Studio Arts
Studio Art courses are included in the Digital Communication, Design and Innovation Department. These courses fulfill a Visual and Performing Art credit towards graduation. For the serious Studio Art student, the department offers portfolio direction and preparation in each area, a varied curriculum, exposure to many media, and independent study opportunities.
Studio Arts courses are listed below; please download the Academic Guide for a complete list of our course offerings.
Courses
MAJOR COURSES
Studio Art courses are included in the Digital Communication, Design and Innovation Department. These courses fulfill a Visual and Performing Art credit towards graduation.
* Indicates course fee applied.
- CERAMICS* (FALL)
- SCULPTURE* (SPRING)
- INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL ART* (FALL OR SPRING)
- DRAWING* (FALL OR SPRING)
- MIXED MEDIA (FALL AND SPRING)
- PAINTING* (FALL OR SPRING)
- ADVANCED ART PORTFOLIO, ADVANCED 2-D OR 3-D DESIGN (SPRING) (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
- ADVANCED CERAMICS, ADVANCED PAINTING, ADVANCED MIXED MEDIA (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
- ADVANCED PLACEMENT TWO-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN* (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
- ADVANCED PLACEMENT THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN* (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
- ADVANCED PLACEMENT DRAWING* (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
CERAMICS* (FALL)
SCULPTURE* (SPRING)
This course explores the processes of modeling, carving, construction, and assemblage in wood, paper, plaster, wire, and found materials. Students begin with projects that help them visualize the transition from two to three-dimensional design. Assignments progress into sculpture-in-the-round or free standing works. For Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Formers.
INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL ART* (FALL OR SPRING)
This course introduces the studio experience through the exploration of in-depth design concepts, terminology, and various media. Projects include drawing, painting, printmaking, and 2D and 3D Design. The course is strongly suggested as a prerequisite for further work in studio art. For Third and Fourth Formers.
DRAWING* (FALL OR SPRING)
Students study the expression of visual thought through drawing. Areas covered include contour drawing, still life, portrait, perspective drawing, and experimental techniques. Students use pastels, charcoal, ink, pencils, markers and other medium. Students will be assigned projects that utilize images from everyday surroundings and their imagination to form unique compositions. For Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Formers.
MIXED MEDIA (FALL AND SPRING)
This course provides students with an introduction to various experimental and traditional printing processes and their relationship to composition and color. Among the types of prints that may be covered include the use of digital imagery, monotype, linoleum, woodblock, embossing, and screen print. Assignments may include a t-shirt logo design, postcard project, and a large-scale transportation design using various textures including tires from large machinery. Experimentation is encouraged! For Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Formers.
PAINTING* (FALL OR SPRING)
Through experimentation and related exercises, students learn about painting as a medium of visual expression. Basic studies include drawing, color theory, and composition. Students explore a variety of subject matter from direct observation as well as from their imagination. Materials may include watercolor, acrylic, and collage. For Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Formers.
ADVANCED ART PORTFOLIO, ADVANCED 2-D OR 3-D DESIGN (SPRING) (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
In this course, advanced students will focus on experiential techniques and concepts as they continue to develop skills to produce high quality works of art in two or three dimensions. Emphasis is placed on creating more complex visual statements using a wide range of materials and processes. Topics may include social or political statements resulting from in-depth studies of contemporary artists. Students will also have the opportunity to focus on a chosen subject or medium. The course is intended for advanced students creating a portfolio, but not taking the AP exam.
ADVANCED CERAMICS, ADVANCED PAINTING, ADVANCED MIXED MEDIA (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
These courses build on the same techniques and media learned in the introductory courses. The advanced courses emphasize a more conceptual approach and development of personal style. Students also use these courses to help them prepare a portfolio for college entrance or to enhance their college applications.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT TWO-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN* (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
This course is for the serious art student whose prior work exhibits advanced technical experience and conceptual thought processes. Students work in drawing, painting, photography, collage and mixed media. Students spend the academic year focusing on a chosen theme or concentration. Explored in-depth, this theme is expressed using various color, design, and compositional techniques. AP Portfolios are submitted in May.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN* (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
This course is for the serious art student whose prior work exhibits advanced technical experience and conceptual thought processes. The course focuses specifically on developing advanced spatial design solutions. An understanding of drawing, painting and sculpture is expected. Students spend the academic year focusing on a chosen theme or concentration. Explored in-depth, this theme is expressed using various color, design, and compositional techniques. AP Portfolios are submitted in May.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT DRAWING* (OFFERED AS STUDENTS QUALIFY)
This course is for the serious art student whose prior work exhibits advanced technical experience and conceptual thought processes. The course focuses specifically on using a variety of drawing media. Students spend the academic year focusing on a chosen theme or concentration. Explored in-depth, this theme is expressed using various color, design, and compositional techniques. AP Portfolios are submitted in May.
MINOR COURSES
Studio Art courses are included in the Digital Communication, Design and Innovation Department. These courses fulfill a Visual and Performing Art credit towards graduation.
DIGITAL ART AND DESIGN (FALL OR SPRING)
This course offers the foundational concepts of digital-art making based in Adobe Photoshop. Students will design digital drawing and painting based projects while learning to navigate and organize the Photoshop UI, create custom brushes, use layers and layer effects, design text to pair with imagery, and other basic skills. Prior knowledge of Adobe Photoshop is not required for this course.
This course earns credit towards the Visual and Performing Arts graduation requirement.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (FALL OR SPRING)
Students will produce a portfolio of finished works while responding to the guiding question: How does perspective impact an image’s message? Taking photographs from extreme points of view, students will focus on composition and the basic elements of design: line, value, shape, form, color, and texture. Creativity and self-expression will be encouraged as students have the freedom to explore while simultaneously working within the parameters of each assignment. Other topics covered will be depth of field, shutter speed, and basic image editing using Adobe Photoshop. This course earns credit towards the Visual and Performing Arts graduation requirement.