Minor: Art Appreciation Grade 9 required
Students begin to appreciate design by observing as much art as possible. Art Appreciation deals with both the elements and principles of design. With each element and principle presented students will be given vocabulary, and be shown art works that utilize the design technique being presented. With that knowledge students will complete an art studio activity. In short, students will gain a better understanding of the art that surrounds them.
Minor: Visual Arts Grade 10
Visual Arts is a class offered to students who are interested in taking a serious approach to further education in the art field. This class will be the first step in finding a real understanding of the visual arts. The projects will give the students a more concrete understanding of the elements and principles of design. The class will introduce the students to possible art careers, focus on drawing skills, and give the students good practice for portfolio preparation.
Art I, II Grade 11, 12
Prerequisite: Department recommendation
Art I and II are designed around the National Visual Arts Standards. Students will be working with both two dimensional and three dimensional design. In art class, students will advance their basic knowledge of the elements and principles of design. Students will learn the art techniques to help them solve the problems proposed with each studio project. In the process they will come to understand applied media, techniques and processes; use knowledge of structures and functions; choose and evaluate a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas; understand art in relation to historical trends and culture; reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merit of their work and the work of others; connect visual arts with other disciplines. Students will be encouraged to stretch the limits of their creativity, and emphasis will be on achieving individual self expression.
Art Awareness Grade 11, 12
Prerequisite: Department recommendation
Art Awareness is a hands on exploration into the world of Art History. Students will take a chronological approach to historical developments of painting, sculpture, architecture, and crafts from the Renaissance era to present. The class focuses on the artist, their processes, their source of inspiration and how social, religious and philosophical factors affected them. Throughout the class students will learn to push the boundaries of their perception of art. They will develop a critical eye for the art of the past and the present. This course is designed to promote the student’s intellectual enjoyment and critical examination of works of art. Serious art studio, history, literary, and college preparatory students are encouraged to enroll. The class not only focuses on the historical facts of the art genre being studied but allows you to actually put yourself in the artist’s shoes and experiment with the mediums and techniques they used. Projects are required however, artistic skill is not necessary, just an interest in art, art movements, and artists.
