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Course Descriptions

ART I

Course Description:  

This course is an in-depth study of the elements of art, principles of design and the development of skills necessary to complete various artistic problems.   Art history, Art Criticism, Media knowledge, Sketchbook Practice, Class Discussions, and Good Craftsmanship are integrated into each assignment.  Integration of Digital media will be experimented with as well.  Because Design has become such an important facet of our culture and in our lives, we will focus on this topic for every assignment.

Overview:  

Each unit or project will consist of:   Master’s Work, Vocabulary, Discussions, Sketchbook Assignments, Studio Projects (major part of grade), and Tests and Quizzes. 

 

1st Quarter

Portfolio   name plate design in marker & pencil color

Appreciating the Visual Arts  (notes from Art Talk  (online textbook)

Elements of Art:

Kaleidoscopic Design

Mixed Media Exploration-post-reference to Elizabeth Murray

Line & Shape-  Types and variety of Line. Collect primary source “Snips” to derive inspiration

Ink Line Design  Circular abstract line design; Visual connect to a chosen theme- Sharpies & colored pencils—line quality, implied textures/patterns within composition

Art Criticism—Writing about Art!   Formal art criticisms on art works

2nd Quarter

Element of Art:

Space- Perspective Drawing- exercises in one, two and three point perspective boxes, rooms and buildings;

Pen & Ink drawing. Discuss M.C. Ecsher… magazine portions continued in pencil drawing

Surreal/Modernistic 3-D Cityscape- Snips of partial Architecture to complete

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain  book by Betty Edwards:   Learning how to draw is learning how to see. 

Exercises: Vase-Face, Upside Down drawing, Blind & Modified Contour Drawings (drawing realistic contour drawings of hand, leaves, etc.) Discuss Leonardo da Vinci.

Positive/ Negative Space Contour Painting

Element of Art:

Texture – Pottery Slab 3 Piece Vase- using 5 of more textures

3rd Quarter

Element of Art:

Value & Form —Pencil Drawing-Value Scale, Shading basic geometric & organic forms, bell pepper, small scale object,

Still-life Drawing  Large arrangement of objects; 3 view points: normal, bugs-eye, & birds eye in pencil

Element of Art:

Color—Personal Photograph Color wheels, Color Scheme Painting- O’Keefe inspired landscape painting divided for 3 schemes

 

4th Quarter

Master Copy Painting… Zoomed In…Discuss John Singer Sargent, Rembrandt and various contemporary artists

Portrait Drawing- practice drawing facial features and human facial proportions formal portrait in pencil or charcoal

 

ART II

Course Description- Media Based course

This course will introduce the student to a variety of media including but not limited to pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, pastels, acrylic paint, watercolor, marker, pottery, various 3-D media, Adobe Photoshop, and ArtRage.  Projects will be geared towards developing good design, creative thinking, exploring various approaches to problem solving, and refining those basic artistic skills learned in Art I. 

OVERVIEW

1st QUARTER

*Circle Portrait (review of elements & principles) -3 weeks

*Negative/Positive Space color scheme painting- 2 weeks

*Distortion Grid Self-Portrait in Ebony pencil -2 weeks

*Paper, wire, and wood architectural sculpture- 2 weeks

 

2nd QUARTER

*Colored Pencil (from original collage) with photoshop -2.5 weeks

*Charcoal and Tempera Paint Pets-2.5 weeks

*Scratch board -2 weeks

*Pen & Ink Saints drawing with watercolor -2 weeks

3rd QUARTER

*Oil Pastel or chalk  -3 weeks

*Collage and Draw in Ball point- 2.5 week

*Pattern Wrap-1 week

*Gouache value painting still life- 2.5 weeks

 

4th QUARTER

*Pottery (pinch, coil, slab)-4.5 weeks

*Acrylic Painting (master copy)-4.5 weeks

ART II HONORS

Course Description- Media Based course

Year Overview

1st Quarter

 *Design Theory and Project Process—Scratchboard (Paper Pass It On!)

 *Art Criticism—How to conduct a group critique

 *Sculptural project

                

2nd Quarter

 *Pastels—Foreshortened Photo (personal photo taken at odd angle)

 *Pen and Ink—magazine photo camouflage

 *Colored Pencil—Photorealism (From a magazine collage)

****Midterm Exam Practical –Proficient and creative use of the media covered thus far

 

3rd Quarter

 *Charcoal—Self-Portrait in costume

 *Watercolor—Color exercises, glass object

* Pottery

 

4th Quarter

 *Creativity Quest—Art out of simple object- 100 things!

 *Master Copy— Painting from a photo of recreation of Master work. Photoshop Manipulation

****Final Exam Practical –Proficient and creative use of the media covered 2nd semester

ART III HONORS

YEAR OVERVIEW
There will be 10 long-range assigned projects which are designed to allow each student the ability to explore their own ideas and style while still following a set criteria.

    Quarter I
   *Fabric & Fiber & Literary Devices—media exploration Art Quilt

   *Color Theory Circles- 4 color schemes of choice- 4 inch circle format

   *George Rodrigue- Art Competition -Monsters theme
 

    Quarter II

    *Action Collage- magazine collage design
    *Contrasting Painting Styles- 3 mini painting in different artist styles

    *Oversized Self-Portrait – Odd angle using black & white charcoal on grey paper

 

    ****Midterm Exam Practical –Synthesis using Mixed Media- Collage, Painting, stitching, drawing

 

    Quarter III
    *Photoshop Self-portrait

    *Pop Art Movement -Large Acrylic painting of object, person, or event
 

    Quarter IV

    *Portrait Scape

    *Pottery- Hand building shakers- Animal theme

           

    ****Final Exam Practical- Two pieces for AP Art IV dealing with chosen focus

AP ART IV

Drawing/ Painting Portfolio  Course Outline and Schedule

 

Prior to Summer      Upcoming AP Art students make appointments with the AP teacher to discuss choices they are considering. This is also the time to show past pieces                                         that may be considered for inclusion in the portfolio.

Summer           Work on 2 concentration pieces independently. Students and teacher will meet for two critiques, one

                          in June the other in July.  Summer works due the first day of school.

 

Year Outline

Quarter 1  Drawing/Painting Portfolio

Concent           Your focus as an Illustration for the cover of an existing novel -watercolor & ink

Concent           Urban Landscape; odd view using focus -ball point pen

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Concent           Your focus intertwined with a Botanical study -Charcoal

Concent           Design own assignment with your focus- media of choice

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Quarter 2  Drawing/Painting Portfolio

Breadth            Emotional Portrait- paint of choice

Breadth            Interpretive Study of Literary Character-mixed media

Breadth             Sktchy WAX Challenge

Breadth            Subtractive portrait-charcoal & eraser

Breadth            Design own assignment-media of choice Breadth           

Breadth            Sktchy WAX Challenge

 

MIDTERM  - Produce a Synthesized piece using 2 previous completed works as point of departure 

                       Inventory sheet of completed pieces including media and size of piece

 

Quarter 3  Drawing/ Painting Portfolio         

Concent.          Your focus, out of context -media of choice

Concent           Transformation of your focus–organic to manmade or vise-versa -ink

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Concent           Design own assignment-media of choice

Concent           Object enlarged to the point of abstraction-oil pastel

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Quarter 4 Drawing/Painting Portfolio

Breadth            Cluttered surface- pencil

Breadth            Collage and Mixed Media using birds- watercolor

Breadth            Sktchy WAX Challenge

Breadth            Design own assignment-mixed media

Breadth            Draw a landscape- media of choice

Breadth            Sktchy WAX Challenge

 

 

FINAL- Produce a Synthesized piece using 2 previous completed works as point of departure.  In addition students

             must complete digital upload on the College Board site, create a personal on-line portfolio and  answer both Commentary

             questions and have all quality pieces fitted with a cover sheet and properly labeled, boxed and ready to mail.

 AP ART IV

2D Design Portfolio Course Outline and Schedule

 

Prior to Summer          Upcoming AP Art students make appointments with the AP teacher to discuss concentration choices they are considering. This is also the time to                                                     show past pieces they may be considered for inclusion in the portfolio.

Summer           Work on 2 concentration pieces independently. Students and teacher will meet for two critiques, one  in June the other in July.  Summer works due the first                                   day of school.

Year Outline

Quarter 1   2D Design Portfolio          

Concent           Your focus limited to Calligraphic lines- ink & Brush

Concent           Weave your focus- mixed media

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Concent           Graphic Design Poster of your focus –pen & ink & markers

Concent           Design own assignment with your focus- media of choice

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Quarter 2    2D Design Portfolio

Breadth            Photo Montage showing movement

Breadth            Close-up reflection on an object- limited color pallet photography

Breadth            Sktchy WAX Challenge

Breadth            Kaleidoscopic design - digital photography

Breadth            Design own assignment-media of choice

Breadth              Sktchy WAX Challenge

 

 

MIDTERM - Produce a Synthesized piece using 2 previous completed works as point of departure

                   - Inventory sheet of completed pieces including media and size of each

 

Quarter 3   2D Design Portfolio

Concent           Your focus as a shelter or living space-media of choice

Concent.          Design own assignment-media of choice

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Concent           Positive/Negative Space Cluttered surface including focus- marker or ink

Concent           Using only text or lettering for value, collage your focus

Concent           Sktchy WAX Challenge using your focus

Quarter 4   2D Design Portfolio                      

Breadth            Object enlarged to the point of abstraction-media of choice

Breadth            Warm/ Cool colors landscape collage- variety of media

Breadth            Sktchy WAX Challenge

Breadth            Design own assignment-mixed media

Breadth            Architectural elements- odd perspective- ink, ink wash, & dead palette

Breadth            Sktchy WAX Challenge

 

FINAL- Produce a Synthesized piece using 2 previous completed works as point of departure.  In addition students

             must complete digital upload on the College Board site, create a personal on-line portfolio and  answer both Commentary

             questions and have all quality pieces fitted with a cover sheet and properly labeled, boxed and ready to mail.

 

AP ART IV

 3D Design Portfolio     Course Outline and Schedule

 

Prior to Summer          Upcoming AP Art students make appointments with the AP teacher to discuss

                                          concentration choices they are considering. This is also the time to show past pieces that may

                                           be considered for inclusion in the portfolio.

Summer           Work on 2 concentration pieces independently. Students and teacher will meet for two critiques ...one in June the other in July. Summer works due the first                                  day of school.

 

Year Outline

Quarter 1   3D Design Portfolio

Concent           Your focus with botanical elements

Concent           Your focus as a vessel

Concent           Design own assignment with your focus- mixed media

Concent           Design own assignment with your focus- media of choice

Concent           Create a 3D sculpture of your focus out of 2D photographs of it

Quarter 2    3D Design Portfolio

Breadth            Architectural Model for a house/building-exterior view

Breadth            Mixed Media-wooden sticks of any kind, glue, fibers, paper, found materials

Breadth            Plaster carving/subtractive method-  include an opening to involve light in design

Breadth            White Paper sculpture that conveys volume and symmetry

Breadth            Design own assignment-media of choice OR Louise Nevelson inspired wall piece

 

 

MIDTERM-     - Produce a Synthesized piece using 2 previous completed works as point of departure

                        -Inventory sheet of completed pieces including media and size of each

                  

Quarter 3   3D Design Portfolio

Concent.          Your focus, favorite media and wood

Concent           Design own assignment with your focus- media of choice

Concent           Your focus in metal

Concent           Living space  of or in your focus

Quarter 4   3D Design Portfolio          

Breadth            Build a Chair- media of choice

Breadth            Assemblage sculpture inspired by Robert Rauschenberg

Breadth            Design own assignment-media of choice OR a large soft sculpture of an everyday item inspired by Claes Oldenburg

FINAL- Produce a Synthesized piece using 2 previous completed works as point of departure.  In addition students

             must complete digital upload on the College Board site, create a personal on-line portfolio and  answer both Commentary questions

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