Arts

List of 6 items.

• AP Art: 2D Design

  AP Art: 2D Design is a yearlong art course that is designed for highly motivated students who wish to expand and develop the skills, techniques, and knowledge acquired in previous art classes. The course demands significant commitment to the investigation of the formal and conceptual issues relating to the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Materials include, painting, drawing, photography, and design. Students are expected to independently generate unique ideas, develop deep concepts, practice informed and critical decision-making, and create with an understanding of material and craftsmanship. As a result, this class demands responsibility for all components of the art-making process. Students will submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the second semester. AP portfolios are assessed on Quality in a student’s work and Sustained Investigation of materials, processes, and ideas. The student’s work should reflect these three areas of concern: quality, concentration and breadth. AP portfolios are assessed on (1) a sense of visual communication in a student’s work; (2) the student’s concentration on a particular visual interest or problem; and (3) the student’s need for breadth of experience in the formal, technical and expressive means of the artist. Since this course is a rigorous introduction to college studio art courses, students are expected to work outside the classroom, maintain a sketchbook and participate in ongoing group and individual critiques. By signing up for this AP course, students agree to submit the AP final portfolio, which may include graphic design, typography, digital imaging, collage, mixed media, painting, drawing or photography. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Media Arts, or Studio Art at The Prep. Evidence of outside art classes and a portfolio are also considered.
  Prerequisite: Successful completion of Ceramics, Media Arts, or Studio Art at the Prep. Evidence of outside art classes and a portfolio are also considered. 

• AP Art: 3D Design

  AP Art: 3D Design is a yearlong art course that is designed for highly motivated students with an interest in sculptural issues who wish to expand and develop the skills, techniques, and knowledge acquired in previous art classes. The course demands significant commitment to the investigation of the formal and conceptual issues relating to the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Materials include clay and any supporting accessories. Students are expected to independently generate unique ideas, develop deep concepts, practice informed and critical decision-making, and create with an understanding of material and craftsmanship. As a result, this class demands responsibility for all components of the art-making process. Students will submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the second semester that demonstrate their understanding of design principles as they relate to the integration of depth and space, and volume and surface. Students will be able to show an enduring understanding of 3D design through any three dimensional approach, including, but not limited to, figurative or non figurative sculpture, ceramics, assemblage and 3D fabric/fiber arts. The student’s work should reflect these three areas of concern: quality, concentration and breadth. AP portfolios are assessed on (1) a sense of visual communication in a student’s work; (2) the student’s concentration on a particular visual interest or problem; and (3) the student’s need for breadth of experience in the formal, technical and expressive means of the artist. Since this course is a rigorous introduction to college studio art courses, students are expected to work outside the classroom, maintain a sketchbook or a journal, and participate in ongoing group and individual critiques. By signing up for this AP course, students agree to submit the AP final portfolio, which may include 3-D design through any three-dimensional approach, including, but not limited to, figurative or non-figurative sculpture, ceramics, assemblage and 3-D fabric/fiber arts.
  Prerequisite: Successful completion of Ceramics at the Prep. Evidence of outside art classes and a portfolio are also considered. 

• Ceramics

  During this course, you will develop skills in both handbuilding (tiles, pinch pots, coiling, slab building, and sculpting) and throwing techniques through hands-on activities/projects, live demonstrations, personal research/design, and group discussions and reflections. Working with clay requires you to first understand the material so that the process of purposeful and creative making can occur. This means that most of your learning will occur through your dedicated and focused interactions with the clay itself. You will initially engage in short teacher-led experiences that gauge your understanding of technique through independent and collaborative work; then be supported to experiment and find new meaning in the material or concept being taught. Through these shorter activities we will attempt to answer the following questions: How has clay played a part in our history? What does it mean for us to be making art with clay in the 21st century? And, what are the strengths and limitations of clay? As your understanding of the material and techniques develop you will engage in creating independent projects that challenge you to pair technique with aesthetic. Paired with technical and conceptual understanding of the foundations of art you will also be developing behaviors embodied by artists such finding problems, solving problems, doing research, setting goals, analyzing, and being reflective of your behaviors and reactions. You will practice and reflect upon these behaviors through ongoing reflections. As the course develops you will be given more autonomy and independence to drive your own projects and areas of further learning within the large realm of ceramics. This class may require time outside class due to the nature of the material.
  Prerequisite: None 

• Ceramics I

  Ceramics I introduces students to hand-building forms in clay. Students gain an understanding of the creative possibilities involved with clay as a medium. This course focuses on various methods of working with clay such as pinching, coil and slab building. Sculptural and surface design skills are emphasized. Students are encouraged to explore functional object making, innovative approaches, and personal vision. Historical and contemporary art examples are shown and discussed as inspiration for projects. Upon successful completion of this course students will be eligible for Ceramics II.

• Media Arts

  In this course, focusing on photography, video, design, and motion, you will develop advanced skills in digital media through both technical and conceptual approaches. During the first semester, we will emphasize the foundations of the elements and principles of design through photography. You will learn to make thoughtful choices when capturing images, focusing on light, composition, and storytelling, before enhancing your work in post-production using digital applications like Photoshop. Teacher-led activities will help you build technical proficiency, while independent and collaborative projects will deepen your engagement with digital media. As the course progresses, you will transition to video and motion, experimenting with editing techniques and moving images to communicate your ideas. Through these activities, we will explore key questions: What does it mean to create with digital media? How can photography and video be used as tools for expression? How do artists use light, space, motion, and sound to tell stories? Building on these foundations, you will design independent projects that explore contemporary themes in art, combining technical skills with your personal aesthetic vision. By the end of this course, you will demonstrate mastery of artistic principles, technical knowledge, and confidence in visual storytelling. You will also develop essential artistic habits, such as experimentation, problem-solving, and patience, which you will practice and reflect upon throughout the year. As your skills and understanding grow, you will gain autonomy to pursue self-directed projects, using digital media to express your unique perspective. Some projects may require time outside of class due to the nature of the work.
  Prerequisite: None 

• Studio Art

  During this course, which involves both drawing and painting, you will develop skills in a range of 2D dry and wet materials in both traditional and experimental technical approaches. You will initially engage in short teacher-led experiences that gauge your understanding of technique through independent and collaborative work; then be supported to experiment and find new meaning in the material or concept being taught. Through these shorter activities we will attempt to answer the following questions: What is a drawing material? What does it mean to draw/paint? And , What is a drawing/painting? As your understanding of the material/techniques and concepts develop you will engage in creating independent projects around contemporary themes in art. These independent projects will require you to apply your understanding of technique with personal aesthetics. By the end of this course, you will be able to demonstrate technical knowledge, be more confident in ideation, challenge aesthetic norms, and have developed behaviors that will help you be successful in and outside of the art room. As you explore the technical and conceptual understanding of the foundations of art, you will also develop behaviors embodied by artists such as problem solving, research, experimentation, patience, and more. You will practice and reflect upon these behaviors through ongoing reflection. As the course develops, you will be given more autonomy and independence to drive your own projects and areas of further learning within the large realm of drawing and painting. This class may require time outside class due to the nature of the material.
  Prerequisite: None.