Visual Arts

THE ARTS

Mission Statement

The Arts program at Seymour High School provides opportunities for students to create, perform and respond with understanding to all of the arts, including music and the visual arts; to develop in-depth skills in at least one art form; to appreciate the importance of the arts in expressing human experience; and to be prepared to apply their arts skills and understandings throughout their lifetime.

Basic Drawing (2-D Design) – 801

0.5 Credit – semester course

Offered to grades 9-12

This half year course covers the basic media and techniques of drawing (including perspective and composition) while addressing the elements and principles of two-dimensional design.  This class serves as a prerequisite to all other art classes. 

3-Dimensional Design – 808

This course will run every other year during even graduation years after the 2017 year ( 2022 and 2024).

0.5 Credit – Semester Course

Offered to grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Drawing (2D Design) with a 70 or higher.

In this course the student will be introduced to various methods and materials of sculpture as a means of expression.  They will continue to work with the elements and principles of 2-dimensional design, and begin to incorporate the third dimension of depth in their art using both additive and subtractive methods.  They will work with materials such as wire, clay, plaster, paper mache, and found objects. 

AP Drawing 2D Studio – 895

1.0 Credit – full year course

Offered to grades 10-12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Drawing (2D Design) and Observational Art, Modern Painting, or Portrait Studio; or portfolio review. 

AP Studio Drawing and 2 D Design is a college level studio art course. This course is intended for the serious art student willing to build a portfolio that addresses drawing issues and media exploration. The students will use drawing, painting, and design skills to communicate, experiment with composition, color, value, and creative problem solving, and increase their understanding of various styles of portraiture, techniques, and their application.  AP Studio Drawing and 2D Design culminates in the submission of a portfolio containing mostly slides but some original pieces of artwork for college credit and evaluation. The portfolio will consist of three areas of study: Quality – original works which show high levels of art skill and content; Sustained Investigation – a body of work revolving around a specific visual investigation; Selected Works – a body of work demonstrating a variety of concepts and media.

AP 3D Sculpture Studio – 896

1.0 Credit – full year course

Offered to grades 10-12

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Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Drawing (2D Design) and 3-Dimensional Design or Pottery and Sculpture; or portfolio review

AP Sculpture Studio is a college level studio art course intended for the serious art student willing to build a portfolio that addresses sculpture issues and media exploration. This course involves the planning, design, and construction of a variety of three dimensional objects at an advanced skill level.  Students will assess the aesthetic qualities of form, and the surface treatment of objects in space as well as composition theory and color theory.  There will be a variety of materials used such as metal, wood, foam board, plaster, stone carving, and clay.  The portfolio will consist of three areas of study: Quality – original works which show high levels of art skill and content; Sustained Investigation – a body of work revolving around a specific visual investigation; Selected Works – a body of work demonstrating a variety of concepts and media.

Modern Painting – 806 

0.5 Credit – semester course

Offered to grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Drawing (2D Design) with a 70 or higher.

In this course the student will be introduced to various media and techniques used in painting.  The focus of this course will be on mixing colors and painting techniques, using tempera paints, acrylics, and watercolors.  Each painting will correlate with the style of a famous modern artist and art movement.

Portrait Studio – 810

0.5 Credit – semester course

Offered to grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Drawing (2D Design) with a 70 or higher

This course will run every other year during odd graduation years after the 2017 year ( 2021 and 2023)

In this drawing and painting course the student will be introduced to a range of media, techniques, and their application. Emphasis in this course is on different genres of portraiture and self-portraiture ranging from photo realism to abstract portraits.   Students will focus on the proportions of facial features as well as how portraits are used to show emotion.  They will continue to strengthen their skills in the application of various media and techniques as they further their knowledge of composition, value, color, and proportion.  The students will use drawing, painting, and design skills to communicate, experiment with composition, color, value, and creative problem solving, and increase their understanding of various styles of portraiture, techniques, and their application.  

Advanced Painting and Drawing - 811

0.5 Credit – semester course

Offered to grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Drawing (2D Design) with a 70 or higher

In this drawing and painting course the student will be introduced to a range of media, techniques, and their application. Emphasis in this course is on different genres of portraiture and self-portraiture ranging from photo realism to abstract portraits.   Students will focus on the proportions of facial features as well as how portraits are used to show emotion.  They will continue to strengthen their skills in the application of various media and techniques as they further their knowledge of composition, value, color, and proportion.

Pottery and Sculpture – 809

0.5 Credit – Semester Course

Offered to grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Drawing (2D Design) with a 70 or higher.

In this course the student will incorporate the third dimension of depth in their art through the use of various clay techniques.  Focusing on hand building, students will use clay to create different forms of functional and/or decorative pottery as well as sculpture.  Students will also have the opportunity to experience wheel throwing.

Graphic Design - 813

0.5 Credit – semester course

Offered to grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Basic Drawing

In this course the students will be introduced to graphic design as a means of communication through the use of type, image, and color.  They will explore design principles and visual hierarchy.

Digital Photography - 812

0.5 Credit – Semester Course

Offered to grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Basic Drawing

In this course the students will be introduced to the visual aesthetics of photographs, history of photography, mechanics of the digital camera, and current technological application of photo editing.  There is a major emphasis on photography as a fine art.