Art 2 and Art 2 GT: Developing Ideas in Media

River Hill High School Art Department

Syllabus
Art does not solve problems but makes us aware of their existence.
It opens our eyes to see and our brain to imagine.
—Magdelena Abakanowicz, sculptor

Course Objective
In this course you will become proficient in a variety of media by creating artworks that are about personal and
artistic concepts of interest to you. In this process you will become more visually articulate, more verbally
articulate, and more proficient at writing about artistic issues. By the end of the year you will have a portfolio of
a variety of works that could be used for an A.P. Studio Exam, a college admissions portfolio, or supporting
material for a GT Mentorship.

This course is a combination of Art 2 and Art 2 GT students. Due to your successes in art the previous year, you
elected to take this class. Therefore, all of you are expected to dedicate yourselves to the challenges of problem
finding, experimentation, and independent research. By enrolling in this class, you are committing yourself to
see your artwork through to a finished state. Artwork will be made in the studio, during class time, and at home.
You should plan to spend an average of three hours a week on homework assignments. (For some assignments,
you will need to spend longer. Some weeks, you will find yourself free of any assigned art experiences—but
you can always work in your visual journal!)

Objectives for Responding and Expressing

-analyze ways artists and other cultures find and interpret ideas through problem solving
-apply sophisticated perceptual skills to explain a viewpoint by suggesting alternatives, looking for details, and
generating new ideas as a result of referring to the masters and their works
-analyze and choose technical processes that best suit the problem
-reflect upon ideas to defend the best solution for making an art object
-research requirements and qualifications necessary for entering a career, which utilizes visual arts skills and
behaviors
-refine and apply creative thinking skills to demonstrate ways artists and cultural images may be combined to
produce works of art
-select appropriate tools and techniques to develop sophisticated and personal responses to art problems
-design and render compositions that reflect a personal aesthetic
-adapt and utilize images and design symbols as icons for use as metaphors, analogies, and allegories
-demonstrate an understanding of ways to assess personal development through the maintenance of a portfolio
-develop and maintain digital portfolio for the purpose of participating in a web-based community

Fundamental Experiences
In this course you will become proficient in:
—keeping an idea book, or visual journal.
—using contour and gesture to depict shape and form.
—portraying the proportion of forms in space.
—describing form and space through the use of light and shadow.
—finding ways to make marks.
—using color both realistically and expressively.
—interacting productively with others in the classroom studio.
—creating artworks based on ideas of personal interest.
—finding ways to connect your life to your art.
—indentifying visual qualities in the work of contemporary and pre-21st century art.
—articulating responses (visual, oral and written) to your own work and to the work of your classmates.

These fundamental experiences will be addressed through units that will combine three areas: topics of concern
to you; artistic concerns appropriate to the concepts; and interaction in the studio classroom.

Assessment
You will assess your own work in written reflections and self-evaluations frequently throughout the term.
Additionally, group and individual critiques—in which the student, the class, and the instructor all take
part—will provide the greatest opportunity for assessing artwork.

Art 2 GT students earn merit credit for this course. By enrolling in this class at the GT level, you are
committing yourself to complete challenging work at a demanding pace. While GT and regular Art 2 students
will be graded the same (see below), GT students will have additional requirements for every assignment, which
will be clearly outlined verbally, on the chalkboard, and/or on typed handouts describing the assignment. As a
GT student, the workload is greater for you. However, the work load should prove quite manageable if you
earned an A in Art 1, received the recommendation of your art instructor, manage you time well, and still enjoy
making art!

Grading
1. Incomplete work will not be accepted; only finished work will receive a grade. Likewise, work that is hastily
or carelessly executed will not receive a grade.
2. Deadlines will be set at the discretion of the instructor. Usually, due dates are set when the assignment is
announced. For each day late, the assignment grade will be lowered one letter-grade.
3. Each major assignment will be graded on a 100-point scale. There are four areas or components to the grade,
each worth a maximum of 25 points. This system allows the teacher and the pupil to evaluate specific strengths
and identify areas that need improvement. The grading matrix will be based on the following:
Presentation—Neatness and respect for your work must be evident in the appearance of the completed
artwork.
Design—The composition has been carefully considered so as to best communicate your idea(s).
Studio Skills—The work demonstrates your proficiency with materials and methods; you have used
your time productively, shown respect for your work and the work of others, and participated in cleanup.
Objectives—Your work meets all the stated objectives of the assignment.

The grading scale is as follows:

A—90 – 100
B—80 – 89
C—70 – 79
D—60 – 69
E—0 – 59

4. The mid-term is a written, reflective exam. The final exam is a portfolio self-assessment.
5. If you are legally absent, you may make up missed work. You are permitted a one-day extension for every
day you are absent. You are responsible for asking me for missed work. The nature of the work missed may
require that you work at school, rather than at home. I will determine on what day and at what time this will
occur.
6. No extra credit projects will be assigned.
7. You may re-work a recently-graded art piece based on suggestions you received, and you may resubmit it for
a (probable) higher grade. This is, in fact, highly encouraged.

Supplies
A sketchbook is necessary to meet all course requirements in the art department. It is highly recommended that
you purchase a 5 x 7-inch or 9 x 12-inch hardbound (preferred) or spiral bound sketchbook of good quality.
Tablet bound sketchbooks (bound with tape only), are discouraged, as they tend to fall apart quickly, which
increases the probability of lost assignments. Should you choose to not purchase a sketchbook, there will be
opportunities at the beginning of the school year to learn how to make one on your own. These dates will be
specified by the instructor and posted on the class blog, as well as on the chalkboard. Again, whether you
purchase a sketchbook, or make one yourself, it is a necessary component of this art class and will serve as a
way to complete assignments, brainstorm, and gather information that pertains to your experiences in the class.

You may also consider bringing in a small, sturdy container to keep a set of supplies that will be issued to you.
This container may be an old lunchbox, plastic storage container, tackle box, or art bin.

On occasion you may be asked to collect found materials or to bring in objects. This should not incur any
additional funds. The art department will supply the rest of your materials for the year. It may, however, be the
case that you wish to purchase your own materials for use at home. If so, take your student I.D. (for 10%-20%
discounts) and check out any of the following retailers for art supplies:

Utrecht Baltimore (www.utrecht.com)

1-800-223-9132
Chase Street (near MICA)

Pla-za Baltimore
410-625-2276
Cathedral Street (near MICA)
Baltimore, MD

Maryland Institute College of Art Store

410-225-2276
1300 Mount Royal Avenue
Baltimore, MD

Utrecht Washington, DC (www.utrecht.com)

202-898-0555
1250 Eye Street NW

Studio Maintenance
It is expected that everyone will contribute to the maintenance of materials and tools in the art studio. This room
is heavily used—each day nearly 200 students are sharing this relatively small space and rather limited
materials. As a result, we will need to take extra care to work together harmoniously! In addition to the
expectations outlined in your student handbook (respecting others, abiding safety rules, etc.), I have detailed a
few guidelines specific to this art class, that all of us must keep in mind. If each of us abides by these directions,
our studio will be a place in which everyone has the opportunity to surpass his or her own expectations of
themselves as artists!
1. All studio tools and materials must be handled with care and respect so that they are in the best possible
condition for the next person’s use—which of course, may be you! Tools and materials, therefore, must be used
only for the purpose for which they are intended. All studio tools and materials must be returned to their proper
place—even if they were not properly stored when you arrived in class. Each of you will be held responsible for
equipment you have used.
2. Any spills or accidents with materials must be promptly cleaned up. (All students who share space at a
table are responsible for that table and are expected to help clean up any messes, even if they are not personally
responsible.)
3. You may leave your seat only to get supplies and to clean up, not to socialize.
4. The studio will be left in excellent condition at the end of every class—tools and materials will be
properly stored, works-in-progress will be put away, the tables and stools will be cleared of all debris. Materials
that may have fallen on the floor during studio work periods will be picked up and stored properly. Proper
condition of your table is your responsibility.
5. You may drink bottled water in this class; however, it is not permissible to drink other beverages or to
eat food of any kind, as those substances might spill, stain, or otherwise deface your artwork, or the work of
those around you.
6. For some people, a little conversation helps them make art; for others, quiet, focused thought is best. In
this class, talking quietly while you work is okay—so long as your conversation is not adversely affecting your
work, or the work of those around you. I will be the arbiter of how much (or how loud) is too much!
7. Finally, since there are so many students in this class, and since you are free to chat quietly, it is
sometimes difficult for me, your instructor, to get everyone’s attention. Therefore, if you hear me ask for your
attention, please suspend your activities until I have finished speaking. If someone at your table in unaware that
I am trying to speak, please let them know so that they can listen as well.

National Art Honor Society

The National Art Honor Society encourages and supports outstanding artistic scholarship, service to the school
and community, artistic endeavors, and good citizenship. Student members of this organization exemplify these
standards, and work to promote an awareness of art and to support the education process at River Hill High
School and in the community. Membership is open to all students who are currently maintaining a 3.0 average
in an art class. Past NAHS activities have included: mural painting, gallery and painting trips, public sculpture
projects, elementary art teaching days, coffeehouses, and postcard exchanges. NAHS members are eligible for
scholarships at many art colleges and universities. The first meeting open to members will be in mid-
September; an announcement will be made in class.