Learning To Draw Confidently Without An Eraser

The Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy Fine Arts curriculum offers a variety of courses for students seeking instruction in drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography.  Below is a summary of visual art courses offered at Saint Joseph's. Course availability is subject to student interest.

In addition to course work in the visual arts, Saint Joseph's offers clubs for students interested in the visual arts. Click on the blue "Fine Arts Club" button to learn more about this popular club.

For more information about individual courses, contact the school office at sjca@sjcacademy.org.

Courses

Intro to 2D Art. Students learn and explore fundamental skills in various 2D mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, and collage. Using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design, students will create original artworks and complete sketchbook assignments based on prompts from the teacher or a student chosen theme. Some skills and  techniques that will be covered are color theory, drawing techniques, basic composition, portraiture, and how to keep a sketchbook. To develop the whole artist, students will study Art History, including past and present artists and their artistic practices. Students will also learn about artistic behavior, the 8 Studio Habits of Mind, and how to apply these behaviors to their own artistic process.

Intermediate Drawing and Painting. Students learn and explore intermediate level skills in various drawing and painting mediums. Using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design, students will create original artworks and sketchbook assignments based on prompts from the teacher or based on a student chosen theme. Some techniques that will be covered are perspective, portraiture, still life drawing, and positive vs. negative space, and how to keep a sketchbook. To develop the whole artist, students will study Art History, including past and present artists and their artistic practices. Students will also learn about artistic behavior, the 8 Studio Habits of Mind, and how to apply these behaviors to their own artistic process.

Intro to 3D Art. Students learn and explore fundamental skills in 3D media such as sculpture, ceramics, weaving, and paper making. During this class, students will learn skills and techniques such as how to use sculpting tools, sculptural composition, clay slab hand building, wire working, weaving patterns, and basic paper making techniques. Students will learn how to create original artworks and connect artworks to art history. Using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design, students will create original artworks and sketchbook assignments based on prompts from the teacher or a student chosen theme. To develop the whole artist, students will study Art History, including past and present artists and their artistic practices. Students will also learn about artistic behavior, the 8 Studio Habits of Mind, and how to apply these behaviors to their own artistic process.

Sculpture & Ceramics. Students will learn to use various materials to create original sculptural artworks. Some mediums used will be paper, plaster, clay, wire, and wood. Students will gain an understanding of the different styles and techniques used in sculpture such as carving, construction, assemblage, and clay hand building. To develop the whole artist, students will study Art History, including past and present artists and their artistic practices.  Students will also learn about artistic behavior, the 8 Studio Habits of Mind, and how to apply these behaviors to their own artistic process.

Intro to Digital Media. Students will learn basic skills in various digital media forms. Media covered will be photography, typography, graphic design, and media communication. Within these media, students will learn skills such as how to use a digital camera, photography techniques, typographic font anatomy, design composition, graphic design techniques and poster/book design. To develop the whole artist, students will study Art History, including past and present artists and their artistic practices.  Students will also learn about artistic behavior, the 8 Studio Habits of Mind, and how to apply these behaviors to their own artistic process.

Intermediate Photography & Videography. Students will learn intermediate to advanced skills in photography and videography. Skills covered will be camera skills, photo composition, photo/video editing, and final photo/video presentation. Students will also have the opportunity to create more conceptual art pieces. To develop the whole artist, students will study Art History, including past and present artists and their artistic practices.

Advanced Art I. Students explore advanced skills in mediums and styles of their own choosing. The class will be a combination of project prompts provided by the teacher and student chosen projects.  Students will be taught advanced skills and techniques based on the mediums and projects they do throughout the course. Students will be required to keep a sketchbook to support their artistic process. This course is recommended for students who require an art portfolio for college or are working towards taking the AP course.

Advanced Art II. Students continue to explore and develop advanced skills in mediums and styles of their own choosing. The class will be a combination of project prompts provided by the teacher and student chosen projects.  Students will be taught advanced skills and techniques based on the mediums and projects they do throughout the course. Students will be required to keep a sketchbook to support their artistic process. This course is recommended for students who require an art portfolio for college or are working towards taking the AP course.

AP Art. This is a rigorous studio course offered to highly motivated students who have completed a minimum of 1 intro, 1 intermediate, and 1 advanced level class.  Coursework is designed to continue mastery in technique and composition/design and research. Students must be prepared to put a minimum of 3-5 hours a week outside of the classroom. This course consists of research, practice and experimentation to reach a final piece of artwork.  Each of the 15 images will reflect this process as it is produced. Students are expected to take the AP exam (submit a portfolio) at the end of the course and pay the AP exam fee of $100 in the beginning of the school year in order to submit their portfolio.