Drawing and Painting I
One Semester
This course is open to all students who want to explore various drawing and painting mediums, like pencil, pen, charcoal, scratchboard, paint, pastels, and watercolor, and understand when and where those mediums and techniques were used in art history. By the end of this course, students will know how to successfully implement shadows by blending values, utilize the grid-transfer, mix colors, add texture, and more. Students will create numerous paintings and drawings as they find their artistic voice while deeply understanding the Elements and Principles of Art and Design.
Prerequisite: None
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts
Drawing and Painting II
One Semester
Students will extend and cultivate their understanding and development of various drawing and painting mediums and techniques in this Semester course. This course builds on fundamental skills learned in Drawing and Painting I, and encourages students to continue to find their artistic voice while deeply understanding the Elements and Principles of Art and Design. Students will view, research and take inspiration from modern and historical artists. Students will practice incorporating personal meaning to their work.
Prerequisite: Drawing and Painting I
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts
Studio Art I
Year-long
This course is open to juniors and seniors who have previously taken a studio art course and who have passed a portfolio review. This course is designed for art students who can work independently, are critical and creative thinkers, and may consider a further pursuit of art at a higher academic level. Students will explore a wide variety of art mediums and techniques to strengthen their artistic voice. Studio Artists will deep dive into research of global historical and contemporary artists to inform and inspire their own work. Students will begin to develop a portfolio of work that investigates thematic personal expression.
Prerequisite: Previous studio art course and portfolio review
Grade Level: 11, 12
Credit Earned: 1.0 Fine Arts
Studio Art II
Year-long
This year-long course is open to seniors who have successfully completed Studio Art I. This course will be a continuation for students to build their portfolio by strengthening their skills with art mediums and processes. Many projects include a research component, and students will work independently to create a body of work with an over-arching theme/concentration that will culminate in an art show at the conclusion of the year. Students will work with instructor to establish goals and assessment tools and will track their progress as they build their portfolio.
Prerequisite: Studio Art I and portfolio review
Grade Level: 12
Credit Earned: 1.0 Fine Arts
Creative Arts I
One Semester
In this course, students will use creative thinking skills and quality craftsmanship to solve fun artistic challenges. Working in a variety of mediums including stitchery, drawing, painting, weaving, and papercutting, students will build both 2-D and 3-D visual responses to art prompts. We will study the work of mixed media and Outsider Artists and use their inspiration to build our own expressive solutions. Students will work both collaboratively and independently as they practice remaking, revising, and envisioning their own new works.
Prerequisite: None
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts
Creative Arts II
One Semester
This course is the second level of Creative Arts. Students will continue to explore different mediums including printmaking, sewing, weaving, painting and paper arts to build their 2-D and 3D works. We will focus on larger projects where students can continue to use their creative thinking skills to make well-crafted pieces in response to fun artistic challenges. We will study the work of international contemporary artists and use their inspiration to build our own expressive solutions. Students will work both collaboratively and independently as they practice remaking, revising and envisioning their own new creations.
Prerequisite: Creative Arts I
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts
Ceramics I
One Semester
This course introduces the student to several different methods of hand-building and wheel work. All ware is fired and glazed and put on display throughout the school. Students also learn to work with several different types of clays and glazes.
Prerequisite: None
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts
Ceramics II
One Semester
This course provides the opportunity for students to expand on their ceramics fundamental skills while diving deeper into their personal style. Students will explore new construction methods and surface design techniques. Research of global historical and contemporary ceramic artists will influence project choices and areas of independent study. There will be many opportunities for students to display and present their work.
Prerequisite: Ceramics I, or permission of instructor after portfolio review.
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts
Ceramics III
One Semester
This course provides the opportunity for students to move beyond the foundational skills of throwing and hand-building, allowing them to design and create assignments focused on originality and personal style. Students will use the Ceramics studio throughout the week, in addition to their class time, to experience the “life” of a Ceramic artist. Loading the kiln, mixing glazes, and understanding the formulation of clay bodies will round out this independent and rich semester of learning.
Prerequisite: Ceramics I and II, or permission of instructor after portfolio review.
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts
Sacred Art
One Semester
This course is offered every other school year. It will be offered again in the 2024-2025 school year.
Many of the greatest masterpieces known to humankind were created out of a desire to understand, celebrate, and share an understanding or connection to the divine. Students will both study the various eras of Christian art (Early Christian, Celtic, Baroque, etc.), and produce their own piece of art for each unit, focusing on themes such as art as sacramentals, sacred space and architecture, as well as sacred symbolism seen throughout history. Students may earn credit for either a Fine Arts or Religion class.
Prerequisite: None
Grade level: Open to all students
Credit Earned: 0.5 Fine Arts or 0.5 Religious Studies