Visual Art Classes
2D Design Classes taught by Mrs. Alyssa Armstrong
2D Advanced Portfolio
This is a semester long class offered through Mrs. Armstrong to help prepare hand-picked 8th grade students for the portfolio process in High School. Students will assess and recognize gaps in their study and work with studio projects to elevate their work to show breadth of knowledge. Last year, 23 Ligon students presented their portfolios at Enloe and Broughton and were exempted from Art I to take Advanced Honors Art during their freshman year.
Prerequisite: Painting I and/or Drawing I plus another art course (preferably an Advanced course) with an A average. Though this course is geared toward 8th grade students, 7th grade students with the prerequisites are welcome per approval by Mrs. Armstrong.
Drawing I
A rigorous course devoted to strengthening hand-eye coordination, drawing from reality, and using various techniques such as shading, cross-hatching, stippling, and contour line. Students use a variety of materials and discover the power of breaking down an image into basic elements that can be drawn easily.
Drawing II
An advanced course utilizing materials and techniques such as pastel and colored pencil drawing, pen and ink wash, gesture drawing and continued work in rendering reality. Using models and still life, students discover ways to discover proper proportion and likenesses, as well as study of perspective.
Prerequisite: Drawing I with a C average or above.
Fiber Arts
This course uses many different approaches to working with fiber materials: yarn, thread, cloth, paper pulp, newspapers, and collage materials of all kinds. Quilting, applique, batik and silk painting along with creating handmade paper, are some of the projects that relate contemporary trends in fiber art and craft.
Painting I
Painting I is an exciting course in color theory and composition. Students learn to become more confident in mixing color, creating mood, distance and values in color. Materials include tempera and watercolor paints, pastels, and colored paper sources.
Painting II
This is a challenging advanced course in painting. Techniques and themes from art history provide motivation for expressions in acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. This is an excellent course for the painter interested in taking the knowledge from Painting I and applying it by creating larger, more challenging works of art. Prerequisite: Painting I with a C average or above. Revised 04-15-11 11
Printmaking
Printmaking is an advanced class that focuses on creating a design on one surface and transferring it to another. It is an exploratory course using techniques such as stamping, rubbings, relief printing, silk screening, monotypes, and reduction printing. Each quarter this course will focus on three to four of these processes. Students will experiment with different painting surfaces and combine some images with written material. Students need to have taken Foundations of Art in order to qualify for Printmaking.
Foundations of Art
This course serves as an exciting introduction to the arts by providing a small sample of many of the classes offered in the Visual Arts studio, as well as incorporating multi-cultural themes. Each quarter will explore a variety of techniques including drawing, painting, printmaking, and building in three-dimensional artwork.
3D Design Classes taught by Ms. Emily Roberts
3D Advanced Design
Advanced 3D design is for any student who has taken at least two 3D classes. They can be from any combination of Pottery I, Pottery II, Sculpture, or Mask Making. Students will be creating 3 dimensional projects that are more advanced and require advanced techniques learned in previous classes. Projects will be fewer in number but more detail oriented. Prerequisite: A C average or above in two previous 3D classes.
Jewelry Design
This elective takes a deeper look into the history of jewelry design. Simple techniques will be explored and original pieces will be created using materials such as wire, hemp, wood, paper, glass and plastic. Attention to detail is a must!
Mask-making
Mask-making gives students the opportunity to freely express their personality through creating masks from different cultures. Students will learn about the history of masks as well as several different techniques to create them. Paper mache', foam board, metal, and clay are just a few of the materials that will be used to create these works of art.
Pottery I
Students will be introduced to basic techniques and materials associated with hand building earthenware clay. Clay slab, coil and pinch pot methods in addition to adding color with glaze will be used to create a variety of unique clay containers and/or wall art.
Pottery II
Students already familiar with working with clay will apply their knowledge and create more involved and sophisticated clay pieces.
Prerequisite: Pottery I with a C average or above.
Sculpture
An opportunity for students to build with materials such as clay, plaster, wire and found objects to create a variety of small and large 3-dimensional art forms.
Sculpture II
This class allows students the opportunity to advance proficiency with mixed media to create. More complexity and rigor in studio projects should be expected and prepared for. Prerequisite: Pottery 1 or Sculpture I with a C average or above.
Stained Glass Design (8th graders only)
Students will be introduced to the wonderful world of stained glass. The learner will learn the basic skills and techniques for foil wrap from completing a window of their choice. A Power Point on stained glass will be created as well. Prerequisite: One previous art class with a C average or above.