Visual Arts
	Students interested in taking AP Studio Art in their Senior year must take Studio Art grades 9-11 as a prerequisite. Studio Art 1 This is a full-year, one-credit course that will introduce the student to fundamental art concepts and materials.  Beginning Drawing introduces the basic elements and techniques of drawing. The course develops application skills for all drawing media, including pencil, colored pencil, pastel, charcoal, and conte crayon. Through a structured sequence of projects employing contour drawing, negative space drawing, and full value studies, students explore plein air landscape, still life, portraiture, and figurative subject matter. The class will focus on the importance of composition, technique, line quality, and surface manipulation. Beginning Printmaking explores the art of printmaking through a variety of methods, including line monotype and chine-collé. This course will offer instruction in making monotypes, the use of additive and deletive methods, as well as particular wiping techniques. After mastery of monochromatic work, students work with the mixing of inks, registration of prints, and color printing. Beginning Painting offers the experience of painting in different media. The course commences with monochromatic painting with pen and ink, and then using watercolor and oil media, explores color theory, the color wheel, and working with color. An exploration of techniques will be based on historical and contemporary examples. Students will employ various types of surface grounds as well as the selection and use of different types of paper for different uses. (Reading prerequisite: The Art Spirit, by Robert Henri) (1 credit; full year) Studio Art 2 This course is a full-year, one-credit course that increases students’ skills and competency in drawing, printmaking, and painting as well as expands their experience with design, illustrative art, and creative problem-solving. Advanced Drawing and Graphic Design challenges students to increase their competency in drawing using specific instruction, projects, critiques, and conceptual thought. Projects may emanate from a variety of traditional subject matter such as landscape, portrait, figurative work, and interior and exterior renderings, and will incorporate design, lettering, patterning, compositional decision making, perspective, and the implementation of design theories into final projects, which reflect contemporary cultural and social concerns. Advanced Printmaking delves into printmaking in depth. Students explore and become competent with multiple plate prints, drypoint, chine-collé, and collographs. Paper lithography and solar printing from drawing-based imagery, photo-based imagery, and video-based imagery are introduced while maintaining focus on concept, composition, and the finished print. Advanced Painting and Illustrative Art offers an expanded experience in painting with instruction in various painting techniques, including alternative surface preparations, preparation of canvases, painting on paper, paper choices and grounds, as well as additive and deletive techniques in both watercolor and oils. Illustrative projects may include traditional subject matter, narrative and artist books, commercial applications, and product development. (Prerequisites: Studio Art 1 and the reading, The Elements of Drawing by John Ruskin) (1 credit; full year) Advanced Alternatives in Art This is a full-year, one-credit course in which students demonstrate the ability to work more independently with a strong sense of purpose on longer-term projects. An exhibition of student work organized by the students is mounted at the end of the course.  Advanced Alternatives in Design and Sculpture develops longer-term pieces involving design and/or work in three-dimensional media. Considerable emphasis is given to the conceptual thought process as it relates to carefully planning a project, preliminary sketches, choosing materials, and working out technical considerations. Projects are critiqued on the basis of composition, structure, clarity of vision, and execution. Advanced Alternatives in Drawing and Painting Portraits and Figures focuses on techniques and particulars of in-depth studies of people, and uses live models for a portion of the semester. The course begins with gesture drawing and progresses to longer posed sittings. Class format includes detailed discussions involving the complexities of portraiture referencing both contemporary and historical portrait painters. Final projects involve portrait drawing or painting. Advanced Alternatives in Drawing and Painting Landscapes and Interiors further develops the techniques and skills of the landscape artist as well as exposes students painting and drawing interior spaces. Historical and contemporary references are employed to familiarize students with the vast array of styles and techniques. Finished pieces focus on technique, vision, self-critique, and development of personal style. (Prerequisites: Studio Art 1 and 2 and the reading The Lives of the Artists, Vol. I by Vasari.) (1 credit; full year) AP Studio Art This is a full-year, one-credit course designed for students who wish to prepare for the AP Exam in Drawing in Studio Art. (Prerequisites: Studio Arts 1 and 2, Advanced Alternatives, a portfolio review, submission of a sketchbook and permission of the instructor and Department Chair. Students may be asked to complete some work during the summer to strengthen their portfolios or to cover areas of omission. Students must also read The Lives of the Artists, Vol. II by Vasari.) This is a rigorous, time-consuming course with high expectations. Students should be prepared to spend a minimum of eight hours a week outside of class working on their coursework. Breadth and Quality—The student works on a one-to-one basis with the instructor to identify those pieces of artwork within the student’s portfolio that can be included in the AP Final Portfolio. There are twelve pieces of completed artwork necessary for completion of this section’s submission to the AP Board. A plan of action is developed for each student so that this section of the portfolio can be completed by the end of the fall. Series—Students must be prepared with a complete vision for a specific series of intended work that will sustain them for the unit as well as complete the specified requirements of the AP Portfolio. The emphasis is on “work in a series,” based upon sequential visual images to illustrate and define the exploration of a specific visual concern and how it expands into a body of related work. This section is comprised of twelve different pieces of work (this does not include work done for the Breadth section above). This series of work is due at the end of the winter. Portfolio Preparation—Students learn the proper methodology to prepare their portfolios for presentation to the AP Board. This includes self-critique, sequencing, mounting and matting of their work, and the preparation of slides for the finalization of their portfolios. Résumé writing will be included as well as inclusive exhibitions and art schooling outside of GFA. Upon completion and shipment of the portfolios, the focus of the class will shift to preparation for the Senior Exhibition. (1 credit; full year) Photography 1 This full-year, one-credit course introduces fundamental concepts, materials, and processes of photography. Each student is responsible for furnishing a digital camera. This course explores the fundamentals of camera operation, aesthetic elements of focus, repetition, and contrast during the first several months. Assignments focus on visual problem-solving and introducing students to both historical and contemporary work in the medium. Later in the course, students engage in more sophisticated techniques and solve increasingly more complex visual problems. The class explores alternative non-silver photographic process, the digital manipulation of images, and proper presentation techniques. A research paper on a 19th- and 20th-century photographer is required in each semester. Students are encouraged to exhibit their work both at GFA and local and national venues. (1 credit; full year) Photography 2 This full-year, one-credit course builds upon the students’ previous experience in photography. Each student is responsible for furnishing a digital camera, film, and paper. (Prerequisites: Photography 1 or equivalent experience; reading How to Use Your Eyes by James Elkins) This course develops a student’s ability to complete longer-term projects in photography while exploring more complex processes and issues. The student must have a strong sense of purpose, be able to think and work independently, and critique his/her own work as well as other class members’. Students complete at least one term-long project each semester as well as work on a year-long project. This class will explore materials such as infrared film, Polaroid materials, medium format cameras and films, making digital negatives for darkroom and contact printing, non-silver process such as cyanotype, Van Dyke brown and platinum printing, and the use of digital technology as a photographic tool. Students will read from the historical and critical literature of the medium and complete a writing project each term. The development of a portfolio of images is required, and students are encouraged to exhibit their work both at GFA and at local and national venues. (1 credit; full year) Advanced Alternatives in Photography This full-year, one-credit course will build upon the students’ previous experiences in photography. Each student will be responsible for furnishing a digital camera. (Prerequisites: Photography 2 or equivalent experience; reading Looking at Photographs by Szarkowski) The first part of this course will explore the use of large-format cameras and films, the zone system of exposure and development, and contact printing on various emulsions. The second part will be devoted to a study of the application of digital technology to the art of photography. The latter part of the course will revolve around the use of color in photography, including Polaroid materials, color print and transparency films, and contemporary color photography. (1 credit; full year) Video Production 1 This course explores the many facets of video production including camera skills, storyboarding, editing, reporting, writing, sound tracking and animation. An integral part of this course is the student-produced “Greens Farms Art and News”, a video presentation that encompasses coverage of campus news, events, and student humor. These programs may be viewed at assemblies throughout the year. Students work in crews and develop skills in the visual aesthetics of videography. Some time is given to screening films that add to the students’ understanding and appreciation of the medium. The class will meet three times a week. (1⁄2 credit; full year) Video Production 2 This class is an advanced production course for the student who has successfully completed Video Production 1. Students produce an in-depth documentary project and both direct and produce a short narrative film. Additionally, students produce a collaborative work, shot on location during field trips. Students explore more sophisticated editing and special-effects techniques and software, and have the opportunity to enhance video images for still applications such as ink-jet printing or the polymer photo gravure process. Also, students are responsible for readings in both film theory and technique, and have the opportunity to view and discuss a variety of both traditional and experimental works. Students meet with the instructor weekly for critiques of current work; the class will meet three times a week. (1⁄2 credit; full year)