Visual Arts

The following courses satisfy the Arts Program graduation requirement. Each is an intensive foundation course designed to give students a thorough introduction to basic techniques, principles of design thinking and visual communication, and the artistic expression of ideas. After completing a foundations-level course, students are encouraged to pursue areas in greater depth in the program’s advanced elective courses.

Notes:

• These courses require no previous experience. Students with little experience will be supported in their learning in a step-by-step process. Students with some experience with the material will be challenged by more advanced options within each project area as the course progresses.
• Students with a definite interest in visual arts are strongly encouraged to take their first course in Class III so that they may take advanced elective courses in Classes I or II in time to complete a college portfolio. Each of these Arts Program courses will give students opportunities to produce some of the work necessary to begin a college portfolio should they choose to do so.
• Instead of textbook charges and to cover the cost of supplies, a visual arts fee will apply each semester, with amounts varying per course.

Architecture + Design
Satisfies Arts Program Requirement
Classes I, II, & III
This course offers a project-based introduction to the concepts and processes of architectural design through the lens of the local community around us. Students will explore both two-dimensional and three-dimensional design through drawing formats of sketching, orthographic plan views, conceptual renderings of form, building structural studies, model-making, Google SketchUp, and photography. Architectural styles and conceptual studies of form will also be reviewed and integrated within each project.

Drawing|Painting + Design
Satisfies Arts Program Requirement
Classes I, II, & III
In this intensive, year-long foundations course, students will be introduced to the foundations of drawing and painting in the fall semester. In the spring semester, they will apply those techniques with design thinking in printmaking, digital imaging and composition, and new media. This course is for students who like making and creating, allowing beginners to succeed and experienced students to be challenged. All assignments are hands-on and studio-based, with basic exercises culminating in major projects. Students will learn visual language, apply techniques, and solve problems utilizing a creative process, all supplemented by a broad introduction to art history, aesthetics and criticism, and the most contemporary modes of art-making. Each student will be urged to explore ideas, experiment with an open mind, and make expressions personal, dramatic, and original.
The course will include field trips to art museums and contact with professional artists.

Filmmaking + Design
Satisfies Arts Program Requirement
Classes I, II, & III
This course introduces students to the basic principles and practices of digital movie-making, visual storytelling, and cinematography. The course is project-based, emphasizing hands-on instruction and exploration in creating short films. Students learn the basics of pre-production, effective camera technique, the editing process, and production management.

Photography|Digital Imaging + Design
Satisfies Arts Program Requirement
Classes I, II, & III
This course introduces students to the art of seeing and picture-making from its analog origins to today’s modern digital practices. In the first semester, students will learn the basic concepts of composition and exposure with a digital camera. Working with school-provided DSLR camera kits, students will become fluent with various photographic techniques and industry-standard programs, such as Adobe Bridge, Photoshop, and CameraRaw, through application tutorials and project-based learning. In the second semester, students will shift to capturing visuals with a 35mm film camera, where film development and wet darkroom printing techniques will be learned. Throughout the course, students will develop their eye and composition skills through hands-on projects that also provide exposure to the great canon of traditional and contemporary photographic masters. Assignment challenges will encourage students to deepen their expressive ability and gain an understanding of how photography has developed since its advent in the late 19th century. Upon completion of the course, students will feel confident in their knowledge of the medium, both technically and artistically, and their ability to access the visual language to express their ideas.

Sculpture|Ceramics + 3-D Design
Satisfies Arts Program Requirement
Classes I, II, & III
This course introduces students to the foundations of three-dimensional design and the construction of functional and artistic objects. Students solve a series of design problems with hands-on projects, acquire skills in the use of hand and power tools, and learn design principles that inform both industrial and fine arts. Projects will be designed to explore a variety of techniques in diverse sculptural media, such as wood, metal, clay, plaster, and plastics. Students will address design challenges through creative processes while learning about underlying concepts of art through discussions of art history, aesthetics, and criticism. Digital processes, including 3-D printing, will also be explored. Students will be encouraged to investigate ideas, experiment with an open mind, and produce original and personal expressions.

Technology|Media + Design
Satisfies Arts Program Requirement
Classes I, II, & III
This course introduces the fundamental principles and practices of digital art and design, utilizing contemporary and emerging technologies. Students will develop their visual expression while pushing their imagination and critical thinking beyond the current boundaries of traditional art forms in a collaborative spirit of discovery. The class consists of hands-on projects centered on experimentation and exploration in new media, including graphic design, digital imaging, animation, and industrial design with 3D modeling and printing. Students will gain fluency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and some 3D modeling software, as well as experience with Wacom tablets and 3D printers.

Semester and Half Course Electives

The department offers advanced-level courses in art and design for students who wish to study specific areas in depth. Students will develop higher-level skills, interpret more sophisticated ideas, and create work on a more ambitious scale. Although these courses are structured with themes and assignments, students will work increasingly independently.

The department recommends (but does not require) that a student who elects a first-semester course take a second-semester course as well.

The prerequisite for semester and half course electives is a full-year Arts Program course or the equivalent. The Visual Arts Department recommends that students take Drawing|Painting + Design, Sculpture|Ceramics + 3-D Design, Photography|Digital Imaging + Design, Technology|Media + Design, Architecture + Design, or Filmmaking + Design before taking an elective. Preference may be given to students who have taken these courses. Permission to take an advanced course may be denied if a student’s preparation or experience is insufficient. Such permission must be obtained from the department chair before registering for these courses.

Advanced Drawing
(Semester 1)
Classes I & II
In this course, students will explore major genres of drawings from classical styles to contemporary, as well as architectural, narrative, figurative, and abstract. Students will be guided in developing a visual language and personal style through individual and collaborative projects, sketchbooks, readings, and discussions. Students will use a range of familiar drawing materials such as graphite, charcoal, and pastel and be introduced to new materials and techniques. The class will take drawing excursions around campus and to other nearby areas, including Boston museums. The culmination of the course is a large-scale DIY project blending realistic observational drawing with drawing from imagination, fantasy, and abstraction. (Prerequisite: Drawing|Painting + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Filmmaking
(Half Course)
Classes I & II
Building on the foundation of knowledge, skills, and techniques learned in the Filmmaking + Design course, this year-long, half-credit course seeks to strengthen students’ mastery of story writing, production management, directing, camera use, and editing. Students will study and create short films and documentaries; individual interests can be explored throughout the process, allowing students to hone their filmmaking skills and expand their repertoire. Student work will be entered into appropriate film festival competitions and screened to the community in the spring. (Prerequisite: Filmmaking + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Painting
(Semester 2)
Classes I & II
In this course, students will explore painting techniques across a variety of media, primarily using water-soluble oils but also acrylic and watercolor. Students will be challenged to “think in color” and to “see the light” in relation to form and space; they will paint both from life and their imaginations. Subjects may range from abstract works, still life, the human face and figure, and the landscape to stories and fantasies of surrealistic and invented worlds. Each student will work to develop their vision through an experience of different styles and techniques. Field trips may be part of this course and are intended to expose students to the contemporary art scene. (Prerequisite: Drawing|Painting + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Photography: Digital Imaging
(Semester 1)
Classes I & II
This course expands upon foundational knowledge of photography by further developing one’s creative process. The use of photography as a creative tool will be stressed while students simultaneously explore more advanced digital imaging techniques. This combination of heightened aesthetics and advanced techniques will allow students to cultivate and refine their creative photographic eye. Projects will introduce some of today’s most revolutionary photographers and ask students to reimagine how photography can be manipulated as a form of personal and artistic expression. Students will increase their fluency in programs like Adobe Bridge, Photoshop, and Camera Raw, learning advanced editing techniques through supplemental tutorials and projects. Support for creating portfolios for college admission will be integral to the class. (Prerequisite: Photography|Digital-Imaging + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Photography: Alternative Processes
(Semester 2)
Classes I & II
Imagine an eight-foot-square cube camera that an entire class can step into to take pictures or a camera made out of a soda can that takes three-month-long exposures. The Alternative Processes class tackles innovative projects by building upon foundational techniques in digital and analog photography. In a hands-on, project-based curriculum, students experiment with different materials and exposure techniques to create distinctive camera-based and camera-less images. The course will emphasize the unique visual qualities of each alternative process, allowing students to create intentional artistic expressions. Digital processes and alternative image manipulation in Photoshop will be integral to this exploratory course. Students will study photographic masters from the past and present who have challenged the traditional uses of the medium, pushing both the technical and expressive boundaries of creativity. (Prerequisite: Any Arts Program course in the Visual Arts or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Sculpture
(Semester 1)
Classes I & II
Advanced Sculpture builds upon foundational skills to explore a range of ideas and possibilities through a variety of three-dimensional projects. Students will be introduced to more advanced sculptural techniques involving additive and subtractive processes in materials such as wood, metal, plaster, and stone. Students will be able to communicate concepts and intentions through the manipulation of subject matter, organizational components, media, and processes. Projects will include both figurative and abstract creations and explore design applications through contemporary modes of production. Working together in a classroom structure, students will benefit from dialogue with each other, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: Sculpture|Ceramics + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Ceramics
(Semester 2)
Classes I & II
This course builds upon the foundational techniques of working with clay: sculptural hand-building, slab and coil construction, wheel throwing, mold-making, and glazing. Individual expression in clay, whether artistic or functional, will be emphasized. Students will be able to communicate concepts and intentions through the manipulation of subject matter, organizational components, and surface treatments. Projects will include traditional functional objects such as teapots and bowls, repetitive casting, and large abstract sculptural expressions. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the historical and contemporary significance of ceramics through class discussions, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: Sculpture|Ceramics + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Technology: Graphic Design
(Half Course)
Classes I & II
Building upon the Technology Foundations course, this class explores the art and practice of graphic design. Students learn to effectively express ideas through visual imagery and textual content while examining how communication design exists in the real world. Centered around hands-on projects, students create original work that encourages personal imagination, creative risk-taking, and the use of design as a vehicle for social change. The course delves into visual imagery, typography, and layout mechanics while incorporating Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign and experimenting with traditional printing and bookbinding techniques. (Prerequisite: Technology|Media + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Technology: Industrial Design
(Half Course)
Classes I & II
This course introduces industrial design and the practice of creating products, devices, objects, and services used daily in the real world. Students build off their visual foundation and delve into a human-centered design process from the initial development to the refined stages that consider appearance, functionality, and manufacturability. Coursework will be project-centered, emphasizing experimentation, expression, and collaboration. Students will practice analog drawing, digital renderings, and 3-D modeling to create original, well-executed design pieces. A hybrid of advanced applications, including the Adobe application suite, Rhino, and Makerbot software, will be utilized. (Prerequisite: Technology|Media + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Architecture
(Half Course)
Classes I & II
Advanced Architecture builds upon foundational skills to explore a range of ideas and possibilities through a variety of design modalities. Students will be introduced to more advanced architectural techniques involving conceptual and logical design. Students will be able to communicate concepts and intentions through drawing, drafting, and model-making. Working together in a classroom structure, students will benefit from dialogue with each other, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: Architecture + Design or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Portfolio Courses

Advanced Portfolio: Drawing|Painting
(Semester 1)
Class I
This is a seminar-based course for Class I students. It is designed to meet their individual needs with visual ideas they wish to explore in-depth in drawing, painting, and/or printmaking through an extended series of works around a particular theme or concept. Most students will use this class to complete work for their college portfolios. Interested students may also complete the Advanced Placement Studio Art: Drawing portfolio requirements with continued study in the spring semester through the Advanced Portfolio: Independent Studio Seminar class. Working together in a classroom format, students will benefit from dialogue with each other, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: At least one, and preferably more than one, related advanced semester elective, or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Portfolio: Filmmaking
(Semester 1)
Class I
This is a seminar-based course for Class I students. It is designed to meet their individual needs with ideas they wish to explore in-depth in film through an extended series of works around a particular theme or concept. Most students will use this class to complete work for their college portfolios. Interested students may also continue their film study through the Advanced Portfolio: Independent Studio Seminar class in the spring semester. Working together in a classroom format, students will benefit from dialogue with each other, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: Advanced Filmmaking or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Portfolio: Photography|Digital Imaging
(Semester 1)
Class I
This is a seminar-based course for Class I students. It is designed to meet their individual needs with visual ideas they wish to explore in-depth in photography and/or digital imaging through an extended series of works around a particular theme or concept. Most students will use this class to complete work for their college portfolios. Interested students may also complete the Advanced Placement Studio Art: 2-D Design portfolio requirements with continued study in the spring semester through the Advanced Portfolio: Independent Studio Seminar class. Working together in a classroom format, students will benefit from dialogue with each other, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: At least one, and preferably more than one, related advanced semester elective, or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Portfolio: Sculpture|Ceramics
(Semester 1)
Class I
This is a seminar-based course for Class I students. It is designed to meet their individual needs with visual ideas they wish to explore in-depth in sculpture and/or ceramics through an extended series of works around a particular theme or concept. Most students will use this class to complete work for their college portfolios. Interested students may also complete the Advanced Placement Studio Art: 3-D Design portfolio requirements with continued study in the spring semester through the Advanced Portfolio: Independent Studio Seminar class. Working together in a classroom format, students will benefit from dialogue with each other, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: At least one, and preferably more than one, related advanced semester elective, or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Portfolio: Technology|Media
(Semester 1)
Class I
This is a seminar-based course for Class I students. It is designed to meet their individual needs with visual ideas they wish to explore in-depth the creation of art with technology through an extended series of works around a particular theme or concept. Most students will use this class to complete work for their college portfolios. Interested students may also complete the Advanced Placement Studio Art: 2-D or 3-D Design portfolio requirements with continued study in the spring semester through the Advanced Portfolio: Independent Studio Seminar class. Working together in a classroom format, students will benefit from dialogue with each other, critiques, and field trips. (Prerequisite: At least one, and preferably more than one, related advanced semester elective, or permission of the department chair.)

Advanced Portfolio: Independent Studio Seminar
(Semester 2)
Class I
This seminar is a capstone course offering Class I students the opportunity to explore subjects beyond the traditional studio art curriculum, either as a series of independent works or as class projects. Assignments will span contemporary art modes and will include a variety of media and ideas. Genres may include digital imaging, traditional or alternative processes of photography/digital imaging, film/moving images, printmaking, installation art, ceramics, sculpture, painting, or drawing. Students may also explore cross-disciplinary connections, particularly regarding the use of technology in creating art or with the sciences or humanities. Interested students may also complete the Advanced Placement Studio Art portfolio requirements in Drawing, 2-D, or 3-D Design. Projects may be inspired by work with professional artists, including Nesto Gallery exhibitors. The course culminates in a major independent project that may precede or extend into a senior project. (Prerequisite: At least one, and preferably more than one, related advanced semester elective, or permission of the department chair.)

Introduction to Art History
(Semester 1 or Semester 2)
Classes I & II
Please see the full course description in the History and Social Sciences section

Printmaking
(Half Course)
Classes I, II, & III
In this course, students will explore the basics of four major forms of printmaking: monoprint, intaglio, woodcut, and silkscreen. The course begins with understanding image-making, using a matrix or indirect source, and then investigating drawing, line, shape, and tone through black-and-white imagery. Students will learn to create small editions of prints, multiple-color images, and large poster-size prints. Traditional and contemporary techniques will be emphasized, using hand-printing methods and incorporating digital media. The course will also speak to the historical development of printmaking and its role and influence on today’s society. Field trips and guest speakers may be a part of the course to introduce students to movements in contemporary printmaking, from journalism to poster art. (Permission of the department chair is required.)

Textile Design
(Half Course)
Classes I, II, & III
In this course, students will explore the endless possibilities of fabric art with projects that push the boundaries of their technical skills and expand their creative thought. Students will learn the principles of textile design and its associated elements, including color, texture, and form. While using this adaptable medium, students will encounter the themes of community that have brought many groups of fabric artists together throughout history. This class will have a wide scope of assignments, from apparel design, embroidery, sculpture, quilt-making, and more, all emphasizing individual growth and portfolio development. Both traditional and contemporary techniques will be taught. Field trips and guest speakers may be utilized to introduce students to contemporary artists in the area.