Art 4: Personal Directions in Art Studio Honors/AP

River Hill High School Art Department

2008-2009

Course Syllabus
(Retain this packet in your visual journal throughout the semester!)

Course Descriptions
Students in Art 4H/AP will continue to build on the body of work begun in Art 3. Art 4 students are
expected to create work that is more technically refined and more intellectually challenging than the
work they made in Art 3. To this end, students will frequently be required to make work of larger scale,
of greater challenge, or of more considered personal or conceptual exploration. Art 4 students are
expected to work more independently and to develop a personal artistic direction or theme. Art 4
students who are registered for Advanced Placement credit are expected to take the A.P. exam in May.
Bear in mind that these students will be required to meet the National Advanced Placement Board
requirements, which may require additional work beyond the requirements of this course. Students and
parents are asked to carefully consider the level that best suits the student’s academic and artistic
goals. Students taking the AP Studio Exam will be required to make 2 sets of slide reproductions of
their art work, to write an additional artist statement, and will—at all times throughout the year—
demonstrate exceptional commitment to creating art for this course.

Independent Study
Seniors in Art 4 who wish to pursue an independent body of work will have the opportunity to do so at
the end of the first making period. You are eligible to apply for independent study, if you:
1. Have demonstrated that you have the self-motivation and self-discipline to work
independently.
2. Have a B-average or better in art.
3. Submit a written proposal. Your proposal must clearly state the theme and media you intend to
explore. This statement may be revised, as recommended by the instructor, before approval is
granted.
4. At the instructor’s discretion, you may be asked to arrange a conference with the instructor and
your parent(s). During this conference we will, as a group, review the goals and expectations
for your independent study.
If your application for independent study is approved, your independent study contract will bind you to
all of the following:
1. You will work an average of four hours per week outside of scheduled class time—at home, in
the art studio, or elsewhere as necessary. This work should include preparatory research,
sketching, as well as more refined, sustained works.
2. You will use scheduled class time to create work that is thematically related to your
independent study. You might create a separate body of class work that parallels issues you are
working on at home, or, you might bring your outside work to class for further development.
3. Finally, you will meet with me for an individual (or group) critique about once every three
weeks. For this critique you are required to bring all works-in-progress or newly completed—
from both inside and outside class. This is an excellent way to receive meaningful feedback that
will help you (and maybe, at times, inspire you!) as you progress in your study.
Your independent contract may be renewed for future marking periods. The renewal is dependent upon
your successful completion of one semester’s independent work. Phone or in-person conferences with
your parents may take place at intervals throughout the term. The instructor reserves the right to
terminate an independent study contract if, at the end of any marking period, you are not abiding by the
stipulations of the contract.

At the close of the semester, you will present your work and research to the rest of the Advanced Art
class. Ordinarily the presentation and/or your final artist statement will comprise your Final Exam
grade.

Course Objectives
In this course you will build a portfolio of work that can be used for college admission and for advanced
placement credit. If you are in Art 4, your portfolio will include a body of work from your individual
Thesis Project.) You will develop your abilities to:
Art 4 Honors students will…
1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the purpose for monitoring the production of artwork
through in-progress assessments
2. Demonstrate an insightful understanding of ways to collaborate with peers and instructors in the
development of a written artists’ statement as justification of purpose.
3. Engage in a sophisticated dialogue with instructor and peers to develop an independent plan and
serve as a role model for first, second, and third year students.
4. Analyze and apply ways cultural exemplars, contemporary and master artists and other
curricular disciplines serve as catalyst for in-depth pursuit of a personal idea for an artwork or
thesis project.
5. Use comprehensive sketchbooks/journals to develop personal imagery and meaning using
written commentary as a catalyst for planning and executing a thesis project.
6. Manage the content and presentation of items in their portfolio by way of selecting, editing,
updating and documenting for an audience, application or professional purposes.
7. Maintain and refine digital portfolio of personal artworks for the purpose of participating in a
web-based community.

In addition to the above Art 4 AP students will also…

1. Establish criteria to be used in the development of personal artwork and defend artistic choices
using sophisticated vocabulary.
2. Articulate the content, technical skill development, and motivating factors of one’s body of
work to clarify personal intent.
3. Analyze, evaluate and prepare personal portfolios to meet specific criteria for further
educational and career goals (AP, college entrance, work resume).
4. Apply creative processes to seek divergent solutions to self-directed, conceptually focused
problems with specific intent.
5. Select and apply specific materials and techniques to communicate the artistic intent of a
focused body of work.
6. Maintain and refine digital portfolio of personal artworks for the purpose of participating in a
web-based community.
Requirements for the Portfolio
There are three essentials to every portfolio:
1. The portfolio work will be of the highest possible quality.
2. The portfolio work will document a range of technical, formal, and expressive experiences.
3. The portfolio work will begin to focus on a particular interest, theme or problem.

In the building of the best possible portfolio, this course will focus on interpreting your own
experiences, primarily through observation and experimentation. At the end of the term, the work in
your portfolio should demonstrate your ability to do the following:
—Think creatively.
—Think critically.
—Take risks.
—Interpret the world around you.
—Experiment with techniques and concepts in a visual journal.
—Create a composition.
—Work in diverse media.
—Depict light.
—Depict space.
—Handle color.
—Draw what you see.
—Respond to or reinterpret works of master artists and artists from other cultures.
—Develop a series of thematically related works.
**You will be required to maintain a Personal Portfolio Plan, which will be attached to the inside of
your portfolio folder. Your will be required, as well, to update the “table of contents” before
submitting your work for a grade at the end of a marking period.

Homework
As this is a Honors/Advanced Placement course, a minimum of three hours of outside work is expected
each week. Most often, for each marking period there will be three assignments, each taking nine or
more hours to complete. As the long-term homework assignment allows for the greatest individual
interpretation and creative problem solving, the expectation is substantial. Significantly, these are also
the works that colleges tend to be MOST interested in because the homework problems have the
greatest latitude for personal interpretation. Therefore these works are primarily responsible for getting
you into the college-level art program of your choice. The homework is given more weight than
individual classwork assignments. Therefore, any student not submitting homework—or submitting
hastily-prepared homework—will be unlikely to pass that marking period.

Assessment and Grading

We will assess each art problem while it is in progress and/or when it is complete. This may take the
form of written reflections, individual critiques, peer commentary, or (most often) group critiques.
Intelligent, thoughtful, and open-minded participation in the assessment process is mandatory, and will
affect your marking period grade. Individual projects will not be assigned grades. However, if at any
time you would like additional feedback or are unsure of your progress, please see me at any time. At
the end of every marking period you will assess your own progress, reflecting on your finished works,
your processes, and your participation. After completing the grade assessment, you will submit your
entire portfolio, your visual journal, and your self-assessment to me for a letter grade. Submitted work
must be in pristine condition. Insure that your work is not smeared, creased or torn; and is chronological
order.
 Other important items that will affect your life:

Field Trips
You are expected to attend two field trips this year—one in the fall, the second in the spring. You will
be given 6-8 weeks advance notice to insure that you can arrange to miss your classes that day and/or
take the day off from your after-school job or after-school obligations. We usually return to school by
4:30 p.m. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of seeing art beyond River Hill High School. As a
member of the Art 3/Art 4 class, you are declaring your passion for art, and with that, you have a
responsibility to educate yourself about art in the world. Therefore, you should view these field trips as
not merely a diversion, but rather a profound educational experience. Exhibits we see will directly relate
to work we are undertaking in class. In the past these field trips have directly (or indirectly) influenced
student’s choices for their artworks, Independent Studies, and college majors. Also, we always have a
good bit of fun! Finally, for at least one of the field trips, I recommend particular
museums/exhibits/artworks for you to see—everyone in the class may have a different set of
recommendations. The fee for each trip will be between $5 and $10, plus the cost of lunch. Any student
unable to attend the field trip will be required to write a research paper analyzing a work of art. Students
enrolled in this class for double credit, should expect to do two research papers.

Winter & Spring Art Exhibitions

There are two major art exhibitions at River Hill High School. The Winter Art Exhibition is held at the
end of the first semester and MayFest is held at the end of the second semester. Plan to show at least 5
works during the course of the year. Additionally, during the MayFest exhibit run, the Art Department
annual awards ceremony will take place.

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 have
completed Art 1 with a 3.0 average. Past NAHS activities have included: mural painting, gallery and
painting trips, public sculpture projects, elementary art days, coffeehouses, 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.

Advanced Placement
Juniors and seniors who are interested in advanced placement credit will send a portfolio of their work
to the College Board early in May. Students may apply in three areas: 2-D Design, Drawing/Painting,
3-D Design. You are required to submit 24 digital images and five original pieces (no larger than 18 x
24-inches); you must submit a duplicate set of 24 slides to the RHHS art department for our permanent
files. (3-D requirements vary slightly.) If you plan to attend college and to study art, advanced
placement credit enables you to place out of introductory courses, and to go directly into upper level
studio courses. Only students planning to submit their portfolio to the AP Board (the “exam”) may
register for AP credit for this class. While I recommend that everyone take the AP exam, you must be
aware that if you do not give 100% in this course for the entire year, you are unlikely to earn a “4” on
the exam—the minimum score necessary to place out of college-level studio art courses. If you earn an
A average for the Art 3 and Art 4 courses, statistics show that you will likely earn a “4” or better on
your AP.
Digital Images
Students applying to the College Board, to college art programs, and to organizations offering art
scholarships will need to present reproductions of their artwork—usually 20 works in digital form. The
instructors in the art department will be happy to set you up for shooting your work, but you will need
to provide digital storage or CDs. This year, you must make arrangements with me in advance to
photograph your work during class time. Only on rare occasions will you be able to photography work
after school. Therefore, plan ahead: Allow ample time for shooting, processing, labeling and mailing
your photo documentation. As this is a technological transitional period, you may find that some
organizations require slides, while others require digital images. This means you may have to
photograph work more than once, or incur the additional expense of having digital images made into
slides. Again, planning ahead is crucial. While I want everyone to succeed, I cannot be responsible for
assisting you with your photo documentation if you have waited until the “last minute.”

Letters of Recommendation
If you have an A-average in my classes, I am most happy to write letters of recommendation, provided
you have followed the protocol outlined by the guidance office. (If you have consistently turned in work
late, or of less than your best efforts, please do not ask me to write your letter if you do not want me to
mention all the facts.) Make sure you ask me for a recommendation well in advance of your application
deadlines.

Scholarship Opportunities
Many opportunities for scholarships come up during the school year. Make it your habit to check the
“Art Announcements Board” by the entrance, where I will post these competitions. You are encouraged
to take advantage of any opportunity that is presented. I will make all of the pertinent application
information available to you, but it is up to you to take the initiative to follow up on it. Any additional
slides, recommendations, or input you might need from me is, of course, available upon request, in the
timely manner mentioned above. I am always happy to help excellent students pursue their goals!

materials
All materials are required, unless otherwise noted.

—A hardbound sketchbook. (This is required immediately!!) Choose the size that feels right to you.
You might purchase a blank sketchbook—as sold in art supply stores and bookstores, or you might
wish to find or purchase a second hand book that you could re-create as your own.

—A tackle box, ArtBin, or other box to store your materials.

—During the first week you will be given and individual supply of pencils, eraser, charcoal, etc., that
you will be required to keep in your materials box. Should you lose your supply, you are responsible
for the replenishing it. Materials that are simply used up in the process of making art will, of course,
be replenished by our art department supply.

—You are required to make (or buy) and maintain a sturdy portfolio—minimum size is 30 x 40-inches.
Your portfolio must have a handle and must be clearly labeled with your name. (You will have the
opportunity to obtain a cardboard portfolio during class the first week.) Always know exactly where
your portfolio is stored! This is your prize possession! Guard it as such!
—Watercolors, pastels, Prismacolors or other materials that you will need in large quantities, must also
be purchased by you. For instance, if your Independent Project will be almost exclusively oil pastel,
you should purchase your own set—which you will, no doubt, need to replenish frequently.

—I provide paint for our first oil painting. At that time Art 3 students must purchase Winsor & Newton
Artisan Water-soluble Paints (OR other similar brand as recommended by the instructor). A
minimal, high-quality set is available for about $34. The colors you are required to have are:
Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Red
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
French Ultramarine
Viridian (Green)
Yellow Ochre
Titanium White (largest tube available)
The art department will provide you with one new 1-inch long-handled brush for your personal use,
but you are welcome to purchase you own, higher quality brushes. (There is also a plentiful class-
supply of used brushes of various sizes—and various states of decay. These must be returned to the
sink storage, whereas your new 1-inch brush is your personal brush, and must be stored with your
materials.)

—Art 4 students who decide to do their Independent Study in painting are highly encouraged to use
traditional oil paints, rather than water-based. If you wish to use traditional oil paint you must have
a metal cookie or coffee can with a tightly sealed lid.

—The art department will provide paper, cardboard, and/or other painting supports. If you wish to
paint on more than one stretched canvas, see me! I’ll point you in the right direction for purchasing
supplies.

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