Visual Arts

Grades: 9-12
Prerequisites: Beginning Ceramics  
Credit: .5 

Building on Beginning Ceramics’ introduction to vessels, students develop more complex techniques and understanding in Advanced Ceramics: Functional Pottery. This class introduces wheel throwing and trimming, covering cups and footed bowls. Students also strengthen their hand-building skills and add to their repertoire of decorative and glazing techniques. Through discussion, pots are formally analyzed as abstract shapes, lines, and volumes. Students are also challenged to view familiar pottery forms in new ways, considering specific functions, relationships between forms, and the expressive potential of vessels. We look at the many ways craft objects record and reflect the care, aesthetics, and values of both individuals and the larger culture.

Grades: 9-12
Prerequisites: Beginning Ceramics  
Credit: .5 

Building on the foundation of Beginning Ceramics, students push to the next level of artistic growth in Advanced Ceramics: Sculptural Form. Students use hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques in this class to create ceramic sculptures. We explore abstraction and realism through slab construction, combining thrown shapes, and modeling. In addition to diving into the rich history of sculptural ceramic objects, students broaden their perspectives by learning about contemporary ceramic artists. This class leads students through the artistic processes, brainstorming, researching, developing ideas, creating work plans, and problem-solving when issues arise. Through this process, each student develops an original portfolio of work.

Grades: 10-12
Prerequisites: Drawing 
Credit: .5 

To draw is to see and record visually. Opportunities to visually record both objects and ideas are provided in this advanced level class. Skills and techniques learned in Drawing are applied in more complex ways, challenging students to develop technical skills while also developing their own style. Students are guided through preliminary exercises that lead to finished drawings, solving visual problems using a design process. Targeted skills include working with a grid, translating value into color, experimenting with a variety of materials, and developing a sense of proportion. Materials consist of graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, ink, and more.  Students can expect an emphasis on portraiture and an in-depth still life composition inspired by the work of Juan Gris. To celebrate the creativity and accomplishments of each student, artwork is exhibited in the community throughout the semester.  

Grades: 10-12
Prerequisites: Painting 
Credit: .5 

Art connects us. This course uses painting to emphasize connections between art and music, connections between art and community, connections with each other, connections between past work and future possibilities, and more. Students apply and develop their painting skills while learning art history, collaboration, and community service. Highlights include painting a piano for a local non-profit, and also learning the ancient art of batik. Materials consist of acrylic, watercolor, tempera, and beeswax. Students are guided through preliminary exercises that lead to finished paintings, solving visual problems using a design process. To celebrate the creativity and accomplishments of each student, artwork is exhibited in the community throughout the semester. 

Grades: 9-10
Prerequisites: None  
Credit: .25  

In an increasingly visual world, an understanding of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design are the backbone of visual literacy. The Elements of Art are line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color. The Principles of Design are balance, unity, variety, emphasis, movement, pattern, and proportion. Students will learn to apply these Elements and Principles in a variety of ways and using different mediums and techniques.  This is a foundational course that welcomes both beginning and advanced learners. Students can expect a balance of both representational and non-representational work. To celebrate the creativity and accomplishments of each student, artwork is exhibited in the community throughout the semester.  

Grades: 9-12 
Prerequisites: None
Credit: .25 

Clay—dug from the earth, formed by hand, and made permanent by fire—is a material of great historical and contemporary significance in both the world of art and in our daily lives. Beginning Ceramics students develop fundamental hand-building skills, covering pinch, coil, and slab techniques. Through assignments, students build an understanding of clay as a material, the stages of the making process, and its use throughout human history. Assignments require students to consider design principles, such as proportion, scale, and balance, and help students strengthen their observational and analytical skills. Through hands-on work, students solve visual problems and create objects that reflect their unique perspectives and experiences.

Grades: 10-12
Prerequisites: Drawing or Art & Design (Instructor Approval)
Credit: .25

In this course we will explore the intricate relationship between different cultures and their unique art forms. Instead of simply learning about motifs, patterns, colors, and lines, we will delve deeper into the core of cultural art design. By studying the art of various cultures, we can gain a deeper understanding of their history, values, beliefs, and traditions.

Projects will include a culture artistry study, exploring colors used through history, murals, fabrics and art. Through this exploration, we will discover how art serves as a powerful medium for self-expression, cultural identity, and storytelling.   

Join us on this captivating journey as we uncover the beauty and significance of cultural art design.

Grades: 9-12 
Prerequisites: None 
Credit: .25 

The ability to draw empowers students to communicate ideas visually. This ability serves them well not only as artists, but also as designers, inventors, engineers, and creators of all sorts. This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to become confident and capable with the art of drawing. A wide variety of techniques are addressed, including perspective and contour lines. Targeted skills include building a strong composition, sharpening observational skills, and using value to create dimension. Materials consist of graphite, charcoal, ink, colored pencil, and more. Students are guided through preliminary exercises that lead to finished drawings, solving visual problems using a design process. To celebrate the creativity and accomplishments of each student, the artwork is exhibited in the community throughout the semester.  

Grades: 10-12
Prerequisites: Drawing 
Credit: .5 

Painting is a versatile medium, with limitless approaches inspired by every culture and genre imaginable. This course introduces students to a variety of painting approaches, both realistic and abstract, both ancient and modern. Students are guided through preliminary exercises that lead to finished paintings, solving visual problems using a design process. Targeted skills include building a strong composition, referencing a variety of sources, sharpening observational skills, color mixing, brush handling, and more. Materials consist of tempera, watercolor, acrylic, and Sumi-e ink, while surfaces include canvas, masonite, and rice paper. A highlight of the course is an introduction to Sumi-e painting in the East-Asian tradition. To celebrate the creativity and accomplishments of each student, artwork is exhibited in the community throughout the semester. 

Grades: 9-12 
Prerequisites: None
Credit: .25 

Did you ever hear the saying, “A picture paints a thousand words?” Do you have a creative eye and a love for capturing images artistically? In this class you will learn to unleash the power of the digital camera. You will learn the basics fundamental elements of composition. Your subjects will be nature, still life, and people.

Creativity doesn’t stop there! You will also unleash the power of Adobe Photoshop editing tools. You will retouch, adjust colors and apply filters to make the ordinary... extraordinary! Students will display their work at the Semester Art Show.

Students will learn the mechanics of a digital camera techniques including F/stops, shutter speed, lighting accommodations, depth of field, white balance, exposure settings, and the various types of digital files. Students will learn about photographic elements of art and principles of design, composition, and lighting. They will explore the history of photography, learning about its scientific and technological developments, important innovators in the field, and relevance within diverse cultural contexts.

Students learn photography best by doing it. Because of this, hands-on learning will be a part of every session.

Each student is required to provide their own DSLR camera, or digital camera that is able to manually control shutter speed and F-stop.  Cell phones are not allowed as camera devices.

Grades: 9-12 
Prerequisites: MPA 8th Grade Art fundamentals or Drawing (Instructor Approval) 
Credit: .5 

Printmaking is an ancient art form that traces its roots back to prehistoric times when humans first used pigment to create handprints on cave walls. Throughout history, printed images have been a means of communication across cultures and time. Printmaking involves transferring ink or paint onto a surface. Students will learn about different printmaking processes, including monotype, relief, stencil, Gelli, and cyanotype. By the end of this course, students will be able to develop an understanding of the history and cultural significance of printmaking. This is a foundational course that welcomes both beginning and advanced learners.

To celebrate the creativity and accomplishments of each student, artwork is exhibited in the community throughout the semester.

Grades: 11-12 
Prerequisites: Applied Drawing or Applied Painting 
Credit: .25 

After years of technical skill-building and guided exploration through various styles and mediums, students in Studio 2D are now ready to approach their work with more independence. Series development is emphasized, and students are challenged to create work that holds personal meaning. The process is guided, while students gain control over choices of subject, medium, and style. The assignments give students the opportunity to build on past successes while continuing to develop skills and grow as an artist. The course is open to all emerging artists and will particularly serve those considering art at the collegiate level. The semester of work culminates in an exhibition that celebrates the creativity and accomplishments of each student.  

Grade: 11-12
Prerequisites: Beginning Ceramics, Advanced Ceramics I, Advanced Ceramics II
Credit: .5

Studio Ceramics is the capstone course in MPA’s ceramic sequence. Students will build upon skills and concepts acquired in previous ceramics courses as they move towards independence. They will identify studio processes and ideas that hold personal interest and create a set of goals that they will pursue throughout the semester. Assignments will guide them through the creative process, including ideation, research, observation, experimentation, revision, and refinement. This class will also focus on creating a supportive class community and providing each other with constructive feedback through discussion and critique. Through research and reflection, students will consider their work in relation to contemporary and historical art, better understand their own motivations, and create a portfolio of ceramic art that authentically reflects their interests and experiences.