ART 2                                                    2 semesters Credit: 1.00

Prerequisites:  Successful completion of both semesters of Art I or the written permission of an art instructor based on a portfolio review by at least two members of the Strongsville High School Art Department.  Art II is to be taken once for credit. 

Art II is an intermediate art class that builds on skills that students have learned in Art I.  Students enrolled in this class should have a broad knowledge of many art techniques.  The elements and principles of design continue to be used as a format for creative problem solving.  Students will be required to participate in class critiques to reflect on project criteria, techniques and skills.  Art history may accompany lessons to assist students in understanding the cultural and historical significance art has played in society.  Students will be required to finish all class projects, weekly sketchbook assignments and quarterly outside projects.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.) A lab fee will be charged.

  ADVANCED ART                    2 semesters Credit: 1.00 

Prerequisites:  Successful completion of both semesters of Art II or the written permission of an instructor based on project review by at least two members of the Strongsville High School Department.  This course is highly recommended to all students considering a career in the arts.  Students preparing a portfolio should consider taking this course twice.

Advanced Art is the most challenging class offered by the Art Department.  Emphasis will be on the development of a portfolio of work for future acceptance in an art program within a university, college, or art school.  Students enrolled in this class should be serious art students and open to new ideas and concepts while using the elements and principles of design.  Concepts, skills and techniques acquired in Art I and II will now be used to create more complex work for student portfolios.  Art history may accompany lessons to assist students in understanding the cultural and historical significance art has played in society.  Students will be required to finish all class projects, weekly sketchbook assignments and quarterly outside projects.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.)  A lab fee will be charged. 

CERAMICS I                              1 semester      Credit: 0.5

Prerequisites: None.  This class may only be taken once.

Students will be introduced to basic methods of ceramic pottery construction, which include: coil, pinch, slab and pottery wheel techniques.  Students will explore beginning sculptural techniques.  A variety of ceramic finishing applications will be taught.  Students will preplan ceramic designs and draw weekly in a sketchbook.  Art history may accompany lessons to assist students in understanding the cultural and historical significance art has played in society.  Students will be required to finish all class projects and weekly sketchbook assignments.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.) A lab fee will be charged.

CERAMICS II                           1 semester      Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: Completion of Ceramics I. This class may only be taken once.

Ceramics II is designed to give students a more in depth experience with clay.  Students will reinforce skills in hand building and finishing techniques learned in Ceramics I.  Students will continue experimentation with the pottery wheel to develop an understanding of how to produce a variety of ceramic forms.  Application in sculpture will also be emphasized including balance, texture, movement, and rhythm.  Students will plan ceramic designs and draw weekly in a sketchbook.  Art history may accompany lessons to assist students in understanding the cultural and historical significance art has played in society.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.) A lab fee will be charged.

PAINTING                                    1 semester Credit: 0.5

Prerequisities: None

Students will be taught the basics in how to work successfully with different types of opaque and transparent paints.  Skills and techniques in the disciplines of acrylic, tempera, gouache and watercolor paint will be explored for the creation of exciting effects of depth, mood, optical illusion and realism.  Students will understand and incorporate color theory principles to a wide range of subject matter.  Art history may accompany lessons to assist students in understanding the cultural and historical significance art plays in society.  Students will be required to finish all class assignments as well as complete weekly watercolor assignments in a watercolor type sketchbook.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.)  A lab fee will be charged.

DRAWING AND DESIGN       1 semester Credit: 0.5

Prerequisites: None.

In Drawing and Design, students will be introduced to various design areas of study such as animation, cartooning, interior design, environmental design, product design, fashion design, auto design, toy design and advertising.  In addition this course will teach techniques and concepts in drawing.  Students will understand the principles of drawing techniques including contour line, directional line, gesture and shading.  These drawing techniques will be applied and utilized in a variety of different subject matter.  Students will be introduced to computer art programs so they can incorporate hand illustrations, computer drawings and manipulations into art work suitable for commercial use.  Students will be required to complete weekly designs and drawings in sketchbook.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.)  A lab fee will be charged.

CRAFTS                                    1 semester Credit: 0.5

Prerequisites:  None.

Students will be introduced to both functional and decorative forms of art.  They will learn about art styles from a variety of different cultures.  Students will understand constructional techniques of a variety of art forms which may include: batik, enameling, papermaking, jewelry design, collage, paper mache, functional printmaking, wood design and textile art.  Art history may accompany lessons to assist students in understanding the cultural and historical significance of the Arts and Crafts Movement.  Students will be required to complete weekly designs and drawings in a sketchbook.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.)  A lab fee will be charged.

PRINTMAKING                     1 semester Credit: 0.5

Prerequisites:  None.

Students will be introduced to basic methods of printmaking, which will include monotype prints, linocut prints, stamping, found object collagraph prints, stencil prints, relief printing, and other interesting printing forms.  Students will become familiar with the various tools of printing, techniques of color overlaying, printing surfaces, printing papers and inks as explored in this class.  The printing process makes multiple copies of exciting original designs which are suitable for such uses as stationary, logos or t-shirt applications.  Students will complete weekly designs and drawings in a sketchbook.  Students will be required to purchase a variety of art materials (sketchbook, drawing pencils, etc.)  A lab fee will be charged.

ART EXPLORATION          1 semester Credit: 0.5

Prerequisites:  This class may be taken for one semester.  Special administrative approval may be given to students to repeat this class.

Art Exploration is a class that is inclusive for all art abilities.  Students will be able to assist other classmates with special needs to learn new skills in art, socialization and communication.  This class is ideal for those students who would like to go into the education field, music or art therapy, or even just to work on basic art techniques.  Students will learn skills in a variety of two and three-dimensional media.  Students will see how art affects their daily life, community and abroad.  Some of the media explored may include paper mache, collage, painting, tee shirt design, found object printing, mosaics and texture designs.  Students will learn to listen, follow directions, make decisions and learn how to manipulate art.  Students will recognized individual differences and accomplishments of other students enrolled in the class.  Students will required to purchase a variety of art materials.  A lab will be charged.