Upon successful completion of any advanced/intermediate art course. Students may elect no more than two art classes in any semester. Two semesters of Art (Visual or Performing) are required for graduation. All courses are semester only except for IB (2 year program) and Advanced Placement courses. (full year)
Beginning and Exploratory courses cannot be repeated for credit.
Art Foundations
9 10 11
This level 5 MYP course is designed for students with little or no art experience as an introduction to drawing, painting, and design. A variety of materials will be a primary focus of the class. Techniques to achieve desired effects will also be demonstrated. Students will discover three aspects of their style: technique, content, and subject matter while incorporating knowledge of art, styles, and artists as mentors. Classical approaches and students' individual interpretations will assure understandings that will likely inspire election of more advanced classes. Students are assessed on their knowledge and understanding, their application, their personal engagement, and their reflection. A Process Journal (sketchbook) is required.
(PREREQUISITE: NONE)
Drawing and Painting
9 10 11 12
This course builds on the knowledge acquired from the Art Foundations course. Students will understand the basic concepts of drawing and painting: 1 and 2 point perspective; contour and gesture approaches; 3-D illusion with brightness gradient; basic geometric/volumetric forms, representative shapes as well as composition, color interaction and mixing. Students will explore various technical skills needed to communicate visually. The Elements of Art and Principles of Design are emphasized and students will gain a solid working knowledge of their application. Students will explore various wet and dry mediums and subject matter while incorporating art history, styles, and artists as mentors. Technique, personal voice, and creativity are emphasized. A Process Journal (sketchbook) is required.
(PREREQUISITE: ART FOUNDATIONS)
Advanced Drawing Fall
10 11 12
This is an advanced level course that continues to build on the technical drawing skills from Drawing and Painting to produce portfolio quality works. This course places a strong focus on technique, personal voice, and creativity. Students will apply the Elements of Art and Principles of Design in their artwork while learning advanced drawing techniques and skills required to visually communicate ideas. Artists as mentors, art history, styles and art movements frame our learning. Students will use traditional and contemporary forms of dry media as well as figurative, objective, and representational approaches. A Process Journal (sketchbook) is required.
(PREREQUISITE: ART FOUNDATIONS, DRAWING AND PAINTING, B+ minimum GPA in Drawing and Painting)
Advanced Painting Spring
10 11 12
This is an advanced level course that continues to build on the technical painting skills from the Drawing and Painting course to produce portfolio quality works. We place a strong emphasis on technique, personal voice, and creativity. Students will apply the Elements of Art and Principles of Design in their artwork while learning advanced painting styles, techniques, and skills required to visually communicate ideas. Artists as mentors, art history, styles and art movements frame our learning. Students will use traditional and contemporary forms of wet media as well as figurative, objective, and representational approaches. A Process Journal (sketchbook) is required.
(PREREQUISITES: ART FOUNDATIONS, DRAWING AND PAINTING, B+ minimum GPA in Drawing and Painting). PLEASE NOTE: This course does NOT require the Advanced Drawing class first.
Introduction to Ceramics
9 10 11
This level 5 MYP course is suited for students with little or no previous experience with clay. Students will learn various methods of working with clay, researching, designing, building projects, then glazing and firing them. The history of ceramics through studies of ancient cultures frames this course. Structured critiques and reflections will follow each project to help the students become familiar with ceramic specific art vocabulary. Basic drawing skills will be introduced for the purpose of visualizing, communicating, and problem solving. Process Journal (sketchbook) is required.
(PREREQUISITE: NONE)
Intermediate Ceramics
9 10 11 12
This course builds upon the skills acquired in Introduction to Ceramics. Students will further develop technical skill and approach the medium of clay with sophistication and aesthetic awareness. Students continue to use research and the design cycle to investigate ideas for their artwork. Functional, nonfunctional, and figurative approaches frame this course while connecting to art history, cultural contributions, and artists as mentors. Students will utilize the Elements of Art and the Principals of Design to enhance creativity. Students will explore advanced clay finishes. A Process Journal (sketchbook) is required.
(PREREQUISITE: INTRODUCTION TO CERAMICS)
Advanced Ceramics Fall
10 11 12
This course is designed for the serious-minded art student. Expectations are high and students will build portfolio-quality pieces that include both functional and sculptural forms. Students will refine their wheel-throwing techniques as well as their hand building approaches. We emphasis well-crafted forms, designs and functional uses as well as excellent craftsmanship while expressing a personal voice. Students will continue to explore historical contexts and connections, reflect on outcomes and processes, and critique own work and that of others. Students are required to maintain an excellent Process Journal for the purpose of brainstorming, visualizing, communicating, researching, problem solving and reflecting.
(PREREQUISITE: INTRODUCTION AND INTERMEDIATE CERAMICS WITH APPROVAL OF INSTRUCTOR and 90% minimum GPA both courses)
Basic Digital Photography 1
11 12
In this course we will explore digital photography in relation to fine art. Students will be given assigned lectures and writings, a number of photo taking and finishing projects, and will be asked to participate in class discussions to better understand the physical, conceptual, and theoretical characteristics of digital photography as it pertains to art and art making.
Students will be introduced to the basic technology necessary for the production of their art work, as well as learning about the visual arts, how to look at and critique photography, photographic vocabulary, and be introduced to many works by well known photographers. A Process Journal (sketchbook) and mouse are required.
(PREREQUISITE: ART FOUNDATIONS. MUST HAVE A BASIC DIGITAL CAMERA WITH ADJUSTABLE SETTINGS)
Advanced Digital Photography 2
11 12
This course builds upon the skills of Basic Digital Photography and utilizes them in new ways throughout the semester. Students will explore advanced issues of composition, lighting, and story-telling through various assignments and guided projects. Students will develop and refine their technical and conceptual practices digitally throughout an expanded use of Photoshop and other editing software. Students will be able to develop a body of work that reflects a range of problem solving and ideation, and develops versatility with techniques to demonstrate their abilities. Students will research, keep art journals, have class critiques, and artistic dialogs that will inspire them as they create. Topics will include but are not limited to street scenes, portraiture, visual metaphors, social-documentary and history of photography. A Process Journal (sketchbook) and mouse are required.
(PREREQUISITE: ART FOUNDATIONS AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 1; ACCESS TO A DIGITAL CAMERA WITH CHANGEABLE SETTINGS.
AP Studio Art
11 12
The AP Studio Art course is designed for students interested in a rigorous and focused study in the visual arts. Expectations are high for these experienced and serious-minded students. Affective, cognitive and psycho-motor domains are stressed. As in any college level course students will be expected to spend a considerable amount of time outside of class in order to complete all assignments (including studio work, homework assignments, and journal entries). In this year-long class, students will work with a variety of media and have complex assignments. The students have the freedom to select the media they use as well as the style: representational, abstract, or non-objective. Students, through goal setting and cooperative evaluation, are charged with creating a portfolio for submission to the College Board for assessment and college credit. Students will create works relevant to their chosen portfolio throughout the year and assemble their portfolio near the end of the spring semester. The portfolio demonstrates a body of work in mastery of concept, composition, and execution consisting of 12 completed and resolved works of art focusing on breadth, 12 completed and resolved works of art focusing on a concentration of the student’s choosing, and 5 quality works of art.
(PREREQUISITE: ART FOUNDATIONS and DRAWING AND PAINTING, additionally, prefer Advanced Drawing and/or Advanced Painting. 90% minimum GPA in Drawing and Painting, Adv. Dwg., and/or Adv. Ptg.) ALL STUDENTS WILL TAKE THE COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM AS REQUIRED).
*AP testing fee required by the Advanced Placement College Board
AP Art History
11 12
This course is designed to provide students the equivalent of an introductory college art history course including the understanding and knowledge of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts. Students will examine and critically analyze examples of artistic expression from the past and the present and from a variety of cultures and themes. Students will also look at works in the context of their time of creation and relation to other works of art. Although there are no course prerequisites, the course requires a commitment to academic work and students who have done well in other humanities courses (history, literature) or visual art courses are encouraged to enroll.
(Prerequisite: Strong History/Humanities background (B- or better average), and approval of instructor.
(ALL STUDENTS WILL TAKE THE COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM AS REQUIRED).
*AP testing fee required by the Advanced Placement College Board
IB Visual Arts (2-year course)
11 12
The purpose of this 2-year intensive IB Visual Arts course is to allow students to explore the visual arts through their own as well as other cultural contexts. This exploration is meant to encourage creative thinking, problem solving and a respect for cultural and aesthetic differences. Students will use a variety of media, subject matter and research skills to achieve a portfolio of both studio work and integrated contextual study of art through the Visual Art Journal. Students will develop an exhibition portfolio of resolved studio works within a theme, a Comparative Study presentation, and a Process Portfolio. Students can choose between HL (higher level) and SL (standard level) testing options at the end of their junior year. Year one is mostly teacher-driven as students learn and explore possibilities in 2D, 3D, and (digital) Imaging. Year two is predominately student-driven. Students must possess an excellent work ethic and spend considerable time outside the classroom to complete all requirements.
(PREREQUISITES: ART FOUNDATIONS, DRAWING AND PAINTING minimum; Adv. Drawing and/or Adv. Painting preferred. Approval of instructor and portfolio presentation is mandatory) ALL STUDENTS COMPLETE THE IB ART EXAM.
*IB testing fee charged to non-diploma program students.
“Studio work involves practical exploration and artistic production. Investigation work involves independent contextual, visual and critical investigation and reflection, both visual and written.” (Diploma Programme Guide for Visual Arts; IBO).