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Art- Upper School
Course description
This course is an intensive introduction to the foundational elements and
principles of art and their applications. Students will engage in a variety
of artistic disciplines including drawing, design, printmaking, painting,
sculpture, digital photography, graphic arts, time arts, architecture and art
history. Students will explore expression, visual communication, and
analytical processes to create works that will comprise their portfolio. This
will be accomplished by demonstration of theory and practice through the
means of intensive projects exploring artistic processes. Students will work
to develop an increased sensitivity to the creative processes that is
thoughtful, innovative and playful. Students are expected to keep a visual
journal.
The structure of the course will be repeated every two years allowing
students new curricula each semester. The sequence is as follows.
Semester 1 Two-dimensional studies with emphasis on expressive and
descriptive drawing, painting, exploring the narrative to create a visual
language.
Semester 2 Three-dimensional studies with emphasis in freehand drawing,
architectural design, sculptural practices and landscape design.
Semester 3 Two-dimensional studies with emphasis in the graphic arts,
printmaking, computer graphics, book arts and desktop publishing. Graphic
novels and story telling with images will be explored.
Semester 4 Three & four-dimensional studies in sculpture, clay casting,
drawing for the 3rd dimension. Public art installations and performance art
will be explored.
Independent study students are expected to comply with the parameters of the
advanced placement curricula to produce a show of the semesters work.
Course goals
1. To gain an understanding of the basic elements and principles of art
2. To acclimatize the students to the discipline of art
3. To introduce theory and practice of observational disciplines in
drawing, painting, and sculpture
4. To develop visual awareness and to communicate visually
5. To heighten our attention and engage our emotions to increase our
awareness of ourselves in the world
6. To be able to analyze and discuss art in concrete language; to become
visually and verbally articulate
7. To recognize design principles being put to use through art
historical works, contemporary artists, graphic designers, photographers, etc.
8. To develop creative problem-solving skills: to explore, expand,
analyze, compare, evaluate, and refine ideas
9. To pay attention to deadlines, working independently, taking personal
initiative, developing artistic integrity, giving and taking constructive
criticism, taking chances, and learning appropriate presentation/craft
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS:
Students are expected to follow appropriate classroom conduct conducive to
focus and concentration.
Be a good listener. When someone is speaking, wait until they have finished
their thought before you begin. Be respectful of others. Ask questions
politely.
Have compassion. It may be frightening for some to show their work to a group.
Constructive and honest feedback is important. There should be a sense of
safety among members of the class. Trust is essential to creative growth.
Provide an atmosphere of fellowship and helpfulness.
The study of art is not a competitive sport. The success of someone else can
never block our own success. Be helpful; learn to rely on one another.
Evaluation and Grading
Class participation: The following are positive attributes for class
participation: promoting a cooperative atmosphere - developing verbal skills
in discussing class work- learning to think critically and participate in
critiques
Demonstrate Rigor: At various stages of work completion, students will learn
to accept and give criticism and to apply suggestions to make improvements.
Research may be necessary information as needed. Students may rework
projects when necessary.
Demonstrate understanding: Students completed projects need to show
understanding of the projects concepts in the form of each work.
Quality of craftsmanship: Appropriate to each project.
Assignments on time: Assignments may be redone or reworked. If improvement is
demonstrated, the grade will be appropriately adjusted.
Attendance: There is no substitute for classroom work. This is a studio
course organized to build skills progressively. Missing too many classes will
jeopardize skills needed in future projects. You must be here and ready to
begin promptly with all materials needed for that particular project. Being
late to class can affect your grade.
Course content
Drawing:
Exercise perceptual skills and motor coordination
Conventions to create the illusion of space on s dimensional surface
Become competent with the basic elements of line, shape, value, and
texture
Explore expression, rhythm, and movement. Use drawing as
communication.
Explore the relationship between form and content
Design:
Understanding and application of the gestalt principles
Shape: contour, axis, gesture, visual weight, organic/geometric,
simple/complex
Variations of line/implied line
Figure/ground relationships and how to manipulate them
Methods of establishing movement and rhythm
Hierarchical systems: levels of visual dominancy, placement of visual
weight
Understanding, creating, and recognizing structural divisions
Use of the format edge, cropping, and closure
Understanding the role of scale
Controlling the balance between tension and harmony
Spatial relationships: creating levels of space through overlap,
transparency, scale shifts, linear perspective, and atmospheric perspective
Texture: real and implied
Ordering systems, including types of symmetry
Book Arts:
Printmaking: relief, stencil, collograph, monoprint
Design and making of tools use in book arts
Paper decoration: paper marbling, paste papers, stamp printing
Book binding, folios, boxes, journals
Creating a theme book
Painting:
Basic concepts and practices of painting use of materials and
presentation
Color theory and practice
Expressive and illusionary use of paint
Observation and the use of imagination in painting
Learning from works of art
Sculpture:
Architectural sculptural design process
Expressive, decorative, and functional uses of sculpture
Additive 3-dimensional processes.
Subtractive 3-dimensional processes
Casting
Photography:
Basic structure of photographic process such as, depth of field,
exposure, color balance, contrast, value
Depends on availability of equipment and time
Art History:
Understanding historical context of the choices the students make
Learning techniques of many periods of art
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