2018-19 Visual Arts Program of Studies
VISUAL ARTS and MEDIA
The study of the arts compliments our instructional mission at FHS. Through the study of our art pathways, students can enrich their intellectual curiosity and/or career path. A student at FHS can fulfill art requirements by taking courses in one area of study or in a variety of areas.
813 ART I (Semester)
Unleveled
0.5 unit
Grades 9-12
Art I is an introduction to the fundamentals of our Visual Arts Program, and sets the foundation for advancing skills in future courses. This course is an opportunity for students to survey various art media and techniques through drawing, painting, color theory, and design. The students engage in sequential art lessons incorporating art history, art production, and art criticism. Art I provides students with a basic understanding of The Elements and Principles of Art & Design. This course offers students opportunities to draw from observation as well as from their imagination while communicating their ideas with confidence.
802 ART II
Unleveled
1 unit
Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: one of the following: Art 1, Artful Journaling, Digital/Creative Imaging, or Graphic Design I. Art II is designed for the student to explore art in greater depth and with emphasis on control of art media, technique, and personal expression. Students gain a deeper understanding of art concepts using The Elements and Principles of Art & Design. This class encourages students to look at art analytically and to understand art concepts more thoroughly through the critique process. This enlightens not only the students’ artistic creation but also gives them a better understanding and appreciation of the art of others.
823 ART III
Unleveled
1 unit
Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: Art II. Art III enables students who already have a proficient understanding of art and are skilled in the use of art media, an avenue for creative self-expression. Through a series of challenging projects using knowledge of the aesthetic concepts and techniques gained in the two previous art courses, students are encouraged to discover their potential and individual expression in depth. An important component to this course is the critique process. Through both in-process and summative critiques, students gain an awareness of the importance of peer-to-peer, group, and classroom discussion regarding their own work and the work of others. Students undertake a number of projects that challenge their creativity, problem-solving capabilities, and personal self-expression.
825 ART IV CP
College Prep
1 unit
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Art III
Art IV CP is designed for students who are interested in continuing their experience of art, and who are looking to continue developing their creative expression. Students taking this course work within the Art IV Honors and/or Advanced Placement Studio Art curriculum, however are not be required to perform the weekly homework, summer component, or College Board Portfolio submission. Students taking this course are expected to focus on: a sense of quality in their work; develop a concentration on a particular visual interest or problem; and produce a breadth of work demonstrating experience in the format, technical and expressive means of the artist.
826 ART IV HONORS
Honors
1 unit
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Art III and permission of the teacher
Art IV Honors is designed for students who are seriously interested in a more advanced experience of art, and are looking to continue developing a complex level of creative expression. Students taking this course follow the Advanced Placement Art curriculum. Students are required to perform weekly homework assignments but will not be required to perform the summer component or College Board Portfolio submission. Students taking this course are expected to focus on: a sense of quality in their work; develop a concentration on a particular visual interest or problem; and produce a breadth of work demonstrating experience in the formal, technical, and expressive means of the artist. An important component to this course is the critique process. Through both in-process and summative critiques, students reinforce their awareness of the importance of peer-to-peer, group, and classroom discussion regarding their own work and the work of others. This course has a culminating and comprehensive final assessment.
838 ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART: 2-D Design
Advanced Placement
1 unit
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Art III and permission of the teacher
AP Studio Art: 2-D Design is designed for students who are seriously interested in the advanced level experience of art. It also enables highly motivated students to do college level work while still in high school. Successful completion of this course is not based on a written exam: instead the student is asked to submit a portfolio of work for evaluation by College Board near the end of the school year. Each of the three sections of portfolio is graded separately and then combined into the final composite score. Over the course of the year, students investigate three sections of the AP Portfolio: Quality, Concentration, and Breadth. AP Studio Art addresses three major concerns which are constants in the teaching of art: a sense of quality in student work; student concentration on a particular visual interest or problem; and student need for breadth of experience in the formal, technical, and expressive means of the artist. This course requires students to produce a minimum of 24 works of art dealing with The Elements and Principles of Art & Design. An important component to this course is the critique process. Through both in-process and summative critiques, students reinforce their awareness of the importance of peer-to-peer, group, and classroom discussion regarding their own work and the work of others.
837 PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT
College Prep
1 unit
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Art III and permission of the teacher
Portfolio Development is designed for the highly motivated, independent, and skilled art student with a serious interest in the visual arts. Students in this course are encouraged to critically evaluate their own work, as well as the artwork of others. Students focus on sharpening observational skills and exploring in depth various techniques and media through observation. Work completed outside of the classroom is required. The emphasis is on portfolio development readying the student for Digital Portfolio preparation for admission to an art college or university majoring in art.
818 CERAMICS I (Semester)
Unleveled
0.5 unit
Grades 9-12
Ceramics I introduces students to the art of Ceramics. Students learn fundamental hand building techniques and surface design applications, which will prepare them for Ceramics II. During this semester long course, students complete pinch-pots, coil vessels, solid sculpture-removed, and hard slab construction projects. Students explore their creative process, personalization, self-expression, Art History, and cultural influences through a variety of assignments. There is a strong emphasis on The Elements and Principles of Art & Design, methods and materials, critiques, safety, studio practices and maintenance, and exhibition of final projects.
819 CERAMICS II
Unleveled
1 unit
Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Ceramics I. Ceramics II is designed to build upon skills and techniques gained in Ceramics I. Students explore a wider variety of ceramic techniques in clay and glaze applications. Ceramics II students are introduced to the pottery wheel and complete a three piece, wheel-thrown place setting. Through more challenging hand building techniques and surface design application students will further explore their creativity and begin to develop a personal style in their artwork. This course continues to emphasize The Elements and Principles of Art & Design, methods, materials, critiques, safety, studio practices and maintenance, and exhibition of final projects.
820 CERAMICS III
Unleveled
1 unit
Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: Ceramics II and permission of the teacher. Ceramics III is designed to build upon skills and techniques gained in Ceramics II. Students are exposed to a wide variety of ceramic techniques in clay and glaze applications with a stronger emphasis on personal growth and self directed studies. In this course, students continue to build their wheel-throwing skills through more challenging pottery wheel assignments, which address size, form, and function. Through exploration of advanced hand building techniques and surface design application, students will further challenge their creativity and begin to develop a personal style in their artwork. This course continues to emphasize The Elements and Principles of Art & Design, methods, materials, critiques, safety, studio practices and maintenance, and exhibition of final projects.
846 DIGITAL/CREATIVE IMAGING (Semester)
Unleveled
0.5 units
Grades 9-12
Creative imaging students use the computer and the software application, Adobe Photoshop, to create digital artwork. Students explore the technical aspects of digital image manipulation, incorporate the Elements and Principles of Art & Design, as well as develop conceptual content. In this course students employ a variety of artistic aspects of creating enhanced digital images. Students will advance their familiarity with Photoshop through watching demonstrations, and completing structured exercises as well as open-ended projects.
827 GRAPHIC DESIGN I
Unleveled
1 unit
Grades 10-12
Graphic design students apply artistic and computer techniques to communicate ideas and information through illustration and other forms of digital or printed media. Exposure and development of visual language is fostered through critique and feedback. Students use technical skills to produce concept design, layout, color theory and spatial relationships through their artwork in a digital medium.
828 GRAPHIC DESIGN II
Unleveled
1 unit
Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: Graphic Design 1
Graphic design two students continue their examination of the elements of design, spatial relationships, typography and imagery as they apply practical visual solutions for print and web applications. A focus on developing a personal voice through visual language, students create in-depth, long-term, and extended layout projects.
815 DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (Semester)
Unleveled
0.5 unit
Grades 10-12
Digital photography introduces students to basic concepts for acquiring digital images and the process of manipulating images through Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom software. Students examine and practice the art of photography, while exploring the technical and stylistic aspects of digital photo making. By analyzing the work of other photographers, students investigate the various concepts, skills, and techniques used. Using Adobe software, students work with their own photographs in the digital realm applying what they learn to select, manipulate, display, and print their work. This course has a culminating and comprehensive portfolio website.
835 ADVANCED DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (Semester)
Unleveled
0.5 unit
Grades 9-12
Advanced digital photography students build upon concepts covered in Digital Photography using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom software. Students examine and practice the art of photography, furthering their understanding of the technical and stylistic aspects of digital photo making. By analyzing the work of other photographers, students work in more depth with conceptual development, concepts, skills, and techniques. Using Adobe software, students work with their own photographs in the digital realm applying what they learn to select, manipulate, display, and print their work. This course has a culminating and comprehensive portfolio website.
850 MEDIA PRODUCTION I (Semester)
Unleveled
0.5 unit
Grades 9-12
Media Production I is designed to introduce students to the Media Industry with emphasis on the fundamentals of video photography, video sequencing, audio recording, and video editing. Using state of the art professional video equipment, students explore the technical and creative art skills needed to construct a compelling visual story. This course also encourages students to look at media critically, expound on the essential 21st media literacy skills, and promote visual communication.
851 MEDIA PRODUCTION II
Unleveled
1.0 unit
Grades 10-12
Prerequisite: Media Production II
Media Production II challenges students to advance their media production skills with an emphasis on improved visual storytelling, writing for video, advancing video photography, and utilizing new video editing techniques. Students explore opportunities to produce fictional and nonfictional films including broadcast journalism, short filmmaking, portfolio development, and studio production techniques.
852 MEDIA PRODUCTION III
Unleveled
1.0 unit
Grades 11-12
Prerequisite: Media Production III
Media Production III challenges motivated students to apply and advance their media production skills emphasizing professional and high quality video projects. Students are empowered to create meaningful and compelling video projects that are shared with the world. Topics include photojournalism, journalistic decision making, writing powerfully, basic animation, short film making, hand held video photography, music video production, portfolio development, and using video to create an experience for a viewer.
853 MEDIA PRODUCTION IV
Unleveled
1 unit
Grade 12
Prerequisite: Media Production III
This course is designed for serious students who have successfully completed Media Production I, II, III, and have a strong passion to further their communication education after high school. Students independently focus on improving the quality of their work while enriching and mastering new techniques. Media IV students become leaders of the Media Production program, inspiring and leading a new generation of media students. Topics include community outreach, advanced journalism, introduction to marketing, video art, short filmmaking, public service announcements, and advanced video editing techniques. This course also promotes students to develop a strong portfolio that can be submitted to colleges.
