711 Studio Art & Design E

Full Year 1 Unit

Studio Art and Design is a Regents level introductory survey style course exploring the elements and principles of design & composition familiarizing students with the variety of half year course offerings available in the art & design department.  Main units include: Composition, Drawing, Color Theory, 3D Design, Human Proportion, Illusion of Depth, Ceramics, & Art Criticism.  Students develop products in a range of traditional materials including pencil, pastel, charcoal, paint, sculpture, ceramics, along with some work in digital media.  Art appreciation, the history of art, art and design careers and cultural heritages are strong themes throughout the year.  This course, or Media Art & Design, is required of all students planning to have a sequence in art, and it meets the fine art graduation requirement.

713 Drawing & Painting E (P)

Full Year 1 Unit

Prerequisite: Studio or Media Art and Design or permission of supervisor

This Regents level full-year course will encourage students to develop visual literacy and awareness through the study of basic drawing and painting skills.  Units include observational drawing in gesture and contour line, value rendering, illusion of depth and linear perspective, human proportion in portrait and figure drawing.  The course will have students explore a variety of techniques and media including pencil, charcoal, ink, marker, pastel, tempera, watercolor, acrylic paint, and digital drawing as they develop work in still life, landscape, interiors and portrait genres. Art history and contemporary art are sources of inspiration in lessons. The observational drawing skills developed in this class are desirable for architecture and art and design portfolios. 

743 UHS Advanced Art & Design 2 E (P)

Full Year 1 Unit

Prerequisite: A FSM of 85 or higher in Advanced Art and Design 1.  

This Honors level course is fourth in the 5 unit sequence and is ideal for the highly motivated art student who has demonstrated ability and achievement in Art and Design 1 and is interested in advanced study in a variety of art media. Students will be exposed to artist styles and art historical periods through project work, and develop communication skills in critiques and reflections.  Portfolio presentation and observational drawing techniques that colleges look for are a focus in this course.  Students are expected to participate in field trips and portfolio review events as part of required course curriculum and complete a summer portfolio assignment prior to the start of the school year.  This course earns a college transcript from Russell Sage College. A tuition fee is required.

727 Fashion & Commercial Illustration E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

In this course students will develop drawing skills as they relate to fashion illustration and design. They will be introduced to proportions of the fashion figure and will work with mixed media including ink, markers, watercolors, gouache, crayons and pastels, collage, fabric, and digital drawing. Students will research and produce technical drawings of croquis, fashion styles, costume design and accessories. They will produce fashion flats, mood boards and develop rendering techniques to represent textiles, patterns and fabric draping. Integration of fashion terminology, color theory, and fashion history will help guide students throughout their design process. This course will be ideal for those interested in fashion based fields, such as Fashion Styling, Fashion or Accessory Design, Fashion Illustration, or Textile Design. Students and parents will sign an equipment contract and be responsible for district equipment related to camera, lighting, digital device and computer use.

715 Painting E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

This half year painting course will provide students with an opportunity to learn about color theory as they create artwork primarily in watercolor and acrylic paint. Other materials such as gouache, ink, and oil might be incorporated. Students will be introduced to the work of master painters, history of painting, as well as contemporary artwork as sources of inspiration. Students will develop brush handling skills and application techniques associated with painting media. Drawing skills are important and will be stressed when planning and developing compositions. Students will work with subject matter including still life, landscape and the human figure.

722 Ceramics 1 (Hand Built) E 

First Semester ½ Unit

In Ceramics 1, students will work in the pottery studio to learn about clay bodies, firing techniques, surface treatments and glazing applications.  Concepts related to elements and principles of design and composition will inform 3D designs. Students will create decorative and functional 3D forms in pinch, coil and slab methods of clay construction. Students will complete a variety of hand-built projects based on techniques and styles from a number of cultures and periods of art history and contemporary art.

723 Ceramics 2 (Intro to Wheelwork) E 

Second Semester ½ Unit

This course allows students the opportunity to work with clay on the pottery wheel.  Students will learn about clay bodies, firing techniques, glazing applications and develop the art of “throwing on the wheel”.  In the pottery studio students will also explore advanced coil and slab building techniques while learning sculptural methods to produce functional or decorative 3D forms.  These projects will be rooted in the styles and techniques of accomplished traditional and contemporary ceramic artists and sculptors.

717 3D Design (Sculpture) E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

This course will provide students with an understanding and appreciation of sculptural forms and techniques.  The students will explore the three-dimensional relationships of volume, mass, and surface treatment. Form and function applications in fields of product design and other creative careers will also be explored. Sculpture materials such as clay, wood, wire, plaster, glass and paper will be utilized. Work of contemporary 3D designers and sculptors will be introduced, in addition to the history of this 3D art form. 

719 Graphic Design E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

This course will introduce students to skills and design techniques used by commercial artists often working with Adobe Creative Suite software. In this course, students will learn about typography, logo, product, publication, and web design.  Students will develop creative visual problem solving skills, rooted in the elements and principles of composition and layout to communicate visual messages with text in graphic images. The class may work with local companies and the school district to create logos, billboards, t-shirts, and publications used in the community.  Students and parents will sign an equipment contract and be responsible for district equipment related to camera, lighting, digital device and computer use.

729 Animation & Character Design E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

In this course, students will study the art and history of animation and character development.  The primary focus is on drawing through storyboarding, concept ideas and character design, which have applications to game design and storytelling. Students will learn how to sketch and draw with greater confidence as they learn how to illustrate the human body and figure proportion related to character designs.  Animation projects will include digital media equipment and stop-action animation techniques including video editing using current animation software.  Students and parents will sign an equipment contract and be responsible for district equipment related to camera, lighting, digital device and computer use.

724 Digital Photography E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

This course will introduce students to the study of manipulating and digitally enhancing photographic images. Studio, portrait, and environmental photography will be covered. Students will learn the functions and manual settings of a DSLR camera. Students and parents will sign an equipment contract and be responsible for district equipment related to camera, lighting, digital device and computer use. Using digital software programs, including Adobe Photoshop, students will work with photographs on the computer and apply the elements and principles of art to create aesthetically strong art compositions using the software tools. Work of historical and contemporary photographers will be used as inspiration.

728 Digital Film & Video E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

This course is designed to introduce students to the creative aspects of film making, storytelling and video production as an art form.  Students will learn to use film language both as a viewer and as a creator.  Students will become skilled in film and video production, including script writing, designing storyboards, camera handling, filming, editing, and utilizing sound.  Students will create and screen their own films demonstrating original ideas.  The history of film and the work of accomplished film and video artists will be covered.  Students and parents will sign an equipment contract and be responsible for district cameras, lighting and computer equipment.

714 UHS Metal & Jewelry Design E 

Either Semester ½ Unit

Students will create small metal art forms of personal adornment. Students will design and produce jewelry using traditional metalsmith techniques such as wire work, metal, piercing, sawing, filing, polishing, soldering, and copper enameling. They also will be introduced to jewelry produced through laser cutting, engraving and 3D printing.  Students will develop drawing and design skills as they consider the aesthetic qualities and functionality of their jewelry designs. Students are eligible to earn college credit through HVCC. A tuition fee is required.

759 UHS Art History E (P)

Either Semester ½ Unit

Prerequisite: FSM of 85 or higher in Regents level English and Regents level Social Studies. 

This course is an introductory college course that surveys great works of art, artists, and art historical movements from prehistory to the present.  Works of painting, sculpture, architecture, and decorative arts will be used to make analytic comparisons and explore the relationship between these works and the cultures that made them. Students will experience, research, and write about art and architecture throughout time. Students are eligible for college credit. A tuition fee is required.

748 Art & Design Foundations 2

Full Year 1 Unit

Supervisor Recommendation Required 

This course will continue to develop students’ knowledge about cultures and society.  Students will continue to focus on effective interpersonal skills, aptitudes and abilities in handling a range of materials to create art and design products.  Students will create and collaborate on artwork through an exploration of a variety of 2D and 3D media to reinforce and master skills and competencies.  Students will learn from one another, develop problem solving skills, and contribute to a sense of community in the classroom and beyond.  They will continue to develop artistic purpose and communicate intent through project work.  Learning how to think about and respond to art and how it connects to cultures and society will be further expanded.