing technical skill and the development of individual expression and creativity. Art styles and periods will be explored. Having completed the Advanced Art Techniques course, students can continue the study of art at an advanced level in Intro to Art Studio, AP Studio Art, or can take additional art electives such as Digital Art and Design, Mixed Media Sculpture, Digital Photography or AP Art History.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (VP976)
Grades 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Introduction to Art, Digital Art and Design, Mixed Media Sculpture, OR Cartooning and Animation
This course is designed for students who are interested in the technical, creative, and hands-on aspects of digital photography. Students will gain experience in taking creative, original portrait and candid photographs, learn the importance of lighting and composition, and explore the professional photography marketplace. Students will also utilize image manipulation software and digital imaging to correct, retouch photographs, and compose unique images. Students will work as school photographers for various school events.
ADVANCED DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN (VP974)
Grades 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Digital Art and Design
This course will explore advanced applications of digital art software such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Digital Photography, animation, advanced scanning techniques and the integration of video will be explored. Projects will require a combination of fine and computer art skills and techniques.
STUDIO ART WORKSHOP (VP972)
Grades 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Advanced Art Techniques (formerly Drawing & Painting) OR Mixed Media Sculpture (formerly 3D Design)
In this course, students will utilize advanced techniques and complex media to further explore the realm of two dimensional art. Portraiture, figure drawing, realistic still life work and observational rendering will be taught, as well as advanced exploration of the use of pencil, charcoal, pastels, inks, watercolors, oil paints or acrylic paints. A body of work collected in a portfolio will be prepared. This portfolio of work will be evaluated for entrance to AP Studio Art, and includes projects that will be applied to the AP breadth section, collegiate or career preparation artwork. Art styles and 19th, 20th and 21st Century artists will be explored.
AP ART COURSES
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ART HISTORY (VP430)
Grades 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisites: None
This is a comprehensive course, equivalent to the introduction of Art History on a college level. Learning to understand, interpret, and critique painting, sculpture, architecture and other forms of visual art will be addressed within the parameters set forth by the College Board. During the course, students examine major forms of artistic expression from the past and present, as well as from a variety of cultures and through museum trips. Students will critically examine and analyze what they see in oral and written form. This course will prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Art History Exam provided and administered by the College Board in May. College level writing skills will be utilized.
STUDENTS MAY TAKE EITHER ONE, TWO, OR THREE OF THE AP STUDIO COURSES LISTED BELOW:
AP 2-D Art and Design (VP440)
Grade 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Studio Art Workshop (formerly Intro to Art Studio); 3 art classes taken previously or a portfolio review with the AP teacher.
This course provides an intense studio work experience for the serious art student who demonstrates exemplary technical skills, time on task, and the ability to generate college level art concepts, while meeting deadlines and accepting the rigorous responsibility for completing a minimum of 15 college-level pieces of artwork. The focus of this class is on the development of a body of work that aligns to College Board AP Art & Design standards.
The 2D Design portfolio is designated for work that focuses on the use of two-dimensional elements and principles of art and design, including point, line, shape, plane, layer, form, space, texture, color, value, opacity, transparency, time, unity, variety, rhythm, movement, proportion, scale, balance, emphasis, contrast, repetition, figure/ ground relationship, connection, juxtaposition, and hierarchy. Students should consider how materials, processes, and ideas can be used to make work that exists on a flat surface. Students can work with any materials, processes, and ideas. Graphic design, digital imaging, photography, collage, fabric design, weaving, fashion design, fashion illustration, painting, and printmaking are among the possibilities of accepted artistic processes.
Portfolio presentation and evaluation, infusion of career information, participation in critiques, self-evaluation, and enhanced independent study will be highlighted. Coursework culminates with an installation of work in the Senior Studio Art Show. Please note: This course has a required Summer Assignment.
AP Drawing (VP441)
Grade 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Studio Art Workshop (formerly Intro to Art Studio); 3 art classes taken previously or a portfolio review with the AP teacher.
This course provides an intense studio work experience for the serious art student who demonstrates exemplary technical skills, time on task, and the ability to generate college level art concepts, while meeting deadlines and accepting the rigorous responsibility for completing a minimum of 15 college-level pieces of artwork. The focus of this class is on the development of a body of work that aligns to College Board AP Art & Design standards.
This portfolio is designated for work that focuses on the use of mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition. Students should consider marks that can be used to make drawings, the arrangement of marks, the materials and processes used to make marks, and relationships of marks and ideas. Students can work with any materials, processes, and ideas. Drawing (analog and digital), painting, printmaking, and mixed media work are among the possibilities of accepted artistic processes.
Portfolio presentation and evaluation, infusion of career information, participation in critiques, self-evaluation, and enhanced independent study will be highlighted. Coursework culminates with an installation of work in the Senior Studio Art Show. Please note: This course has a required Summer Assignment.
AP 3-D Art and Design (VP442)
Grade 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Studio Art Workshop (formerly Intro to Art Studio); 3 art classes taken previously or a portfolio review with the AP teacher.
This course provides an intense studio work experience for the serious art student who demonstrates exemplary technical skills, time on task, and the ability to generate college level art concepts, while meeting deadlines and accepting the rigorous responsibility for completing a minimum of 15 college-level pieces of artwork. The focus of this class is on the development of a body of work that aligns to College Board AP Art & Design standards.
This portfolio is designated for work that focuses on the use of three-dimensional elements and principles of art and design, including point, line, shape, plane, layer, form, volume, mass, occupied/unoccupied space, texture, color, value, opacity, transparency, time, unity, variety, rhythm, movement, proportion, scale, balance, emphasis, contrast, repetition, connection, juxtaposition, and hierarchy. Students should consider how materials, processes, and ideas can be used to make work that involves space and form. Students can work with any materials, processes, and ideas. Figurative or non figurative sculptures, architectural models, metal work, ceramics, installation, assemblage, and 3-D fabric/fiber arts are among the possibilities of accepted artistic processes.
Portfolio presentation and evaluation, infusion of career information, participation in critiques, self-evaluation, and enhanced independent study will be highlighted. Coursework culminates with an installation of work in the Senior Studio Art Show. Please note: This course has a required Summer Assignment.