Art Department
The Art Department provides students with an outlet for their creativity. Students will be given an environment to express themselves and make intelligent decisions and judgments about their own work and that of others.
Through art history they will learn about the rich background of art, which will provide an understanding of ideas and a knowledge base to draw from when creating their own artwork.
Through written and verbal critiques, students will be able to express thoughts on what they have seen and created. Discussing aesthetics will provide terminology and will train students to develop an “artistic eye”.
During production, students will experience different media and will be given the opportunity to manipulate them in order to convey their ideas. The Art Department ultimately provides students with a new way of seeing, as well as allowing them to bring, out their creative side.
Course Offerings
Art Fundamentals
Studio Art Methods
Drawing / Printmaking
Advanced Drawing / Printmaking
Painting
Advanced Painting
Graphic Design
Advanced Graphic Design
Ceramics / Sculpture
Advanced Ceramics / Sculpture
Folk Art
Advanced Folk Art
Photography
Advanced Photography
AP Art History
Art Teachers
1 Timothy 4:14-15
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
Stories about Art
Li wins silver medal in national art competition
Youyang Li, a recently graduated senior at Pius X, has been awarded a silver medal by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. She
Two students earn state honors for artwork
Senior Youyang Li has been honored with five Gold Key awards and two Silver Key awards, while senior Elayna Uhing won a Silver Key for
Mixing of paints, designs and cultures in art class
Painted eggs have cultural significance depending on the region of the world. Students in Laurie Rodaway’s class are working on their painted egg projects while
A final touch before the kiln in Ceramics
Our Show Choir students have one final performance this Saturday! Let’s meet the seniors from this year’s Spectrum, Prism and Show Band, with the background
Course Descriptions
Art Fundamentals
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course introduces students to the basic elements and principles of design. Students will work with a variety of media that will reinforce these rules of design. Students will also be exposed to art history which will relate to the projects assigned. Projects will include drawing, watercolor and tempera painting, printmaking, and ceramics.
Studio Art Methods
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course will offer students the opportunity to experience a variety of artistic processes and techniques using multiple art methods. Building upon the experiences in Art Fundamentals, students will concentrate on the qualities of compositional structure and aesthetic appeal. Projects will include painting (acrylics or oil), ceramics, printmaking, graphic design, and sculpture.
Pre-Requisites: Art Fundamentals
Drawing / Printmaking
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course will focus on drawing skills and printmaking techniques. The elements and principles of design will be reinforced in activities and projects. Drawing media will include graphite, ink, charcoal, conte, colored pencils and pastels. Printmaking media will include linoleum prints, mono-prints and silk screen.
Pre-Requisites: Art Fundamentals
Advanced Drawing / Printmaking
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course is intended for the serious art student who wishes to receive additional instruction and practice in this particular area of study. This class is highly recommended for students who are preparing portfolios for admission to a college visual arts program. This course is offered concurrently with Drawing/Print Making.
Pre-Requisites: Drawing/Printmaking
Painting
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
Students will learn and practice painting techniques and skills that incorporate a variety of styles and paint media, including watercolor, tempera and acrylic paints. Color theory in particular will be emphasized, as well as the other elements and principles of design. Historically renowned paintings and works by contemporary artists will be reviewed and discussed in relation to class projects.
Pre-Requisites: Art Fundamentals
Advanced Painting
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
Students will learn and practice painting techniques and skills that incorporate a variety of styles and paint media, including watercolor, tempera and acrylic paints. Color theory in particular will be emphasized, as well as the other elements and principles of design. Historically renowned paintings and works by contemporary artists will be reviewed and discussed in relation to class projects.
Pre-Requisites: Painting
Graphic Design
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course will explore the many career paths available to graphic designers. Their field is one of visual communication in which they convey the ideas and concepts of the business world to the public. Students will be exposed to a variety of art projects that relate to commercial use with an emphasis on layout design, as well as the computer design techniques that they would encounter in a graphic design career.
Pre-Requisites: Art Fundamentals
Advanced Graphic Design
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course is intended for the serious art student who wishes to receive additional instruction and practice in the area of graphic design, with emphasis on computer design technology. This class is highly recommended for students who are preparing portfolios for admission to a college graphic or visual arts program. This course is offered concurrently with Graphic Design.
Pre-Requisites: Graphic Design
Ceramics / Sculpture
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course will focus on 3-D projects with an emphasis on clay. Student will make projects using traditional hand-building methods, and will receive introductory training on the pottery wheel. Additional sculpture projects will use a variety of media, including paper maché, wire sculpture, plaster, etc.
Pre-Requisites: Art Fundamentals
Advanced Ceramics / Sculpture
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course is intended for the art student who is serious about sharpening his/her skills on the pottery wheel and wants to learn traditional hand-building construction methods and advanced glazing techniques. This class is highly recommended for students who are preparing portfolios for admission to a college visual arts program. This course is offered concurrently with Ceramics/Sculpture.
Pre-Requisites: Ceramics / Sculpture
Folk Art
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course will focus on traditional and multicultural arts rather than fine arts. Since there is a great variety of folk arts and crafts, this course will be directed somewhat by student interests, but possible projects include weaving, jewelry making, batik, polymer clay, etc.
Pre-Requisites: Art Fundamentals
Advanced Folk Art
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length: Semester
This course is designed for those students who wish to continue working on traditional and multicultural crafts and arts. Class projects will add variety to portfolios for admission to a college visual arts program. This course is offered concurrently with Folk Arts/Crafts.
Pre-Requisites: Folk Art
Photography
Grades: 11, 12
Length: Semester
Students will learn the fundamentals of photography. The class will cover topics such as history of photography, composition, camera controls, exposure, lighting, ISO ratings, lenses, developing and printing, and self-expression. Fine art photography will be emphasized along with photo journalism.
Advanced Photography
Grades: 12
Length: Semester
This course is geared toward digital photography. Photo competition, displaying prints, and building a portfolio are also major objectives.
Pre-Requisites: Photography
AP Art History
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Length: Year
This course explores such topics as the nature of art, its uses, its meanings, art making, and responses to art. Through investigation of diverse artistic traditions of cultures from prehistory to present, the course fosters in-depth understanding of the history of art from a global perspective. AP Art History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university art history survey course. Credits earned for this course can be counted towards the Social Studies Elective requirement.