Idaho Arts Charter School
Art Academy

Visual Art Program Overview

Courses in the visual art department are intended to help students gain an appreciation of visual arts, learn new skills and refine those already tried in many art mediums. Students will also discover valuable information about the history of art and artists. Classes are designed to be taken in sequence enlarging each student's scope of elements and principles of art, foundational drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media. Students will develop skills by experimenting with various mediums such as acrylic, watercolor, pencils, charcoal, pen and ink, oil pastels, and clay.

   Middle School Art 101     Art I Drawing      Art II Advanced Visual    Art History     Studio Art    

Middle School Art 101 (1 semester)
Art for the Middle School student emphasizes the 6 elements and 6 principles of art. Each element or principle is taught with an accompanying project. Some of the projects are simple and some are more complex and take longer to complete. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art is included in the semester and students are introduced to a wide variety of art mediums. Many of the projects revolve around the focused investigation for that semester time frame.

Art I Drawing (2 semesters)
In an effort to set the foundation for the following art experiences this course emphasizes basic drawing. Many of the experiences are training the eye to see from an artist's view objects and scenes in real life. The drawing skills include contour and blind contour, shapes (ellipse, cylinder, cube and organic), positive and negative space, values and shading techniques, perspective (one-point and two-point), texture representation, found compositions, portraiture, and matting and framing. Mediums will include drawing pencils, charcoal, pen and ink, printing, scratchboard and watercolor.

Art II Advanced Visual (up to 4 semesters)
Students will develop a well-rounded background by experimenting and expanding their use of many different mediums. As the student works and practices skills they may participate in a variety of processes to extend their learning. Mediums may be painting with acrylics, watercolor and fabric dyes; drawing tools such as pencil, charcoal, pen and ink; bookmaking processes including altered books, papermaking and calligraphy; fabric art like batik and tie dye; found art including wire, raffia, and recycled materials; and ceramics which will include handbuilt, wheel thrown, and sculpture as well as glazing techniques. Students will develop a portfolio of work which will be used in conjunction with their Senior Project. Students with an Art Focus will hold an individual Senior Exhibit including 20 pieces of their best work.

Art History (2 semesters)
This course introduces students to periods of art from prehistoric to modern 21st century art and the master artists of each era. Students will experiment by imitating different art processes and techniques from each art period and many master artists including mediums like plaster, paints, clay, bookmaking with calligraphy, and mosaics.

Studio Art (2 semesters)
This class allows the senior student time to develop skills in a chosen art medium or genre. The portfolio will be emphasized and continued with many well done pieces to be used in the Senior Exhibit. The Senior Exhibit is the culminating activity for Art Focus students needed to complete their Senior Project.