Visual Art

Visual Arts Courses offered in our Regional Arts Program

AVI1OR   Visual Arts - Foundations (Semester 1)

This course offers an overview of visual arts as a foundation for further study. Students will become familiar with the elements and principles of design and the expressive qualities of various materials through working with a range of materials, processes, techniques, and styles. They will learn and use methods of analysis and criticism and will study Canadian art focusing on the Group of Seven and their contemporaries as well as the art of Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and Early Christian and Byzantine art. Field trips to major art museums and local galleries will provide critical enrichment for this Art History component. The overall focus of the Regional Program is exposing students to a broad array of media in Semester 1. Developing an eye for good design is emphasized in all areas and at all levels so that students can develop sound compositions with an understanding of meaning and content in their work.

AWM1OR   Visual Arts - Exploration (Semester 2)

This course offers expanded and broadened skill development in areas of 2-D and 3-D art techniques. Methods of analysis and criticism will be applied to art historical periods. The expectations in this course will be met through an in-depth study of painting or sculpture and printmaking. Please Note: This course is required for regional Visual Arts students in Semester II.

AVI2OR   Visual Arts - Studio (Semester 1)

This course provides expanded and broadened skill development in the areas of drawing, and design in Semester 1. This course emphasizes learning through practice, building on what students know and introducing them to new ideas, materials, and processes for artistic thinking and experimentation. Student learning will include the refined application of the elements and principles of design, incorporating the creative and design processes, and the relationship between form and content. Students will also learn creative connections between their own works of the art and the historical art movements of the Romanesque, Medieval and Renaissance.

AVI3OR   Visual Arts - Intensive Exploration (Semester 2)

This course is a continuation of AVI2OR. It will develop artistic knowledge and skills in the areas of painting, mixed media and sculpture. In addition, students will continue to develop analytical appreciation of master works from art history. This course will be used as the link course for the Arts and Culture SHSM Coop component.

AVI3MR   Visual Arts - Senior Studio (Semester 1)

This course provides students with opportunities to further develop skills and knowledge in the Visual Arts. Students will explore in depth, a range of studio activities in drawing (especially coloured pencil) printmaking and acrylic painting. Students will also analyze art works and study the art of the Baroque era. Field trips to local art galleries and major art museums in both Canada and the United States will support their study of Art History. This course helps students to meet Ontario Catholic Graduate expectations by enabling each person to become and effective communicator who uses and integrates the Catholic Faith tradition in the critical analysis of the arts, media, technology and information systems to enhance the quality of life.

COURSE NOTE: Requirement: Admission to year 3 RAP Visual Arts; Art Kit: $40.00

AWN3MR   Visual Arts - Intensive Studio Exploration (Semester 2)

This course provides students with opportunities to further refine and develop their skills and knowledge in Visual Arts. Students will concentrate on the studio areas of painting (acrylic) and sculpture which may later form a body of portfolio works for post secondary admission. Students will continue to learn and to develop skills in art criticism and analysis. This course helps students to meet Ontario Catholic Graduate expectations by enabling each person to become and effective communicator who uses and integrates the Catholic Faith tradition in the critical analysis of the arts, media, technology and information systems to enhance the quality of life.

AVI4MR   Visual Arts - Senior Studio (Semester 1)

This course provides students with the opportunity to continue to develop a personal approach as an independent artist. Studio works will culminate in an exhibition of the students year long studio explorations. Works created will also form a critical base for an original portfolio for post secondary submission. Studies of 20th and 21st century contemporary art will continue to allow students to refine skills in art criticism and analysis.

AWN4MR   Visual Arts - Intensive Studio Exploration (Semester 2)

This course allows students the opportunity to develop an independent body of work reflecting a personal approach as a developing artist. Students will choose to focus on one of the following studio areas for the semester in order to produce a body of work for exhibition and portfolio submissions: drawing, painting, mixed media. printmaking, photography. Art History will focus on the 20th and 21st century will emphasize the referent of analytical and art criticism skills.

The Visual Arts program offers students the opportunity to engage and better understand the Visual Culture they inhabit.  It offers an opportunity for students with varying degrees of talents and abilities within the realm of Visual Art to actively engage the process of learning.  We emphasize the design process as an integral step toward creation.  A commitment to the process, ensures positive outcomes and personal growth within the students' artwork.  Our junior years within the department serve to deliver a substantial amount of instruction that centres around art fundamentals and art theory in accord with specific media use.  However, our senior grades serve to take on more student driven- teacher guided initiatives which encourages creativity and works to clarify and refine the student's voice in their use of art as a vehicle of expression.  In support of this expression, the department hosts three major art shows on site followed by many other enrichment opportunities that broaden their scope. In a world that routinely experiences rapid change in technologies and interface, the tactile and human elements found within this discipline are essential.