Visual Arts

Drawing I is a foundational studio-based visual art course that requires no previous knowledge and meets students where they are in their creative development. Students will discover how to use multiple mediums, including graphite, ink, colored pencil, oil pastel, and chalk pastel, primarily through observational drawing techniques. In addition to learning multiple mediums, students will be introduced to the elements and principles of art and design as they tackle design challenges. At the end of this course, students will have created a body of work demonstrating creative exploration and increased technical skills in drawing.

Painting I is a foundational studio-based visual art course that requires no previous knowledge of painting with the prerequisites for students to complete Drawing I or its equivalent. In this course, students will learn how to use acrylic, watercolor, and oil paint. During part of this discovery process, students will learn color theory as it pertains to mixing paint in addition to building their knowledge of the elements and principles of art and design. The content of this course will be focused on building technical skills and the exploration of different painting styles. At the end of this course, students will have created a body of work demonstrating technical skills in the aforementioned painting mediums and explored creative techniques.

Drawing I is a foundational studio-based visual art course that requires no previous knowledge and meets students where they are in their creative development. Students will discover how to use multiple mediums, including graphite, ink, colored pencil, oil pastel, and chalk pastel, primarily through observational drawing techniques. In addition to learning multiple mediums, students will be introduced to the elements and principles of art and design as they tackle design challenges. At the end of this course, students will have created a body of work demonstrating creative exploration and increased technical skills in drawing.

Digital I is a foundational course divided into three units: graphic design, digital illustration, and digital photography. No prior knowledge of any subjects is required. Access to software and equipment (iPad, DSLR camera) will be provided upon enrollment. Students will be challenged to think creatively in response to prompts targeting specific skill sets, design theory, and process, and to develop their personal voice through expressive work.

The course introduces design process and ideation, to sharpen students’ critical thinking with creative challenges. Students will learn foundational principles of graphic design: visual hierarchy, balance, composition, and layout, and apply them using Adobe Illustrator. In digital illustration, students learn how to use digital brushes to render drawings, focusing on intentional detailing, color, and composition, using the software Procreate. In digital photography, students will learn the basics of exposure, composition, and image editing in Adobe Lightroom.

Prerequisite: AR20A Visual Art Foundations I: Drawing and Painting, or the equivalent

Drawing II This studio-based visual art course follows Drawing I. In this course, students will deepen their understanding of the elements and principles of art and design, continue to explore multiple drawing mediums, and be challenged by the content. This intermediate-level drawing course asks students to explore their creative voice and begin to develop a vision for their work while still charged with design challenges. At the end of the semester, students will have a body of work that is representative of their growth, both technically and creatively.

Painting II This studio-based visual art course is sequential to Painting I. In this course, students will deepen their understanding of the elements and principles of art and design while continuing to explore multiple painting mediums including acrylic, watercolor, and oil. Students will also be challenged by the content, which will ask students to paint more complex objects, such as glass or the human form. At the end of the semester, students will have a body of work that is representative of their growth, both technically and creatively.

Prerequisite: AR20B Visual Art Foundations I: Drawing and Digital Art, or the equivalent

Drawing II This studio-based visual art course follows Drawing I. In this course, students will deepen their understanding of the elements and principles of art and design, continue to explore multiple drawing mediums, and be challenged by the content. This intermediate-level drawing course asks students to explore their creative voice and begin to develop a vision for their work while still charged with design challenges. At the end of the semester, students will have a body of work that is representative of their growth, both technically and creatively. 

Digital Art II is an intermediate-level course with a focus on graphic design and digital illustration. The prerequisite is completion of Digital Art I or its equivalent. Students will deepen their knowledge of graphic design principles, applying the design process to their projects, which are centered around effective visual communication. Digital illustration at the intermediate level focuses on blending and layering in Procreate to produce more detailed digital artwork. Projects at this level are more individualized to the artist, relying on pre-work and brainstorming design iterations to create successful, visually appealing, and communicative work.

Advanced Art is a semester-long advanced-level studio course that asks students to create a thematic body of work. This course can be repeated throughout students’ junior and senior years. Following the structure of AP studio art, students are encouraged to explore a wide variety of media, utilize their foundational skills in observational art, and push their creative boundaries. Students will invoke the elements and principles of art and design as they produce a portfolio of work that reflects their unique perspective of the world and community focusing on their personal artistic voice. Prerequisites for this course include the completion of Drawing I and three additional semesters of beginning or intermediate-level art courses or an equivalent portfolio of work.