Art IV Syllabus
Helen Lockwood
1. Course Overview:
· Overview – Welcome to Art IV! In this course, students will engage in in-depth, advanced levels of drawing, painting, printing, design and construction. Projects will include exposure to various tools, techniques and vocabulary. At this level, students are expected to work with a high degree if independence.
· Goals – Goals in Art IV include, but are not limited to, student exposure to various cultural connections throughout the history of art, advanced knowledge of tools and techniques, and exposure to artisans currently involved in the art process.
· Objectives – Upon completion of the Art IV course, the student will be able to exhibit:
Ø excellence in discussing and demonstrating competency in the elements of art and principles of design at an advanced level
Ø an understanding and respect for tools, supplies and facilities
Ø demonstration of the difference between decorative and utilitarian works of art
Ø ability to adhere to all safety rules and regulations pertaining to art, and the safe use and care of materials
Ø a command of the vocabulary necessary and useful for creating, discussing, and/or writing about art pieces, techniques, tools, culture, and history
Ø ability to demonstrate advanced craftsmanship (craft quality)
Ø ability to identify career opportunities associated with art
Ø ability to apply evaluation criteria to artistic works and participate in oral critiques
Ø ability to correlate, compare and contrast different art materials and usage
Ø ability to keep consistent records of techniques (sketchbook) and to use record keeping of previous work to plan artworks
Ø ability to use the processes, tools, techniques, and skills necessary to complete art and sketch assignments at an advanced level
Ø creation of independent artworks unrelated to specific assignments.
· Themes – The following themes will be introduced during the course:
Ø Advanced use of various media, techniques and craftsmanship
Ø Elements of Art and Principles of Design
Ø Utilitarian and decorative (non-utilitarian) properties
Ø Art appreciation/Cultural undercurrents in art
· Generalizations – The Art IV class will acquaint students with various techniques and media through examples and student experimentation.
· SOL Testing status – Although SOL testing is not currently done in Art I, this course encompasses the Visual Arts SOLs and supplements SOLs in other tested areas such as Social Studies, Mathematics, English and Science.
2. Course Outline and Detail:
· Topical outline by marking period (may vary according to availability of supplies)
Ø First Marking Period – Review of various drawing techniques; maintain sketchbook/journal; begin artist report/research techniques; art metal/jewelry; pen and ink/positive negative; drawing from still-life
Ø Second Marking Period– Advanced study of silkscreen process; rhythm; unity; digital portfolio; finalize research project (including artist reproduction or representation); sketchbook/journal assignments; color; variety; symmetry/asymmetry; acrylic painting;
Ø Third Marking Period–Engraving; begin research project #2; sketchbook/journal assignments; three-dimensional construction/sculpture; texture; independent project
Ø Fourth Marking Period - Space/perspective; ceramics; complete research assignment (including artist reproduction or representation); advertising design; repetition; sketchbook/journal assignments
· List of assignments – Assignments may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Ø Research projects/papers, possibly including “Shoe” project – artist study, artist representation artwork and Art critique
Ø Sketchbook/journal/”Do Now” assignments (weekly)
Ø Abstract design versus realistic design – comparison/contrast
Ø Advertising design – e.g. business supplies, posters, video storyboard, etc.; CD cover design
Ø Gesture and contour drawing as finished artworks demonstrating advanced techniques
Ø Various 2D renderings demonstrating skill mastery, including graphite, pastel/charcoal, conte crayon, oil pastel drawings
Ø Pen and ink studies
Ø Advanced aerial and linear perspective
Ø Color theory review; color wheel and value scales, watercolor, acrylic painting, including ceiling tile
Ø Printmaking (various printing processes, including silkscreen, engraving, monoprinting)
Ø Ceramics/sculpture
· Readings – Reading assignments will be based on student research papers, class handouts and Silent Sustained Reading.
3. Grading:
· Materials – Respect and safe use of materials
· Sketchbook/Journal – Various drawing assignments; Record keeping journal
· Homework – Research papers, sketchbook assignments
· Participation – Full utilization of class time; cooperation and participation in discussions and critiques
· Extra Credit – Available to those students who have used class time wisely
· Make-up – Students may be allowed to check out materials to work at home based upon validity of make-up request.
· Exams – Periodic quizzes will be administered. First semester exam is mandatory and comprehensive. Second semester exam is subject to exemption policy.
· Summarizers – Student participation in the clean up and summarization of each class is a portion of student grade each grading period.
· Craftsmanship, timely completion of each project, wise use of class time and meeting of each project’s requirements are a substantial portion of each grade.
· Participation in self-evaluation and class critiques will be included in grade.
4. Exam Exemptions: Students in all courses may be exempted from their final exam if they meet the following criteria:
- Grade average of 90% or above
- No in-school or out-of-school suspensions.
5. SOL Exam Substitution/Exam Exemption: Students enrolled in Practical, Standard, Academic, Advanced level courses will be exempted from their final exam and substitute an SOL end-of-course exam for the final exam.
6. Grading Scale: The Division’s grading scale is a 10-point scale.
A: 90 – 100 B: 80 – 89 C: 70 – 79 D: 60 – 69 F: 0 – 59
7. Discipline Plan
· Expected Behaviors – Students are expected to:
Ø arrive at class on time and begin work as requested
Ø bring all necessary materials to each class
Ø adhere to all rules and regulations as outlined in the student handbook
Ø demonstrate respectful behavior to the teacher, other students, materials, tools and facility
Ø refrain from abusive or vulgar language
Ø clean all tools and workspace as requested
· Rewards – Both written and verbal and verbal commendations are used. Cooperation with all expected behaviors may result in the use of appropriate “background music.”
· Consequences – Consequences may vary depending upon type of infraction. Students choosing not to adhere to classroom rules may expect one or more of the following:
Ø Student/teacher conference
Ø Telephone call to parent/Conference with parent
Ø Office referral
· Honor Code – All students are expected to rigorously follow the Monticello High School honor code. Cheating, stealing, plagiarism, lying, forgery, and repeated abuses of technology may come before the honor council who will determine the legitimacy of the violation and consequences. It is especially important that you understand what cheating is. During the course of the year, I will sometimes ask you to pledge your work or portions of it. This could be a test, a project, lab work, or other school related assignments. When you write pledge on your work, it is understood that you did the assignment independently without any assistance from anyone else or without using unapproved books or study aids.
8. Student Planner
· The primary function of the student planner is to teach organizational skills and time management. It must be used for recording assignments in all classes. A secondary function is for hall passes. STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO HAVE PLANNERS WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES!
9. Teacher Contact
· Name – Ms. Helen Lockwood
· Email address –
· Telephone – (434) 244-3100 (school) (434) 295-6513 (home)
10. Silent Sustained Reading - Students enrolled in Fine Arts classes will be engaged in Silent Sustained Reading for a minimum of
ten minutes per class; the placement of SSR within each class will be determined by individual teachers.
11. Appendices
· Student work done by Monticello High School artists is often photographed, exhibited and displayed throughout the school and community. In addition, students are often photographed for educational demonstration purposes while working on classroom assignments. IF YOU DO NOT WISH YOUR STUDENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED OR DO NOT WISH THE WORKS OF YOUR STUDENT(S) TO BE EXHIBITED, PHOTOGRAPHED OR DISPLAYED, PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY, IN WRITING, AT THE SCHOOL ADDRESS.
· In the study of art appreciation, art history and aesthetics, students will view art videos, slides and art history pictorial plates, some of which may include the nude figure. IF YOU DO NOT WISH YOUR CHILD TO VIEW THESE MATERIALS, PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY, IN WRITING, AT THE SCHOOL ADDRESS.
· There will be a $25.00 art fee due during the first week of school. Please make checks payable to Monticello High School.