ART COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

DRAWING (660)

Credit 0.5

(Semester-Daily)

Drawing is fundamental to the vocabulary of an artist, and is an essential tool for observing, recording and responding to the world around us. This course is ideal for those who need to sharpen their basic drawing skills, whether you are a new or experienced artist! Using a variety of drawing materials including pencil, charcoal, marker or ink, students are introduced to the art elements and design principles. It is an excellent foundation course for students looking to progress into any art major.

STUDIO ART I (661)

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

In this fundamental art course, students will practice basic techniques in drawing, painting, printmaking, graphic arts, and sculpture. Students should have knowledge of color theory, range of value, paint properties, and compositional balance. This is a good course for any student that wants to pursue a career in any of the visual arts. Students will receive quarterly sketchbook assignments.

**Completion of both Drawing & Sculpture with a "B" average can be substituted for Studio Art I.

STUDIO ART II (662)

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

This course is an expansion of Studio Art I, focusing on a greater knowledge of artistic fundamentals and skills. It is designed for serious students who aspire to major in art after high school. Students’ focus will be to express their creativity in all art forms with increasing autonomy. A greater emphasis will be placed on portfolio preparation, evaluation and critique sessions. Students will receive quarterly sketchbook assignments. 

Prerequisite: Drawing and Sculpture completed with both B average, Studio Art I completed with a B average, or teacher recommendation.

STUDIO ART III (663)

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

An expansion of Studio Art II, it is designed for the passionate student that wishes to convey their creativity in all art forms with increased autonomy. A greater emphasis will be placed on portfolio preparation through the investigation of design elements, production and evaluation/critique sessions. Additional outside of class preparation is necessary for completion of projects.

 Prerequisite: Completion of Studio Art II with a B average or teacher recommendation.

This course is designed to focus on the three-dimensional aspects of art. Unconventional sculpture assignments encourage exploration of the relationship between materials, tools, sculptural form, and aesthetics in the creation of structures. Some of the materials that may be explored will be paper/cardboard, papier-mâché, clay, metals, and wire. Using a large variety of scavenged, recycled and natural materials, students will stretch their creative problem-solving skills.

BASIC CERAMICS (670)

Credit 0.5

(Semester-Daily)

Basic Ceramics is a foundation course focused on hand building techniques in the media of clay. This course teaches the principles of art through a variety of ceramic construction methods that include pinch, coiling, and slab methods. Students will also learn the science of the ceramic process through recycling clay, various stages of clay and glaze reactions in the kiln. Wheel instruction (potter’s wheel) is NOT included in this class, please see Ceramics I for the potter’s wheel.

CERAMICS I (671)

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

This ceramics course is designed to develop skills in construction methods with an emphasis on hand building and a variety of glaze applications . Wheel throwing (potter’s wheel) is introduced to create traditional functional forms such as mugs, bowls, plates and vases. Students will be required to use methods to complete projects and will be encouraged to explore texture and glazing techniques to enhance their artwork. Students will also learn how to recycle clay and maintain their studio with focus and independence.

CERAMICS II (672)

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

This course is designed to enhance and build on prior knowledge from either Basic Ceramics OR Ceramics I. Students will improve proficiency in wheel throwing (potter’s wheel), hand-building and glazing techniques through all stages/steps of the ceramics process. This course emphasizes functional, sculptural and decorative pottery techniques while maintaining a studio space with focus and independence. Experimentation with basic techniques will lead to more freedom and individual creativity. Students will be required to assemble multiple clay methods to complete projects and are encouraged to explore texture and glaze applications to emphasize and enhance their artwork/skills.

 Prerequisite: B or better in Ceramics I or teacher recommendation

ADVANCED CERAMICS DESIGN (673)

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

The Advanced Ceramics course gives students an opportunity to continue developing technical skills while being challenged by more complex concepts incorporating deeper artistic perceptions. This class is designed to allow advanced students to work on formulating personal expression through clay while maintaining a studio space with focus and independence. Each student will develop their own direction in the production of their projects with guidance and objectives set by the teacher. Students use creative expression, historical/cultural context and aesthetic valuing, while executing their ceramic designs. Studio work will develop and reinforce student understandings of the elements and principles of art, which is an integral part of a strong portfolio.

Prerequisite: B or better in Ceramics II or teacher recommendation

PAINTING (675)

Credit 0.5

(Semester-Daily)

This is an introductory course that covers basic painting techniques with an emphasis on classic and contemporary application of watercolor, acrylic, and tempera media. Students will learn to express themselves through color and composition with various painting styles and applications.

Prerequisite: Drawing skills recommended but not required.

AP ART AND DESIGN

Each AP Art and Design course is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. AP Art and Design is not based on a traditional exam; instead, students submit portfolios and artist statements (Written evidence) to the College Board for evaluation during a designated submission time (usually May) at the end of the school year. The AP Art and Design Program consists of three portfolio options: 2-D Design (664), Drawing (665), and 3-D Design (667) - corresponding to the three most common college foundation courses. According to surveys of comparable curricula at four-year colleges and universities, they are each equivalent to a college art course.

The Advanced Placement Art and Design course will:

• Encourage creative and systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues.

• Emphasize making art as an ongoing process that involves the student in informed and critical decision making.
• Help students develop technical skills and familiarize them with the functions of the visual elements.
• Encourage students to become independent thinkers who will contribute inventively and critically to their culture through the making of art.

   Comprehensive preparation and guided structure for the AP Studio Art Portfolio is also provided.

Prerequisite: Art Teacher recommendation or grade of B or higher in Studio Art II or Ceramics II. Summer work required.

AP ART AND DESIGN: 2D Design (664)   HONORS

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

For this portfolio, students are asked to demonstrate understanding of 2-D design, through the use and interpretations of the elements of art and principles of design, via any two dimensional medium or process, including, but not limited to, graphic design, digital imaging, photography, collage, fabric design, weaving, illustration, painting, and printmaking. Students create a body of work that demonstrates practice, experimentation, and revision of visual ideas.

AP ART AND DESIGN: DRAWING (665)   HONORS

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

The drawing portfolio is intended to address a very broad interpretation of drawing issues and media. Line quality, light and shade, rendering a form, composition, surface manipulation, the illusion of depth and mark making are drawing issues that can be addressed in the creation of representational or abstract art through painting, printmaking, charcoal, pencil, ink, and mixed media. Students demonstrate advanced drawing skills and visual relationships among their ideas, materials, and processes.

AP ART AND DESIGN: 3D DESIGN (667)   HONORS

Credit 1.0

(Year-Daily)

For this portfolio, students are asked to demonstrate understanding of 3-D design through any three-dimensional approach, including, but not limited to, figurative or non-figurative sculpture, metal work, ceramics, pottery, glass work, installation, and assemblage. Students focus on communicating ideas through occupied and unoccupied space.