(formerly Folk Art and Craft)
Prerequisite: None.
World Arts provides a crafts focus for students who want an alternative to traditional drawing and painting. Students will use techniques of fiber arts, sculpture, and metalworking to create original two- and three-dimensional artworks. They will be inspired by the artwork from European, African, Pre-Columbian, and Asian cultures. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand how art is related to history and culture. If a student enjoys this course, and wants further study, Art Fundamentals must be taken before proceeding to intermediate level art courses.
ART FUNDAMENTALS (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: None.
Art Fundamentals is the beginning course for all students who want to pursue an interest or future career in visual arts. Students will create original artwork in realistic, abstract, and nonobjective styles. Inspired by observation and imagination, they will express themselves through the themes of still life, landscape, and portrait. They will learn about and use drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media techniques to create two- and three-dimensional artworks. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand how art is related to history and culture.
DRAWING I (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Art Fundamentals.
Note: A grade of C or better in Art Fundamentals is recommended.
Students will develop technical skills in the use of drawing and printmaking media. They will create original two-dimensional artworks based upon the themes of observation, expressive figure/portrait, architecture, landscape, still life, and personal communication of an idea. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand how art is related to history and culture.
PAINTING I (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Art Fundamentals.
Note: A grade of C or better in Art Fundamentals and Drawing I is recommended.
Students will learn and use watercolor and acrylic (or oil) paint techniques to create original two-dimensional artworks. They will express themselves through the themes of observation, still life, figure, portrait, landscape, and a student-selected conceptual theme. Work will be inspired by the historical study of the Renaissance, Impressionism, Post Impressionism, and Cubism. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand historical influences on the evolution of painting.
SCULPTURE I (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Art Fundamentals.
Note: A grade of C or better in Art Fundamentals is recommended.
Students will develop technical skills in the use of various media such as plaster, clay, paper, wire, and found objects. They will create original, three-dimensional artworks using modeling, carving, assemblage, and casting methods. Students will work with the following themes: observation, the human figure, personal expression, and public sculpture. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand how art is related to history and culture.
GRAPHIC DESIGN I (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
(formerly Commercial Design/Graphics)
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Art Fundamentals.
NOTE: A grade of C or better in Art Fundamentals is recommended.
Students will explore visual communication as it applies to commercial art careers. They will create original posters, magazine and book designs, illustrations, and communicate identity through logo designs. Students will learn and use technical skills with traditional drawing and painting media and with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign computer software programs. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand the evolution of letterforms and origins of graphic design in the history of art.
CERAMICS I (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Art Fundamentals.
NOTE: A grade of C or better in Art Fundamentals is recommended.
Students will develop and use ceramic hand-building methods and decorative surface techniques. They will create original functional and non-functional pieces. Students will express themselves through the themes of ceremonial containers, teapots, and representational sculpture. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand how ceramics objects have been used in history across many cultures.
PHOTOGRAPHY I (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Art Fundamentals.
NOTE: A grade of C or better in Art Fundamentals is recommended.
Students will explore the world of 35 mm black and white photography. They will learn to operate a single lens reflex camera, process film and develop their photographic prints. Students will create original photographs, expressing themselves through the following themes: pattern/reflection/shadow, portrait, motion, and environment. They will analyze and critique photographs, discuss aesthetic issues, understand the historical development of photography, and relate a photographer’s work to the society in which it was created.
DRAWING II (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Drawing I.
Note: A grade of C or better in Drawing I is recommended.
Students will develop advanced technical skills in the use of colored drawing media. They will create original two-dimensional artworks based upon the themes of perspective from observation, narrative art/historical documentation, reflection and transparency, the figure as a compositional element, and the development of a thematic idea through a series of related works. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand how drawing evolved in the history of art.
PAINTING II (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Painting I.
Note: A grade of C or better in Painting I is recommended.
Students will develop advanced watercolor and acrylic (or oil) paint techniques to create original two-dimensional artworks. They will express themselves through the themes of observation, expressive painting, figure, landscape/cityscape, and portrait. Work will be inspired by the historical study of American Realism, Fauvism/Expressionism, Surrealism, and Post-Modernism. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand historical influences on the evolution of painting.
SCULPTURE II (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Sculpture I.
Note: A grade of C or better in Sculpture I is recommended.
Students will develop advanced technical skills in the use of various media such as plaster, stone, clay, and found objects. They will create original, three-dimensional artworks using modeling, carving, assemblage, and casting methods. Students will express themselves through the following themes: observation, portrait, installation, monuments, and a post-modern piece on a student-selected personal or cultural issue. Students will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and understand how art is related to history and culture.
GRAPHIC DESIGN II (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Graphic Design I.
Note: A grade of C or better in Graphic Design I is recommended.
Students will develop advanced technical skill in the use of traditional media, mixed media, and Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign and Flash Macromedia software programs. They will create original designs targeted for a mass audience. Students will communicate ideas through the themes of metaphors, instructional or informational illustration, advertising campaign, motion graphics, and environmental or package design (three-dimensional). Students will analyze and critique design products, discuss aesthetic issues, and relate graphic works to the historical periods in which they were created.
CERAMICS II (10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Ceramics I.
Note: A grade of C or better in Ceramics I is recommended.
Students will learn to throw ceramic pieces on a potter’s wheel and continue to develop hand-building and decorative surface techniques. They will create original functional and non-functional pieces. Students will express themselves through the themes of tile design, figurative ceramics, and vessel forms. Students will be inspired by ceramic pieces from ancient Greek, Asian, and contemporary American artists. They will analyze and critique artworks, discuss aesthetic issues, and relate ceramics objects to the cultures in which they were created.
PHOTOGRAPHY II (9, 10, 11, 12) 1/2 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Photography I.
Note: A grade of C or better in Photography I is recommended.
Students will continue to develop technical skill with traditional black and white photography. They will also learn to use digital cameras and computer software to manipulate and refine images. Students will be inspired by the landscape/environmental, Surrealism, studio/commercial, portraiture, and documentary/photojournalism movements within photography and then develop an individual artistic style through research and experimentation. They will express themselves through the themes of studio work, self-portrait, time exposure, and conceptual/narrative photography. Students will analyze and critique photographs, discuss aesthetic issues, and relate historical styles in photography to their own work and that of other photographers.
WG AP ART HISTORY (10, 11, 12) 1 Unit
Prerequisite: None.
Advanced Placement Art History enables highly motivated students to study college level art history. Students will gain an understanding of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts. Students examine major forms of artistic expression from pre-history to the present. They will describe, critically analyze, and interpret artworks, trace artistic influences and evaluate art from various aesthetic perspectives. This study of art history enriches student knowledge in the fields of both art and history. No prior experience in art history is needed, but the course requires a strong commitment to academic work. Students are encourage, but not required, to take the AP Art History exam in May. The grade for this course is weighted.
WG AP ART STUDIO I (11, 12) 1 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grades in four semesters of high school art including at least one advanced level course (Drawing II, Painting II, Graphic Design II, Photography II, Sculpture II, or Ceramics II). Recommendation from a previous art teacher. Portfolio reviewed and accepted by AP instructor.
Note: A grade of A or B is recommended in previous art courses.
The Advanced Placement Studio program enables highly motivated students to do college entry-level work in studio art. During the course, students will produce a portfolio of artworks that can be submitted to the College Board for AP credit. Some colleges also require portfolio works for admission and/or competitive scholarships. Students will create original artwork that demonstrates technical skills in a wide range of media though a variety of themes. They will also complete a concentration that consists of a body of work around a student-selected theme. Reflective writing is a significant part of the student’s portfolio. Students are encouraged, but not required to submit a portfolio at the end of the year to the College Board.
WG AP ART STUDIO II (12) 1 Unit
Prerequisite: Passing grade in WG AP Art Studio I.
Note: A grade of A or B is recommended in WG AP Art Studio I.
The Advanced Placement Studio program enables highly motivated students to do college entry-level work in studio art. During the course, students will produce a portfolio of artworks (different from the one selected for AP Studio I) that can be submitted to the College Board for AP credit. Some colleges also require portfolio works for admission and/or competitive scholarships. Students will create original artwork that demonstrates technical skills in a wide range of media though a variety of themes. They will also complete a concentration that consists of a body of work around a student-selected theme. Reflective writing is a significant part of the student’s portfolio. Students are encouraged, but not required to submit a second portfolio at the end of the year to the College Board.