Foundations of Art
Grades 9/10/11/12, #ART011, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
This course is a prerequisite for all other art classes. Throughout this half-year course, students will be immersed in a vast array of art vocabulary, concepts, and technical understanding for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional applications. By the end of the course, students will produce a journal/sketchbook that has examples of all the elements and principles of art.
Art 1
Grades 9/10/11/12, #ART021, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Foundations of Art
Art 1 is a drawing-based course. Exposure to diverse drawing techniques, drawing mediums and ideas will be explored. Although drawing will be the focus, students will also paint, print, collage, and work in other two- dimensional media available. By the end of the course, students should understand a vast array of art vocabulary, concepts, and be technically sufficient in two-dimensional media.
Art 2
Grades 10/11/12, #ART022, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Art 1
Art 2 focuses on painting and mixed media. Color theory, painting approaches, and painting techniques will all be explored. Mixed media will lean on knowledge gleaned from Art 1 with the new information gained in Art 2. By the end of the course, students should understand and apply a vast array of art vocabulary, concepts, and be technically advanced in two-dimensional media.
Art 3
Grades 11/12, #ART023, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Art 2
Students taking Art 3 should be serious about art as a potential career option. Students will draw, paint, print, collage, and work in other two-dimensional media available. Building and understanding how to present portfolios is a main focus of this course. Students will also have a dedicated gallery space where they will work on curation skills.
Ceramics 1
Grades 9/10/11/12, #ART031, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Foundation of Art
Ceramics 1 is designed to provide a solid foundation of technical skills and aesthetic concepts in clay. Students will learn pinch, slab, coil, and extrusion hand building methods, along with the Pottery Wheel introduction to allow students to develop their throwing skills. Decorative surface treatments including: texturing, burnishing, sgraffito, press-molding, and carving will be covered. Newspaper kilns will be constructed by students as a primitive firing method along with traditional electric and gas kiln firings to complete their artworks.
Ceramics 2
Grades 10/11/12, #ART032, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Ceramics 1
Ceramics 2 artwork creations are intentionally larger due to students’ improved technical skills and confidence in ability gained from Ceramics 1. Creative planning process is relied on heavily as students begin to make individual decisions within the boundaries of the class assignment allowing a personal aesthetic to develop. Firing methods for student artwork include: offsite Wood Firing, outdoor Raku Firing, along with gas and electric kiln methods learned in previous Ceramics 1 class.
Ceramics 3
Grades 10/11/12, #ART033, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Ceramics 2
Students taking Ceramics 3 should be serious art students who will build their 3-D portfolios as a focus of this course. Students who have extensive understanding of the ceramic materials and techniques, along with a high degree of motivation, will be given a high degree of creative freedom within the assignments. Sketchbooks are valued and used regularly by Ceramic 3 students. Sculptural and functional work are the focus of this course. The goal is for students in Ceramics 3 to evolve into true ceramic artists who function independently within the studio environment.
Fibers & Crafts
Grades 9/10/11/12, #ART041, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Foundations of Art
Fibers & Crafts is designed to gain a higher level of mastery on particular concepts and skills in traditional craft materials such as fibers, metals, ceramics, and glass. This course requires students to investigate a variety of craft media used in construction of both functional and decorative contemporary works of art. Sketchbooks are used as a part of the creative planning process to ensure high quality artwork is produced. By the end of the course, students should understand a vast array of fine craft/art vocabulary, concepts, and be technically sufficient in three-dimensional craft media.
Sculpture
Grades 9/10/11/12, #ART051, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Foundations of Art
Sculpture course is designed for students to gain a higher level of mastery on specific concepts and skills relative to various sculpture materials. This course requires students to investigate a variety of sculpture media used in construction of both functional and decorative contemporary works of art. Materials may include: wire, plaster, cloth, wood, foam, clay, as well as recycled materials gathered by the teacher and students. Sketchbooks are used as a part of the creative planning process to ensure high quality artwork is produced. By the end of the course, students should understand a vast array of sculpture vocabulary concepts and be technically sufficient in three-dimensional art materials.
Independent Art Studio
Grade 12, #ART024, ½ credit, 5 periods (S)
Prerequisite: 80% average in Art 2 and teacher recommendation
(This course may not be selected by students)
This course will challenge art students to create a body of artwork that allows advanced technical exploration and individual expression. Students will have the opportunity to expand their creative thinking through idea and media experimentation while researching elements of art history and current art trends. Students will be engaged in ideas of perspective, full-ranged observational studies, media exploration, concept exploration, and sketchbook exploration. Students will also research and define an artist or movement and use the research to create a new concept of art that the students will use as the foundation for projects. Throughout the course students will develop a portfolio of artwork that represents the student’s artistic self.
Enrollment Information: Placement into this course is at the discretion of the art department.
IB Art
Grade 12, #IBO613, 1 credit, weight 1.10, 5 periods (FY)
Prerequisite: Art 2
This IB elective is open to non-IB students who are interested in studying visual arts as well as to IB diploma candidates. The course description can be found in the International Baccalaureate section of the planning guide.