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I Am a . . Art
Course #160
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Open to: Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
Yearbook is a full-year, project-based course that offers students the opportunity to design and generate the Holy Cross senior class yearbook. Students learn a variety of real-world skills focused on the organization and management of a production schedule, the use of a software platform to design a product, and varied outreach and marketing techniques needed to produce and distribute the product.The specific units of study and course outcomes are listed below.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of a Crusader, this course encourages students to communicate effectively through productive discourse; demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and resilience with a collaborative spirit; solve problems through innovation, imagination, and self-advocacy; foster relationships with loyalty, compassion, and empathy, and inspire peers as a role model who serves the common good with selflessness and sacrifice.
Course #981
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Visual artists work through varied media to express their unique artistic visions. In this course students have the opportunity to explore artistic media, develop fundamental technical skills, and learn the precise terminology to discuss their unique artistic vision. Students also explore the ways in which their art-making is connected to art-making throughout history. As an integral part of the coursework, students learn to evaluate, analyze and critique their own work and the work of others, gaining fluency in the language of art criticism. The ultimate goal of this course is to empower students to use art for self-expression and as a pathway to greater self understanding.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
Course #982
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Studio Art
Realism - Fall Semester
Drawing is a skill that builds on perceptual skills, in learning how to “see” spaces, edges, relationships, light and shadow and the gestalt of the composition. In this portion of the course, students learn to access the brain’s R- mode (right mode) of processing visual information and to suppress the L-mode (left mode) in order to fine-tune their powers of observation. R (right) mode relies on observation from one particular, consistent view of a subject. Students learn to use sight measuring as a mediating device to observe angles, proportions, alignment of pictorial elements and negative shapes in order to capture the subject accurately. The goal of this semester is for students to enhance their observational sensibilities and then combine their new observations with technical skills to create original works of art.
Design - Spring Semester
During the spring semester, students explore varied artistic media, develop their technical skills, and learn the precise terminology to discuss their unique artistic vision. As an integral part of the coursework, students learn to analyze and critique their own work and the work of others, gaining fluency in the language of art criticism. The ultimate goal of this course is to empower students to use art for self-expression and as a pathway to greater self understanding and to expand upon and sharpen their awareness of aesthetic order and sensitivity.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
Course #959
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Drawing & Design
In this course, students develop advanced drawing techniques with a focus on creating the illusion of form, texture, perspective, depth, and light. They explore realism, surrealism, illustrative and evocative works of art and contrast the application of techniques. As an integral part of the coursework, students evaluate, analyze and critique their own work and the work of others, gaining fluency in the language of art criticism. The ultimate goal of this course is to empower students to use drawing for self-expression and self understanding and to allow students to sharpen their awareness of aesthetic order and sensitivity.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader, students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
Course #989
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Drawing and Design and the signature of Mrs. Shea
In this course, students are introduced to the techniques, materials, and tools used in oil painting. They learn color theory and its implementation with various styles and subjects, and they explore sound oil painting practices and methodology. Students work from life and photo references and are introduced to Realism, Impressionism, Fauvism, Pop Art, Surrealism and Figure painting. Throughout the course, students incorporate the drawing skills and compositional guidelines learned in prerequisite courses. As an integral part of the coursework, students learn to evaluate, analyze, and critique their own work and the work of others, gaining fluency in the language of art criticism. The ultimate goal of this course is to empower students to use painting for self-expression and as a pathway to greater self understanding and to allow for students to expand upon and sharpen their awareness of aesthetic order and sensitivity.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
Course #990
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Painting I and the signature of Mrs. Shea
In this course, students develop advanced techniques in oil painting. They apply their knowledge of color theory to various styles and subjects, and they further develop sound oil painting practices and methodology. Students work from life and photo references and are introduced to Hyper-Realism, Symbolism, Abstraction, and the Diptych format. They also expand their knowledge of Surrealism and imagery involving multiple figures in space. Throughout the course, students incorporate the drawing skills and compositional guidelines learned in prerequisite courses, and they expand their abilities to analyze and critique their own work and the work of others. The ultimate goal of this course is to empower students to use painting for self-expression and to allow students to expand upon and sharpen their awareness of aesthetic order and sensitivity.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
Course #992
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Drawing and Design and the signature of Mrs. Shea
This course is an exploration of 3-dimensional art forms including mobile, stabile, sculpture-in-the-round, and relief. Students will practice various techniques of fabricating 3-dimensional works, including additive and subtractive techniques as well as modeling in clay. Subjects will include abstract and the representational forms in plaster, portraiture in clay, and figures in papier mache. The course consists of eight units of relative equal length. As an integral part of the coursework, students learn to evaluate, analyze and critique their own work and the work of others, gaining fluency in the language of art criticism. The overarching goal of this course is to empower students to use art for self-expression and as a pathway to greater self understanding.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
Course #988
Level: 1
Credit: 1
Open to: Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisite: Painting, Sculpture or Advanced Drawing; recommendation and signature of current art teacher
In this course, students explore advanced visual art concepts, hone the skills learned in prerequisite courses, and more fully develop a personal visual language and aesthetic. They have the opportunity to select one of three different focus areas upon enrollment: Drawing, 2-D Art and Design, and 3-D Art and Design. Specific coursework is designed through a collaborative process between the teacher and the individual student. Throughout the year, students investigate the materials, processes and ideas that artists and designers use in this focus area; they practice, experiment and revise their work; and, they communicate their ideas about their own and others’ works of art and design. In May, students submit a digital portfolio to be scored by the College Board. The exact criteria of each portfolio is reviewed with the student as a part of the coursework.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader, students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
Course #999
Level: 2
Credit: 1
Open to: Juniors and Seniors
Prerequisite: Studio Art & Drawing and Design
In this course, students explore advanced visual art concepts, hone the skills learned in prerequisite courses, and more fully develop a personal visual language and aesthetic. Each student must present a portfolio of existing work before enrolling in the course, and the student and teacher work together to design a course of study. Throughout the year, students investigate the materials, processes, and ideas that artists and designers use; they create, experiment and revise their original work; and, they communicate their ideas about their own and others’ works of art and design.
In alignment with the Holy Cross Portrait of the Crusader, students learn to be resilient and use feedback from critiques as an opportunity for growth. The classroom environment fosters respect, kindness, and service to others in a collaborative culture in which students assist each other in skill-building with compassion and support.
