High School 2010 – 2011

Studio Art

Art I

This course is based on the precept that drawing is the foundation on which all forms of visual communication are built. Students begin with a comprehensive introduction to the basic vocabulary of drawing. From this foundation, students are exposed to a variety of artistic processes including printmaking and painting. Here, the students learn basic theories of color mixing and relationships for both monochromatic and polychromatic color. By firmly grounding the visual arts in academic methods, the students will develop the skills needed to produce a robust range of artwork.

Art II

Continuing the precept that drawing is the foundation of visual communication, this course builds on and refines the basic vocabulary of drawing.  Students will work with more complex forms, including natural objects and drapery. New color palettes will be introduced as well as multilayer linocut, woodcut and silkscreen printmaking techniques.

Art III: Painting

Students study the fundamental techniques of observational painting through a series of in-class exercises, lectures and critiques. Emphasis is placed on the perception of edges, negative space, and color. We prepare canvasses, mix paint, and learn to set up palettes. Subjects include still life, landscape, portraiture, and architecture.

Art IV: Portfolio

This course is designed for students who are interested in a serious creative expression in art. By the end of this course, students will be prepared to submit a portfolio for the Advanced Placement Studio Art examination.   This test is not based on a written examination; instead, students submit a portfolio consisting of 24 art works for evaluation by the College Board at the end of the school year. This exam requires that the student show a fundamental competence in and range of understanding of visual concerns and methods. All work submitted must be completed in the preceding school year.

Art History

The Renaissance

This course introduces students to the art of Renaissance Italy and northern Europe. Students investigate how late Gothic artistic traditions fused with influences from Greek and Roman antiquity to create new artistic forms and approaches under secular governments. Additional topics include the Mannerist, Baroque and Rococo styles, as well as cotemporaneous developments in Chinese and Japanese art. The course covers developments in architecture, sculpture, and two-dimensional works, while placing them in their cultural context.

Previous Offerings

The Medieval Period (2009 – 2010)

This course introduces students to the art of Medieval Europe and investigates how it was influenced by the cultural milieu of late antiquity and how it contributed to the development of later European artwork. Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic art works are covered as well as the development of Islamic art.

The Ancient and Classical Worlds (2008 – 2009)

This course introduces students to art works from the cultures of the ancient world and investigates how these cultures influenced not only one another but the development of later artwork in the western tradition as well.  The cultures of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece and Rome are covered as well as the development of art in India and southwest Asia.