Art & Design Department

Department of Art and Design (1).mp4

Please note that classes with a garnet background fulfill SUNY General Education requirements.

Art Considerations

Foundations in Art.mp4

504 Foundations in Art 

GRADES 9-12 1 UNIT 

THIS COURSE IS THE FOUNDATION COURSE NEEDED FOR A SEQUENCE IN ART. 

Satisfies the Art/Music graduation requirement.


This is a survey course that covers the range of art mediums. Students will explore broad areas of drawing, painting, two and three dimensional design. Students will increase their observation skills and their ability to think creatively. They will develop an understanding of the artistic process. 

Media Arts.mp4

531 Media Arts 

GRADE 9-12 1 UNIT 

Satisfies the Art/Music graduation requirement.


This course uses a variety of digital mediums. Using industry-standard tools, students will create graphic design, digital video, and sound projects as they learn about the elements of art and principles of design . This course is designed for the student who likes working on computers and wishes to further an exploration in the arts through the use of digital technologies.  It fulfills the art/ music requirement for graduation and can be a foundation for a career in the media arts. Using advanced printing techniques students will print their designs on items such as keychains, mugs, t-shirts, and other merchandise in the high school Graphic Shop.

Studio Drawing and Painting.mp4

501 Studio in Drawing and Painting 

GRADES 10-12 1 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: ART 504 OR 531 

*Art portfolio development heavily recommended


This course builds on the skills learned in Foundations in Art and Media Arts. The emphasis will be on drawing and painting techniques. Students will learn to develop their own style and interests in the artwork they design. Students’ course work will lead to the development of a portfolio, as students will use a range of art mediums.

Advanced Studio.mp4

502 Advanced Studio in Drawing and Painting 

GRADES 10-12 1 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: ART 501 

*Art portfolio development heavily recommended


This course focuses on mastery of drawing and painting, along with developing an understanding of how Renaissance and Baroque art styles have influenced the development of painting. Students will develop a thorough knowledge of the steps involved in designing original work. Students will be able to use online and digital resources in their work. The primary mediums used in this course will be pencil, watercolor and acrylic. In the course, students will develop a college entry portfolio.

Directed.mp4

503 Directed Studies in Studio Art 

GRADES 11-12 1 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: ART 502 

*Art portfolio development heavily recommended


This course centers on exploring themes with a wide range of materials. Students will be able to explore an unlimited number of styles of art, although the focus will be on contemporary art issues. Students will look at the Postmodern period of art to understand how far art has changed historically. Students will develop a concentration on a theme of their choice. Students will organize their portfolio for college admissions.

Art History.mp4

ART 101 Survey of Art History (HVCC) 

This HVCC art history course starts with the late Gothic period and moves through the post-modern period. It covers Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Neoclassicism on through the modern periods of Impressionism, Cubism and Pop. Emphasis will be placed on the characteristics of artists and art movements. This is a 3-credit college-level course that is applicable for both the art and non-art student. (It usually fulfills a general-ed requirement in college.) 

Crafts I Mixed Media.mp4

516 Crafts - Mixed Media 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 


This course is designed to make students comfortable with a variety of craft techniques and materials. Students will work with paper, paints, wood, plastic, clay and metals as they create jewelry, folk art and other crafts.

Fabrics and Fibers.mp4

517 Crafts - Fabric and Fibers 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 


This course is designed to help students become familiar with craft techniques that relate to fabrics and fibers. Students will learn painting, cutting, quilting and weaving while creating jewelry, wall hangings, home accessories and wearable crafts.

Internship.mp4

506 Art/Special Education Internship 

GRADE 11-12 1/2 UNIT, 1 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: ART 516 OR 517 AND/OR INSTRUCTOR PERMISSION 

NYS Seal of Civic Readiness Pathway


This course will introduce students to teaching and mentoring techniques for working with special needs students. Students will work with these students in either the crafts or life skills course and learn how to reteach, teach and modify lessons. Students will need to be able available to observe a special education class several times each quarter. Students must be able to be self-directed in assisting special needs students.

583 Art & Careers

GRADE 10-12 1/2 UNIT


This semester long exploratory course is designed to expose students to the many job possibilities in the art fields.  Emphasis is placed on both traditional careers such as fashion design, interior design, illustration and industrial design as well as as graphic design and media arts.  Students will study the careers, create and produce work using advanced printing techniques in the new high school Graphic Shop.

Digital Photography I.mp4

ART 104 Basic Digital Photography (SUNY Adirondack) 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 


This course introduces students to basic digital photography. The course will teach students how to take photographs and manipulate them in a digital darkroom using Adobe Photoshop. Students may choose to take this course for 3 SUNY Adirondack college credits. All students are expected to have a digital camera (not a cell phone camera). Students taking the course for college credit should have a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera.

Advertising photography.mp4

ART 105 Digital Photography II (SUNY Adirondack) 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: ART 104 


This course is designed to further the student’s development in Digital Photography and Adobe Photoshop. Students will learn advanced camera techniques, studio lighting, digital editing, advertising theory and commercial marketing for photography.  Students will also explore career paths in Photography. Students taking this course should have a DSLR camera if interested in college credit.

Graphics I.mp4

ART 222 Graphics I (SUNY Adirondack) 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 


Using Adobe Creative Suite, this course introduces students to various forms of digital media and the creation of forms of digital imagery. Use of industry standard computers and applications help prepare students for a career in graphic design. Students may choose to take this course for 3 SUNY Adirondack college credits. Using advanced printing techniques students will print their designs on items such as keychains, mugs, t-shirts, and other merchandise in the high school Graphic Shop.

Graphics II.mp4

ART 252 Graphics II (SUNY Adirondack) 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: ART 222 


Using Adobe Creative Suite, this course teaches students to use more advanced techniques to create digital imagery for both commercial and fine art purposes. Continued use of industry standard computers and applications help prepare students for a career in graphic design. Students may choose to take this course for 3 SUNY Adirondack College. Using advanced printing techniques students will print their designs on items such as keychains, mugs, t-shirts, and other merchandise in the high school Graphic Shop.

Merchandising and Design.mp4

519 Digital Merchandising and Design 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: GRAPHIC ARTS I & GRAPHIC ARTS II 


This course is designed for any student who is interested in a career in the advertising arts, marketing or branding.  Emphasis is placed on the creation, production, branding, and marketing of merchandise to specific consumer demographics. Students will look at the main channels of advertising: video(tv and youtube),audio(radio and podcast),print& digital(newspapers, magazines),out-of-home(billboard),and social media(too many to list). Students will produce promotional merchandise using advanced printing techniques in the new high school Graphic Shop.

Cartooning.mp4

523 Studio in Cartooning Animation I 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 


This course is designed to further develop artistic abilities in many contemporary illustrative techniques. Students will be examining many different styles of cartooning, such as comic strips, action super heroes, animals, political cartoons, fantasy, anime, paper cutouts and animation.

524 Studio in Cartooning Animation II 

GRADES 10-12 1/2 UNIT 


PREREQUISITE: ART 523 This course is designed to further the development of skills and promote character evolution begun in Studio in Cartooning Animation I. Animation will be presented and explored with a variety of platforms and programs. Story board development will be used to animate, cut paper character designs on iPads. Gifts will be created in Adobe Photoshop. Superheroes will be created in Adobe Illustrator, and animated in MOHO. Many other programs and cartooning styles will be animated too. Come join the fun and see characters you create come to life.

Department of Art and Design (1).mp4

634 Advanced Practicum in Digital Design 

GRADES 11-12 1/2 UNIT 

PREREQUISITE: TWO OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES: GRAPHICS I, GRAPHICS II, DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 


Using industry standard computers and applications, and building on skills acquired in previous courses, this course allows students the opportunity to pursue a specific area of interest within digital arts. The instructor and student will develop a curriculum that is appropriate for this choice. Additionally, job opportunity discussions and portfolio building help students prepare for a career.

sculpture.mp4

528 Sculpture 

GRADES 11-12 1 UNIT 


This course is for students who want to learn basic three dimensional construction techniques. Students will work with clay, wood, plaster and paper mediums. They will explore additive and subtractive approaches as they assemble, carve and mold materials into unique sculptures.

Career Exploration (CEIP)


HRD 103 Career Exploration Internship Program SUNY Adirondack - 1 CREDIT

GRADE 12 1/2 UNIT *This is a Pass/Fail Course

*For students in the digital graphics, technical advertising, media, fine and performing arts pathways.

NYS Seal of Civic Readiness Pathway


CCHS Seniors have the opportunity to participate in a 40 hour unpaid internship in an area related to the student's career interest through the Career Exploration Internship Program.  This course is designed to help students understand the connection between their high school academic program and the world of work.  Topics covered in the course include resume writing, interview skills, business etiquette, responsibilities and general workplace laws and safety requirements.  Each student will be required to complete instructional assignments, maintain work journals and submit a final written report.  An evaluation of the field performance will be made by a supervising practitioner.  The course is taught in conjunction with SUNY Adirondack.  Students must provide their own transportation.  Internships must be approved by the high school internship coordinator and by SUNY Adirondack.