art

This is an introductory course and serves as the pre-requisite for several other art classes. This course completes the introduction to art and is often chosen to satisfy the NYS high school graduation requirement for one-year of high school art or music. Students complete various projects that highlight the seven universally accepted Elements of Art and several of the most common Design Principles.

* Application and fees required

Students should begin this class with a collection of several portfolio pieces from previous classes that demonstrate high quality in a variety of subject matter and media. Some instruction is focused on expanding upon these earlier works and preparing them for AP submission. Most of the emphasis is placed on completing a personal, thematic concentration of related pieces that is a requirement of the AP evaluation. The Advanced Placement student should be prepared for the additional costs involved in purchasing a portfolio, processing slide film, and the AP evaluation fee. An application process is involved that includes a portfolio review conducted by the instructor. Please visit the Guidance Office for details.

This course offers basic instruction on the use of various drawing media including charcoal, ink, markers, pastels, and pencil. It introduces students to several painting media including acrylics, ink/dyes, tempera, oil pastels, water-based oils, and watercolors. Students are trained on the use of rendering from photographic sources and from life. Topics include the use of composition formulas and windows, grid-copying methods, heraldic abstractions, human figure and portrait proportion guides, pure abstraction, reflected images, shading techniques, thumbnail sketches, and types of perspective.

This course is intended for students who wish to further improve their skills through additional drawing and painting projects. Students work from life or their own photographs. Portfolio preparation and presentation is stressed which includes the process of matting artwork for college reviews.

This course offers a three-dimensional design in a variety of media. It introduces students to the basic techniques and methods necessary to construct, fire, and glaze three dimensional clay objects. The highlighted forming methods include pinching, coiling, and slab work. The potter’s wheel is briefly introduced. Students will acquire a vocabulary applicable to sculpture, study several of its contemporary uses, and be made aware of some of its cultural contributions. Approaches include subtractive methods (such as carving) and additive methods (such as building, casting, sewing, and weaving).

Students will acquire technical knowledge using Adobe Illustrator to create digital illustrations. They will be able to identify and use appropriate vocabulary associated with this form of drawing. Students will learn basic tools and commands of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to produce images designed to enhance and compliment their portfolio. Students will be able to identify various file formats and fundamental knowledge of computer software and hardware. They will be able to describe the difference between raster and vector graphics. They will be able to identify elements of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop tool box, menus, and palettes. Students will be encouraged to demonstrate and make various connections to real life projects that would involve the use of desktop publishing and digital creation software.

Juniors and seniors have priority placement into this studio course. Students will receive extensive practice in computer based, digital photography. Sony Mavica cameras along with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator Programs are utilized most often. Projects include electronic picture taking as well as e-mailing, image correcting, image searching, inserting into documents, layering, morphing, picture taking, printing, scanning, slide making, special effects, and more. The computer lab is used in place of a darkroom.