This basic black and white photography course offers a foundation study of 35mm camera operation, film development, and negative enlargement printing.  Expressive photographic decision making and creative darkroom techniques will be emphasized through photography of varied subject matter.  Students will be introduced to photography as a fine art medium and will be exposed to the skills necessary for many career opportunities.  Considerable time must be spent in and outside of class to complete photo assignments.

The Art I course offers a basic introduction to personal self-expression as well as building awareness in all phases of the art environment.  Builds a solid basis to lead into all other art courses.  Because of its title (Art I), it should not be viewed as a course of little substance.  Exposure will be provided in all major media areas as well as exposure to all basic elements and principles of design.  Opportunity is also present for the student to review and solidify any previous art experience gained through elementary and junior high art experience.

Digital Imaging will provide an exciting hands-on exploration of creative image manipulation, illustration, and product through the use of digital cameras, scanners, imagine software, printers and computers.  Students will explore the artistic potential of new imagine, technology and solve visual problems.  Study emphasis will be on planning and producing digital images that demonstrate an understanding of composition, light, color, visual impact and art history.

Creativity, creativity, creativity.  Expand your drawing and painting skills aesthetically and conceptually.  Rigorous and varied drawing and painting problems will provide experimentation with different media and methods of application.   Emphasis is placed on the integration of intellectual and technical skills and the understanding of this creative process.  This is a hands-on course including oil, acrylic, airbrush and mixed media demonstrations, combined with critiques, field trips and discussion, which expands the students’ perspective of themselves and historical and contemporary art.  Studio Portfolio will be developed over the length of the course structured towards advanced levels.  Discover your creative side.

Creative Dimensions provides a hands-on exploration, not offered in other visual arts courses, of varied media, techniques, and ideas of the world’s greatest designers and artists of yesterday and today.  Experimental and creative expression choices will include jewelry, stone cutting, grinding, polishing, metal enameling, and glass etching.  Opportunity also exists to fully explore various inventive uses in the areas of wood, leather, and metal as a combined media.

Students are introduced and exposed to all phases of ceramic instruction as well as glaze preparation and application. The course also introduces various firing techniques and any related historical background for a full knowledge of the clay media.  Included is experiencing an outdoor firing.

Sculpture investigates specific sculpture technique, methods, philosophical concerns, and ways of seeing and working that give personal expression to material form.  The shaping of permanent materials such as wood and stone by reductive approaches contrasts and compliments problems in casting, clay and other materials.  Demonstrations, lectures, field trips, and critiques will develop student awareness of historical and contemporary sculpture issues and artists.  Emphasis is placed on the safe and intelligent use of tool and equipment and the ability to control form, structure, and surface materials.

In this course, students explore the possibilities in three-dimensional construction involving the combination of various decorative metals and materials such as silver, copper, gold, brass, pewter, plastics, and rare decorative woods.  Students can direct emphasis to ornamental jewelry or sculptural works of art.  The intent of the course is application of the basic techniques.  This course generates lifetime skills that can be used at any time.

In this course the level of work provides for the greatest degree of individual creative effort and is the most important stage in the progression.  The student can help to organize his/her own curriculum to satisfy special interests in the field of art.  The student will experience, in depth, as many art areas as possible with instructor's consent.  The student will also have the opportunity to explore computer aided design and computer graphic art.  Students electing this course must exhibit a high degree of self-motivation and self-discipline if they expect to accomplish the objectives of this course.  Students will also be encouraged to explore Advance Placement opportunities and assemble a studio portfolio.