VISUAL ART DEPARTMENT
 Upon successful completion of any advanced/intermediate art course, a student may elect to re-enroll in the same class ONLY ONCE. Teacher recommendation is required. (All art classes are subject to sufficient enrollment).  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 Honors and Advanced Placement courses.

Beginning and Exploratory courses cannot be repeated for credit.

Beginning Drawing
9 10 11 12
This course for students with little or no drawing experience is designed as an introduction to drawing. A variety of drawing materials will be the primary focus of the class. Classical drawing approaches and students' individual interpretations will assure understandings that will likely inspire election of a more advanced class.

Intermediate Drawing
9 10 11 12
This course is a continuation of Beginning Drawing. Students in this class need to understand the basic concepts of drawing and to have the ability to demonstrate them: systems of 1 and 2 point perspective; contour and gesture approaches; 3-D illusion with brightness gradient; basic geometric/volumetric forms and representative shapes. Individual interpretations, use of pattern in composition, appreciation of artwork by others, and craftsmanship will be emphasized. Various mediums and subject matter will be explored. A sketchbook is required.
(Prerequisite: Beginning Drawing)

Beginning Painting
9 10 11 12
This course will satisfy both experienced and beginning painters, as assignments will provide opportunity for skills development in both. Proper use and care of materials will be demonstrated. Techniques to achieve desired effects will be demonstrated. Opaque and transparent painting mediums will be used to incorporate concepts of pattern and color. Students will discover three aspects of their style: technique, content, subject matter. A sketchbook is required.

Intermediate Painting
9 10 11 12
Intermediate Painting is a continuation of Beginning Painting. Students will review beginning painting concepts related to composition, color interaction and mixing. Knowledge of proper care and use of painting materials will be reviewed. This class will provide opportunities to increase representation skills through painting from still life and landscape with a naturalistic approach to color mixing. Individual expression and development of style may be experienced as students' skills and confidence increase. Movements and artists will be presented as they are relevant to the concepts presented. A sketch book, pencils and brushes are required.
(Prerequisite: Beginning Painting)

Beginning Pottery
9 10 11 12
This course is suited for students with little or no previous experience with clay. The students will learn various methods of working with clay, building projects, then glazing and firing them. The history of pottery, famous potters, as well as quality design will be introduced. Structured critiques will follow each project to help the students become familiar with the vocabulary: design/idea/form, craftsmanship and self-expression.

Intermediate Pottery
9 10 11 12
Intermediate Pottery is a continuation of Beginning Pottery. The students need to understand the basic concepts of pottery from the outset. Aesthetic considerations including size/weight/expectations, function, design elements and principles, decoration, and others will be introduced or further explored and incorporated in students' designs. Basic drawing skills will be introduced for the purpose of visualizing and problem solving clay works.
(Prerequisite: Beginning Pottery)

Basic Design
9 10 11 12
This entry level course will provide a solid background in design. Students will find the experience from this design class a great foundation from which to build, and very helpful in any future Visual Arts Class. Assignments and information, pertaining to two and three dimensional design, from the development of ideas to the production of a product, will be presented on a regular basis.

Multi-Cultural Art
9 10 11 12
This course celebrates objects that may be practical, whimsical, functional and sculptural. This is a serious class where students will learn about design and then produce, and critique their own projects, much like artists/craftsmen have worked throughout history. Examples of typical assignments may include assemblage, clothing design, wire jewelry and sculpture, mask making, and weaving.

Honors Advanced Studio Art 1 and 2
11 12
In this year long class students will work with a variety of media and have complex assignments. Expectations are high for these experienced students. Affective, cognitive and psycho-motor domains are stressed. The students have the freedom to select the media they use as well as the style: representational, abstract, or non-objective. As the title of the course implies, this is a class for advanced and experienced students. (APPROVAL OF THE INSTRUCTOR IS REQUIRED. APPROVAL IS BASED ON AN OUTSTANDING RECORD IN PREVIOUS DRAWING, PAINTING, AND POTTERY COURSES, WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS IN THE VISUAL ARTS.)

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 major of artistic expression from the past and the present and from a variety of cultures.  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 course (history, literature) or visual art courses are encouraged to enroll.
(THE COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM IS REQUIRED).

Portfolio 
12
These students will primarily work independently but will schedule regular appointments with the instructor for critique. A portfolio of the students' work and slides of their work will be developed dependent upon their post high-school goals. The students' work will be as specific or varied as needed to meet their goals. Information specific to the students' interests pertaining to post high school will be available for research.
(BY ARRANGEMENT ONLY)

Design for Living
11 12
This course will encompass two primary areas: Interior Design and Clothing/Costume Design. Students will learn about the history of interior and clothing design as well as actively participating in designing. Color, fabric, layout, and furniture placement will be the focus of Interior Design. Embellishing, changing, and reconstructing existing vintage clothing as well as designing a wardrobe will be the focus of Clothing/Costume Design.

IB Visual Arts
11
The purpose of the 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 independent Investigation Workbooks.  Although students will work with both of these they will choose between a portfolio that focuses on the Studio Work or on the Investigation Workbooks depending on their individual area of expertise (Option A vs. Option B).  Course content may be the same for SL and HL, however a more comprehensive and in-depth study is required of the HL student and therefore the criteria, although written the same, is used at the higher level for HL students. 

 Course Options:

 HL:     Option A (HLA): Studio Work: 60%;  Investigation Workbooks: 40%

            Option B (HLB): Investigation Workbooks: 60%;  Studio Work: 40%

 SL:      Option A (SLA): Studio Work: 60%;  Investigation Workbooks: 40%

            Option B (SLB): Investigation Workbooks: 60%;  Studio Work: 40%

 “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 2007)