Fine Arts

Welcome to the Fine Arts Department at Wakefield High School!

Our department is dedicated to nurturing creativity and artistic expression in our students. We offer a diverse range of courses designed to inspire and challenge students at all levels.

Our talented and passionate teachers provide a supportive and dynamic environment where students can explore their artistic talents, develop their skills, and express themselves creatively.

Join us as we celebrate the power of the arts to enrich lives and foster a vibrant community!

The Arts Education program in the high schools is designed to provide students with the opportunity to participate in a sequential course of study in the disciplines of music, visual arts, and theatre arts. Generalized experiences as well as highly advanced and specialized opportunities are available in all arts areas. Students are provided training in the technical skills necessary to develop their individual capacities to construct and experience the creative process. A credit earned in any of these courses fulfills the Practical/Fine Arts credit requirement.

Note: Courses that have fewer than 15 students may not be offered based on student interest and budget considerations. In some cases, additional budget considerations may require that courses may not be offered in any given year and impacted students should select an alternative course. Additionally, courses with insufficient enrollment may be offered through distance learning or online learning.

Fine Arts Courses

Apprentice, Fine Arts I

Full Year (29290)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 0.5

Grade(s): 10,11

The Arts Education Office provides the Apprentice Program for students in grades 10-12 who are exceptionally talented and committed to visual arts, music, theatre, or dance. Individual and small group arts experiences are arranged for these identified students. Students are selected in the spring through written application, interview, and audition/portfolio. Applications are available through high school art and music staff, counselors, DEI coordinators, and the Advanced Academics Coach.

Apprentice, Fine Arts II

Full Year (29291)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 0.5

Grade(s):11,12

Apprentice, Fine Arts III

Full Year (29292)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 0.5

Grade(s):12

Art & Design, AP

Full Year (39149)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s):11,12

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: AP

AP Studio Art is based on the serious practice of art, and students are required to submit a complete portfolio to earn the additional quality point. The course addresses three major areas: high quality in the student’s art products; concentration on a particular visual interest or problem; and breadth of experience in the formal, technical, and expressive means of producing art. The students will engage in the creative and systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues, understand the making of art as an ongoing process that requires informed and critical decision making, and develop technical skills and familiarity with the functions of the visual elements.

Art History, AP

Full Year (39151)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: AP

This is an introductory college course in art history that gives students an understanding of works of art within their historical context by examining issues such as politics, religion, patronage, gender, function, and ethnicity. The course also teaches students visual analysis of works of art. The course covers architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms, and students learn to view these art works critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, to analyze what they see. The course prepares students for the successful completion of the AP Art History examination.

Art I

Full Year (29120)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Using the elements of art principles of design and creative problem-solving skills, students explore the technical processes of drawing, painting, graphics, and 3-D art forms. Art projects are kept in portfolios with student reflections on their working process and final products. This course is a prerequisite for Art II, III and Studio, AP. A materials fee of $25.00 is charged. See page 13 of the program of studies for fee reduction/waiver information.

Art II

Full Year (29130)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

This course builds on the concepts and techniques learned in Art I. Students learn advanced techniques in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students continue to research and relate works of major artists to their own work. A materials fee of $35.00 is charged. See page 13 of the program of studies for fee reduction/waiver information.

Art III

Full Year (29140)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 11,12

This course is intended for highly motivated students committed to serious study of studio art. The students will create a body of work that will include but is not limited to painting, drawing, graphics, and sculpture. Emphasis is placed on quality of work, concentration in a particular artistic concept, and breadth of expression.

Ceramics I

Full Year (29167)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

This course will address 3D clay forms in both functional and decorative forms. Students will use various techniques of hand-building, and wheel throwing. This course will allow students to experience clay for the first time or enable more advanced students to develop their skills. Students will be encouraged to experiment with different glazes and finishing techniques. A lab fee of $55.00 is charged for clay and glazes.

Ceramics II

Full Year (29168)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

This course will continue to address 3D clay forms in both functional and decorative forms. This course will allow students to hone their skill in hand-building and wheel throwing. It will allow the student to further investigate the possibilities that clay has to offer the 3D artist. Students will learn other glazing, finishing, and firing techniques. Included will be the study of clay artists and their works. A lab fee of $55.00 is charged for clay and glazes.

Ceramics III

Full Year (29169)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

This course is intended for highly motivated students who are committed to the serious study of ceramics. Students will build on skills learned in Ceramics I and II and concentrate on breadth and depth. A lab fee of $55.00 is charged for clay and glazes.

Computer Graphics

Full Year (29152)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Students apply creative problem-solving skills to commercial design problems that may include product image, logo design, product display, story illustration, page and publication layout. Students may use computer-generated graphics to produce completed works.

Computer Graphics II

Full Year (29153)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

Students apply creative program solving skills to commercial design problems including product image, branding, display, story, illustration, page, and publication layout.

Computer Graphics III

Full Year (29154)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

This is an advanced computer graphics course that will further expand on digital art skills learned in Computer Graphics I and II. This course provides students the skills to create designs that are digital fine art and commercial art focused. Students will learn advanced digital art techniques and will have an opportunity to explore a digital medium of choice to create a portfolio of work. This portfolio is a good foundation for students pursuing a 2-D digital AP portfolio.

Crafts

Full Year (29162)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

In this year-long course, students will deal with the rich cultural heritage of crafts which combine function with artistic design. Multicultural craft exemplars will serve to inspire responses to assignments involving clay, fiber, wood, etc. Knowledge necessary to work intelligently, skillfully, and creatively with craft media will be developed. Elements and principles of design and aesthetics, written and/or oral critiques, and the historical heritage of the crafts produced will be stressed.

Digital Photography I

Full Year (29193)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Students approach photography as an art form. They will learn to use a single lens reflex camera, producing prints through various processes to include digital technology. Topics covered include history of photography, elements and principles of design, lighting, and camera functions.

Digital Photography II

Full Year (29194)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

In this advanced course, emphasis is placed on artistic and expressive solutions to a variety of photography problems that expand the basic concepts and techniques learned in Photography I. Works of major photographic artists are studied as they relate to photographic problems explored.

Digital Photography III

Full Year (29195, 98610W)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 11,12

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: Dual Enrollment

This is an advanced photography course for the serious photo student. Students will spend a year building their professional photography portfolio and advancing the skills learned in Photography I and II.

Introduction to Crafts

One semester (29160)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 0.5

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Students create pottery, weaving, jewelry, masks, etc., from a variety of cultural perspectives and styles which may include Native American, Guatemalan, Mexican, Asian, and Colonial American.

Introduction to Sculpture

One semester (29165)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 0.5

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

This class is designed for students interested in three-dimensional art. Students will learn the principles of sculptural processes and gain fundamental knowledge of materials, tools, and safety procedures. Students will build several sculptures, and learn various techniques used in clay and plaster. The historical significance of sculpture will be explored.

Painting & Drawing

One semester (29163)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 0.5

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

The student learns basic approaches to drawing and painting a variety of subject matter, including still life, landscape, figure, and fantasy. Problems presented stress perception and stylistic organization of line, space, value, texture, and color. A variety of media is used. Works of major artists in these media are studied.

Sculpture

Full Year (29166)

Level: High School

Content Area: Arts Education

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

This course is designed for students interested in creating self-expressive sculptural objects, through a variety of materials and techniques, including but not limited to clay, plaster, wood, and wire. Subject matter is approached through realistic, abstract, and nonobjective interpretation. Exemplars of contemporary sculptors are examined.