Art

ART FUNDAMENTALS (Course #H6002) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 9, 10, 11, 12 

One Semester- ½ Credit

Art Fundamentals provides students with the foundational skills and knowledge to create work with diverse subject matter in a variety of media such as drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, and digital (as resources allow).  Throughout the course, students gain introductory knowledge of aesthetics, art history, and criticism to help them analyze works of art. Art Fundamentals prepares students for advanced study in other media-specific courses offered in the art department.  

DRAWING (Course #H6030) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 9, 10, 11, 12 

One Semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals 

This course offers concentrated study of drawing from observation. Students will explore elements and techniques of drawing with graphite, colored pencil, charcoal, and ink. Students will experiment with varied subjects as forms for expression including still life and the human figure. 

PAINTING (Course #H6040) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 9, 10, 11, 12 

One Semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals 

This course will offer concentrated study in drawing and painting. Students will explore techniques of painting with watercolor, acrylics and oils. Students will experiment with varied subjects as forms for expression including still life and will learn about a variety of painting styles. Good attendance is important to success in class. 

SCULPTURE I (Course #H6050) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 9, 10, 11, 12 

One Semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals 

This course will offer concentrated study in three-dimensional art production involving materials such as wood, plaster, clay and wire. Good attendance is important to success in class. 

SCULPTURE II (Course #H6051) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 10, 11, 12

One semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Sculpture 

This course will offer concentrated study in three-dimensional art production involving materials such as wood, plaster, clay, glass and wire. Students will apply skills learned in Sculpture I to do more technically difficult projects to build a portfolio. 

CERAMICS I (Course #H6011) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 9, 10, 11, 12 

One Semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals 

This course will explore the use of clay as an art form. Students will learn the basic construction techniques of pinch, coil, slab and wheel throwing. They will encounter all phases of pottery production from design through firing and glazing. 

CERAMICS II (Course #H6012) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 10, 11, 12

One semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Ceramics I

This course will offer concentrated study in ceramic art. Students will apply skills learned in Ceramics I to do more technically difficult projects to build a portfolio. 

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (Course #H6014)  Fine Arts credit

GRADES 9, 10, 11, 12 

One Semester- ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals 

Digital Photography students will learn the basics of how to use a DSLR camera. Students will learn how to compose and manipulate an image through the camera viewfinder and photo editing software. Emphasis is placed on an artistic approach to photography; this includes what to look for in a photograph and how to create good composition. The students will also learn the history of photography and research notable photographers. Good attendance is important to success in class. 

GRAPHIC DESIGN I (Course #H6021) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 9, 10, 11, 12 

One Semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals 

In this course, students will explore the principles of design and the world of advertising art. They will experiment with varied media as a means of graphic communication that may include computer graphics, airbrush, ad layout, or printmaking. Attention to deadlines and good attendance are important to success in class. 

GRAPHIC DESIGN II (Course #H6022) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 10, 11, 12 

One Semester - ½ credit 

Prerequisite: Graphic Design I 

In this course, students will create a portfolio using the principles of design and produce viable works for the world of advertising art. They will focus their concentration using various media as a means of graphic communication that may include computer graphics, airbrush, ad layout, or printmaking. Attention to deadlines and good attendance are important to success in class. 

AP ART HISTORY (Course #H6065) Fine Arts credit

GRADES 10, 11, 12

Two Semester – 1 credit

*Weighted Course

The AP Art History course explores such topics as the nature of art, its uses, its meanings, art making and responses to art. Through investigation of diverse artistic traditions of cultures from prehistory to the present, the course fosters in-depth and holistic understanding of the history of art from a global perspective. Students learn and apply skills of visual, contextual and comparative analysis to engage with a variety of art forms, constructing understanding of individual works, and interconnections of art making processes and products throughout history. AP Art History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college or university art history survey course. Upon completion of this course students may elect to take the AP Art History Exam.

ADVANCED STUDIO ART (Course #H6024)  Fine Arts credit

GRADES 11, 12 

Two semesters – 1 credit 

Prerequisite: Two full credits of Art (B average in each is recommended) and teacher recommendation 

Advanced Studio Art is the precursor to AP Studio Art. Students who take this course have a serious interest in furthering the development of their skills in art. In this course, students will choose one area of focus (2-D Design, 3-D Design or Drawing) for the year. Students will refine their skills in this area and develop a portfolio to showcase those skills. It is expected that students in the Advanced Studio Art course will continue on to AP Studio Art the following year. 

AP STUDIO ART (Course #H6025) Fine Arts credit 

GRADES 11, 12 

Two Semesters - 1 credit 

Prerequisite: Advanced Studio Art (B average recommended) and Teacher recommendation 

*Weighted Course 

AP Studio Art is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. The course encourages creative and systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues, and it emphasizes making art as an ongoing process that involves critical decision making. The course helps students develop technical skill and will familiarize them with the function of visual elements. AP Studio Art encourages students to become independent thinkers who will contribute inventively and critically to their culture through the making of art. This course is not based upon a written exam; rather, students submit portfolios for evaluation. Students will submit a portfolio in at least one of the following areas: 2-D Design, 3-D Design, and/or Drawing. Students are strongly encouraged (since the course is not based upon a written exam) to submit their portfolio(s) to AP for evaluation.