VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
ART
The Fine Arts Department offers a variety of courses to suit all students’ 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
FINE ART 1: 9, 10, 11, 12 2.5 or 5 credits
This one semester, 2.5-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.
FINE ART 2: 10, 11, 12 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: 11, 12 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.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART: 9, 10, 11, 12 2.5 or 5 credits
This half or full-year 2.5 or 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.
INTERMEDIATE THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART: 9, 10, 11, 12 2.5 or 5 credits
PREPARATION: Successful completion of Three-Dimensional Art
This half or 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 ART: 10, 11, 12 2.5 or 5 credits
PREPARATION: Successful completion of Intermediate Art
This half or full-year 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 PHOTOGRAPHY: 9, 10, 11, 12 (West); 11, 12 (East) 2.5 credits
This one-semester, 2.5-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 students’ or schools’ camera. Students will learn the scientific fundamentals of photography and creating graphic art forms and display methods.
INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHY: 9, 10, 11, 12 (West); 11, 12 (East) 2.5 credits
PREPARATION: Successful completion of Introductory Photography
This one-semester, 2.5 -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 PHOTOGRAPHY: 10, 11, 12 (West); 12 (East) 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 (O) 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 ART & DESIGN: 11, 12 5 credits
Students create a portfolio of work to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of materials, processes, and ideas over the course of a year. Portfolios include works of art and design, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. In May, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions. The AP Art and Design program consists of three different courses and AP Portfolio Exams—AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing—corresponding to college and university foundations courses. Students may choose to submit any of the AP Portfolio Exams. This course may be taken for two years. This class counts in weighted class rank. There are no prerequisites, but prior art experience and knowledge in making art will support student success. Students who have not had those opportunities may struggle with foundational skills and understanding of process, materials, and ideas.
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.
GRAPHIC DESIGN I: 9, 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits
This project-based course is focused on fundamentals of visual organization and concept development using text and images. Using digital and traditional hands-on media, students will expand their visual vocabulary, problem-solving skills, conceptual thinking, and digital proficiency in creative explorations of theory, history, and practice. Students will use industry-standard computer software as a design tool. Projects may include drawing and illustration for font and logo design, print layout, infographics and poster design.
GRAPHIC DESIGN II: 9, 10, 11, 12 2.5 credits
Preparation: Successful completion of Introduction to Graphic Design I
This project-based course emphasizes typography and layout as the carrier of meaning. Students build on understandings of design layout using grids and hierarchy, legibility and clarity, while exploring the expressive potential of type. Students will refine skills in conceptual development, critical thinking, collaboration, design production, and presentation as well as explore the professional practice of graphic design.
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.
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. This course may be taken for a total of three years.
UNIQUE ELECTIVES AT WEST
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.