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Introduction

Visual Arts

The philosophy of art education is that all individuals, regardless of background and abilities, are entitled to develop their artistic potential to the fullest extent of their capacity. A developing concern for the quality of life makes it imperative that students become globally aware, culturally nurtured and self-reflective in the visual arts. Art education affirms the general premise of education, which is based on each student becoming an active, compassionate and lifelong learner who is all-embracing and internationally aware in order to create a more peaceful planet. Students who learn to think through art will internalize their experiences and be able to begin to make decisions: to distinguish, to reflect, to devise and to understand “why.”

*For courses requiring supply kits or fees, the student’s account will be charged, unless the student is economically disadvantaged, in which case the fee will be waived.

Please Note: The courses and grade levels below represent typical programming pathways. Shaker Heights High School's counseling staff can help direct students and their families to the courses that best fit a student's academic needs.  
 

Courses

Art Exploration

Grades 9/10/11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

Explore this Visual Foundation Course:
- This is a foundation art course for high school students and is needed to go on to Drawing, Illustration Digital - Design and  Creative Digital Photography I
- Emphasis on technical, two-dimensional art making skills.
- Assignment examples include portrait, perspective, painting, and printmaking. 
- Students will expand their knowledge of art history and experiment with a variety of art materials. 
- Development of a portfolio for upper-level art courses.
- *Supply kit required.

Fiber Arts

Grades 10/11/12
Semester I - 1/2 Unit

Fiber Arts will investigate the historical context of clothing and society and the impact that textiles have had on our society at large. Students will develop skills in fabric dyeing, embroidery, needle point, sewing, knitting and sewing machines.

*Supply Fee Required

Recommended: Enrollment in Fashion Design, semester II

Fashion Design

Grades 10/11/12
Semester II - ½ unit

Focus on drawing fashion template models and designing garments. Students will gain a better understanding of how to use a sewing machine. The curriculum will include a study of Fashion Design through the ages using an Art History lens. Students will have team building opportunities to create  a selection of clothing that will be showcased in an end of year fashion show during Art Exposed. Other opportunities could include working with Jewelry metals to create clothing that works with jewelry pieces, and working with the Kent Fashion Design program.
 
*Supply Fee required.

The Nature of Drawing

Grade 10/11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

The Art of Seeing:
- Observational studies of the landscape, still life and self-portrait.
- Antiquity and how it pertains to contemporary art.
- Individual creative processes and self-expression.
- Careers in the Visual Arts through scheduled college presentations, field trips  and artist demonstrations.
- *Supply kit required.
 
Recommended: Full Year of Art Exploration plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Oil Painting/IB DP Visual Arts HL

Grades 11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

- Color theory and oil painting practices.
- Observational study exercises, still life, portrait and landscape.
- Master techniques and art styles.
- College presentations, museum field trips and critiques.
- Home studio assignments.
- Studio Work (SW) portfolio series.
- Process Portfolio (PP).
- *Supply kit required.
 
Recommended: The Nature of Drawing plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Advanced Portfolio Workshop/Visual Arts HL

Grade 12
Full Year (2 consecutive class periods) – 2 Units

Emphasis on:
- Creating 16-20 portfolio works of art for college admission in the Visual Arts.
- Submitting artwork to the Scholastic Art Exhibition, the Governor's Exhibition and college Merit Scholarship applications.
- Creating a series of five works.
- Anatomical rendering, gesture and figurative drawing (Evening Life Drawing classes available at area colleges and art centers are strongly encouraged.)
- Weekly critiques, museum field trips, college presentations and home studio assignments.
- Developing a strong independent work ethic in the studio setting and cooperative learning environment.
- Process portfolio
- IB external examiner will review the final portfolio exhibit. To receive International Baccalaureate credit on a Shaker Heights High School transcript, the student must complete the IB Internal and External Assessments.

* Supply Fee Required
 
Recommended: The Nature of Drawing, Oil Painting (or equivalent) Plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Illustration & Digital Design I

Grades 10/11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

Students will:
- Learn professional studio and computer techniques in advertising.
- Create black and white line and tone art.
- Download, scan and manipulate images on the computer.

*Supply kit required
 
Recommended: Art Exploration plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Illustration & Digital Design II/Visual Arts HL

Grades 11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

Students will:
Learn advertising techniques, creating package designs, logo applications and product illustrations.
Design/illustrate full-color compositions.
Problem-solve with different techniques, including logos, posters, subjects and themes.
To receive International Baccalaureate credit on a Shaker Heights High School transcript, the student must complete the IB Internal and External Assessments.

*Supply kit required

Recommended: Illustration & Digital Design I (or equivalent)  and/or Drawing, plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Digital Multimedia/IB DP Visual Arts HL

Grade 12
Full Year – 1 Unit

Students will:
- Learn multimedia advertisement through video, film, audio sound, 2D and 3D animation.
- Create a multimedia presentation combining art and music.
- Produce independent projects.
- To receive International Baccalaureate credit on a Shaker Heights High School transcript, the student must complete the IB Internal and External Assessments.
- *Supply kit required.
 
Recommended: Illustration & Digital Design II (or equivalent), plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Independent Digital Multimedia

Grade 12
Full Year-1 Unit

Content to be arranged by student and teacher.

Recommended: Teacher Recommendation Only

Creative Digital Photography I

Grades 10/11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit
 
- The fine arts will be covered with the application of digital photography and Photoshop fundamentals.
- Students will learn the history of photography and how it pertains to our contemporary culture while reviewing the elements of design and aesthetics.
- Students are required to supply their own camera; however, some digital cameras are available to sign out.
- Part of the Photography Curriculum the class will be going on photo walks throughout the year, weather permitting. 
 
Recommended: Art Exploration, or Permission of Department Faculty

Creative Digital Photography II

Grades 11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

- This class emphasizes the building of your photographic portfolio. Students are required to take photos throughout the summer to start their portfolio at the start of the school year.
- Students build upon the previous year’s techniques and photographic fundamentals.
- Students will further learn how to use their digital camera including the technical fundamentals as well as creative and experimental techniques as they relate to both realistic and abstract images.
- This course uses Adobe Photoshop for editing photographs. Technical aspects of digital photography will be taught, and other techniques used to improve and prepare one’s work as it relates to their portfolio. - Ideally, students should have a digital DSLR camera capable of manual operations.
- Part of the Photography Curriculum the class will be going outside weather permitting for pictures. 
- *Supply fee required.
 
Recommended: Creative Digital Photography I

Photography I - KAP/CCP

Grades 11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

The Kenyon Academic Partnership (KAP) program uses a college curriculum and grants college credit for this Shaker Heights High School course. This is a second year digital photography course. KAP Photography I uses the framework of Honors Creative Digital Photography II. Approximately an additional five hours per week outside of class is required for the additional credit to be awarded. Technical skills will be learned from lectures and the course book, “A Short Course in Digital Photography.” KAP application, including qualifying SAT, ACT or Accuplacer score is required for enrollment in KAP Photography 1. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive 1 high school credit, and 4 semester hour credits from Kenyon College, through College Credit Plus.

Recommended: Creative Digital Photography I
Required: Acceptance to Kenyon College (KAP)

Ceramics I

Grades 10/11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit 
 
Exploration of three-dimensional art through the medium of White clay.

Knowing and Understanding & Developing Skills
- Functional/Non-functional Ceramic work. 
- Study of Ceramics history and art movements.
- Scoring, Slipping, Sculpting
- Methods – pinch, coil, slab, molds, hollowing, carving and potter’s wheel
 
Thinking Creatively & Responding
- Study of invention and innovation,  Exploration of combining techniques. 
- Class critiques: in-progress & final critiques.
- *supply kit required

Ceramics II

Grades 11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit

Continuation of three-dimensional sculpture work with the mediums of White Clay, Red Clay with Grog, Porcelain.

Knowing and Understanding & Developing Skills
- Study of techniques and art movements.
- Emphasis on student choice, utilizing diverse media.
- Sgraffito and inlay, Slip casting, using molds, mold making
- Wheel Throwing, Kiln loading,glazing, Engobes, glaze recipes
 
Thinking Creatively & Responding
- Interpret techniques and history of ceramics to create your own unique artistic vision and style. 
- Whole class critiques, independent teacher/student conferencing.
- Emphasis on exhibitions (shows, school showcases).
- *Supply kit required.
 
Recommended: Ceramics I plus Teacher recommendation and portfolio 

Ceramics III

Grades 11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit 

Third year independent three-dimensional study in the mediums of White Clay, Red Clay with Grog, Porcelain Clay. Expectations include student research, journaling, conferencing, self-assessment and reflection; Kiln loading and unloading. Student work will be exhibited in Scholastic shows, local art exhibitions, school venues.
Cooperative learning/peer tutelage; Development and self-exploration of unique artistic vision. 
*Supply kit required.

Recommended: Ceramics II plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Jewelry/Metals I

Grades 10/11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit 

Students will gain a better understanding of jewelry through the ages and how jewelry has contributed to the fashion industry. 

- Students will explore the process of jewelry making.
- Students will work in the following mediums: paper, glass, clay, enamel and metal.
- Students will learn how to use piercing, form, solder, cold connection and stone settings with materials like copper, brass, nickel silver and sterling silver.
-  Students will create earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pins and rings made from a variety of materials.
 
* Supply Fee required

Jewelry/Metals II

Grades 11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit
 
- Explore – more advanced techniques in the jewelry-making process.
- Medium – enamels, metal, silver, stones and metal clay.
- Methods – Cloisonné enameling process, casting rings, setting stones, photo etching, forming metal and 3-D modeling, using a Form 3 printer.
- Produce – Cloisonné enamel piece, rings, box and picture frames and line of jewelry for the school/community art exhibit. Students will also create works for the Cleveland Clinic Expressions Art Show, the Scholastic Art Show and the Governor’s Art Show.

*Supply kit required
 
Recommended: Jewelry/Metals I (or equivalent) plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Jewelry/Metals III

Grades 12
Full Year – 1 Unit

Students will develop self expression through an independent study of jewelry making, creating a series of work, that could be used for a portfolio. Students will develop higher level of metalsmithing, and a better understanding of the entrepreneurial opportunities in this field while building a strong independent work ethic in the studio setting and cooperative learning environment.

*Supply kit required.

Recommended: Jewelry/Metals I & II (or equivalent) plus Teacher and Portfolio Recommendation

Gristmill

Grades 10/11/12
Full Year – 1 Unit
 
The Gristmill staff publishes the yearbook each year. The book is produced entirely by the members of the student staff and attempts to portray the school accurately with a great deal of emphasis on photographic uniqueness and clarity. (This course does not satisfy NCAA eligibility requirements.)
Second-year Gristmill students may be recommended by a teacher for honors credit.
Students will be proficient with national journalism standards and publication standards.
Specific leadership roles will be given.
 
Recommended: Application, Interview Entry