Visual Arts
Foundation Arts 9
Foundation Arts 9 is comprised of three comprehensive courses designed to facilitate a broad range of experiences in 2-D and 3-D visual arts and Debate and Public Speaking. Students will begin to develop their technical skills and be engaged in creating and responding to a variety of 2-D and 3-D images in a balanced programme of contemporary and traditional art forms such as drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture. They will be introduced to visual elements and principles of art or design. It is expected that students will learn to use a variety of tools, materials, technologies and processes to make personally meaningful images while working in a safe and environmentally sensitive fashion. In the Debate and Public Speaking course, students will be encouraged to improve his/her speaking skills. They will begin with short presentations before small audiences, experiencing a variety of public speaking situations such as a radio broadcast, after dinner speech, dramatic monologue and impromptu speaking. To learn debating skills, they will begin with light topics in large groups before practicing the team format in cross-examination and parliamentary style.
This course or equivalent is a pre-requisite for our intermediate and senior 2-D and 3D arts courses.
Pottery
The course teaches hand-built and wheel-thrown pottery for students who are complete beginners and to those who have had some experience (a year or more). It is designed to teach art through the medium of clay so that elements of design are understood at the same time as the technical processes of pottery are learned. This includes building pots by hand, learning to use the wheel and glazing and firing.
Visual Art 3D Sculpture
This course will encourage students to see, think and speak in the visual language of contemporary three-dimensional art. Students will concentrate on the application of three-dimensional concepts, through the direct manipulation of materials (cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, plaster, soapstone) using a broad approach to tools and processes. They will explore some of the current issues in contemporary art and culture while developing an understanding of visual language. Although this is a studio course focusing primarily on specific projects and group critiques, in an effort to develop critical thinking, a portion of time will be spent on image lectures, films, readings and discussions. Some time will also be given over to the safe and proper use of hand tools, power tools and equipment.
Art Foundation 2D
Art Foundation is course designed for beginners. Students are encouraged to develop ideas and creative/critical thinking while working on assignments that address the visual language of Art and Design. You may be introduced to painting, graphic design, photography, digital imaging and drawing. In addition, assignments will be linked to aspects of 20th century art history to allow you to place your own work within a global perspective.
Advanced Placement Studio Art
AP Studio Art is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. AP Studio Art is not based on a written exam: instead, students submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the school year. The Studio Art Two-Dimensional Design portfolio is intended to address a very broad interpretation of two-dimensional design issues. Work for this portfolio involves purposeful decision-making about the elements and principles of art in an integrative way. Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in two-dimensional design using a variety of art forms. These could include (but are not limited to) design projects such as graphic design, digital imaging, collage, fabric design, illustration, painting and printmaking. In addition, students should include a variety of approaches to representation, abstraction and expression for the 2-D Design portfolio.
Studio Arts Portfolio Preparation
Students wishing to prepare a visual portfolio, or are considering Studio Art AP, or are seriously interested in the practical experience of art should enrol in one or more of these classes. Working one-on one with the instructor, each student will develop an individualized program appropriate to the interests and goals of the student. Explorations can include all two-dimensional mediums (drawing, painting, printmaking), as well as combinations with other mediums such as sculpture, photography and computer graphics. Students who have a career ambition or are particularly dedicated may choose, with teacher’s permission, to enrol in more than one block.
Visual/Studio Arts: Drawing & Painting
This course is designed for experienced art students, who will have the opportunity to develop customized programmes. Exploration of a variety of subject matter will be included, such as life drawing, portraiture, landscape, still life, perspective, composition and abstraction. A collaborative installation project, for display in our gallery, will be included in the course content.
Environmental Art
Following the Land, Earthwork and Environmental Art movements of the 1960s and 1970s, students in this course will leave the studio and move their artwork outside. The landscape becomes the canvas and the natural materials, found outside, become the artist’s tools and medium. In this way students develop a strong sense of place and a tactile connection to the world outside while developing three dimensional and photography techniques. Works will be primarily sculptural in form. However, due to their ephemeral or temporary nature, the course will use photography as a means to permanently and artistically record the artwork.
