The focus of Art I is on image making through the application of various artistic genres including painting and drawing, collage and assemblage, mosaic, photo montage and found objects. Color theory, linear perspective, pictorial composition, figure and ground relationships, visual perception, spatial concepts, and critical thinking skills are emphasized extensively throughout the course.

 

In this introductory course, students undertake projects to learn to mix paint and use tint and tone. We examine color theory and how to use three colors to create a composition, the color wheel and how to use all the colors, and color separation and texture. Painted collage that mimics selected images of texture and color is explored and students analyze the view finder to edit space and areas to magnify points of interest.

 

The drawing lab course integrates the fundamental drawing principles of composition, value, structure, contrast, line, shape, pattern, space, and rhythm with an emphasis on building a formal visual vocabulary. Students focus on basic drawing skills and study the formal and technical problems of drawing as a medium for artistic creativity.

 

This course is designed for students who demonstrate outstanding capabilities in expressing themselves, exhibit a high degree of commitment, and the ability to maintain the attitudes and self-discipline of a working artist. The focus of the course is documenting previous art and creating new pieces of work to construct a well-rounded portfolio. This course requires significantly more commitment and accomplishment than the typical high school course. Self-motivation and direction are expected, and outside work is required. Students who enroll in the course develop an art portfolio for gaining admission and scholarship to prestigious art colleges. Examples of college majors that may require an art portfolio include Fine Arts, Gaming Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Design Technology, and Fashion and Interior Design.