ART

The Fine Arts Department offers a variety of courses to suit all student’s interests and abilities. All students can achieve success as they explore the arts through a variety of introductory courses that are one or two semesters in length. Interested students can continue their studies through intermediate courses, and serious art students can explore materials in depth through advanced courses as they gain skills and experiences essential to fulfill their individual college/career goals. Courses taken in the Fine Arts Department meet the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

 CORE ELECTIVES

FOUNDATIONS OF COMMERCIAL ART:  9, 10, 11, 12                                                     

FINE ART 1:  (Formerly FOUNDATIONS OF COMMERCIAL ART):                   2.5 or 5 credits

This one semester, 2½-credit course or full year, 5-credit course provides the beginning art student with the opportunity to experience and understand basic art concepts.  Drawing, painting, and other related art forms are generated through the development of art ideas and a variety of approaches to design and composition with art media through a multitude of techniques.

ADVANCED FOUNDATIONS OF COMMERCIAL ART:  10, 11, 12                                  

  FINE ART 2:  (Formerly ADVANCED FOUNDATIONS OF COMMERCIAL ART):        5 credits

This full year course provides the student with an   opportunity to further develop the skills for creating drawing, painting, and other related art forms studied in Fine Art 1.  Advanced works will result from research relating to subjects in art and a variety of approaches to design.  The analysis of historical and contemporary artists’ ideas and styles will support experimentation in form and expression.  A multitude of art techniques will be presented to permit the individual art student to strive toward personal exploration and creativity.  This course may be taken for a total of three years.

 FINE ART 3:  (Formerly ADVANCED FOUNDATIONS OF COMMERCIAL ART):       5 credits

This full year course provides the student with an   opportunity to further develop the skills for creating drawing, painting, and other related art forms studied in Fine Art 2.  Advanced works will result from research relating to subjects in art and a variety of approaches to design.  The analysis of historical and contemporary artists’ ideas and styles will support experimentation in form and expression.  A multitude of art techniques will be presented to permit the individual art student to strive toward personal exploration and creativity.  This course may be taken for a total of three years.

COMMERCIAL ART 2:  10, 11, 12                                                                                 5 or 10 credits

PREPARATION:  Successful completion of Fine Art 2

This full-year, single or double period, 5- or 10-credit course provides the student with opportunities to gain further experience by studying examples of commercial art or by illustrating and originating techniques suitable to develop graphic images which can be produced through a variety of printing and color media.  The student is guided through the selection of subject matter of personal significance.  Illustrations relating to selected themes are planned and created in several forms, styles, and print media.  Consultations with the instructor permit the selection of an illustration(s) which will provide the best visual effect if reproduced as a print from silk screen or calligraphy (East).  This course may be taken for a total of three years.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART:  9, 10, 11, 12                                                                            5 credits

This full-year, 5-credit course provides the student with the opportunity to study and create art with a concentration on sculpture, ceramics, pottery, and other 3-D media.  Material and techniques used by historical and contemporary artists and artisans from a variety of world cultures are introduced to the student for the purpose of exemplifying the subjects and significance of such art forms as they relate to course projects.

ANCED THREE DIMENSIONAL ART:  10, 11, 12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

INTERMEDIATE THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART: 9, 10, 11, 12                                             5 credits

PREPARATION: Successful completion of Three-Dimensional Art

This full-year course provides the student with the opportunity to study and build upon the techniques introduced in the Three-Dimensional Art course.  This class will get a more in depth look into clay and various 3D art media as well as researching cultures that use ceramics as an art form.  This course will offer a steppingstone into advanced 3D art. 

ADVANCED THREE DIMENSIONAL ARTS:  10, 11, 12                                                     

ADVANCED THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART:  10, 11, 12                                                   5/10 credits

PREPARATION:  Successful completion of Intermediate Art

This full-year, single or double period, 5- or 10-credit course provides the student with the opportunity to study and create advanced ceramic, craft, and sculptural forms.  Advanced and refined techniques with a variety of materials permit the student to create unique art forms in these areas of three-dimensional design.  The student may concentrate on one or more projects in any or all areas.  This advanced course may be selected by the student for a maximum of three years.

INTRODUCTION TO COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: 

9, 10, 11, 12 (West); 11, 12 (East)                                                                                                 2.5 credits

This one-semester, 2½-credit course provides the student with the opportunity to develop visual sensitivity to items and events to be photographed through the study of photographs and photographic processes.  The student will learn about the mechanics of equipment and photographic processing of film and prints by using a 35mm camera in a traditional photo studio and darkroom setting.  Activities will consist of taking photographs outside of school with the student’s or school’s camera. Students will learn the scientific fundamentals of photo and creating graphic art forms and display methods.

INTERMEDIATE COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: 9,10,11,12 (West);11,12 (East)              2.5 credits

PREPARATION:  Successful completion of Introductory Photography

This one-semester, 2 ½ -credit course provides the student with the opportunity to further develop skills and techniques with photographic equipment and expand experiences from the previous course.  This course permits the applications of developed techniques to produce unique photographic art forms.  In addition to the traditional processing of 35mm images, digital photography equipment and techniques will be introduced.

ADVANCED COMMERCIALPHOTOGRAPHY: 12 (East); 10, 11, 12                                   

ADVANCED COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: 12 (East); 10,11,12 (West)             5 or 10 credits          

PREPARATION:  Successful completion of Intermediate Photography

This full-year, 5-credit course is designed to provide the student with skills and techniques needed to study and produce advanced photographic art.  It presents content relating to advanced photography and photojournalism to the experienced photographer as a means of completely rounding his/her education in photographic arts at the high school level.  Advanced techniques and processes including different types of paper will be studied. It thoroughly prepares the student for future study in the field.  At West, this course may be taken for a total of three years.

AP ART HISTORY:  11, 12                                                                                                          5 credits

Advanced Placement History of Art is designed to provide secondary school students with a program similar to an introductory college level course in Art History: An appreciation of architecture, sculpture, painting and other art forms within historical and cultural context.  No prior exposure to Art History is required.  Students who have done well in history, literature or any studio art forms are encouraged to enroll.  This class counts in weighted class rank.

AP STUDIO ART:  11, 12                                                                                                             5 credits

Art Studio AP is a full-year course where highly motivated students pursue college-level work in the visual and applied arts.  Students are required to develop a concentrated art portfolio, which may be eligible for college credits. Emphasis of the portfolio will focus on a sense of excellence in art, an in-depth commitment to artistic forms, and a variety of diverse media to meet the required standards of the AP program.  This course may be taken for two years.  This class counts in weighted class rank.

UNIFIED ART:  9, 10, 11, 12                                                                                                        5 credits

Unified Art will explore a variety of art mediums at a pace that accommodates all learning abilities. Students will create 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works of art. This class is open to students of all ability levels who will create individual artwork, as well as some group work. Using creativity to engage students with and without disabilities can help form special bonds and relationships for all students. Students will

be introduced to 2-dimensional (drawing, painting, printmaking, photography) and 3-dimensional (clay, other materials) art during this 1 semester course. Students can also take 2 semesters for 5 credits. The class will offer opportunities to all students who are interested in studying education, museum studies, nursing and other fields that involve working with all different types of people. This course can pair with the

  partnership from the University of the Arts that focuses on inclusion of all learning abilities through art.

UNIQUE ELECTIVE AT EAST

COMMERCIAL ART 1:  9, 10, 11, 12                                                                                2.5 or 5 credits

This one-semester, 2 ½ credit course or full-year, 5 credit course, provides the student with the opportunity to develop artistic skills and understanding, which permit the creation of sophisticated and expressive graphic illustrations.  The students will explore jewelry making, promotional design concepts, printmaking skills, computer generated design layouts, cartoon illustration, collage and artistic styles to illustrate a logo or message.  Students will discover the traditional and modern techniques of creating commercial art.

UNIQUE ELECTIVES AT WEST

ART WORKSHOP: Two Dimensional: 9, 10, 11, 12                                                                2.5 credits

This one semester, two- and one-half credit course will provide any student with a general survey of art and an opportunity to experience and experiment with basic two-dimensional art concepts. Creative activities may consist of painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, or photography. Fundamentals of art will be presented through a variety of techniques and introduce students to the types of art activities encountered in depth in the full year art courses.

ART WORKSHOP: Three Dimensional: 9, 10, 11, 12                                                             2.5 credits

This one semester, two- and one-half credit course will provide any student with a general survey of art and an opportunity to experience and experiment with basic three-dimensional art concepts. Creative activities may consist of ceramics, textiles, crafts, collage, or sculpture. Fundamentals of art will be presented through a variety of techniques and introduce students to the types of art activities encountered in depth in the full year art courses.

COMMERCIAL ART:  Graphic Design I:  9, 10, 11, 12                                                          2.5 credits

This course will focus on visual communication through commercial graphics and illustration.  It will provide the student with the opportunity to explore design in a commercial context through the development of concepts and images.  Typography and typographic principles will be introduced, and issues of type/image relationships will be explored to enhance communication.  The two Commercial Art courses provide a yearlong concentration.

COMMERCIAL ART:  Graphic Design II:  9, 10, 11, 12                                                        2.5 credits

This one semester course will focus on the integration of text, typography, photos, and graphic imagery to creatively solve communication and design problems in advertising and illustration. Students will explore the potential for enhancing creative art concepts through experiences with computer imagery and desktop programs, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Publisher. The student will have the opportunity to explore issues of type/image relationships in a commercial context to enhance communication. The two half-year Commercial Art courses at West provide a year-long concentration for the students interested in knowing and creating traditional and current commercial forms of art.