Visual Arts

This course offers students the opportunity to explore multiple art-making techniques and mediums. This course introduces students to art history and the elements and principles of art in theory. Students then apply these elements and principles through a variety of mediums in both 2D and 3D forms. This course gives students a lot of variety as they develop basic skills in drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking and digital art. This is a one-semester course. Prerequisites: None. Eligible Grade Level(s): 9-12.

This course encourages students to explore all 2D art-making mediums and techniques, including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking and digital design. Students will work with wet and dry mediums, and some projects will incorporate the laser cutter and school-issued laptops. This course is perfect for students interested in drawing-focused careers such as fashion design, illustration and animation. This is a one-semester course. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art + Design. Eligible Grade Level(s): 9-12.

This course allows students to experience a variety of 3D art-making mediums and techniques, including sculpting in paper, clay, metals, fibers and found objects. Students will create projects that include sculptures and jewelry, and they will have opportunities to use complex tools such as a laser cutter and 3D printer. This course is perfect for students interested in spatially-focused careers such as engineering, architecture and interior design. This is a one-semester course. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art + Design. Eligible Grade Level(s): 9-12.

This course provides students with the opportunity to learn digital art-making tools, such as the programs within Adobe's Creative Suite, as they explore graphic design, animation and the creation of digital media content. This class is perfect for students interested in digital art-making careers such as graphic design, advertising, film and animation. This is a one-semester course. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art + Design. Eligible Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12.

This course teaches students the basics of 35mm film photography, manual camera operation and beginning darkroom skills. During this course, students will develop a critical eye, learn how to critique and be introduced to some art history pertaining to the subject matter. Students will gain experience with darkroom printing, enlarger operation, film development and camera operation, including shutter speed, focusing and aperture/depth of field. This course is perfect for students interested in visual careers such as photography, film and graphic design.
This is a one-semester course. Prerequisites: None. Eligible Grade Level(s): 10-12.

This course provides students with an in-depth exploration of art history and the elements and principles of art in theory. Students will experiment with higher-level techniques and develop their skills in their preferred mediums and disciplines of choice, including 2D, 3D, Graphic Design or Photography. Students will skillfully apply what they have learned in their respective focus areas while also developing their personal voice within the medium. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art + Design and 2D Art + Design, 3D Art + Design or Film Photography and Departmental Approval. Eligible Grade Level(s): 10-12.

This course gives students the opportunity to create and submit a portfolio to the AP Board for evaluation and hopefully college credit. Students will refine their personal voice through the completion of student-driven projects and critiques resulting in a collection of works demonstrating a “Sustained Investigation.” This course involves the advanced application of skills and techniques in students' specified area of study such as painting or drawing. Note: all students enrolled in this course must submit their portfolios for the AP exam in the spring semester. Prerequisites: Honors Art + Design. Eligible Grade Level(s): 12.

This course gives students the opportunity to create and submit a portfolio to the AP Board for evaluation and hopefully college credit. Students will refine their personal voice through the completion of student-driven projects and critiques resulting in a collection of works demonstrating a “Sustained Investigation.” This course involves the advanced application of skills and techniques in students' specified area of study such as photography, illustration or graphic design. Note: all students enrolled in this course must submit their portfolios for the AP exam in the spring semester. Prerequisites: Honors Art + Design. Eligible Grade Level(s): 12.

This course gives students the opportunity to create and submit a portfolio to the AP Board for evaluation and hopefully college credit. Students will refine their personal voice through the completion of student-driven projects and critiques resulting in a collection of works demonstrating a “Sustained Investigation.” This course involves the advanced application of skills and techniques in students' specified area of study such as metals, ceramics, architecture or fiber. Note: all students enrolled in this course must submit their portfolios for the AP exam in the spring semester. Prerequisites: Honors Art + Design. Eligible Grade Level(s): 12.

Students in Advanced Art develop basic drawing, painting and art-making skills. This course also helps students to grow in their ability to talk about art and understand the basic historical art movements of the past.

Students explore the world of future art opportunities, learning about creative careers through projects and play. Examples of career-focused projects include building design as an architect, logo creation as a graphic designer, capturing subjects as a photographer, creating character looks as a costume designer and animation as a videogame designer.

Students learn the fundamentals through the elements of art. They learn basic drawing skills through observational line drawings, graphite self-portraits and perspective cityscapes. Students practice the basics of painting through color mixing acrylics and several watercolor techniques. In addition, students will learn about different art movements and artists throughout time. This is a project-based course designed to grow artistic skill while exposing students to many types of sculpture mediums.