Visual Arts

The Art 1 course is an introduction to creative studies.  Students of varying abilities will have the opportunity to work with a wide range of materials while developing techniques including: drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media.  The faculty is dedicated to the development of visual literacy.  Text, periodicals and publications are used weekly to build vocabulary, review art theory and place the current project in a historical context.  Throughout the course students will evaluate images from the past and present cultures and their work will be inspired by the art history and arts/crafts of cultures around the world.  As a result of this course, students will be able to speak critically about works of visual art while gaining a better apppreciation for its creations.

 

Students will continue to apply knowledge and skills introduced in general art.  They will be expected to analyze an evaluate student and professional works for aesthetic qualities.  Students will create more complex works of two-dimensional art using a variety of techniques.

 

This is the second year of honors level painting and drawing class offered at Mather.  This class is a continuation of level I.  Students at this level are required to participate in the studio lessons of the class; however, a higher standard, with increased independence in the development of your portfolio, is expected.  This course will continue to challenge your technical and conceptual skills.  Class critiques are an important function of this course.

 

Placement Portfolio is a rigorous course designed to talented art students who are seriously interested in visual art.  This college-level course enables the highly motivated student to earn college credit while here at Mather.  Through this course students will develp mastery in concepts and composition and execution of drawing.  Students are required to submit a portfolio.  This cours provided a sustained investigation of all three aspects of portfolio development:  quality, concentation, and breadth.  In early May student portfolios are sent to The College Board in Princeton, New Jersey to be judged.

 

Students in Digital Photography explore a variety of photographic concepts and techniques and create portfolios of digital images including portraiture, landscape, photojounalism, and abstraction.  Students learn about contemporary technologies including Adobe Photoshop, the history of photography, notable photographers, and careers in photography.  Thoughout this course, students reflect on their own photography and the work of their classmates.