2-DIMENSIONAL ART COURSES
STUDIO ART FOUNDATIONS
Prerequisite: None
This course is designed for students interested in exploring a variety of art media. It provides foundational training in art concepts and craftsmanship with 2-D and 3-D media such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and clay, guiding students in their choices for future art courses in high school.
DRAWING
Prerequisite: 2-D Studio Art
This course is open to students who are serious about learning to draw from observation. Theories of perception, fundamentals of visual thinking, and skill-building are covered through still life set-ups, the study of linear perspective, and value/shading.
ADVANCED DRAWING
Prerequisite: Drawing
Note: This course can be taken multiple times with teacher and department coordinator approval.
This course will build on the concepts and technical skills introduced in Drawing. Students will develop greater craftsmanship skills and work with more challenging compositions using a variety of drawing media such as charcoal, pastel, and ink.
PAINTING
Prerequisite: 2-D Studio Art
This course is for students interested in learning how to use watercolor, oil paint, or acrylic paint to express their ideas. Students will expand their knowledge of art concepts and techniques while creating paintings in a variety of genres such as still life, landscape, portraiture, and free choice subjects.
ADVANCED PAINTING
Prerequisite: Painting, Painting Big, Watercolor, Oil Painting
Note: This course can be taken multiple times with teacher and department coordinator approval.
This course offers the opportunity to continue the study of painting in any or all of four painting media: oil paint, watercolor, acrylic, and digital painting. Emphasis is on interpretation and developing one’s own style and voice with paint. Students will further develop their craftsmanship skills and have more freedom to explore personally expressive works.
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PRINTMAKING
Prerequisite: None
This is a course for students who want to explore printmaking to produce fine art prints in media such as intaglio, relief, screen printing, and experimental processes. By the end of the semester, students will have created a portfolio of prints.
ADVANCED PRINTMAKING
Prerequisite: Printmaking
Note: This course can be taken multiple times with teacher and department coordinator approval.
This course is a continuation of Printmaking with instruction of more challenging techniques and an introduction to additional printmaking media. Students will further develop their craftsmanship skills and have more freedom to explore personally expressive works.
STUDIO PORTFOLIO HONORS
Prerequisite: Advanced Drawing or Advanced Painting; portfolio review and teacher recommendation are also required
Note: This course can be taken multiple times with teacher and department coordinator approval.
This course offers the most serious art students the opportunity for advanced study, creative thought, and in-depth pursuit of their personal artistic interest. Students will have the option to use their choice of a variety of drawing and painting media. Emphasis will be placed on student’s production of a portfolio for use in the pursuit of post-secondary experiences in art.
AP ART & DESIGN
Prerequisite: Two semesters of Advanced courses in intended media and one semester of Honors (three semesters of Advanced courses if no Honors courses are available); course instructor’s recommendation
The AP Art & Design program consists of three different courses and AP Portfolio exams; AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing. Students may choose to submit any of the AP Portfolio exams. Students will curate a collection of 15 works to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of processes and ideas over the course of a year. Portfolios submitted include works of art, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. In May, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions.
This class requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete the work. Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media as this class is not based on skill-development, but rather on sustained investigation and discovery while satisfying the AP requirements. This course is not for students looking to prepare college portfolios. Please see the College Board website for additional information.