The major objective of Art Concepts & Materials is that the student, using a variety of art materials, will develop creative solutions to various 2 and 3 dimensional art problems. This course is all year long and meets every day and is different from elementary or middle school art classes. Greater time and continuity allows for greater focus on the creative problem solving process, along with more experience with various art materials and techniques. Students will also continue to build their understanding of the various principles of art, as evidenced by their conscious incorporation of these principles into their art work. Formal critiques and discussions will further require the students to demonstrate their understanding of the elements of art from a cultural and historical perspective. Evaluation of the students' art work is usually done in two ways. First the class meets to critique the work. The critique gives the students an opportunity to see and discuss how they have handled the same art problem. The focus of the critique is to identify those "things" that make the art work successful. It also is a forum for students to demonstrate how they've learned to discuss other's art work in a specific, informative, and positive manner. After the class critique, the students self-analyze their projects and turn them in for my evaluation. I will be giving the students a separate written or oral evaluation commenting on specific strengths and weaknesses of their art work. Grades will be given for each of the major objectives pre-identified for each project. I will be analyzing such things as; the creativity shown in solving the art problem, whether the project met the pre-established requirements, the aesthetic appeal of the project, and the craftsmanship and attention to detail. Grades will usually run from A+ to B-. In any grading area that I feel has not been successfully completed, the student will receive a "not done yet" mark. The student has the opportunity to complete the "not done yet" portion of his/her project and turn it in for a regrade, providing the project is resubmitted before the final deadline. Other students who wish to raise their grade may also resubmit their improved art work within one week of the project's initial deadline. In order for a student to receive credit for a given project, s/he must successfully complete all of the objectives of a given project. In order for a student to receive credit for a specific marking period, s/he must successfully complete all of the given art problems for that grading period. To receive credit for the course the student must successfully complete four quarters and the final exam.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ceramic Mask Container Project:

The students first use a variety of methods to create three different mask designs. Creating a variety of details and having the mask broken down into different sizes of shapes are stressed. The mask design is then recreated in clay. Three dimensional variety and use of detail and texture are emphasized. A container, which incorporates the mask, is hand created using many different methods construction. Students see and discuss slides of masks from a variety of cultures as they are designing their masks. They will also see and discuss current art works from ceramic artists at the conclusion of the mask container project. The projects will then be critiqued and evaluated as to the visual interest of both the mask and the whole project, the level of detail and difficulty shown by the student, and craftsmanship of the final piece.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Silkscreen Print Pattern Project:

To begin this project the students will do 8 drawings from a three-dimensional object they bring in. The first 3 of these drawings are to be done from different vantage points to the object. The 4th drawing shows the object broken up into its simple shapes. Students are to use their imagination to overemphasize part of their object in the 5th drawing and draw the object having opposite moods or states of being for the 6th and 7th drawings. The students make a composition of 3 of their objects for their 8th drawing. The students then refer to these drawings to create 3 different designs for their silkscreen print. Students will then create 2 stencils from their best design and print them using the silkscreen process. To complete the project the students will cut out 12 or more of their best prints and arrange them in an overall pattern that shows innerconectiveness between the prints. Students will discuss a variety of artist's work, that has animals as its subject matter, to see how artists create a variety of moods or feelings. Students will also view and discuss serigraphs from other artists to have a better understanding of silkscreen printing as an art form. Their final projects are then critiqued and evaluated as to the visual interest of the individual print and the whole design, and the craftsmanship of the project.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Medallion or Handmade Doll Project:

After a discussion about symbols and their uses, students will first do a personal design worksheet that helps them create their own individual motif, made up of at least 3 personal symbols. The student has a choice as to whether to use this motif in the creation of a flat medallion or a hand-made doll. The requirements of either project are that some part is cut out using a jeweler's saw, some part is manipulated fiber, and something brought from home with personal meaning is incorporated into the final piece. Students will experiment with stitchery, weaving, and macrame before creating their final piece. Final projects are critiqued and evaluated as to meeting the project requirements, visual interest of piece, detail and difficulty, and craftsmanship.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Still Life Drawing:

After doing a number of practice drawings in different media, the students will do a long term still life study from one of the 5-7 still life set-ups in the classroom or from an approved collection of objects the student has arranged. The student may choose from a variety of drawing media to work with, depending on their interest and skill level. Final projects are critiqued and evaluated as to accuracy of shape, size, position, proportion, and shading of the objects, difficulty and detail, and craftsmanship.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Alphabet Letter with Color Illustration:

After experimenting with a variety of colored media the student will do a color illustration of a 3 dimensional object. All color used for this illustration must be mixed color. Black may not be used to create dark values of any color. The student will create an alphabet page by adding a target letter and a 2 word descriptor of the illustration; each word beginning with the target letter. Composition of the final project will be stressed. Final projects are critiqued and evaluated as to the accuracy of the illustration, composition, difficulty and detail, craftsmanship, and visual interest.
It should be noted that the above are examples of major projects that may be done in Concepts and Materials. There will also be minor projects that are completed to teach specific concepts, techniques, or media.