Course Offerings in
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
- VISUAL ARTS -

The courses in the Visual Arts program are designed to prepare students who are interested in pursuing a career in the visual arts and also to provide enrichment and encouragement of creative expression in students who are interested in art for their own personal fulfillment. All of the art courses incorporate art history, aesthetics, art criticism and art production. Students will learn the creative process and apply it to solve a variety of visual arts problems using a wide range of art media.  Students will be required to learn a variety of technical skills and to demonstrate the acquisition of these skills through art production. Students will become more visually literate and will be able to communicate their ideas by speaking about, writing about and making visual art. In all of the art courses a sketchbook is required. In some cases a portfolio is required to store artwork. Courses that require specific supplies and/or lab fees are noted in the course descriptions.

INTRODUCTION TO ART MAJOR                                                                       Credit: 1.0
This course concentrates on the development of basic drawing techniques and lays the foundation for sculpting, painting and printmaking.  Students will gain an understanding of art history, aesthetics and criticism and will develop art projects with knowledge of the elements of art and the principles of design.  The information and skills learned in this course serve as an introduction to the Art Major course and the entire art program. Students must supply a sketchbook, drawing pencils/erasers and a portfolio. A weekly homework assignment is given.

ART MAJOR                                                                                                                Credit: 1.0
In this course, students will increase their capability in drawing, painting, printmaking, design, and sculpture.  Color theory and figure drawing will be emphasized.  In addition to producing art, learning will focus on aesthetic issues, art history, and art criticism. Students must supply a sketchbook, drawing pencils/erasers and a portfolio. A weekly homework assignment is required.  Prerequisites:  Introduction to Art Major

ADVANCED ART MAJOR                                                                                       Credit: 1.0
In this course students will continue to study drawing, painting, design, printmaking, and sculpture. Emphasis will be placed on developing problem solving skills and creativity. It is expected that students selecting this course will have a heightened level of commitment. Students will continue to develop their own styles and will be encouraged to develop projects which visually communicate their ideas. Art history, aesthetics, and criticism will be a significant part of the curriculum. Students interested in pursuing a career in the visual arts will be given guidance on portfolio preparation, and be informed of career opportunities. Students must supply a sketchbook, drawing pencils/erasers and a portfolio. A weekly homework assignment is required.  Prerequisites:  Art Major or Teacher Recommendation

AP STUDIO ART                                                                                                        Credit: 1.0
This class is an Advanced Placement course that enables highly motivated students to do college-level work in studio art while still in high school.  It will involve significantly more time and commitment than other high school art courses.  The guidelines for Advanced Placement Studio Art portfolios cover a variety of interests and approaches to art. Each student will work to develop a portfolio on a concentration or body of related works. Every student will have a choice of submitting a 2D design, a 3D design, or drawing portfolio with specific requirements for each one.        
Prerequisites:  Minimum of 90% in Art Major and Advanced Art Major

PAINTING                                                                                                                    Credit: 1.0
This course offers students in-depth study in painting.  Media that students will explore are: watercolor, gouache, tempera, pastel, ink, acrylic and oil.  Painting from direct observation will be emphasized. Students will be directed in discussions involving aesthetic issues and art criticism. The art history component of this course consists of learning about American art from its origin during colonial times to the 19th century. Students must supply a sketchbook and a portfolio. Prerequisites:  Introduction to Art Major

2D DESIGN                                                                                                                  Credit: 0.5
This course introduces the elements of art and the principles of design by working with two-dimensional design problems. This is an art course in which problem solving is used to work through a design assignment by using higher order thinking skills to analyze, evaluate, create, critique, revise and translate the final product. Researching, planning, preliminary drawing, and executing a rough draft are thoroughly explored before arriving at a final design product. Color theory, pattern design, design abstraction and typography are just a few of the art problems explored. A sketchbook is required.

POTTERY                                                                                                                      Credit: 1.0
This course involves all processes used in the making of functional clay pieces.  Handbuilding techniques along with throwing on the potter’s wheel will be introduced using earthenware and stoneware clays. Exploration of surface decoration using glaze techniques will be an important component of this course. A sketchbook is required.

SCULPTURE                                                                                                                 Credit: 0.5
In this course, the students will use art elements and design principles applied to three dimensional design problems found in the sculptural process. Examples of sculptural works include, but are not limited to the following media: clay, wire, plaster, wood, fabric, cardboard, found objects.  Sculptural techniques may include construction, assemblage, modeling and carving. A sketchbook is required.

CRAFTS DESIGN                                                                                                       Credit: 0.5
Students will explore a variety of craft techniques and materials in this course. The focus of the course is on the history of crafts and the ways in which crafts reflect the people and societies who create them.  Crafts made in this course will be utilitarian and may include, but are not limited to, jewelry, mosaic and woodwork, loom and non-loom weaving and fabric design. A sketchbook and a lab fee of $10.00 are required.

PRINTMAKING                                                                                                          Credit: 0.5
Students in this course will be taught printmaking techniques including relief (linoleum and woodblock), intaglio, monotype, collagraph/embossing, lithograph, and screen processes by which they can pursue individual concepts and imagery. Students will gain a working knowledge of the tools, materials, and processes as they develop and refine their personal vision. These processes also provide the students with opportunities for discovering multiple solutions to problems. Art criticism and aesthetics, along with the study of art history, will be vital components of this course. A sketchbook is required.