Visual Arts

This course provides students with two and three-dimensional design experiences and opportunities to apply these principles in individual artistic expressions. Drawing from observation and developing technical competency using a variety of media are emphasized. Periodic class critiques and the maintenance of a sketchbook and portfolio are required. Explored media include but are not limited to graphite, ink, colored pencil, watercolor, tempera paint, acrylic paint. Subject matter students will explore include portraiture, architecture, landscape, and many subjects of the student’s choosing.

Art 2 provides students with the opportunity to further explore media and to begin to develop their own style of creating artwork. They will be applying the Elements and Principles of Art to create more personal artistic expressions. Drawing from observation and developing technical competency using a variety of media will be emphasized. Periodic class critiques and the maintenance of a sketchbook and portfolio are required. Explored media include but are not limited to graphite, ink, colored pencil, watercolor, tempera paint, acrylic paint. Each student will determine most of the subject matter he/she deals with. Students will be learning to think critically about art. They will be introduced to many artists both from the past and more contemporary artists. Students will begin to create conceptual artwork that goes beyond just the technical aspects of creating artwork. They will learn to use the technical aspects of creating to support the conceptual aspects of their work.

Art 2 Honors is a year-long course which provides students with the opportunity to further explore media and to begin to develop their own style of creating artwork. They will be applying the Elements and Principles of Art to create more personal artistic expressions. In the Honors class, students will be doing an extensive unit on drawing from observation and still life. They will be developing technical competency using a variety of media. Explored media include but are not limited to graphite, ink, colored pencil, watercolor, tempera paint, acrylic paint. Each student will determine most of the subject matter he/she deals with. Students will be learning to think critically about art. Periodic class critiques and the maintenance of a sketchbook and portfolio are required. Sketchbooks for my Honors students play a huge role in strengthening their ability to see and to draw what they see in front of them. They will have weekly and quarterly sketch assignments that will be done outside of class. They will be introduced to many artists both from the past and many contemporary artists. Students will begin to create conceptual artwork that goes beyond just the technical aspects of creating artwork. They will learn to use the technical aspects of creating to support the conceptual aspects of their work. In working toward more conceptual artwork, students will research and even learn to do critical writing about their own artworks.

Art 3 is a year-long course which provides students with the opportunity to explore media and to develop their own style of creating artwork. Students will be applying the Elements and Principles of Art to create personal artistic expressions. Students will be exploring the conceptual aspect of art. They will be creating conceptual works that are based more on ideas than simply aesthetics. They will be using the technical skills learned in previous classes to create work that is aesthetically pleasing and that conveys specific concepts of the students choosing. They will learn to use those technical aspects of creating to support the conceptual aspects of their work. They will be gaining a greater understanding of why people make art, how art has meaning within its culture or society, and how art has the power to impact the world around us. Drawing from observation and developing technical competency using a variety of media will continue to be emphasized. Periodic class critiques and the maintenance of a sketchbook and portfolio are required. Explored media include but are not limited to graphite, ink, colored pencil, watercolor, medium transfers, and acrylic paint. Each student will determine most of the subject matter and concepts he/she deals with. Students will be learning to think critically about art. They will be introduced to many artists both from the past and more contemporary artists. Towards the end of the course, students will be writing an artist statement that describes why he or she creates art and that describes what defines his or her personal style of creating.

Art 4 Honors is a year-long course where students will be taking everything they have learned in their previous three art classes and will start to create work which is true to who they are as artists. They will be working much more independently on assignments and will be constantly working to continue to improve skill but to try to make work which identifies them as a unique creator. They will take skills they are comfortable with and try to “stretch” their techniques and methods in ways that might add to their process of creation or may add to their conceptual aspects of their works. The goal is for the Art 4 student to know who they are as an artist and to understand what that gifting can be used for in the future. Art 4 students spend many hours planning and doing introspective writings to critically think about their work, about themselves as artists and about and the art world around them.

In this course students will gain skills in one or more of the following areas: page design, advanced publishing techniques, copy writing, editing and photography while producing a creative, innovative yearbook which records school memories and events. There is an emphasis on journalism skills and meeting deadlines in this class. Participants gain useful, real world skills in time management, marketing, teamwork, and design principles. This course also examines legal and ethical issues of media law and copyright.