Grade 9-12 Courses Offered

Studio Art
This is an introductory art course that teaches the fundamentals of drawing and design while providing an opportunity to explore and experience a range of art media. There are weekly sketchbook assignments to increase and reinforce students’ drawing skills. Students will engage in various class projects that include pencil drawing, colored pencils, printmaking, digital work, design, painting and ceramics. This course is required before students can take any other upper level art courses.

AP Studio
Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art addresses three major concerns that are constants in the teaching of art:

1. a sense of quality in a student’s work

2. the student’s’ concentration on a particular visual interest or
   problem and

3. the student’s need for breadth of experience in the formal technical and
   expressive means of the artist.

This course will reflect first year college level standards. Students will be required to submit for evaluation an AP Portfolio of their artwork by preparing slides of their work. Students are required to complete the AP exam portfolio in May, which may earn them college credit. Students are also required to incur the cost of $92 for the AP exam portfolio.

Ceramics
Students will explore the four basic methods of hand building functional vessels out of clay: pinch, coil, soft slab and hard slab. Periodic sketchbook assignments are required to aid in the development of plans for projects as well as enriching and expanding students’ inspiration for design and color. Attendance is integral as all work takes place in class. Students will also get the opportunity to explore the potter’s wheel by having the opportunity to throw small vessels on it.

Computer Graphics
This course acquaints students with the utilization of computer image technology in several areas including digital photography, electronic page layout and illustration. The programs Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop will be investigated in depth. Students are encouraged to be creative, open and experimental. Prior experience with the listed programs is not necessary to enroll in this course.

Design
Students will learn and apply the principles and elements of design in class projects and weekly sketchbooks assignments. Students will have the opportunity to engage in design problems of both pure and commercial natures, which include computer graphics, mixed media, and drawn. Sketchbooks are a fundamental and an integral part of the course.

Drawing & Painting
This is a course for students who want to continue their experience using pencil, colored pencil, and various paint mediums from Studio Art. This course will take students’ skills, projects, and an appreciation of art history to new heights. Projects range from observational drawings to a variety of choices for painting that reflect chosen movements in art history. Sketchbooks are a requirement and an important part of building a strong portfolio of work from this course.

Photography
The objective of this course is to have students learn how to use a *35 mm film camera creatively and to consider photography as an art form. Students will learn darkroom developing of film and prints. Students will be required to take photographs outside of class and will have the opportunity to digitally manipulate a variety of photographs with the emphasis on the technical aspects and elements and principles of design.

Printmaking
This is a course where students will understand how printmaking is a ubiquitous part of our life; ranging from commercial purposes to fine arts. Projects range from leaf prints, linoleum block prints, engraving using Plexiglass, and more. There will be an exciting range of printmaking for students to experience, explore and appreciate.

Textiles
This course will introduce students to some of the following media: paper making, stitchery, weaving, collage, and other unconventional materials. Students will have hands on opportunities working with in both two and three dimensional projects and the time to explore various non-traditional art media. This course challenges preconceived perceptions and asks students the question, “What is Art?”