Visual Arts

List of 11 items.

• AP Studio Art

  AP Studio Art is an advanced level course for students who want to further develop mastery in their art making skills. The course is developed as a college level course completed at the high school level. Students should have prior training in the visual arts and they should have knowledge of the elements of art and design.

   

  Students submit portfolios for evaluation by the College Board at the end of the year. Through the studio class, students are involved in creative and systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues, informed decision making, art techniques, and the functions of the visual elements. Students will explore with several media including, pencil, charcoal, pastel, acrylics, watercolor, printmaking, ink, digital art and mixed media. In the area of 3D, media will include a variety of sculptural materials.

  Mastery in concept, composition and execution will be developed by each student. Students are strongly encouraged to become independent thinkers who develop their creativity through the making of art. During this process, students will focus on three components of their individual portfolios. The portfolios consist of Quality, Concentration, and Breadth.

   

  Each portfolio requires submissions in three distinct sections. Each section requires students to demonstrate quality, breadth, and an in-depth engagement in the process of making art. The three sections of each portfolio are as follows:

  Section I: Quality – the development of a sense of excellence in art

  Section II: Concentration – an in depth commitment to a particular artistic concern

  Section III: Breadth – a variety of experiences in the formal, technical, and expressive means available to an artist

• Ceramics

  This half year elective will introduce students to the basics of Ceramics.  Students will learn about different methods to create sculpture and pottery with clay. Hand-building techniques will be explored to create a variety of pieces.  Each student will receive instruction in the techniques to form and mold.  Traditional construction methods will be explored.  However, students will be encouraged to explore and experiment with original possibilities to create unique pieces.

• Digital Art and Design

  This one year elective will introduce students to 21^st century tools used to create artwork using new technologies. Students will be exposed to different art mediums through digital applications.  Students in the course will create art, manipulate images, try new techniques and explore the creative process with hands-on work combined with technology. One minute they can be drawing with pencil, and then photographing their work, editing the image to create a variation in digital form.   Traditional mediums will be reinvented in the digital art classroom.

  Students will need to provide their own laptop or iPad.  Drawing tablets can also be used.  Students will need to download several software applications, most of them are free.  

• Digital Photography

  This half year elective will introduce students to the basics of Digital Photography.  They will develop skills in technical and aesthetic use of digital cameras and related equipment and applications such as Photoshop, Gimp, and IPhoto to produce high-resolution creative digital prints in different subject matter. Students will also learn about scanning and manipulating images. 

   

  Students will need to provide their own camera, laptop or iPad.  Students will need to download several software applications, some of them are free.  Sample programs used: Photoshop, Gimp, Aperture, Lightroom, and IPhoto. 

• Global Art History

  Global Art History is a chronological survey of painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography of the Western tradition as well as selected works from other cultures beyond the European tradition.

   

  Works from China, India, Japan, South America, Meso-America, and Africa will also be introduced so students can understand the ideas and concepts that unite the art of these cultures with the time periods within the Western tradition. This curriculum will enable students to explore the many cultural traditions and diverse art practices that shape contemporary art in our current time.

   

  Students will be required to build a vocabulary of art and architectural terms through quizzes and class discussions.  Critical thinking skills will be acquired through slide comparisons as well as written assignments.  Hands-on studio art projects related to selected chapters will give the students an opportunity to understand art by making art. 

   

  The course is for students who are interested in history, culture and the humanities and requires a high degree of commitment.  Field trips to local museums, class projects, research papers, oral presentations, as well as quizzes and tests will all be part of this course.

• Painting

  This half year elective will introduce students to basic painting techniques and color theory.  Intermediate students will be able to further develop their skills though more challenging assignments.  Students will learn about the elements of art through painting.  Form, color, composition, texture and space will be explored.  Students will work from life as well as from imagination.  Different mediums will be used. Art history connections will help students learn about different art movements and techniques.

• Printmaking

  This half year elective will introduce students to basic printmaking techniques.  This course will run as a comprehensive workshop where students will be encouraged to experiment with a wide range of printing techniques.  Some sample techniques are relief carving, drypoint intaglio, collographs, and monotypes.  Inspiration for projects will include still-life objects, photos, imagination, and art history connections.  Students will be encouraged to explore and come up with original alternative methods of printing

• Studio Art I

  Designed as a skill-building course in visual arts for students interested in continuing beyond the basic drawing, painting, and designing skills learned in 7^th and 8^th . The course will be divided into units and each unit will have different in-class projects and assignments. 

   

  Students will develop a solid visual arts foundation that will be essential if they wish to continue to more advanced courses.   Each topic will reinforce the elements of art and design while students explore different techniques.  Art history connections will allow students to learn about different artists and movements.  Some projects will involve the study of different artists and their techniques.  At the end of the year, students will have completed a portfolio that will reflect their creative development. 

   

  Topics covered:  Elements of Art, Drawing, Design and Color, Painting, Perspective, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Collage, Sculpture

• Studio Art II

  Designed as a skill-building course in visual arts for students interested in continuing beyond the basic drawing, painting, and designing skills learned in Studio Art I. The course will be divided into units and each unit will have different in-class projects and assignments. 

   

  Students will develop a solid visual arts foundation that will be essential if they wish to continue to more advanced courses.  Each topic will reinforce the elements of art and design while students explore different techniques.  Art history connections will allow students to learn about different artists and movements.  Some projects will involve the study of different artists and their techniques.  At the end of the year, students will have completed a portfolio that will reflect their creative development. 

   

  Topics covered: Elements of Art, Intermediate Drawing, Design and Color, Intermediate Painting, Perspective, Mixed Media, Intermediate Printmaking, Collage, 3-D Sculpture, Ceramics, Art History, Portfolio preparation

• Studio Art III

  Studio 3 is designed as a structured, more advanced course for students who are interested in building on skills learned in Studio 1 and 2.  More advanced projects will allow the student to further explore different mediums with the possibility of preparing a portfolio for college entrance and/or submission for Advanced Placement. The course will be divided into units and each unit will have different projects.  Since this class is more advanced, students will be required to work independently under the guidance of the teacher.  Students will be encouraged to come up with ideas for projects and they will get to know their areas of strength as well as areas that they need to work on.   Projects and assignments will be more challenging and they will require effort and dedication in class as well as outside the classroom

• Drawing

  This half year elective will introduce students to the principles of art and design though drawing.  This class is suitable for both the beginning artist and the more experienced drawing student.  Students will explore and learn about different drawing techniques and mediums.  Students will work from still-life arrangements, landscape, anatomy, and some photo references.  Observational drawing will be encouraged.  Students must keep a sketchbook throughout the semester.