Visual Arts

Visual Arts Curriculum: Under the Course Heading any of the listed courses may be taken in any order. These are the next possible suggestions after the initial course has been taken.

Class Fee scholarships are available for students who need financial aid. Contact the counseling office for assistance.

Cross Crediting: Digital Graphic Art, AP-2D Digital,Graphic Design Illustrator, Multi Media Design, AP Studio 3D Design, 3D Commercial Sculpture, Fashion Design and Merchandising I and II, Product Design and 3D Modeling, Freshman/Sophomore Video Production, Video Production 1, 2 and 3 can be Two-for-One credited for Fine Art credit. Please check the CTE section for course descriptions. 

Additional information about the scope of the THS Visual Art Department courses can be found at the THS Visual Art & Design site below:

Art Essentials - ART100

This course is designed for 9th-11th grade students who are interested in an introductory course that leads to higher level art classes.  It is the prerequisite for Drawing, Painting, AP Studio Art, Drawing and, AP Art History and AP Studio Art 2-D.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-11 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: None Homework hours per week: None CADR

Course Fee: $15 - Financial Aid Available

Beginning Ceramics - ART200

This course is a one semester introductory class in basic clay handbuilding techniques. This class offers students an opportunity to make functional and aesthetically pleasing pottery while developing their own design abilities and skills. Students will learn the various methods of hand building with clay, including; modeling, pinching, slab construction and coil building. Students will also be introduced to glazing and other finishing techniques. Successfully passing this course allows students to enroll in Advanced Ceramics. There will be a $26.00 lab fee for this course which covers the cost of clay, glazes, and a personal set of ceramic tools for each student to use and keep.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: None Homework hours per week: None CADR

Course Fee: $26 - Financial Aid Available

Advanced Ceramics - ART201

Advanced Ceramics is for students who want to further develop their skills and techniques in hand building, sculpture and initial wheel throwing.  Objectives are similar to Beginning Ceramics but craftsmanship, aesthetic and conceptual thinking are stressed at a higher degree of difficulty.  There will be a $25.00 lab fee for this course which will cover the cost of clay, glazes and firing processes. Additionally, this course may be repeated for continued growth and for credit. 

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: Beginning Ceramics Homework hours per week: None CADR

Course Fee: $25 - Financial Aid Available

Advanced Art - ART203

An upper level art course designed for the student who wishes to further develop skills and techniques that were introduced in previous art courses. It is highly encouraged for any student intending to enroll in AP Art to successfully complete this course. Students will be continually encouraged to expand their creative ideas as well as their technical potential through medium exploration. There will be a $25.00 course fee for your art kit and class art supplies. 

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 10-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: Art Essentials AND Drawing and/or Painting Homework hours per week: 1-2 hours

CADR Course Fee: $25 - Financial Aid Available

Drawing - ART210

Drawing is a semester-long art course that goes in depth into building drawing skills and mark making, using mediums such as pencil, colored pencil, chalk and oil pastels, charcoal, conte and pen & ink.  Students will build on skills acquired in Art Essentials.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: Art Essentials Homework hours per week: 1-3 hours CADR

Course Fee: $25 - Financial Aid Available

Painting - ART211

Painting is a semester-long art course that goes in depth into building painting skills, using mediums such as watercolor, oil pastels, Ink wash and acrylic paint.  Students will build on skills acquired in Art Essentials and further their understanding of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.

Length: Semester Open to: Gr 9-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: Art Essentials Homework hours per week: 1-3 hours CADR

Course Fee: $25 - Financial Aid Available

AP 2D Art - ART550/551

This course is a college-level course for self-motivated students who enjoy exploring “Visual Design” principles as applied to a two-dimensional surface. Students submit portfolios that contain images and brief writings to document their inquiry-guided investigation. Graphic design, painting, digital imaging, photography, collage, fabric design, weaving, and additional mediums may be utilized in this portfolio. Students are expected to develop mastery in concept, composition, and execution of ideas. College Board standards will be used to evaluate artwork, as well as class participation, and the development of critiquing artwork. In addition to earning high school credit, students can receive advanced standing or college credit by taking the AP exam administered in May and earning a qualifying score.

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 10-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: Art Essentials and Drawing or Painting with Teacher Approval and completed application. Homework hours per week: 3 hours CADR Course Fee: $25 - Financial Aid Available

AP Drawing - ART552/553

This is a college-level course for self-motivated students who want to concentrate on drawing and painting. The issues of mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition are the focus of study. Students can work with any materials, processes and ideas. Students submit portfolios that contain images and brief writings to document their inquiry-guided investigation. Students are expected to develop mastery in concept, composition, and execution of ideas. College Board standards will be used to evaluate artwork, as well as class participation, and the development of critiquing artwork. In addition to earning high school credit, students can receive advanced standing or college credit by completing the AP portfolio, submitted to the CollegeBoard in May, and earning a qualifying score.Summer review or homework required for this course. 

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 10-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: Art Essentials AND Drawing or Painting AND Teacher Approval.

Homework hours per week: 3 hours CADR Course Fee: $25 - Financial Aid Available

AP Art History - ART554/555

AP Art History is equivalent to a two-semester introductory college course, which fosters in-depth, holistic understanding of the history of art from a global perspective. Students become active participants in the global art world, engaging with its forms and content, as they experience, research, discuss, read and write about art, artists, art making and responses to and interpretations of 250+ pieces of art. In addition to earning high school credit, students can receive advanced standing or college credit by earning a qualifying score on the AP exam administered in May.

Length: Year-Long Open to: Gr 10-12 Credit: Fine Arts Prerequisites: Art Essentials Homework hours per week: 4-5 hours

Course Fee: $10 - Financial Aid Available