BOULDER HIGH SCHOOL VISUAL ART
(Meets Humanities and Fine Arts requirement)
*Note* California Colleges require TWO semesters of fine art for admission. They do not need to be sequential.
The extensive fine art program is designed to develop an understanding and appreciation of art history and artistic judgment. We seek to give students a feeling of confidence and satisfaction through the creative process to help them develop individual skills and an individual voice in the various areas of art. Students develop a high quality portfolio of work, which they retain. Many students receive merit scholarships for art school and/or college.
Materials needed for the art classes must be provided by students, although any student who demonstrates need, has all or part of the cost for materials waived.
A35 Foundations in Art
Level 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: None
Fee: $35
Students can expect a wide variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional experiences in this survey course. Students will be encouraged to think creatively as they develop ideas for their various assignments and discover their personal preference for creating two- or three-dimensional art. The elements and principles will be stressed and art history will be an informal component. Some media possibilities could be pencil, tempera, watercolor, clay, papier-mâché, wire, tooling metal, scratchboard, mixed media and others.
A41 Drawing & Painting 1
Level 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: None
Fee: $35
Students can expect to gain a strong foundation in drawing and painting in this beginning level class. Composition, the visual element, the principles of design, and the basic techniques and concepts of both drawing and painting will be covered. The end goals are to increase artistic self confidence, increase one’s understanding of the basics of drawing /painting and to produce successful works.
A42 Drawing & Painting 2
Level 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A41 Drawing and Painting 1
Fee: $35
This second level course builds upon the experiences of Drawing and Painting 1. Students who choose to take this course should be confident with their drawing skills and ready to produce more complex finished drawings and paintings. An emphasis will be on the development of a more personal style, sophisticated approaches to the development of ideas, development of a greater awareness to art beyond school, and the introduction of new techniques.
A43 Drawing & Painting 3
Level 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A41 and A42 Drawing & Painting 1
& 2.
Fee: $35
This third level class builds upon the drawing and painting experiences of level 2. The class will provide opportunities to expand drawing, painting and related skills; to develop a personal style; to develop creative ideas; to expand one’s awareness to art beyond school, and to provide instruction based on a student’s particular art or career goals when desired. Proficiency in basic skills will be expected.
A44 Drawing & Painting 4
Level 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A41, A42, A43 Drawing & Painting 1,
2 & 3.
Fee: $35
This fourth level advanced course gives students an additional opportunity to produce drawings, paintings, and related works for a portfolio. The class will provide opportunities to expand drawing, painting and related skills; to develop a personal style; to develop creative ideas; to expand one’s awareness to art beyond school, and to provide instruction based on a student’s particular art or career goals when desired. Proficiency in basic skills will be expected.
A55 Studio Art 1
Level 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: None
Fee: $35
This is a basic course designed to expose students to commercial/studio art techniques and thinking processes. Design will be stressed with a variety of materials and techniques utilized to produce finished works of art for commercial purposes. Students will become knowledgeable producers and consumers of visual art. Students may be instructed in commercial design, graphic design, and other two dimensional art experiences. Students may be instructed in basic design principles, drawing, lettering, painting, airbrush, mixed media and others.
A56 Studio Art 2
Level 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A55 Studio Art 1
Fee: $35
This is a second level course designed to give students time to expand their skills and increase their confidence in the area of commercial/studio art. Proficiency of basic skills will be expected and more advanced assignments will be given. Students may be directed individually or as a class group.
A57 Studio Art 3
Level 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A56 Studio Art 2
Fee: $35
This third level course is designed to give students time to expand their skills and increase their confidence in the area of commercial/studio art. Proficiency of basic skills will be expected and more advanced assignments will be given. Students may be directed individually with the student’s particular art interest or career goals in mind or as a class group. Students may be expected to set their own goals and deadlines.
A80 Portfolio Art 1
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester 5 credits
Prerequisites: Highly successful completion of 2
levels of any art course.
Fee: $35
This course is imperative for the student who is preparing a portfolio of art for entrance into college or art school. Guidance and instruction on continued portfolio building will be given with the individual’s goals in mind. Students will be expected to initiate and carry out ideas on an independent basis.
A82 Portfolio Art 2
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester 5 credits
Prerequisites: A80 Portfolio Arts 1
levels of any art course.
Fee: $35
This second level course is imperative for the student who is preparing a portfolio of art for entrance into college or art school. Guidance and instruction on portfolio building will be given with the individual’s goals in mind. Students will be expected to initiate and carry out ideas on a more independent basis, and they will choose their own materials.
A83 Portfolio Art 3
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A82 Portfolio Arts 2
Fee: $35
This third level course is imperative for the student who is preparing a portfolio of art for entrance into college or art school. Guidance and instruction on portfolio building will be given with the individual’s goals in mind. Students will be expected to initiate and carry out ideas on a more independent basis, and they will choose their own materials.
A84 Portfolio Art 4
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A83 Portfolio Arts 3
Fee: $35
This fourth level course is imperative for the student who is preparing a portfolio of art for entrance into college or art school. Guidance and instruction on portfolio building will be given with the individual’s goals in mind. Students will be expected to initiate and carry out ideas on a more independent basis, and they will choose their own materials.
A86 AP STUDIO Art: Drawing, 2-d design, or 3-d design
Level: 11-12
Course Length: 2 semester sequence, 5 credits per semester, can be taken multiple times
Prerequisites: Highly successful completion of 2
levels of any art course.
Fee: $35
This is a yearlong course that focuses on producing a large number of quality works that demonstrate mastery of fundamental artistic concepts, which provide an intensive study of the process of creating artwork using both traditional, fine, and digital art media. This course is designed and taught at a college level. Every aspect of the class will require students to respond at a higher level of responsibility, artistic expression, and sophistication than other courses. Students enrolled in this course understand that their artwork will demonstrate a sense of relevance based upon individual voice, technique and ideation.
Students will choose to focus on producing works in Drawing, 2-D Design, Photography, or 3-D Design for their submissions. In their works, students will investigate all three components of the AP Portfolio: Quality, Concentration, and Breadth. Projects will be structured around the elements of art and principles of design. In these projects, students will need to use their knowledge of technique and materials to communicate through their art. Students will be encouraged to use critical thinking skills, while also developing their own voices as visual artists. Through this process students will develop mastery in concept, composition, and execution of their personal artistic vision. This fast paced course requires the student to be highly motivated and interested in the serious study of art, which may lead to college credit. Motivation, imagination and commitment are required to succeed in the course. (*Grade Weighted in this course.)
A85 AP ART HISTORY
Level: 9-12
Course Length: 2 semester sequence, 5 credits per semester
Prerequisites: None
Fee: $15.00
AP Art History offers both the artistically inclined and those wishing to learn art history the opportunity to do so and earn college credit at the same time. This college-level course covers art history from the beginning of time up until present day, exploring many different cultures. Instruction will use traditional slide format and also studio art projects. Students will become knowledgeable producers and consumers of visual art; some lessons will also address the visual art standards. Students may take the advanced placement exam at the end of the course and possibly receive college credit. (*Grade weighted in this course)
A61 Pottery/Sculpture 1
Level: 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: None
Fee: $35
This is a foundation course that emphasizes the art elements and principles of design to produce nonfunctional and functional three-dimensional art forms constructed from clay. Students may explore both functional and nonfunctional forms using hand-building, the potter’s wheel, and various other sculptural techniques. Students will be exposed to contemporary and historical clay artists.
A62 Pottery/Sculpture 2
Level: 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A61 Pottery/Sculpture 1
Fee: $35
This second level course will build upon experiences in Pottery/Sculpture 1. Students will be challenged with more advanced techniques and problems in the area of pottery and sculpture to create both functional and nonfunctional three-dimensional forms. Students may explore in greater depth the process of hand-building, the potter’s wheel, and other sculptural techniques. New firing techniques, different clay bodies, new glazes and new sculpture techniques may be introduced. Students will be exposed to contemporary and historical clay artists.
A63 POTTERY/SCULPTURE 3
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A61 and A62 Pottery/Sculpture 1 & 2
Fee: $35
This third level course will build upon experiences in level 2. Students will be challenged with more advanced techniques and problems in the area of pottery and sculpture to create both functional and nonfunctional three-dimensional forms. Students may explore in greater depth the process of hand-building, the potter’s wheel, sculptural techniques, firing techniques, clay bodies, glazes and sculpture techniques. Students will be exposed to contemporary and historical clay artists.
A64 Pottery/Sculpture 4
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A61, A62, A63 Pottery/Sculpture
1, 2 & 3
Fee: $35
This fourth level course will build upon experiences in level 3. Students will be challenged with more advanced techniques and problems in the area of pottery and sculpture to create both functional and nonfunctional three-dimensional forms. Students will refine techniques and increase skill levels. Students may explore in greater depth the process of hand-building, the potter’s wheel, sculptural techniques, firing techniques, clay bodies, glazes and sculpture techniques. Students will have the opportunity to mix glazes, load and fire kilns. Students will be exposed to contemporary and historical clay artists.
A71 Photography 1
Level: 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: None
Fee: $60
This introductory course to traditional black and white 35mm photography teaches basic camera handling, film processing, and darkroom procedures. Students learn how to control light to produce an aesthetically pleasing image on light sensitive film. Composition and the elements and principles of art are addressed. In addition, pinhole cameras, photograms, special effects, and the history of photography may be addressed.
A72 Photography 2
Level: 9-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A71 Photography 1
Fee: $60
This second level course will build upon experiences of level 1. This course deals with improving the student’s ability to see, take and create a photographic image. Students may be given opportunities to work with sepia toning, hand coloring, multiple images, special films, digital images, and other photo techniques and processes. Masters of photography may be studied. Special emphasis is placed on the critique.
A73 Photography 3
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A71 and A72 Photography 1 & 2
Fee: $60
This third level course will build upon experiences of level 2. This course deals with improving the student’s ability to see, take and create a photographic image. Students may be given opportunities to work with medium format, sepia toning, hand coloring, multiple images, special films, digital images, specialty lenses, filters and other photo techniques and processes. Masters of photography may be studied. Large photo printing may be taught.
A74 Photography 4
Level: 10-12
Course Length: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: A71, A72, A73 Photography 1, 2 & 3
Fee: $60
This fourth level course will build upon experiences of level 3 to expand darkroom and photo taking skills and increase the confidence of the students as photographers. Students may be given opportunities to work with medium format, sepia toning, hand coloring, multiple images, special films, digital images, specialty lenses, filters and other photo techniques and processes. Masters of photography may be studied. Some instruction may be given on an individual basis with the student’s particular career goals or artistic vision in mind.
A110 Digital Art and Design 1 (Satisfies technology credits)
Level: 9-12
Offered: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisites: None
Fee: $35
This introductory course deals with controlling computer technology to produce an artistic image. Students will learn computer illustration techniques, image manipulation, digital camera use, graphic design visual literacy, and principles and elements of art in composition. Some artistic movements such as Pop Art and Surrealism will also be studied as they relate to student projects.
A111 Digital Art and Design 2 (Satisfies technology credits)
Level: 9-12
Offered: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisite: A110
Fee: $35
This course extends the fundamental concepts and skills of Digital Art and Design 1 of using computer technology to produce an artistic image. Students further advance their computer illustration techniques, image manipulation, digital camera use, graphic design knowledge, art history concepts, visual literacy and the principles and elements of art in composition.
A112 Digital Art and Design 3 (Satisfies technology credits)
Level: 9-12
Offered: 1 semester, 5 credits
Prerequisite: A111
Fee: $35
This course will be the natural progression of Digital Art and Design 1 & 2 as it continues the fundamental idea of using computer technology to produce an artistic image. Students will further advance their computer illustration techniques, image manipulation, digital camera use, and graphic design knowledge, art history concepts, visual literacy and the principles and elements of art in composition. Student will also begin to explore the concepts, skills, and ideas of motion graphics, video editing, and 3D model building.
