Visual Arts

Department Overview

DESCRIPTION OF EXCELLENCE

By nurturing creativity in young people, the Visual Arts department helps them develop their God-given skills and learn creative problem-solving techniques that they can use throughout their lives. Active participation in the visual arts fosters a unique perspective and enables students to pursue their own means of expression.

DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Visual Arts department offers a wide array of courses in drawing and painting, photography and digital design, and ceramics. Students will have the opportunity to explore art through personal discovery, presenting their own work in exhibits, attending guest lectures, field trips to local art museums, and a variety of visual arts courses. Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses are offered in the Visual Arts.

Ceramics I

Ceramics I is an entry-level course in basic ceramics and sculpting techniques. The course is an exploration in three-dimensional design, which develops an understanding of art elements and principles as they apply to three-dimensional form. Topics covered in this course include the nature of clay bodies, the history of ceramics, basic hand-building, glazing, decorating techniques, and the firing process. Students express themselves creatively through a variety of projects and learn how to assess the success of their work and that of others using vocabulary specific to the course content.

Ceramics II

Ceramics II is an advanced pottery course where students build upon the skills they have acquired in Ceramics I. This course is for a student who is motivated to undertake very ambitious work in clay and further their understanding of ceramic art as a means of artistic expression. Ceramics II students who have demonstrated proficiency in the course are given considerable freedom as they pursue their own artistic endeavors guided by the instructor. 

The goal of this course is to provide students the opportunity to grow as artists in a community of other highly motivated artists. These students produce works in clay that utilize higher-order thinking in terms of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, and attitudes. Students explain or justify themes and aesthetic decisions, making connections to art history, spirituality, and current events. Projects display advancement in complexity and mastery of the ceramic process.

Ceramics III (H)

In this course, students will create a series of 3-dimensional works of art that highlight the principles of art and design as well as responses to historical, thematic, and cultural prompts.  They will learn and apply appropriate vocabulary in verbal and written analysis of their work and the work of others; plan rigorously and justify their aesthetic choices thoughtfully; participate in the discussion of current and historical roles of 3-dimensional art in society; and create sophisticated, art forms from in the medium of clay and glaze. Their projects will be readily added to the college/art school application process and submitted in juried art competitions and exhibitions.

The honors class will have the requirement of additional work time added outside of the regular meeting time.  This class will also require students to submit work to a minimum of two different ceramic juried shows.  The artist will also create a digital portfolio of their work which includes images on a gradient background, and written artist statements. (Students learn photography skills and lighting techniques.)

Art I

This course introduces and develops the basic principles of art through drawing, design and color projects. Students complete course objectives and assignments using a variety of media and techniques. Graphite, pen and ink and watercolor are used to strengthen drawing skills. Students train in the use of acrylics in addition to other color media as they learn color theory and painting. Most work for this basic course is two- dimensional. This course includes participation in the student art exhibit each spring.

Art II

This course includes art history as it relates to various cultures and time periods. Students are expected to work at a more advanced level to display skills acquired in Art I. Students complete complex projects and are given the freedom to select media, refine their techniques and develop individual styles. This course includes participation in the student art exhibit each spring.

Art III (H)

This course further develops and hones artistic skills in individual areas of interest as students explore a wide variety of mediums and techniques. Students assemble a portfolio of works to use when applying to an art college or liberal arts university. Great focus will be placed on student planning and preparation before embarking on a new creative challenge, as well as, reflection and critique upon completion. This course can be taken in preparation for AP Studio Art. Honors Art III students participate in the student art exhibit each spring.

AP Studio Art: Drawing

This course guides students to complete a college-level portfolio consisting of 15 works of art related to a topic of investigation chosen by each student. Emphasis is placed on providing written and visual evidence of the process, planning, and revision of the student work. By May of each year, students must complete a portfolio of 15 works suitable for AP submission (AP Drawing Portfolio). Students submitting a drawing portfolio will focus on showcasing the use of their chosen medium and strength in rendering light and shadow to convey form, as well as the ability to create the illusion of space and depth on a two-dimensional surface. 

Additional Expectations: Work outside of the course is required in order to complete the extensive portfolio requirements.

AP Studio Art: 2D Design

This course guides students to complete a college-level portfolio consisting of 15 works of art related to a topic of investigation chosen by each student. Emphasis is placed on providing written and visual evidence of the process, planning and revision of the student work. By May of each year, students must complete a portfolio of 15 works suitable for AP submission (AP 2D Design Portfolio). Students submitting a 2D Design portfolio will focus on showcasing the use of the elements and principles of art and design such as, line, shape, color and balance.

Additional Expectations: Work outside of course is required in order to complete the extensive portfolio requirements.

AP 3D Art and Design

Course Description

AP 3-D Art and Design is an independent opportunity for students with prior 3D and ceramic experience.   The course presents an inquiry-based approach to learning and making forms and structures in art and design. Students are expected to develop an in-depth, sustained investigation. This investigation will include student’s use of materials, processes, concepts, and ideas in three dimensions. AP 3-D students develop and apply skills of inquiry and investigation, practice, experimentation, exploration, revision, communication, and reflection. This is a fun, self-governed opportunity to work with a variety of materials and develop your voice as an artist.  

Additional Expectations:  Students must have prior experience in various art mediums and have completed Ceramics 1. Students taking this class are expected to work outside of the classroom on investigation projects for about 4 hours a week. Students must be able to transport materials to and from school daily and provide their specialty project-based materials. 

Photographic Design I

This course explores the practical and artistic uses of today’s modern digital cameras. Students learn how to use a digital camera and edit their digital images using the latest image editing software. Students examine the history, theory, and methods of photographic expression, while applying their understanding to the production of their own creative works. Students are exposed to compositional rules and guidelines used in photography. Emphasis is placed upon the elements and principles of art and design.

Note: Students are expected to supply their own digital cameras (6 or more mega-pixels suggested) with a removable digital media card. A basic understanding of Mac computer environments and Adobe Creative Suite software is also recommended.

Photographic Design Studio (H)

This course will provide advanced training in the practical and artistic use of today's modern digital camera. Students will gain instruction in the advanced applications of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Lightroom as it pertains to photography and graphic design. Students examine the history, theory, and methods of photographic expression while applying their understanding to the production of their creative works. Students are exposed to advanced compositional techniques and guidelines used in photography. Emphasis is placed on using the elements and principles of art and design. The instructions will be application-based lectures and demonstrations given as needed. All students will select and present a piece they created during this course to display at the school’s Art Show during the last month of the school year.

Note: Students must own or have access to a DSLR camera. A basic understanding of Mac computer environments and Adobe Creative Suite software is also recommended.

AP Art History

Provides an understanding and knowledge of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts on an introductory college course level. Students examine and critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from the past and present from a variety of cultures. The course also emphasizes understanding works in context, considering such issues as patronage, gender, and the functions and effects of works of art. Students who have done well on other courses in the humanities, such as history and literature, or in any of the studio arts are especially encouraged to enroll.

Graphic Design

This course will introduce students to graphic design skills using both traditional and digital tools and materials employed in the visual communication industry. The focus will be on finding creative visual solutions to communication problems with emphasis on the elements and principles of design. Students will also be exposed to such topics as color theory, Gesalt principles, and the role of graphic design and the designer in the world today. Students will be utilizing graphics programs including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Yearbook

21st Century Yearbook Design and Publication is a year-long project-based course designed to have students create publication mediums that directly impact society and its various cultures, through visual art and design. Students will use creativity and the artistic process of creating layouts and designs to put together and publish the yearbook. The designer (student) will prove their awareness of their target audience while maintaining the integrity of their design, photographs, edits, and written work. Designers will then edit other student's work for content, design, originality, and ethics. They will collaborate to effectively create and deliver a finished product and create their own portfolio that can be used for college and career opportunities.

Additional Expectations: Students are required to meet external production deadlines, sell $400 in business ads for Vanguard, and invest one to two hours per week of lab time, especially during press week.