Courses in the Visual Arts are discipline-based using predominantly independent projects to promote the development of creativity. Individual review and group critiques supplement this creative process. Students use similar construction/deconstruction techniques in each discipline to find the essential elements in all art forms. The application of these exercises produces a portfolio of the student’s experiences in class. Computer use, web exposure, and ethical use of technology are reinforced throughout all arts courses.

Featured Courses

Film Studio

Students will work as a group on a year-long filmmaking process - studying pre-production planning, production creation, and post-production to learn- about all the phases of filmmaking. Making a film requires a studio/crew of people with various skills and interests as the production will necessitate students that have experience in photography and composition (the Director of Photography/Director/Art Department), management and planning (Director/Producer), writing (Script Writer), Acting, Sound Engineers (recording/sound effects), Musicians (musical scores), and Visual Art (props/set design/costumes). Students with an array of talents will participate in writing, directing, acting, filming, and editing an original film work to be premiered at the end of the school year.

AP Studio

This college-level portfolio course provides the student with the opportunity to develop and organize a body of 22 original works that can be submitted as a portfolio to colleges and to the AP Board. Prior to acceptance, individual portfolios are reviewed on strength of techniques already mastered, evidence of conceptual skills, work ethic, and individual motivation in and outside the classroom. Only the most serious visual artist should consider this rigorous course of study. 

Ceramics I

This course is designed for students with little or no prior experience with clay. Students learn a wide variety of methods that allows them to explore individual solutions to the hands-on projects. The instructional emphasis is on using ceramics as a creative medium, with hand-building techniques predominating. Class time includes demonstrations, critiques, slide and video discussions, as well as studio time. Projects explore the historical and contemporary uses of ceramics in addition to designing three-dimensional forms. Textbook readings and written assignments support the studio experience.

Photo II

In Photo II, students take an in-depth look at the technical and aesthetic aspects of photography. This course’s focus is the development of a variety of images while simultaneously gaining a greater understanding of photographic art history and contemporary image-making. Demonstrations, discussions, and critiques provide the basis for an ongoing exploration of digital techniques and an exploration of traditional black and white darkroom techniques. Class techniques include digital cameras, the computer, design software, film cameras, image scanners, video cameras, magazines, and the sun. 

Studio Art IIII

This master’s level course explores advanced painting, drawing, photography, digital media, printmaking, 2-D design, and mixed media methods. Students engage in complex compositional schemes and conceptual subject matter that includes study of art history and its relevance to their art projects. Students must have a strong commitment to advance their projects outside of class, work in a group, and to keep pace with the production expectations of the course.