VISUAL ARTS

The Visual Arts Department is designed for students who are interested in the arts.  Classes are designed to work in sequence to include entry level classes in Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, and Graphic Design.  The more advanced art students can develop their artistic talents by participating in a variety of higher-level art courses. These course satisfy the requirements for visual and performing arts credits.

Courses marked with a 🌐 satisfy the 21st Century Life & Career requirement.

STUDIO ART I 🌐

CREDITS: 5

Full Year 

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

This course is an introductory, required course, for all students who choose to pursue a visual arts program.  In this introductory class the students will explore the basic skills and the elements of art with emphasis on drawing, color, and painting techniques.  In addition, the student will experiment using a variety of art materials.  The Elements of Design will be discussed in depth.  Students will also be exposed to a variety of mediums and forms of art such as 2-D, 3-D, and digital medium.

STUDIO ART II

CREDITS: 5

Full Year 

Prerequisite: Studio Art I 

Grades: 10-12

This class is an intermediate level course that will focus on drawing, painting, and design techniques.  The course will stress student experimentation in multiple 2-dimensional areas; to include color theory, figure drawing, rendering textures, and dynamic compositional layouts. Students will continue to develop their skills with various mediums, such as graphite, charcoal, pastel, pen, ink, watercolor, gouache, and acrylic paint. Knowledge of The Elements of Design is expected. The Principles of Design and various artists and movements in art history will be studied in depth. 

STUDIO ART III 

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Studio Art II 

Grades: 11-12 

This course is designed for the serious art student who intends to further his / her education in the visual arts field. Study of career options in the visual arts field will be explored. Students will work with various mediums and techniques including acrylic painting, stretching canvas, and matting their own artwork for presentation. In addition, students will be responsible for keeping a sketchbook / journal, developing and refining their portfolios, visiting art museums and galleries, and helping set up visual art displays.  The critique process will also play a major role and will be practiced in the form of class discussions and written essays. Connections to art history will be made throughout the year and serve as inspiration for projects. Students will be expected to dedicate themselves to learning and creating art. With assistance from the instructor, students will prepare applications and assemble an art portfolio for employment, college or art school admission.

ART FUNDAMENTALS   

CREDITS: 5

Full Year 

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

This course is for all types of artists, new or experienced. Lessons are designed to focus on the application of the Fundamentals of Visual Art: drawing, painting, sculpture and digital design, as well as discover 21st century creative careers. Students will be presented with creative challenges in the form of unit-oriented projects in order to enhance their content knowledge, creativity, and artistic ability. 

CERAMICS & SCULPTURE I 🌐

CREDITS: 5

Full Year 

Prerequisite: None 

Grades: 9 -12

This class will focus on the beginning levels of 3-D design.  Students will apply and build upon their prior knowledge related to the Elements of Art and Principles of Design and relate them to three-dimensional works of art.  Topics and skills covered include a focus on sculpture, ceramics, instillation, and other areas, while working with a wide variety of media such as clay, plaster, wire, and various other materials.  Students will be introduced to 3-D modeling tools and techniques and will study essential technical concepts in building, texturing, and lighting three-dimensional forms.  Additionally, the course integrates a study of art movements and various artists throughout the year.

CERAMICS & SCULPTURE II

CREDITS: 5

Full Year 

Prerequisite: Ceramics & Sculpture I (3D) 

Grades: 10-12 

The Ceramics & Sculpture II course is offered to students who have successfully completed Ceramics & Sculpture I (3D Art I). This advanced-level course is designed for student who would like to build upon the methods and basic techniques learned in the beginning-level 3D courses. Students will explore more advanced techniques such as glaze application, different decorating options, and ceramic firing methods.  Students will work on both hand-built projects in a variety of media and also on the potter’s wheel, learning to perfect their skills and techniques. Advanced elements of design creativity, craftsmanship, and overall presentation will be emphasized, and increased critical thinking and presentation skills will be stressed.  Individual and group critiques will be an important part of taking design skills to the next level, as well as developing a working knowledge of historical and contemporary artists.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY I 🌐

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

Students will learn in depth features of a digital camera to take photographs beyond the camera phone snapshot.  There is a heavy emphasis on computer-based photo editing using the software Adobe Photoshop.  The student will learn to use a computer throughout the school year to enhance and manipulate their digital images.  In addition, they will learn computer photo editing and retouching capabilities.  This course is designed for the student who likes to take digital photos using a digital camera and is interested in the knowledge and capability of editing photographs in the computer software, Adobe Photoshop.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY II 

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Digital Photography I and Teacher Recommendation 

Grades: 10-12

This course would be a continuation of the Digital Photography course with more of an artistic edge to the photo editing process.  The student will expand their knowledge of the basic digital photography course, allowing for the opportunity to learn the concepts and creations of digital art, how to make 3D objects, animation and the beginning works of web design using the PhotoShop computer software. The student will be required to have had Digital Photography I as a prerequisite.  Having this previous experience, more creative demands will be placed on the student.  Challenging, college level, assignments will be preparing the student for the next level.

GRAPHIC DESIGN I 🌐

CREDITS: 5 

Full Year

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

This Graphic Design course focuses on visual communication, theory, layout, elements and principles of design, and heavily emphasizes a hands-on computer design experience for the beginning designer.  Professional Graphic Design software will be explored, including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. The students will be exposed to the rapidly changing methods and techniques used in the Graphic Design workplace.  Digital Photographs will be applied to layouts and the internet will be utilized.  Design problems will require students to develop end products that reflect contemporary Graphic Design and utilize career skills that are in the field.  Projects included are CD covers, brochures, logo designs, business cards, letterheads, magazine advertisements and magazine covers. Students will create digital portfolios of their work for real world job preparation.

GRAPHIC DESIGN II

CREDITS: 5

Full Year

Prerequisite: Graphic Design I 

Grades: 10-12

The advanced designer will continue to explore and enhance skills developed in Graphic Design I.  The students will strive to take the foundations and elements previously learned and create their own original and unique style.  Students will use professional Graphic Design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign to master the art of visually communicating through detailed layouts. Students will create digital portfolios of their work for real world job preparation.

GRAPHIC DESIGN III

CREDITS: 5 

Full Year

Prerequisite: Graphic Design I & II 

Grades: 11-12 

Graphic Design III will utilize the skills developed from the previous Graphic Design levels and enhance them through real-world assignments.  Students will use the Adobe Suite to produce designs that attract greater attention over competitor brands, update designs for the modern world, create designs where the meaning is quickly portrayed to the consumer, and construct designs that can be recognizable on everything from clothing to sports jerseys to websites.  The student will also be able to design individually selected projects while working with a strict client deadline, similar to the way the graphic design industry works. Comprehensive presentations will make the student aware of what are weak and what effective methods of designing are.  The student will be able to accomplish advanced graphic design techniques and projects by the end of the year.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART             

CREDITS: 5

(This course receives advanced placement weighting for the calculation of the GPA.)

Full Year                

Prerequisites:  Studio Art I, II, III and/or Teacher Approval

Grade: 11-12

The Advanced Placement Studio Art course is designed for art students who are serious about their art and who anticipate a career in the visual arts field. Students will submit a portfolio for evaluation at the end of the school year. There are three distinct portfolios a student can choose from, depending upon their expertise and advice from the instructor: the Drawing Portfolio, the Two-Dimensional Design Portfolio, and/or the Three-Dimensional Design Portfolio. The Advanced Placement Portfolio should be viewed as the culminating experience in a student’s secondary visual arts training. 

Portfolio Requirements

Requires submission in two distinct sections. The sections are designed to assess student performance both digitally and physically. The sections require students to demonstrate in-depth engagement and the process of making art.

The two sections of the AP Studio Art portfolio are:

• Drawing & 2-Dimensional  |  Section I: Sustained Investigation 60% - 15 works (digitally submitted) that demonstrate ideas, practice, experimentation, and revision, as well as documented writing that demonstrates the questions and evidence that guided the sustained investigation.  Section II: Selected Works 40% - 5 physical works that demonstrate drawing/2-D skills, synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas as well as documented writing that demonstrates such ideas, materials, and processes.

• 3-Dimensional  |  Section I: Sustained Investigation 60% - 15 works (digitally submitted) that demonstrate ideas, practice, experimentation, and revision, as well as documented writing that demonstrates the questions and evidence that guided the sustained investigation.  Section II: Selected Works 40% - Images of 5 works, 2 views of each, for a total of 10 images that demonstrate 3-D design skills, synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas as well as documented writing that demonstrates such ideas, materials, and processes.

As a requirement of any of the three portfolios, students will photograph all of their artwork in the form of color slides and compile written documents. In addition to the development of the AP Portfolio, the instructor will assist students in preparing college applications and assemble the portfolio for college or art school entrance interviews, or employment. 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT 3-D STUDIO ART

Credits: 5

(This course receives advanced placement weighting for the calculation of the GPA.)

Full Year

Prerequisites: 

3-D Art II

Grade: 11-12

The Advanced Placement 3-D Studio Art course is designed for senior art students who are serious about their art and who are going to pursue a career in the visual art field.  This course is not based on a written examination, but instead; students will submit a portfolio for evaluation at the end of the school year.  The Advanced Placement Portfolio should be viewed as the culminating experience in a student’s secondary visual arts training.  

Each portfolio requires submission in the three distinct sections.  The sections are designed to assess different aspects of student performance.  The sections require the student to demonstrate  

quality, breadth, and in-depth engagement in the process of making art.  The three sections of the portfolio are:

• • Section I: Quality – the development of a sense of excellence in art;

  • Section II: Concentration – an in-depth commitment to a particular artistic concern;

  • Section III: Breadth – a variety of experiences in the formal, technical, and expressive means available to an artist – AP Studio Art Teachers Guide

As a requirement of the portfolio, students will photograph all of their artwork in the form of digital, color slides.  In addition to the development of the AP Portfolio, the instructor will assist students in preparing college applications, financial aid forms, and assemble the portfolio for college, art school entrance interviews, or for employment. 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ART HISTORY                                                  

CREDITS:  5

(This course receives advanced placement weighting for the calculation of the GPA.)

Full Year

Prerequisite:  None

Grades: 11-12

Advanced Placement Art History is a fast paced, intensive course, designed to prepare students to qualify for credit and advanced placement in many American colleges, and may be used to satisfy humanities or history college credit requirements. This course is based on a study of the visual arts (painting, sculpture, and architecture) produced by various world civilizations during the peaks of their artistic achievement. Students will gain an understanding of the role of all of the arts in the development of civilization. The student is provided with the necessary conceptual framework to be able to analyze and understand historical and contemporary art forms. Three field trips to view painting, sculpture, and architecture are required within the course of the year. Prior experience in history is necessary for those who take the course, as this is not a studio art – based course. Students who have done well in other advanced academic studies, such as history, literature, or the humanities, students wishing to pursue art as a college major or minor are especially encouraged to enroll.

AP Exam Requirements

Tests understanding of art historical concepts covered in the course units, as well as ability to analyze and compare works of art and place them in historical context.