Art & Design

Foundation Level Art Classes

Middle School Acceleration Option

Studio in Art: Fine Arts is typically taken by 9th-grade students. However, students may be selected to take this course in grade 8 and are then expected to advance through the Pathway for Prospective Art Students during grades 9-12.

Studio in Art: Fine Arts

1 Year 1 Unit

Studio in Art: Fine Arts is one of three art foundation level courses where students can begin to create, experiment, and develop their artistic experiences. Students will gain foundational knowledge in the Elements of Art and Principles of Design while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and visual communication skills. Art classes foster innovation, collaboration, and resilience—skills that are highly valued , no matter your career path. This course will explore various media and techniques, encouraging students to develop their individual artistic vision. Key elements of the studio space include, hands-on experience, conceptual development, technical development, exploring diverse mediums, historical context, critique development, and preparation for future goals.

Students taking Studio in Art: Fine Arts will experience a variety of art materials as they develop work with a concentration in 2D drawing and painting with incorporated units of 3D and digital experiences.

Studio in Art: Crafts

1 Year 1 Unit

Studio in Art: Crafts is one of three art foundation level courses where students can begin to create, experiment, and develop their artistic experiences. Students will gain foundational knowledge in the Elements of Art and Principles of Design while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and visual communication skills. Art classes foster innovation, collaboration, and resilience—skills that are highly valued , no matter your career path. This course will explore various media and techniques, encouraging students to develop their individual artistic vision. Key elements of the studio space include, hands-on experience, conceptual development, technical development, exploring diverse mediums, historical context, critique development, and preparation for future goals.

Students taking Studio in Art: Crafts will experience a variety of 3D art materials, such as clay or fiber arts, as they develop work with a concentration in 3D with incorporated units of 2D and digital experiences.

Studio in Art: Electronic Media

1 Year 1 Unit

Studio in Art: E-Media is one of three art foundation level courses where students can begin to create, experiment, and develop their artistic experiences. Students will gain foundational knowledge in the Elements of Art and Principles of Design while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and visual communication skills. Art classes foster innovation, collaboration, and resilience—skills that are highly valued , no matter your career path. This course will explore various media and techniques, encouraging students to develop their individual artistic vision. Key elements of the studio space include, hands-on experience, conceptual development, technical development, exploring diverse mediums, historical context, critique development, and preparation for future goals.

Students in Studio in Art: E-Media will learn how to use professional software, such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, to create art while also obtaining 3D art-making and 2D art-making experiences. 

Visual Art Classes

Students pursuing this pathway will keep a portfolio. Along with this traditional portfolio, they will be offered an opportunity to take digital photos of their work. They will bring that portfolio of work from one course to the following course, as they progress through this pathway of Visual Art Courses. 

Drawing and Painting I

1 Year 1 Unit

Drawing and Painting I is an introductory 2D art course. Art classes foster innovation, collaboration, and resilience—skills that are highly valued , no matter your career path. In Drawing and Painting 1,  students will explore processes including drawing, painting, printmaking, and design using a variety of materials and techniques. Emphasis will be placed on acquiring and improving observational drawing and painting skills. Students will also gain a better understanding of the artistic or creative process including inspiration, development, creation, presentation, and reflection on art-making. Students will maintain a sketchbook and portfolio of their artwork.

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Foundation-level art course or an alternative approved course meeting the Fine Arts graduation requirement.

• Recommendation: 85 final average in a Foundation Level course

Drawing and Painting II

1 Year/1 Unit

This advanced 2D course builds upon the foundational skills learned in Drawing and Painting 1, guiding students toward greater technical proficiency and personal artistic development. Through a variety of media and techniques, students will refine their individual mark-making, expand their understanding and use of color, and apply advanced compositional strategies. Emphasis is placed on accurately representing three-dimensional forms and spaces on a two-dimensional surface while developing a personal visual voice. Students will maintain a sketchbook and a portfolio of their work.

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Drawing and Painting I with portfolio and sketchbook from previous courses.

• Materials: Sketchbook

• Recommendation: 85 final average in Drawing and Painting I.

Integrated Studio in Art & Design

1 Year/1 Unit

This advanced course follows the focus ­established in Drawing and Painting I and II and will expand on those skills to integrate traditional and contemporary art-making techniques and concepts with experimentation and personal decision making. Continued practice of drawing, painting, printmaking, and design skills will be developed into original works that stress personal expression through a wide array of art mediums. Emphasis will be placed on the artistic or creative process including inspiration, development, creation, presentation and reflection on art-making. Students will maintain a sketchbook and both a physical and digital portfolio of their work.

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Drawing and Painting II with ­portfolio and sketchbook from previous courses

• Materials: Sketchbook  

• Recommendation: 85 final average in Drawing  & Painting II

Advanced Placement Studio in Art & Design (Drawing or 2D design)

Advanced Placement – Studio Art

1 Year/1 Unit (Double Period)

This course is offered to highly motivated art students interested in an in-depth study of traditional, contemporary and personal approaches to visual art-making. Students must be willing to assume much of the responsibility for their own learning and will be required to produce a serious body of work. The required practice and development of artwork will be equivalent to an introductory college course in studio art or design. Preparation of a college admissions portfolio, along with assembling original works and digital images of their work for the AP portfolio exam will be the primary focus of this course. The AP Exam is evaluated through the submission of a specific portfolio to adjudicators at The College Board. Many colleges will award credit based on satisfactory grades on this AP Exam.

Students choose to complete one of two portfolio options: 

1. Drawing - Which can include painting, printmaking, mixed-media and/or digital processes

2. 2D Design - Which can be created using a variety of processes including but not limited to graphic design, fashion design, interior design, illustration, photography, mixed-media, and digital processes

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirements: Drawing & Painting 2 or Advanced Graphic Design or 3 total art credits with teacher recommendation

• Recommendation: Teacher recommendation plus a 90 average in Studio in Art and Design 2, Advanced Graphic Design or Advanced Photography

• Portfolio and sketchbook from previous art courses 

• Submission of summer assignments

• All students enrolled in this course are expected to register for and complete the AP exam in May at a cost of approximately $100, which will be reduced or waived for students who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program. 

3D Art Courses cont.

Design in Advanced Ceramics

1 Year/ 1 Unit

Students will continue their exploration of working hands-on with ceramics and pottery. With their increased skill set, students will explore problem solving projects using clay and creating work that is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. Wheel throwing, hand building, and new firing techniques are all a part of the Advanced Ceramics curriculum. 

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Design in Ceramics.

• Recommendation:  85 final average in Design in Ceramics

Design in Sculptural Media

1 Year/ 1 Unit

In Sculpture, students will experiment with a wide range of materials, including wood, metal, clay, and plaster. Students will learn both traditional and contemporary techniques to build, carve, construct, and create unique pieces that reflect their ideas. This course is ideal for students who enjoy working with their hands, like problem-solving, and want to push their artistic skills further. 

Course Requirements and Recommendations

• Requirement: Foundation-level art course or an alternative approved course meeting the Fine Arts graduation requirement.

• Recommendation: 85 final average in a foundation-level course.

Electronic Media Art Courses

Photography

1 Year/ 1 Unit

This course is an introduction to 35mm black and white photography and the use of photographic materials and processes as an art medium. Content covered includes: 35mm camera operation; film exposure; lighting techniques; film developing; printing contact sheets; advanced darkroom techniques such as, solarization, sepia, hand coloring, and other specialized techniques, making enlargements and mounting prints. Emphasis will be placed on seeing with imagination and creativity, and organizing what is seen into well designed photographic images. 

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Foundation Level Course

• Recommendation: 85 final average in Foundation Level

• Equipment & Materials: Students should have access to a 35mm manual film camera or automatic camera and may be required to purchase supplies should they be needed beyond the allotment provided by the district

Color Photography

1 Semester/ .5 Unit

Color Photography deals with all aspects of photography from picture taking and editing to lighting, experimentation, color printing, and mounting final prints. Students will use Adobe Photoshop to edit digital images. Students will have the opportunity to build upon the photo skills and techniques learned in B&W photography to expand their portfolios. 

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Photography

• Recommendation: 85 final average in Photography

Graphic Design

1 Year/ 1 Unit

This 2-D digital media course is designed to expose students to experiences in the career applications of Graphic Design for print media using the “School to Work” concept. The class functions as a working design agency using local non-profit groups as their client base. Students must adhere to deadlines. The focus is creating professional quality graphic designs for projects which may include logo design, poster design, t-shirt design, advertisements, brochures, and outdoor advertisements using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Foundation Level Course

• Recommendation: 85 average in Foundation level

• Equipment and Materials: flash drive suggested

Advanced Graphic Design

1 Year/ 1 Unit

This digital media course is designed to expand a student’s experience in Graphic Design using digital technology while concentrating on the Principles of Design as they relate to 2D and 3D design, Advertising Design, Typography, and Package Design. The focus will be to enhance creative problem solving skills, further build technical skills, develop a personal style and build a portfolio using the Adobe Creative Suite.

Course Requirements/Recommendations

• Requirement: Graphic Design

• Recommendation: 85 Final average in Graphic Design

• Equipment and Materials:  1 GB Flash Drive(minimum), Small Sketchbook

Film and Video

1 Semester/.5 Unit

This media art course provides an introduction to basic film and video techniques. Areas studied will consist of composition (shots and angles), story development/writing, directing, film and sound editing, different types of film styles, and creative approach. Filming will be done outside of school; all editing will be computer driven and completed during class time. Students will be required to complete several films/videos of their own and talk/write intelligently about their work and the work of their fellow filmmakers or other artists. Successful completion of Photography prior to enrollment in this course would be beneficial.

Course Requirements and Recommendations

• Requirement: Foundation-level art course or an alternative approved course meeting the Fine Arts graduation requirement.

• Recommendation: 85 final average in foundation-level course and/or Photography.

• Equipment & materials: Access to SD compatible video camera (no firewire) or Digital SLR camera, cell phone camera, USB cords for device(s).