Vancouver School of Arts and Academics

Visual Art

Visual arts offerings provide experiences in both two and three dimensional art forms. Students work in various art media to exploring drawing, painting, design, pottery, sculpture, print making, photography, illustration, and graphics arts. Students investigate cultural, historical, and contemporary contributions of artists, engage in arts criticism and aesthetics, and are involved in preparation of art work for public display. All courses above Explore Level are sequential and require the recommendation/permission of the instructor.

Visual Arts Explore: (1 Semester)
Overview Statement: Through studio practice students will begin to develop their perception skills through the use of contour drawing, basic proportion, positive and negative space and use them to create a composition that utilizes the entire format. Students will be able to express feelings and ideas using the basic elements of art. They will be able to identify line quality, value, color families, linear perspective, visual and tactile textures. Students will independently use tools and material safely. Students will be able to describe and analyze the works of self and others using arts vocabulary. With assistance, students will mount work for display.

Visual Arts Level One:
Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore. Students in Visual Arts Level One will compare and contrast specific attributes of art works that reflect a culture or time and interpret these attributes in their own 2D & 3D work. Through studio practice students will continue work with their perception skills to intentionally select edges in contour drawing and discern variation in generic proportion. Work in composition will expand to include variation and rhythm. Students will expand their skills and vocabulary in the use of a creative process and reflecting/responding process in the creation and discussion of art work of self and others.

Visual Arts Level Two:
Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Level 1. Students in Visual Arts Level Two will be able to differentiate between abstract, realistic, and non representational styles. Through studio practice, students will develop their perception skills, use basic sighting techniques to establish proportion, use at least three values to create volume and mass in black and white and color, use art elements to express mood or feeling, and use some line variety. Students will be able to use the principles of organization (emphasis and contrast) to create a focal point in a composition. Students’ 3D work will include expressive and interpretive sculpture. Students will use a creative process, with assistance, to make good use of class time and demonstrate care in producing quality work. Using arts vocabulary, students will be able to describe art works of self and others using a responding process. Students will make informed choices to mount their work for presentation.

Visual Arts Level Three:
Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Level 2. Students in Visual Arts Level Three will be able to express and interpret ideas, feelings, and mood using artistic symbols, elements, and principles in a variety of styles and forms. Students will describe the artistic attributes of Expressionism, Impressionism, and Surrealism. Their perception skills will have developed so that students can use gesture drawing to illustrate movement and draw and sculpt accurately from observation. Students will be able to draw negative spaces and use value to define form and surface. They will be able to create unified compositions using principles of organization and control of artistic elements. Students will develop work independently using a creative process and persist in their work even when dissatisfied. Students will be able to prepare a process portfolio to document the development of their work overtime and use a responding process with assistance to evaluate the work of self and others.

Visual Arts Level Focus:
Overview Statement: By the end of Visual Arts Focus, students will synthesize elements and principles of organization into unified compositions. Using a creative process, students will be able to develop and sustain artistic work overtime and in depth. Students will use 2D compositions and 3D form realistically and expressively. They will be able to differentiate, interpret, and evaluate representative art works of various cultures and times. Students will make informed choices, with assistance, to prepare a thematic gallery exhibit or portfolio. Students will articulate aesthetic criteria to evaluate the work of self and others using a learned critique process.

Photo Level One:
Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore. Students in Photo Level 1 will be able to apply the principals of composition, perspective, light, and values to the techniques of photographic imaging. Through studio and field practice, students will develop their skills at composing the overall image through the narrow focus (perspective) of the camera lens. Students will learn to pre-visualize and construct compositions which reflect varied styles and points of view. Students will be introduced to and develop their skills through presentation, labs and field experience, photographic principles, equipment usage, film processing, black and white printing, digital imaging, safe lab practices, organization, and presentation of works. They will learn to describe and analyze their works and those of others using appropriate vocabulary. Unassisted, students will be able to demonstrate correct exposure value, film processing, proofing, editing, and final black and white printing.

Photo Level Two:
Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Photo Level 1. Students in Photo Level 2 will be able to use photographic images and photographic principles to express and interpret context, theme, ideas, technique, feeling, and intent. Through instruction and practice with traditional and digital equipment, students will refine basic skills and learn more advanced imaging principles and techniques. Students will focus on photo critique and editing with a resulting goal of creating aesthetically appealing and technically accurate prints. Students will apply new and developing skills to the production of photo presentations. Students will reflect on their work and the work of others using suitable photographic vocabulary. Unassisted, students will be able to create thematic photographic works that show evidence of stylized composition, technical proficiency with equipment, and application of advanced printing techniques.

Graphic Art:
Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore or teacher permission. Students in Graphics will be able to interpret and express specific ideas with graphic images, design, layout, and text. Through studio and lab practice students will learn and develop traditional and technological skills and practices. Students will learn to conceptualize, draft, revise, edit, refine, and complete design oriented projects. Students will learn and incorporate specific design software, digital and classic cut and paste, image enhancement, and page layout. They will be introduced to and practice safe and efficient equipment handling and workplace habits as well as demonstrate an ability to use and apply appropriate software and technology.

Studio Art Advanced Placement (AP ART):
Overview Statement: By the end of AP Studio Art students will be prepared to submit a college-level portfolio of visual art work for evaluation by The College Board. Students will have the option to prepare one of three portfolios: general, drawing, or 3D Design. The General Portfolio may include works in a wide range of art forms. Students can demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas including drawing, color and design, and 3D work. The Drawing Portfolio is designed to address a broad interpretation of drawing issues including: painting, printmaking, studies for sculpture, design, and abstract or observational work. The 3D Design Portfolio is intended to address a broad interpretation of sculptural issues in depth and space including: mass, volume, form, plane, light, and texture. Each portfolio will be evaluated by The College Board’s criteria for quality (excellence demonstrated in original artworks), concentration (in-depth, personal commitment), and breadth (variety of experiences using formal, technical, and expressive means). Students must have prior teaching permission in order to register for AP Studio Art.

Yearbook:
Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore or teacher permission. Students in Yearbook will develop their organizational, leadership, personal, and team skills to contribute to creating a quality yearbook. Through review of principles of design and instruction on yearbook content and current industry-standard software, students will create a yearbook while developing skills in concept development, layout design, designing with type, copy writing, photography, and page management. Ethical and legal guidelines will also be addressed. Students will market and sell the book as well as sell advertising to local businesses. The use of a daily journal will help students keep track of their work and continuous evaluation including ideas for improvement.

Visual Art
Home \| Students \| Staff \| Calendar \| VPS Home \| Media Center

	Visual Art Visual arts offerings provide experiences in both two and three dimensional art forms. Students work in various art media to exploring drawing, painting, design, pottery, sculpture, print making, photography, illustration, and graphics arts. Students investigate cultural, historical, and contemporary contributions of artists, engage in arts criticism and aesthetics, and are involved in preparation of art work for public display. All courses above Explore Level are sequential and require the recommendation/permission of the instructor. Visual Arts Explore: (1 Semester) Overview Statement: Through studio practice students will begin to develop their perception skills through the use of contour drawing, basic proportion, positive and negative space and use them to create a composition that utilizes the entire format. Students will be able to express feelings and ideas using the basic elements of art. They will be able to identify line quality, value, color families, linear perspective, visual and tactile textures. Students will independently use tools and material safely. Students will be able to describe and analyze the works of self and others using arts vocabulary. With assistance, students will mount work for display. Visual Arts Level One: Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore. Students in Visual Arts Level One will compare and contrast specific attributes of art works that reflect a culture or time and interpret these attributes in their own 2D & 3D work. Through studio practice students will continue work with their perception skills to intentionally select edges in contour drawing and discern variation in generic proportion. Work in composition will expand to include variation and rhythm. Students will expand their skills and vocabulary in the use of a creative process and reflecting/responding process in the creation and discussion of art work of self and others. Visual Arts Level Two: Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Level 1. Students in Visual Arts Level Two will be able to differentiate between abstract, realistic, and non representational styles. Through studio practice, students will develop their perception skills, use basic sighting techniques to establish proportion, use at least three values to create volume and mass in black and white and color, use art elements to express mood or feeling, and use some line variety. Students will be able to use the principles of organization (emphasis and contrast) to create a focal point in a composition. Students’ 3D work will include expressive and interpretive sculpture. Students will use a creative process, with assistance, to make good use of class time and demonstrate care in producing quality work. Using arts vocabulary, students will be able to describe art works of self and others using a responding process. Students will make informed choices to mount their work for presentation. Visual Arts Level Three: Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Level 2. Students in Visual Arts Level Three will be able to express and interpret ideas, feelings, and mood using artistic symbols, elements, and principles in a variety of styles and forms. Students will describe the artistic attributes of Expressionism, Impressionism, and Surrealism. Their perception skills will have developed so that students can use gesture drawing to illustrate movement and draw and sculpt accurately from observation. Students will be able to draw negative spaces and use value to define form and surface. They will be able to create unified compositions using principles of organization and control of artistic elements. Students will develop work independently using a creative process and persist in their work even when dissatisfied. Students will be able to prepare a process portfolio to document the development of their work overtime and use a responding process with assistance to evaluate the work of self and others. Visual Arts Level Focus: Overview Statement: By the end of Visual Arts Focus, students will synthesize elements and principles of organization into unified compositions. Using a creative process, students will be able to develop and sustain artistic work overtime and in depth. Students will use 2D compositions and 3D form realistically and expressively. They will be able to differentiate, interpret, and evaluate representative art works of various cultures and times. Students will make informed choices, with assistance, to prepare a thematic gallery exhibit or portfolio. Students will articulate aesthetic criteria to evaluate the work of self and others using a learned critique process. Photo Level One: Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore. Students in Photo Level 1 will be able to apply the principals of composition, perspective, light, and values to the techniques of photographic imaging. Through studio and field practice, students will develop their skills at composing the overall image through the narrow focus (perspective) of the camera lens. Students will learn to pre-visualize and construct compositions which reflect varied styles and points of view. Students will be introduced to and develop their skills through presentation, labs and field experience, photographic principles, equipment usage, film processing, black and white printing, digital imaging, safe lab practices, organization, and presentation of works. They will learn to describe and analyze their works and those of others using appropriate vocabulary. Unassisted, students will be able to demonstrate correct exposure value, film processing, proofing, editing, and final black and white printing. Photo Level Two: Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Photo Level 1. Students in Photo Level 2 will be able to use photographic images and photographic principles to express and interpret context, theme, ideas, technique, feeling, and intent. Through instruction and practice with traditional and digital equipment, students will refine basic skills and learn more advanced imaging principles and techniques. Students will focus on photo critique and editing with a resulting goal of creating aesthetically appealing and technically accurate prints. Students will apply new and developing skills to the production of photo presentations. Students will reflect on their work and the work of others using suitable photographic vocabulary. Unassisted, students will be able to create thematic photographic works that show evidence of stylized composition, technical proficiency with equipment, and application of advanced printing techniques. Graphic Art: Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore or teacher permission. Students in Graphics will be able to interpret and express specific ideas with graphic images, design, layout, and text. Through studio and lab practice students will learn and develop traditional and technological skills and practices. Students will learn to conceptualize, draft, revise, edit, refine, and complete design oriented projects. Students will learn and incorporate specific design software, digital and classic cut and paste, image enhancement, and page layout. They will be introduced to and practice safe and efficient equipment handling and workplace habits as well as demonstrate an ability to use and apply appropriate software and technology. Studio Art Advanced Placement (AP ART): Overview Statement: By the end of AP Studio Art students will be prepared to submit a college-level portfolio of visual art work for evaluation by The College Board. Students will have the option to prepare one of three portfolios: general, drawing, or 3D Design. The General Portfolio may include works in a wide range of art forms. Students can demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas including drawing, color and design, and 3D work. The Drawing Portfolio is designed to address a broad interpretation of drawing issues including: painting, printmaking, studies for sculpture, design, and abstract or observational work. The 3D Design Portfolio is intended to address a broad interpretation of sculptural issues in depth and space including: mass, volume, form, plane, light, and texture. Each portfolio will be evaluated by The College Board’s criteria for quality (excellence demonstrated in original artworks), concentration (in-depth, personal commitment), and breadth (variety of experiences using formal, technical, and expressive means). Students must have prior teaching permission in order to register for AP Studio Art. Yearbook: Overview Statement: Prerequisite – Visual Arts Explore or teacher permission. Students in Yearbook will develop their organizational, leadership, personal, and team skills to contribute to creating a quality yearbook. Through review of principles of design and instruction on yearbook content and current industry-standard software, students will create a yearbook while developing skills in concept development, layout design, designing with type, copy writing, photography, and page management. Ethical and legal guidelines will also be addressed. Students will market and sell the book as well as sell advertising to local businesses. The use of a daily journal will help students keep track of their work and continuous evaluation including ideas for improvement.	Staff: Richard Galeno Crystal Zeller Jennifer Hockhalter
		Staff: Richard Galeno Crystal Zeller Jennifer Hockhalter