Medfield High School Visual Arts Department
 
VISUAL ARTS ART PHILOSOPHY The intent of the Visual Arts Department is to develop observational awareness, conceptual thinking, technical skill, and aesthetic sensibility. The Visual Arts curriculum, accessible to all students, promotes creative problem solving through artistic process and personal expression. Evaluative assessments of artwork demonstrate formal compositional elements to encourage in-depth understanding and appreciation. ART OBJECTIVES 1. Students will observe, interpret, and record visual perceptions. 2. Students will solve problems by engaging memory and imagination in their work. 3. Students will develop technical mastery in a variety of media. 4. Students will evaluate and critique art in an appropriate visual arts vocabulary. 5. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the role of artists throughout history. COURSE PLACEMENT All courses in the Visual Arts are College level with the exception of AP Studio Art and Studio Art Honors. All Visual Arts courses are sequentially structured to build on previous skill sets. Course Offerings INTRODUCTION TO ART (Grades 9-12) One semester 2.5 credits This foundation course provides an introduction to a variety of Visual Arts concepts. Students will explore these concepts through varied techniques using both 2-Dimensional & 3-Dimensional media. Introduction to Art is one of the foundation courses in Visual Arts Program and is a prerequisite for the subsequent Art Major courses, as well as other art electives. Introduction to Art (College) Course # 820 DRAWING AND PAINTING (Grades 9-12) One Semester 2.5 credits The Drawing and Painting curriculum offers students broad exposure to a variety of two dimensional techniques in dry and wet media. Students will sharpen their observational skills through a series of compositional studies to render the illusion of form on a flat surface. Students will examine basic fundamentals of compositional design and consider the contribution of the art elements and principles to a piece of work. Drawing & Painting is one of the foundation courses in Visual Arts Program and is a prerequisite for the subsequent Art Major courses, as well as other art electives. Drawing and Painting (College) Course # 842 3-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN (Grades 9-12) One Semester 2.5 credits 3D Design is a semester course within the Visual Arts Department that uses a variety of 3-Dimensional methods and materials to gain understanding of the concepts found in the Visual Arts. Students will explore the techniques and works of various sculptural artists. Furthermore, this course will address the Elements & Principles of Design, which aid in communicating our ideas most effectively. 3-Dimensional Design (College) Course # 843 PRINTMAKING AND DESIGN (Grade 9-12) One Semester 2.5 credits Printmaking and Design is a course about visual communication, using printmaking as the medium. Students will develop technical proficiency in plate making and printing as well as the basics of two-dimensional design to communicate their ideas effectively. Printmaking and Design (College) Course # 841 PHOTOGRAPHY I (Grades 10-12) One Semester 2.5 credits Photography is a tool for seeing and exploring the world in an expressive and personal way. This course is an introduction to the basic black and white photographic processes, as well as aesthetic issues that are specific to photography. Students are encouraged to obtain the use of a 35mm SLR film camera for this course. Some 35mm cameras will be available for loan, at the full responsibility of the student. Prerequisite: Completing of Art I or any two of the following: Drawing and Painting, Introduction to Art, and Printmaking and Design. Photography I (College) Course # 839 PHOTOGRAPHY II ( Grades 10-12) One Semester 2.5 credits Photography is a tool for seeing and exploring the world in an expressive and personal way. In this course, students will explore and expand upon the creative and technical aspects of the medium learned in Photography I. Students will have an opportunity to pursue both independent coursework as well as specific class and homework assignments. Students are encouraged to obtain the use of a 35mm SLR film camera for this course. Some 35mm cameras will be available for loan, at the full responsibility of the student. Prerequisite: Completion of Photography I with a B- or better and approval of the instructor. Photography II (College) Course # 845 ART I (Grades 10-12) Full Year 5 credits The curriculum for Art I is grounded in learning to draw from observation. Students will further develop two dimensional media skills in relation to compositional design, rendering techniques, and overall aesthetics. Through the exploration of various materials and subject matter students will evolve a personal style of interpretation. Students will be responsible for keeping a sketchbook and producing a full body of work that reflects a breadth of techniques. Prerequisite: Completion of either Introduction to Art or Drawing and Painting with a grade of B- or better. Art I (College) Course # 821 ART II (Grades 11-12) Full Year 5 credits The curriculum for Art II uses observational drawing as a point of departure. Art II will challenge students to translate personal and imaginative concepts in a variety of media. Students will be encouraged to consider experimentation and interpretation, while developing a mastery of skills and techniques. Students will be responsible for keeping a sketchbook and producing a foundation portfolio. Prerequisite: Completion of Art I with a B- or better. Art II (College) Course # 822 HONORS STUDIO ART (Grade 12) Full Year 5 credits The curriculum for Honors Studio Art will offer an intense experience of students’ personal engagement to the concepts, techniques & quality of artwork. Students will be challenged to perceive, reflect and react to subject matter in an informed manner. The exploration of artistic methods and experimentation with a variety of media will be stressed. Students will be responsible for keeping a sketchbook and preparing a portfolio. Prerequisite: Completion of Art II with a grade of B- or better, and approval of the instructor Honors Studio Art (Honors) Course # 840 ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART (Grade 12) Full Year 5 credits The Advanced Placement Studio Art Program is designed for highly motivated students interested and committed to the study of visual art. Students will be challenged to develop goals and invest in the achievement of their objectives. They will be encouraged to explore multiple solutions in the interpretation of subject matter through a variety of media. Students are required to create a body of work, in the form of three portfolio sections, which show a fundamental competence and a range of understanding in visual concerns and methods. AP Portfolios are submitted to the College Board in early May for evaluation. Prerequisite: Completion of Art II with a grade of B+ or better, and approval of the instructor AP Studio Art (Honors) Course # 838 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN VISUAL ARTS (Grade 12) Semester 2.5 credits This course is intended for students who wish to pursue a rigorous and focused course of self-motivated studio arts study. Students must apply for independent study by requesting an application from their Art Teacher and submitting the detailed proposal to the Fine Arts Content Specialist. In addition, they must also submit a portfolio which demonstrates a mature aesthetic sensibility. All submitted materials will be reviewed by the Visual Arts Department for acceptance. A weekly journal must be kept of activities and tasks completed. Enrollment is limited and open only to those who have completed Art II. Upon completion of an Independent Study, students will be responsible for an exhibition of a body of their work. Independent studies are not included in the calculation of the GPA. Independent Study in Art Course #831