Visual Arts

Studio in Art

(Grades 9-12): 1 year/1 credit

Studio in Art is a comprehensive foundation course that includes the study of the principles of design, the expanding role of art within our global cultures, art movements and trends in the art world. Students develop abilities to express themselves through experiences in a wide array of both digital and traditional art that may include drawing, painting, design, sculpture, printmaking and/or collage. Major movements of art will be introduced and explored. This course also introduces images created by diverse artists that may include Amy Sherald and Bridget Riley. Students will be guided through an appreciation of art history as well as contemporary art, developing their ability to critique works of art and exercise their problem-solving skills when creating their own art. Successful completion of this course will satisfy the fine arts graduation requirement for one unit of credit.

Drawing and Painting 

(Grades 10-12): 1 year/1 credit 

Drawing and Painting is an elective course that includes two areas of study: development of observational approaches to drawing and painting as well as the exploration of media and techniques. Drawing involves visual study of still-life, landscapes and portraiture using various drawing and painting media, procedures and techniques. Painting is explored through the study of watercolor and acrylic painting techniques. Traditional and current trends in drawing and painting will be studied through artists such as Chuck Close and Kehinde Wiley. (Students interested in AP Studio are strongly encouraged to enroll.)

Fashion Illustration

(Grades 10-12): ½ year/½ credit

Fashion Illustration is an elective half-year course that introduces basic illustration styles and techniques necessary to design creative fashion illustrations. Drawing, sketching and textile rendering skills will be developed. Basic anatomy proportion, composition, color and pattern will be explored to create original images of apparel, shoes and/or accessories. Students will advance their visual vocabulary and attain knowledge of clothing styles through the ages, popular trends and designers such as Alexander McQueen and Johana Hernandez. Introduction to careers in fashion, including designer, product developer, seamstress and buyer, will be explored.

Illustration and Design

(Grades 10-12): 1 year/1 credit

Illustration and Design is an elective course that focuses on art that often contains a narrative and/or commercial aspect to it. Illustration combines personal expression with pictorial representation to convey ideas from social and political commentary to story interpretation. The illustrator’s art brings written text to life with visual expression. A variety of techniques will be explored through drawing, painting and two-dimensional design. Illustrators from Norman Rockwell to Banksy will be explored through units in fashion, comics, graphic design, editorial, conceptual, narrative, scientific and children’s illustration.

Photographic Arts

(Grades 10-12): 1 year/1 credit

Photographic Arts is an elective course where students develop aesthetic sensitivity through the study of media such as photography, film, camera angles, lighting and digital imaging. Photographic arts are introduced through practical experiences in traditional black and white film processing and darkroom printing, camera techniques and digital image making. Major photographers, such as Ansel Adams and Cindy Sherman, art movements and trends are studied. Students are encouraged to have access to a 35mm SLR camera and a digital camera.

Sculpture

(Grades 10-12): 1 year/1 credit 

Sculpture is an elective course where students will be introduced to the fundamentals of creating sculptural works of art, through artists such as Ruth Asawa and Alberto Giacometti, to explore issues dealing with space, depth and structure. Students will learn about a variety of sculptural techniques and use materials including wood, plaster, fabric, paper, mixed media, metal, found objects and plastic to learn formal skills relevant to the creation of three-dimensional works of art.

Digital Design I

(Grades 10-12): ½ year/½ credit

Digital Design I is an elective course where students will be introduced to the production of digital illustration and graphic design. Students will be introduced to digital artists such as Ingrid Tsy and Maggie Taylor to learn fundamental tools and techniques used in Adobe Photoshop and various apps. Techniques such as photo retouching, color correction, blending, and combining images using masks, applying filters, digital drawing and adding text to an image, will be explored. Concepts include resolution, color modes, layers, blending modes, masks, channels, paths and nondestructive editing.

Digital Design II

(Grades 11-12): 1 credit

Digital Design II is an elective course that involves solving visual problems using digital media. Students will study digital artists such as Vanessa Rivera and Yung Jake. Students will explore advanced Photoshop techniques, be introduced to Adobe Illustrator, and video editing softwares. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of the Mac OS systems.

Contemporary Artmaking 

(Grades 10-12): ½ year/½ credit 

Contemporary Artmaking is an elective course where students will develop a deeper understanding of contemporary art or postmodernist artwork created from 1970 to present day by artists that may include Barbara Krueger and Faith Ringgold. Students will utilize a wide range of materials, media and technologies to create works of art that convey messages about the environment, social issues, fantasy, identity and memory.

AP 2-D

Art and Design

(Grades 11-12): 1 year/1 credit (w) 

Advanced Placement 2-D Art and Design is a college-level course that addresses two-dimensional design issues. Students will formulate questions or areas of inquiry that guide a sustained investigation through art and design. Design involves purposeful decision-making about how to use the elements and principles of art in an integrative way. The students will create college-level art pieces through various media which may include graphic design, typography, digital imagery, both traditional and digital photography, collage, textile design, illustration, painting and printmaking. All participants will prepare a portfolio according to the requirements set forth by the College Board. Students must submit a portfolio of 15 personal artworks to the College Board in May to attain Advanced Placement standing. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Studio in Art and one of the following Art electives including Digital Design I, Digital Design II, Photographic Arts, Illustration and Design, Drawing and Painting, or AP Drawing.

AP Drawing

(Grades 11-12): 1 year/1 credit (w) 

Advanced Placement Drawing is a college- level course that explores interpretive and experimentational drawing concepts. Students refine and apply skills and ideas they develop throughout the course to produce works of art. Students will formulate questions or areas of inquiry that guide a sustained investigation through art, specifically drawing and painting. Students may utilize painting, printmaking, mixed media, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, oil pastels, collage and a variety of other media to explore abstract, observational or invented works. All participants will prepare a portfolio according to the requirements set forth by the College Board. Students must submit a portfolio of 15 personal artworks to the College Board in May to attain Advanced Placement standing. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Studio in Art and one of the following Art electives including Illustration and Design, Drawing and Painting, or AP 2-D

AP Art History

(Grades 10-12): 1 year/1 credit (w) 

Advanced Placement Art History is a college-level course that is designed to provide students with an understanding of architecture, sculpture, painting and other art forms from a variety of cultures and time periods. Students will examine artworks from ancient civilizations to contemporary time. Artistic skills or prior experience in art history is not required; however, there must be a commitment to academic excellence. Reading and writing skills are very important. Students interested in history, literature and/ or art are strongly encouraged to enroll. Field trips to museums and galleries are scheduled to reinforce classroom lessons. Students must take the AP examination in May to attain Advanced Placement standing.