The goal of the Art Department is to foster student creativity conducive to planning and producing works of art in a variety of media; a technical mastery necessary for the creation of two and three dimensional work; an understanding of major art historical movements which have effected art through time.

Studio Art              941 Studio Art                                                0.50 Credit

This foundation course focuses on those basic elements of design  (space, light, color, form, line and texture), which are used to create an image.  Examples of each element are treated in project form which requires the student’s experimentation with a variety of media including ebony pencil, pastels, prismacolor, markers and scratchboard.

 ART CONCENTRATION

Students wishing to pursue a concentration in Art are advised to select courses in the following order: 

            1.  Drawing - - required course for students with a concentration in art

            2.  Painting

            3.  Advanced Placement Studio AND/OR Sculpture

Any student who wishes to pursue a concentration in Art or take a single elective course
must obtain the approval of her Studio Art instructor or the Chairperson.  Students
who have transferred from another school must present a portfolio to the Chairperson
in order to obtain approval.  Approval for Studio Art students is based on an observed
native ability, student's ability to focus on and follow teacher instructions as well as
her ability to meet schedule and quality standards.

Drawing                                                           920 Drawing                                        1 Credit

This course is required for all students who wish to pursue a concentration in Art. The student will learn how to draw objects in perspective; to organize portraits, landscapes and still life compositions as well as images dealing with social commentary.  Further, she is instructed in the techniques involving the following media:  charcoal, conte crayon, pastels, prismacolor, ebony pencils, pen/ink, wash and scratchboard.  Emphasis is placed on the creative and the technical aspect of drawing.

            REQUIREMENT:  DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL

Painting                                                           921 Painting                                        1 Credit

The painting course deals with the media of watercolor and acrylics.  Using watercolor the student will experiment with the techniques of wash, wet-into-wet, drybrush and opaque watercolor.  In acrylic painting particular attention is given to the study of color and its properties as well as to a variety of painting techniques.

The Painting Course is offered in affiliation with St. John’s University for the acquisition of college credit.

            REQUIREMENT:  DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL

Advanced Placement Studio                           922 AP Studio                                     1 Credit

Advanced Placement Studio provides an opportunity for the talented student to work intensively in the preparation of a portfolio for submission to The College Board for college credit.  The student will be guided in the preparation of an extensive amount of college level work which will include drawings, paintings and prints.  Enrollment in this course is especially helpful to the student who, after graduation anticipates attending Art school or majoring in Art at a Liberal Arts College.  The student is required to assume the cost of the portfolio.  All students enrolled in this course must present the portfolio in May.

            REQUIREMENT:  APPROVAL OF CHAIRPERSON

Sculpture                                                         923 Sculpture                                      1 Credit

The sculpture course will address the techniques of molding, reinforcing, joining and detailing a diversity of selected materials into sculptural form.  The student will incorporate aesthetic insights and art historical information in to the creation of contemporary three-dimensional structures.  Emphasis is placed on the integrity of various materials such as pariscraft, wire, balsawood, clay, foam board, fabric and found objects in order to construct basic natural forms.

            REQUIREMENT:  DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL

Materials Fee for the above courses are as follows:

            Studio in Art      $15.00                          Advanced Placement Studio       $55.00

            Drawing           $55.00                          Sculpture                                  $55.00

            Painting            $55.00

A student taking a concentration in Art, may fulfill diploma requirements with a 5-unit sequence in Fine Arts.

This sequence is obtained in the following way:               3.50 credits in the Visual Arts

                                                                                    1.50 credits in Music or Theatre Arts

Students seeking a concentration in Art must complete three units of credit, inclusive of the Drawing course.  A portfolio of ten pieces of work in slide form must be submitted to the department for grading.