About The Fine Arts Program
Students are required to complete a minimum of 2 credits of Fine Arts over the course of their high school career. These credits can be completed in visual and/or performing arts courses.The Visual Arts program offers students the opportunity to explore drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, metalworks, sculpture, the visual book and theory of aesthetics.
Ceramics I
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of ceramics. Students will explore hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques with clay. Through decorative surface treatment and glaze application, students will create forms that are functional, non-functional, figurative, expressive, and sculptural. Students will conduct visual research and share it in an online discussion, learn and use brainstorming and ideation processes to develop and refine their ideas, document their artistic process and final artwork, share and evaluate their work in group discussions with their peers, and reflect on their learning in written statements. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
Ceramics II
Prerequisite: Ceramics I
Ceramics II is designed for serious art students, offering the opportunity to enhance their throwing and hand-building skills, as well as challenging them to communicate ideas and feelings in a more sophisticated manner using the visual language of art and design. This course will introduce large-scale and advanced construction methods, the creation of visual metaphors, and further portfolio development. Students will conduct visual research and share it in an online discussion, learn and use brainstorming and ideation processes to develop and refine their ideas, document their artistic process and final artwork, share and evaluate their work in group discussions with their peers, and reflect on their learning in written statements. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
Ceramics Portfolio Development
Prerequisite: Ceramics II
Students will compose and refine a concise artist inquiry question that could serve as the basis for a sustained investigation in building an AP Ceramics portfolio, then students will begin researching, exploring, and developing a body of work that has a clear thematic voice, embarking upon their sustained investigation and allowing their question to guide their inquiry and experimentation. Students will conduct visual research and share it in an online discussion, learn and use brainstorming and ideation processes to develop and refine their ideas, document their artistic process and final artwork, share and evaluate their work in group discussions with their peers, and reflect on their learning in written statements. This class can be taken as either a half-block or full-block elective and will run concurrently with Ceramics II and AP Ceramics. (half or full block, 1 semester.)
AP Studio Art: 3D Design
Prerequisites: Ceramics I + Ceramics II - or - 2 credits of 3D Art (Sculpture, Fiber Arts, Jewelry); 12th grade only
AP 3D Studio Art addresses three distinct areas of portfolio development: (1) fifteen artworks that reflect a highly-focused sustained investigation exploring a specific concept determined by the student, (2) ten artworks that the student feels will best represent the highest quality work she has produced, and (3) typed responses to prompts, providing information about the questions that guided their investigation and how they practiced, experimented, and revised, guided by their questions. Together, these artworks and written statements represent the highest level of creative rigor, a capstone for seniors committed to their practice as young artists. This class will run concurrently with Ceramics II and Ceramics Portfolio Development. (1 credit; full block, one semester).
3D Art: Jewelry
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of jewelry work. Students will learn how to assemble, shape, cut, emboss, texture, solder, rivet, file and polish a variety of jewelry metals. In addition, they will learn how to make a ring and set a stone. Students will conduct visual research and share it in an online discussion, learn and use brainstorming and ideation processes to develop and refine their ideas, document their artistic process and final artwork, share and evaluate their work in group discussions with their peers, and reflect on their learning in written statements. (0.5 credit; half block, one semester).
3D Art: Sculpture
This course introduces students to a variety of low-tech sculptural techniques, processes, and materials they will use to create three-dimensional expressive artworks and designs. Students will explore linear, planar, and volumetric materials such as wire, paper/cardboard, clay, and mixed media to design and create relief sculpture, in-the-round artworks, and even site-specific installation work, with a focus on communicating ideas and emotions using the visual language of art and design. Students will conduct visual research and share it in an online discussion, learn and use brainstorming and ideation processes to develop and refine their ideas, document their artistic process and final artwork, share and evaluate their work in group discussions with their peers, and reflect on their learning in written statements. (0.5 credit; half block, one semester)
Fiber and Textile Arts
This course introduces students to a broad range of textile and fiber art techniques that can be used to create functional garments and items, as well as expressive artworks. Students will learn about the history and techniques of a variety of different types of fiber arts, which may include wet and needle felting, knitting, crochet, weaving, macrame, sewing, embroidery, quilting, dyeing, batik, basketry, spinning, and/or papermaking. Students will conduct visual research and share it in an online discussion, learn and use brainstorming and ideation processes to develop and refine their ideas, document their artistic process and final artwork, share and evaluate their work in group discussions with their peers, and reflect on their learning in written statements. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
Drawing and Painting I
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of drawing and painting. Through a series of skill-building exercises, students learn the techniques of observational drawing. Additionally, students are given a series of sketchbook prompts throughout the semester that explores the conceptual aspects of visual metaphor, challenging students to contemplate the content of their creative ideas. An introduction to color theory concludes the course with a series of watercolor painting exercises. (0.5 credit; half block, one semester)
Drawing and Painting II
Prerequisite: Drawing and Painting 1 or permission from the instructor
Drawing and Painting II is an advanced class that is focused on project-centered work, completing finished artworks that form the foundation of a strong portfolio. Both technical and conceptual concerns are addressed through the coursework, challenging students to advance their formal skills while expanding their ideas of what art can be, do and say. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
The Illustrated Book: Concept, Design, and Publication
Prerequisite: Drawing and Painting 1
This course explores the world of illustrated books, from children’s picture books to graphic novels to fine art conceptual books. This class allows serious art students to explore a variety of media, while exploring content that reflects each student’s personal interests and ideas. The course allows for a semester-long project in which each student designs, illustrates and self-publishes her own illustrated art book. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
Photography I
Open to grades 10-12
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of traditional black and white photography. Camera mechanics, the chemical processes required for developing both film and photographic paper and basic darkroom techniques form the core of this course. The aesthetic of photography is also addressed, both historically and currently, helping students to place their own work in a larger cultural context. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
Photography II
Prerequisite: Photography I
This 90 minute course is for students who have completed Photo 1. Students will work to further their technical mastery of the medium while more rigorously exploring the content and ideas that inform their work. Photo 2 moves from film-based media to digital capture, using PhotoShop for editing and professional-grade inkjet output for printing. The purpose of this course is to allow serious photography students to build an accomplished portfolio, including a semester-long project culminating in a self-published photography book. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
AP Art History (1)
Open to grades 11 and 12 (grade 10 with permission)
AP Art History is a chronological survey course studying world history through the examination of the visual arts, including sculpture, painting, and architecture. Students will experience the breadth of creative output from 35,000 B.C.E. to the present and gain skills in the appreciation and analysis of art in a historical context. The course will prepare students for the AP Art History exam which is given each May. (1.5 credit; 1 block fall semester, 45 minute spring semester)
AP Art History (2)
Open to grades 11 and 12 (grade 10 with permission)
AP Art History is a chronological survey course studying world history through the examination of the visual arts, including sculpture, painting, and architecture. Students will experience the breadth of creative output from 35,000 B.C.E. to the present and gain skills in the appreciation and analysis of art in a historical context. The course will prepare students for the AP Art History exam which is given each May. (1.5 credit; 1 block fall semester, 45 minute spring semester)
AP Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio
Prerequisites: Illustrated Book and/or Drawing and Painting II, 12th grade only
AP Studio Art Drawing Portfolio includes a wide range of traditional media, and addresses three distinct areas of portfolio development: (1) fifteen artworks that reflect a highly-focused sustained investigation exploring a specific concept, (2) five artworks that the student feels best represent the highest quality work she has produced, and (3) typed responses to prompts, providing information about the questions that guided their investigation and how they practiced, experimented, and revised, guided by their questions. Together, these artworks and written statements represent the highest level of creative rigor, a capstone for Seniors committed to their practice as young artists. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
AP Studio Art: 2D Design
Prerequisites: Photo II, 12th grade only
AP Studio Art 2D Design is the portfolio option for serious photographers. The portfolio addresses three distinct areas of portfolio development: (1) fifteen artworks that reflect a highly-focused sustained investigation exploring a specific concept, (2) five artworks that the student feels best represent the highest quality work she has produced, and (3) typed responses to prompts, providing information about the questions that guided their investigation and how they practiced, experimented, and revised, guided by their questions. Together, these artworks and written statements represent the highest level of creative rigor, a capstone for Seniors committed to their practice as young artists. (1 credit; full block, one semester)
Independent Study Portfolio Development
Prerequisite: completion of Level I course and teacher approval
This course is for the serious art student who is committed to developing a portfolio for scholastics or AP Studio Art submission. Students applying for this Independent Study should be motivated, focused, and capable of working independently. This is a tremendous opportunity for students for a number of reasons: competing in the Scholastics art competition, submitting a portfolio to art departments and/or art schools at the undergraduate level, and building a strong and diverse resume for college applications in general. (Fall term suggested for Scholastics competition and college application; credits vary)
AP Music Theory
The AP Music Theory course corresponds to one-to-two semesters of typical, introductory
college music theory coursework that covers topics such as musicianship, theory, and musical
materials and procedures. Musicianship skills, including dictation and listening skills, sightsinging, and harmony, are an important part of the course. Through the course, students develop
the ability to recognize, understand, and describe basic materials and processes of tonal music
that are heard or presented in a score. Development of aural (listening) skills is a primary objective.
Performance is also part of the curriculum through the practice of sight-singing. Students learn
basic concepts and terminology by listening to and performing a wide variety of music. Notational
skills, speed, and fluency with basic materials are emphasized.