Fine Arts
Program Goal: All students will experience the understanding, the appreciation and the creation of the Fine Arts in a Catholic/Christian setting for lifelong learning. Students will develop the following skills:
- Expressing oneself creatively in various media in the visual and performing arts
- Communicating with others through the language of the arts
- Respecting the rights of others’ artistic expression
- Critically evaluating the artistic works of self and others
- Comprehending the arts in a historical and cultural context
- Cultivating creative solutions to problems and opportunities
- Learning to be a discerning artist while manifesting an open mind to the arts in everyday life
*All Fine Arts courses are elective courses; however, students must earn a minimum of 1 credit hour in either Computer Science courses, Engineering and Innovation courses, Fine Arts courses, Instrumental and Vocal Music, or Media Arts and Design courses (or a combination of these courses) prior to graduation.
Elective Courses
Art I Drawing A
Course Number: A013A
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: None
Open to grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Description: Basic drawing techniques are taught using various media. These techniques are applied to a variety of still-life projects including white geometric forms, colored objects, reflective objects, transparent objects and textured objects. Art vocabulary and terminology are taught and the relationship of drawing to art history is incorporated. Students are required to work in a sketchbook weekly.
Art I Drawing B
Course Number: A013B
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: None
Open to grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Description: Basic drawing techniques are taught using various media. These techniques are applied to a variety of subjects such as portrait, profile and figure drawing, perspective, and landscape drawing. Art vocabulary and terminology are learned. Students are required to work in a sketchbook weekly.
Art II Design A
Course Number: A014A
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Art I Drawing
Open to grades: 10, 11, 12
Course Description: Basic elements of design – line, shape, form, value, color and texture – are applied to solving problems in various areas, including graphic design, three-dimensional design, and fine art. Various media may include tempera, wood, pastels, block printing and computer graphics. Art history, vocabulary and critique methods are integrated into this course. Students are required to work in a sketchbook weekly.
Art II Design B
Course Number: A014B
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Art I Drawing
Open to grades: 10, 11, 12
Course Description: Basic elements of design – line, shape, form, value, color and texture – are applied to solving problems in various areas, including graphic design, three-dimensional design and fine art. Various media may include tempera, wood, pastels, block printing and computer graphics. Art history, vocabulary and critique methods are integrated into this course. Students are required to work in a sketchbook weekly.
Art III Studio Art A
Course Number: A015A
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Art II Design
Open to grades: 11, 12
Course Description: Students who take this class will gain skills that help them proceed to Advanced Placement (AP) art in the future. Students will gain experience and learn a higher level of techniques and rigor in 2D and 3D mediums. These media and techniques will build upon the basic Principles and Elements of art on a more conceptual level. Various media may include ebony pencil, White Prisma on black paper, charcoal and chalk, charcoal subtractive, stenciling, lacquer film and silk screening. Art vocabulary, art history and art criticism will help reinforce more complex and conceptual concepts. This course is a suggested prerequisite for Advanced Placement (AP) Art.
Art III Studio Art B
Course Number: A015B
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Art II Design
Open to grades: 11, 12
Course Description: Students who take this class will gain skills that help them proceed to Advanced Placement (AP) art in the future. Students will gain experience and learn a higher level of techniques and rigor in 2D and 3D mediums. These media and techniques will build upon the basic Principles and Elements of art on a more conceptual level. Various media may include pastel, watercolor, oil painting and pottery. Art vocabulary, art history and art criticism will help reinforce more complex and conceptual concepts. This course is a suggested prerequisite for Advanced Placement (AP) Art.
Art IV Portfolio Prep A
Course Number: A016A
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Art III Studio Art
Open to grades: 12
Course Description: The student has the opportunity to work independently and concentrate his or her study in various areas of art, depending on the student’s interest and teacher approval. Students work independently but are expected to participate in group critiques. Each student will have a retrospective exhibit of his or her artwork at year-end. Significant artists throughout history are emphasized. Students are required to work in a sketchbook weekly and will prepare their own portfolio.
Art IV Portfolio Prep B
Course Number: A016B
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Art III Studio Art
Open to grades: 12
Course Description: The student has the opportunity to work independently and concentrate his or her study in various areas of art, depending on the student’s interest and teacher approval. Students work independently but are expected to participate in group critiques. Each student will have a retrospective exhibit of his or her artwork at year-end. Significant artists throughout history are emphasized. Students are required to work in a sketchbook weekly and will prepare their own portfolio.
AP Art 2D Design
Course Number: A019
Credit Hours: 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Art III Studio Art with Department Approval
Open to grades: 12
Course Description: The AP art course is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art and wish to develop mastery in the concept, composition and execution of their ideas. AP Art students will submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the school year. In building the portfolio, students experience a variety of concepts, techniques and approaches designed to help them demonstrate their abilities as well as their versatility with techniques, problem-solving and ideation. Students also develop a body of work for the concentration section of the portfolio that investigates an idea of personal interest to them. The second semester of this year-long class is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art and wish to develop mastery in the concept, composition, and execution of their ideas. AP Art students will submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the school year. In building the portfolio, students experience a variety of concepts, techniques and approaches designed to help them demonstrate their abilities as well as their versatility with techniques, problem-solving and ideation. Students also develop a body of work for the concentration section of the portfolio that investigates an idea of personal interest to them.
Art Palette
Course Number: A011
Credit Hours: 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: None
Open to grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Course Description: This semester-long hands-on art history course is designed to give students a positive experience in various aspects of the visual arts. The students’ cultural discovery will be developed by exposure to many different art media, various periods, genres and significant artists.