Art
Contact the Art Department
Department Phone Number:
240-740-5526
Staff
Ray Fowle - Resource Teacher
COURSES
ARTS AND HUMANITIES ACADEMY
The following listing of art courses is designed to make students aware of the art classes offered at Magruder High School, as well as the necessary prerequisites needed to reach the ADVANCED STUDIO level courses needed for the Arts and Humanities Academy. All of the courses listed below can be used to fulfill the Maryland State requirement for high school graduation of one full credit of fine arts.
• Ceramics 1, 2, 3 and Advanced Studio/Ceramics 4: (Grades 9-12) Ceramics 1 will explore hand-building techniques, glazing, and an introduction to the potter’s wheel. Ceramics 1 serves as the prerequisite for Ceramics 2, the next level course that emphasizes more sophisticated techniques in sculpture, hand-building, the potter’s wheel, and the chemical processes of glazing. Ceramics 3 and 4 builds on the skills learned in the prerequisite ceramics courses and concentrate on the form and function of ceramic pieces. Student projects will reflect expanded techniques and aesthetic appeal. Historical influences, including that of contemporary potters, will be explored.
• Commercial Art A/B and Advanced Studio/Commercial Art: (Grades 9-12) These art courses emphasize design in advertising and the production of promotional art such as logos, movie posters, book covers, brochures, and much more. Students experience a variety of traditional art materials as well as computer graphics, the scanner, and software such as: Painter, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Pagemaker.
• Fundamentals of Art A/B: (Grades 9-12) This is a beginning course whereby students learn basic skills in design, drawing, painting, and sculpture. Pencil, pastel, tempera paint, watercolor, pen and ink, and papier-mâché are a few of the many areas explored. Two semesters of this course (A and B) fulfills the fine arts requirement and serves as a prerequisite for Commercial Art and Studio Art classes.
• Photography 1, 2, and Advanced Studio/Photo 3: (Grades 9-12) In Photography 1, an introductory course that fulfills the fine arts credit requirement, students learn how to use a camera, develop film, and print black and white photographs. Photography 1 serves as a prerequisite for Photography 2, the next level course that explores additional dark room and camera techniques. Students have the opportunity to combine traditional photography with computers, the scanner, and digital imaging software. Advanced Studio/Photo 3 students expand on photographic skills and portfolio development while concentrating on their chosen areas of interest (Photo 2 prerequisite). It is recommended that students have access to their own 35mm manual camera (focus, aperture, and shutter speed are manually set). Examples: Pentax K1000, Pentax ZX-M, Nikon FM10
• Studio Art 1, 2, 3, Advanced Studio Art, and AP Studio Art: (Grades 10-12) The Studio Art courses address technical and freehand approaches to two-dimensional art through a variety of mediums such as pen and ink, pencil, water color, and acrylic paints. Students expand on skills by studying composition and the principles and elements of art through drawing, painting, and sculpture. In the Studio Art 2, 3 and Advanced level courses, students further develop skills and expand individual portfolios for art show exhibitions as well as the college application and scholarship process. AP Studio Art explores a more personal development of artwork through a variety of projects, while fulfilling the AP requirements for portfolio presentation.
