Projects follow the “Basics” taking the new medium, technique or concept and applying it to a finished work of art assessing the new skill acquired through Basics.  Projects ALSO build on previous skills.  Choosing to not participate or practice a skill will have a snowball effect.  Later Projects AND Classes will continue to add new skill, mediums, and concepts but will continue to build on ALL previous skill learned. 

The beginning and ending stages of growth look different from student to student.  Growth can only be accomplished by practice.  Practice happens when each assignment is done in the spirit of which it was assigned and not as busy work to appease your parent, teacher or anyone else.  The habits, practices and expectations that demonstrate effort are taught in class. 

Quarter 1

High Contrast Graphite or Ink Drawing
​w/ color or 3D element (how do you have any art class new or old without rendering?  I can limit their creative freedom and make this a portrait or... )
~Change the composition if not from your own photo

Students on an AP track are encouraged to use their own photographs and composition.  ​

We revisit skills learned in ART I; shading and drawing.  

VALUE: The two extreme tones or values are black (very dark) and white (very light). Recognizing the tone or value of a color, rather than the hue, is important to a painter because successful paintings have tonal contrast in them, or a range of values.  A painting with only mid-tones risks being flat and dull.  Value or tonal contrast creates visual interest or excitement in a painting.  A high-key painting is one in which the contrasts in value or tone are extreme, from black right through the range of mid-tones down to white. A low-key painting is one in which the tonal range is narrower.

For the purposes of this assignment students are asked to use 40% light value, 40 % dark value and 20% mid values.  

RENDERING:  In visual art and technical drawing rendering means the process of formulating, adding color, shading, and texturing of an image.  When used as a means of expression, it is synonymous with illustrating.  However, it may be used for mere visualization of existing data regardless of any preconceived message or ideas to express.  Rendering is also a technique that can be used while designing packaging and branding.

A degree in fine art is a general degree that can help propel almost anyone into an exciting art career.  These general art degrees will usually help aspiring artists learn the basics of all sorts of different forms of art.   Degrees in architecture, illustration and graphic design can also be helpful for those interested in pursuing careers that use rendering skills.   

Silk Screen on a budget! 

Screen printing is a 2,000 year old form of printing that was first used by the Chinese. This technique involves pushing ink or paint through a mesh stencil onto a canvas, known as a substrate. The process of screen printing is generally very simple, and it also allows a person to make identical designs, such as logos, on several different items.

Some screen printers may choose to work in large factories, such as t-shirt manufacturers. These professionals will usually operate large screen printing presses. Unlike small screen printing operations, however, these larger operations usually allow no room for creative freedom. These professional screen printers are typically required to simply operate a machine that mass produces items printed with existing artwork.

Qualified screen printers might also be able to find employment in custom clothing shops, and some may even have the opportunity to open their own screen printing business. Operating a screen printing business is challenging, but it can also be very rewarding, since it gives screen printers complete freedom to express themselves artistically. These types of screen printers are not only limited to printing other people’s designs, for instance. They can also create custom pieces to sell.

Although a formal education is not actually required in order to start a screen printing career, it can be helpful. A career in an art related field can help aspiring screen printers fine tune their artistic abilities and jump start their careers.

A degree in fine art is a general degree that can help propel almost anyone into an exciting art career.  These general art degrees will usually help aspiring artists learn the basics of all sorts of different forms of art, including painting and stencil making. Many art schools even offer courses in screen printing.  Degrees in illustration and graphic design can also be helpful for those interested in pursuing screen printing careers.

Web Portfolio, Resume, & Artist Statement - (first year I've used this format - web portfolio and resume for everyone not just AP is new)

How I wrote my artist statement in an hour.... by Whitney Rolfe

​This website can represent the student's AP Art Portfolio, Ziemer Art Scholarship Portfolio, or a general Art Portfolio and resume.  

http://perezchicacamila.wix.com/illustrator-portfoli

http://tionahurd.wix.com/the-artist-1
Why build an online portfolio?.... Every creative industry requires one.   Whether you’re going on a job interview or meeting a potential new client, being able to showcase your work is what’s going to get you hired. But in this digital age you need to work extra hard to stand out, and the way to do that is to present your work online.  However it is no longer just the creative types that require an online portfolio. No matter what industry you’re in you will benefit from building your personal brand online.

6 benefits to creating an online portfolio:

1. Talent:  
An online portfolio is a way to showcase what you’ve done and what you’re capable of. It is an extension of your resume, and provides evidence of your capabilities, as well as conveying your personal brand identity.  With the increased popularity of the tablet you can easily bring your portfolio with you wherever you go.
If you have a plethora of work to choose from make sure only the best pieces make it in your portfolio. The point is to look your best; by putting mediocre work online you might actually be doing yourself a disservice. Don’t forget to link to any other sites that have relevant information about your contributions; such as articles, publications or other readings pertaining to your work.

2. First Impression:
In this competitive market your first impression is everything. By having an online portfolio potential clients or employers are able to get a sense of who you are before ever meeting you. Using a modern layout with your most current information and examples of previous work gives a great first impression, and sets you apart from your competition. Making a consistent personal brand identity across all of your online media keeps your message of who you are clear and cohesive.

3. Increased Visibility:
Having an online portfolio expands your audience, and offers a way for people to contact you. Anyone, anywhere in the world can find you and see the body of work you’ve created. By using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) you will be ranked higher on Google so that when someone is searching for a person in your industry, you will be more likely to get noticed. Without an online presence people will have a hard time finding you. With your increased visibility you are providing a platform for online self-promotion.

4. Personal Brand:
Identity Research shows that one of the first things an employer does when they look at your resume is to search you online. By creating your own online identity you are the one with control over what companies and clients see when they search you.
You can customize the layout, images and copy on your online portfolio to personalize the message you want to come across for your viewers. It’s important that you create a site that is easy to navigate so your readers don’t get frustrated.

5. Most Current Information:
Building your online portfolio with a user friendly content management system (CMS) allows you to update, change or add content easily; keeping your online presence up to date with your most current information.  Make sure your information is easy to find so potential clients or employers can easily contact you.

6. Organization:
Having all of your work organized in one place allows you access from any computer around the world…. Not to mention offering a backup system for your files.

What To Include In Your Portfolio to create a solid online portfolio here are option of what you should include:

1. Work:
It is important to put your best work in the forefront – rarely do people actually have time to flip through the entire thing. The first 20 images should be able to convey what you can do with your talent. Make sure your work is well organized, categorized and curated. You want your viewer to enjoy the experience of reviewing your work.

2. About:
Your about section will give your reader an insight into who you are and what your objectives are. You can include a picture of yourself as well as your interests.

3. Blog:
If you are a good writer then this is an excellent way to show what you’re interested in. You can write posts specifically to leverage the audience you want.

4. Reviews:
Including testimonials or references are great ways to show potential clients or employers how valuable it is to work with you based on other peoples experiences.

5. Contact:
It is so important that people are able to get in contact with you. Make sure to have your social media links, as well as your email address or a contact form, so that people can get in touch with you.

Finally:
Whether you require a one-page site to include your resume and contact information, or a 20-page portfolio of your work, a well-developed and up to date online presence will set you apart from your competition.
Don’t forget one of the most important steps. After your online portfolio is ready for the world to see make sure the link is added to your social media accounts, business cards, resume and email signature… help save your clients or employers time from having to search you.

Quarter 2

Graphic Design (Grid/Thumbnails, 5 phases of Graphic Design, Magazine Design)
~ a picture is worth a thousand words...

Artist Marker Rendering - (completely new medium/assignment and student examples provided are from their own experimentation and not a guided assignment)
This will overlap 3rd and 4th quarter

Students on an AP track are encouraged to use their own photographs and composition.  ​ 

VALUE: The two extreme tones or values are black (very dark) and white (very light). Recognizing the tone or value of a color, rather than the hue, is important to a painter because successful paintings have tonal contrast in them, or a range of values.  A painting with only mid-tones risks being flat and dull.  Value or tonal contrast creates visual interest or excitement in a painting.  A high-key painting is one in which the contrasts in value or tone are extreme, from black right through the range of mid-tones down to white. A low-key painting is one in which the tonal range is narrower.

For the purposes of this assignment students are asked to use 40% light value, 40 % dark value and 20% mid values with a limited color palette.  

RENDERING:  In visual art and technical drawing rendering means the process of formulating, adding color, shading, and texturing of an image.  When used as a means of expression, it is synonymous with illustrating.  However, it may be used for mere visualization of existing data regardless of any preconceived message or ideas to express.  Rendering is also a technique that can be used while designing packaging and branding.

A degree in fine art may is a general degree that can help propel almost anyone into an exciting art career.  These general art degrees will usually help aspiring artists learn the basics of all sorts of different forms of art, including painting and stencil making.  Degrees in architecture, illustration and graphic design can also be helpful for those interested in pursuing careers that use rendering skills.  

Quarter 3

Ceramic Bust Sculpture on Armature (this can be any of the 4 types listed below I've done all at some point, but have settled on this being the most beneficial and practical)

A sculptor is a highly creative fine artist who develops ideas for sculptures or statues, and makes them come to life in three-dimensional form by joining or molding materials together.  Sculptors typically work with hard materials like stone, marble, glass, metal, wood or ice.  They can also use clay, plaster, gold, wire, plastic, rubber, fabric or even paper. 

This art form is found all over the world and some sculptures and statues date all the way back to 10,000 BC. Modern sculptors can be hired to create a sculpture for a park, or a lobby of an office building.  A museum may hire a sculptor to create a special piece for a collection or an exhibition.  Private collectors will often commission work and ask for a particular piece.

What does a Sculptor do?
A sculptor creates three-dimensional sculptures or statues for display.  Sculptors sometimes make a maquette first, which is a small scale model or a rough draft of the sculpture.  The maquette is used to test shapes and ideas and to also visualize without much cost and effort. 

A sculpture can be made with many materials, though they are most often made with materials like marble, metal, glass, wood, stone, clay, ice, or sand. More modern sculptures can even be made out of lights, motion, and sound.  The sculptor’s job is to shape these materials into a particular form usually for display in a public place like a museum, gallery, or park. 

The harder materials are generally carved with chisels, though it varies depending on the medium.  A sculptor may work with a mass of marble or rock and carve away at it until it begins to resemble the structure they are trying to create.  A sculptor might also assemble pieces or mold materials to make a larger structure.  When working with rigid materials like marble or granite, the sculptor must be very careful as one wrong chip or carve can ruin the entire piece. Sculptors must exercise a lot of patience to make sure their work comes out the way they imagined it. 

There are four basic types of sculpture: 
In-the-round -
This is the type of of structure most people envision when they think of sculpture in the traditional sense. This is any type of sculpture that can be seen from any angle from around a pedestal. This is also known as a “free-standing” sculpture. 
Relief -
This type of sculpture projects from a two dimensional background from varying angles.
Assemblage -
This is a more modern form of sculpture. It is pieced together from found or scavenged items with little relationship to each other. Picasso created a famous assemblage structure by using an old bike seat and handle to construct a bull's head.
Kinetic -
This is a free-standing sculpture that moves through mechanical power by either wind or water.

Quarter 4

Senior Wall Mural (we could turn this into a mosaic)

A time honored tradition and rite of passage for our ​Seniors at Phoenix HS.  The senior advanced Art students work together to design and create a mural for all graduating seniors to sign and record their words of wisdom about their past journey or future goals.   These murals cover our common area and serve as an inspiration for underclassmen as they look forward to graduation.  
What is a Mural?
A mural is a very large type of art that is painted on a surface of a building, usually a wall or ceiling. Murals might be created on the exterior or interior of a building.

Murals are some of the oldest pieces of art in history, and they have humble beginnings as crude cave paintings during prehistoric times. As time went on, however, modern man began to perfect his murals, eventually creating masterpieces. Some of the most famous and recognizable works of art are murals that were painted during the Renaissance period in Europe; one good example of this is Da Vinci’s painting, the Last Supper, which still adorns one wall of the dining hall in Santa Maria delle Grazie, a church in Milan.

Today, murals are slightly less common, but they seem to be making something of a comeback. In today’s consumer driven world, murals are commonly used as eye-catching advertisements. They can also be used to make a social, humanitarian, or political statement.
Because of the size of these paintings and where they are placed, artists usually need special permission to paint murals. They can’t simply choose a building or wall and start painting, for instance. However, this does not stop some artists from covering exterior building walls with murals. These types of artists are often dubbed graffiti artists.

What Does a Muralist Do?
Like any other artist, a muralist creates works of art. One of the main differences between a muralist and other types of artists, however, is the size of the artwork. Muralists typically create very large paintings, usually the size of an entire wall or even the entire side of a building.
Ultimately, a muralist is a painter. Therefore, the muralist uses similar materials and tools as other painters, such as:
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Paint sprayers
  • Sealers
  • Drop cloths
  • Pencils or charcoal
Depending on where a mural will be created, a muralist may not be able to use just any type of paint. For instance, on exterior walls, a muralist will usually need to use a type of paint that will withstand the elements.

A muralist should also choose a type of paint and painting style that will help reflect the message he is trying to send. For instance, a mural that is meant to have hip urban undertones can be created with spray paint, much like graffiti. It may be more appropriate to paint more conservative murals with the old standbys, like cans of paint and paintbrushes.

Before a muralist makes even one stroke on his canvas, he must first come up with a concept, or idea, of how he wants the mural to look. Some muralists may be bound by the wants and needs of their clients, such as advertisers or city officials, while others may have a bit more creative freedom.

Once a muralist has a good idea of how his finished work should look, he may then draw it out on paper. The initial outline of the mural can then be drawn or painted onto the canvas, and the muralist can work to fill in the details. As mentioned above, this may be done using one of several techniques, or a combination of techniques. Some of the mural may be spray painted, for instance, while finer details may be painted with paintbrushes. Some muralists might also use stencils to paint difficult shapes.

When a muralist is finished with his painting, he might also choose to cover it with a coat of sealer as well. This will help protect the mural, which will help it last longer than if it was unprotected.

Where Does a Muralist Work?
Muralists typically work as independent freelance artists. Some, however, may work as employees for mural creation companies.

Independent muralists might be hired by any number of businesses and organizations. For instance, they might be commissioned to create murals by city officials, advertisement agencies, or private business owners. Private homeowners might even hire muralists to create a spectacular eye-catching piece of art in their homes. In their spare time, muralists might also create smaller paintings and offer them for sale privately or in galleries.

​Phoenix HS Annual Spring Art Show!!!
​(All my class will do this new and old)

Samples from our 2017 Annual Art Show.  92 competitors total.