• 3D Art 

    An introduction to three dimensional mediums in art, specifically clay, with opportunity to grow and develop artistic understanding in form, relief, and sculptural creation. 

    Unit 1: Intro to 3D (Basic Building Blocks)

    In this unit, students will be learning the basics of working dimensionally through working in low relief, better understanding the elements and principles of art and how they relate to form based artwork, and developing craftsmanship in dimension.

    Visual Art Practices: 

    Developing a respect for tools and materials:

    In developing an understanding for the classroom environment and rules and through better understanding technique and process, students learn to better respect and care for the tools and materials allowing them to better work collaboratively, take risks, and assess their process of working.

    Developing Craftsmanship:

    In developing an understanding for material and working over time, students will be able to better develop craftsmanship in their work and working habits. Through working to critique their work, the work of others, and that of master artists, students will better understand what well crafted objects look like. Through working with materials over time students will develop a better sense of that craft. 

    Understanding and interpreting artists work:

    Using art history as an inroad into lessons, students will work to better understand and interpret the work of other artists which will act not only as a way to give inspiration and help students to better understand the projects at hand but also to develop craftsmanship and work to critique. 

    Critique methodologies:

    Students will utilize critique in the work of master artists which will help them to critique their own work and the work of their peers. Through self reflection exercises, students will better hone their own self reflection strategies.

    Unit 2: Craftsmanship and Technique (Building Skill)

    In this unit, students will work to further development and hone their craftsmanship while working three dimensionally and creating objects that are both aesthetically designed and functional.

    Visual Art Practices: 

    Exploration of Technique

    In working further within the medium of clay, students will be exposed to different techniques and building methods that will reference earlier techniques and expand upon them. Students will have the opportunity to use what they have learned and go further with it.

    Honing Craftsmanship:

    Students will continue to work to develop their craftsmanship as they continue to work in the medium of clay. Through experiments, small practice projects and larger clay projects, students will gain an appreciation of working with clay and a better understanding of how to clean, refine, and make objects look more polished. This advancement of craftsmanship is commonplace in all art mediums.

    Combining Methods of Working:

    In developing skill, technique, and craft, students will also better understand how techniques can be combined to create a desired result that may not be available with one technique alone. This will further not only their visual vocabulary but their creative thinking.

    Unit 3: Dimensional Exploration

    This unit will push students to synthesize their knowledge of working in three dimensions to create artworks that are inspired by observation and are based in and draw inspiration from life. 

    Visual Art Practices: 

    Develop Observational Skills

    In this unit, students will better develop their observational skills as they work from reference to craft their projects. References may include photographs or real life objects which they will use as inspiration and a driving force in the creation of work in this unit.

    Transferring Information from two- to three-dimensions:

    Students will synthesize the skills that they have learned while learning to work with sculptural materials in their initial projects and work to craft more dimensional creations based off of reference and taken from life. Students will work to transfer information from two- to three- dimensions, crafting artwork that will require an attention to detail and an experimentation to mimic and portray dimension accurately. 

    Justify Artistic Choices:

    While students have worked to craft objects and justify choices prior to this unit, here, students will need to not only justify but also defend the choices they have made as they work to craft their artworks and in their artist statements, reflections, and critiques. 

    Unit 4: Form, Function, and Synthesis

    In this culminating unit of the course, students will utilize the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout the course to craft a final project that involves a multitude if not all of the technical building techniques they have learned. This unit will utilize the term form and function as a jumping off point for students, either creating something functional with decorative form or utilizing previous functional items to create something with interesting form.

    Visual Art Practices: 

    Self Directed Inquiry and Exploration

    Student inquiry and exploration on this project will be without as much aid of the initial units guiding hand from the teacher. While the teacher will always be there to help and to mentor during the process, with the parameters and expectations set, the teacher will work to conference more and lead less as students leave the creative nest so to speak.

    Investigating Form and Function 

    As craftspeople, artists often must marry form and function together to ensure that something is both usable and aesthetically pleasing. Students will investigate this marriage through the duration of the unit as they examine examples and the work of other artists and as they work to create and craft themselves.

    Synthesizing process start to finish

    As a culminating unit, students will work to synthesize and actualize their project on multiple fronts. From initial sketches and questions, to building, to check in mid-process, to artist statements and final reflections, students will utilize their robust experience to both cerebrally and creatively express themselves.