Art Department

The art program offers numerous discipline-based courses aimed at expanding students’ skill development and conceptual understanding in art production, aesthetic judgment, art criticism and art history. The purpose of this program of study is to enrich students’ lives through their engagement in the many functions and forms of authentic arts-based learning.

Graduation Requirements
New York State requires all students to successfully achieve one credit of art or music for graduation. Please note the Studio in Art course is the prerequisite to all other high school art courses. An introductory foundation course, Studio in Art is designed to address the New York State Standards for Art Education at the commencement level while providing an overview of the major areas of concentration in visual and fine art. The standards are:

Standard 1 — Students will actively engage in the processes that constitute creation and performance in the arts.
Standard 2 — Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the materials and resources available for participation in the arts in various roles.
Standard 3 — Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the arts, connecting the individual work to other works and to other aspects of human endeavor and thought.
Standard 4 — Students will develop an understanding of the personal and cultural forces that shape artistic communication and how the arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present society.

Art as a Sequence of Study
Students planning to major in art must have at least a three-unit sequence of art courses and, if pursuing the Advanced Regents Diploma, a five-unit sequence of art courses. The sequence generally begins in the 9th grade with Studio in Art. The student should then schedule as many art courses as possible during the next three years. Students may fulfill the three-unit sequence by pursuing any combination of advanced art electives in the visual arts that total three units, including: fine art, media art and three-dimensional art offerings. At least two years of the Advanced Art Studio course are recommended for a student to prepare a portfolio of art work needed for college, art school admissions, or AP credit submission.

Fine Art as a Sequence of Study
In addition, students may pursue a five-unit sequence for an Advanced Regents Diploma in the fine arts by taking a combination of art and music courses. The combination must consist of Studio in Art and/or a musical knowledge and attitude development course, along with any combination of electives from the art and music offerings totaling five units.

Students may also fulfill the sequence requirement by taking Studio in Art from the art department and the full-year Design and Drawing for Production or Architectural Drawing from the Technology department, along with a combination of electives from the art offerings totaling five units.

Advanced Regents Diploma
If pursuing the Advanced Regents Diploma, students must choose one of the following sequences:
• Fine Arts - Studio in Art and four units of art and/or music courses
• Visual Art - A five-unit sequence beginning with Studio in Art
• Music - The five-unit music sequence
• Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Language Other Than English (LOTE) - A sequence totaling three units
(Note: Successful completion of the language competency exam at the end of the 8th grade meets the one unit of LOTE required for graduation.)

Lab Fees
A lab fee of $10 for a semester course and $20 for a year-long course is collected to offset the increasing cost of classroom supplies such as paper, paint, clay, developer, etc. Students will be able to retain their work and products as part of their ongoing portfolio development. Additional suggested supply and tool purchases by students will enable them to pursue art outside of the classroom and in future art classes. It will also develop an understanding of the procurement of supplies, the varieties available, and their proper care.

Art elective courses offered for a full year (1 credit):

Art elective courses offered for a semester (¹/₂ credit):

Courses:
5102   STUDIO IN ART
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 9-12
This studio course is the comprehensive foundation for all secondary school art. Studio in Art is a prerequisite to all other high school art courses. In this course, students will have a brief exposure to 2- and 3-dimensional art, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, computer art and digital photography, design and art history. The exposure to these areas in the excitement of a studio atmosphere will encourage the development of concepts and skills in the visual arts and appreciation of world arts and cultures. This course is further designed to develop an understanding of art for students as a life-long learning and engagement process. Students will discover the many ways in which they can be artists. Students will be required to provide the following materials: sketchbooks, drawing pencils and special erasers. Other optional supplies may be suggested but will not be required.
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5122  DRAWING AND PAINTING
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12
The Drawing and Painting course is designed for students whose primary interest in art lies in two-dimensional expression.  Its concern is with drawing, painting, and printmaking mediums and their skills and concepts. Its purpose is to provide opportunity for the acquisition and development of basic draftsmanship, composition and the application of color theory.  Its scope includes acquisition of basic drawing and painting skills, composition, and the use of color in several media including acrylic polymer, charcoal, mixed media, pencil and watercolor. Students will be required to provide the following materials: sketchbooks, drawing pencils, special erasers, art portfolio and an art tool box. Other optional supplies may be suggested but will not be required.
Prerequisite: Studio in Art
A lab fee of $20 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5150  SCULPTURE
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12
The sculpture course provides opportunities for instruction and experimentation in a variety of materials including wood, stone, clay, plaster and metals. Emphasis is placed on developing an awareness of sculptural form, learning to think in three dimensions, and mastering the use of sculptural materials and tools. Students will be required to provide a sketchbook and an art tool box. Other optional supplies may be suggested but will not be required. AP (3D Portfolio) is optional.
Prerequisite: Studio in Art
A lab fee of $20 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5110  CERAMICS I 
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12 
The course offers students the opportunity to experiment and explore the many processes and techniques of working with clay. Students will be exposed to historical and contemporary examples of design in pottery and ceramic sculpture that will be studied as students engage in their production of clay sculpture. In addition to learning various (clay) hand building approaches to pottery, and throwing on the potters wheel, students will learn the basic techniques of glazing and other surface treatments that can be applied to pottery and ceramic sculpture. Students will be required to provide a sketchbook and an art tool box along with some basic ceramic tools. 
Prerequisite: Studio in Art
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5112  CERAMICS II
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
Students will continue to explore further possibilities in the area of clay pottery and ceramic sculpture. New materials and processes will be introduced such as stone, plaster, mold making, casting and carving techniques.  There will be an emphasis on the development of awareness of sculptural form, thinking in three dimensions, and mastering the use of sculptural materials and tools. Students will be required to provide a sketchbook, an art tool box and any special supplies.
Prerequisite: Ceramics I
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5128  JEWELRY AND METAL WORK I
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
This course offers students the opportunity to explore and experiment with a variety of processes and techniques as they develop an understanding of design concepts of jewelry, metalworking and sculpture. The materials and techniques range from: silver, copper, brass, enameling, brazing, soldering, polymer clay, and ceramic clay to plaster and glass. The course will prepare students with a foundation of the fundamental skills and design concepts for Jewelry and Metal Work II. Students will be required to provide a sketchbook and any special supplies. Other optional supplies may be suggested but will not be required. 
Prerequisite: Studio in Art
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5130  JEWELRY AND METAL WORK II
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
Students will continue to explore further possibilities in working with metals, clays and stone, as well as new materials and techniques such as wood, plaster and casting. The emphasis is placed on developing their awareness of sculptural form, thinking in three dimensions and mastering the use of sculptural materials and tools. Students will be required to provide a sketchbook and any special supplies.
Prerequisite: Jewelry and Metal Work I 
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5138  PHOTOGRAPHY I
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
Students will learn basic darkroom techniques, including developing black and white negatives, enlarging prints and making aesthetic evaluation of work through weekly critiques. Composition, subject selection, tonal values and print quality will be stressed. It is strongly recommended that each student have the use of a 35mm camera with adjustable shutter, F stop, etc., although a “point and shoot” 35mm camera can be used. Students will be expected to supply their own film and paper with a cost to the student of around $50. The photography course will require work outside of regular class time. 
Prerequisite: Studio in Art
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5140  PHOTOGRAPHY II
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
Students will learn alternative darkroom techniques, including Posterization, Solarization, and Sepia Toning, as well as creative digital enhancement and manipulation using Adobe Photoshop. It is preferred that each student have the use of a 35mm camera with adjustable shutter, F stop, etc. Students will be expected to supply their own film and paper with a cost to the student of around $50. The photography course will require work outside of regular class time. 
Prerequisite: Photography I
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5170  STUDIO IN VIDEO I 
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
This video film making course is designed to introduce the student to the basic techniques of using video as a media for creative expression. It includes writing, planning, producing and directing.  Editing and dubbing techniques will also be explored. Past and present films will be shown to expose students to film as art. Designed as an art course, this might be of interest to the English or history student who wishes to explore a new means of expressing his/her ideas. Although it is helpful if students have access to a camcorder, video equipment can be signed out on a daily basis through the school. This course will require work outside of regular class time.
Prerequisite: Studio in Art
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5172  STUDIO IN VIDEO II
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
This video film making course is a continuation of Studio In Video I. Students may explore various techniques such as claymation, computer animation, multimedia presentation and several other techniques possible with this media. Although it is helpful if students have access to a camcorder, video equipment can be signed out on a daily basis through the school. This course will require work outside of regular class time.
Prerequisite: Studio In Video I
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.      

5160  STUDIO IN COMPUTER ARTS
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
This elective course will teach the elements and principles of design through the medium of computers and digital technology. It is intended for the student who is interested in learning about new technologies and using them to create art in immediate and real-life ways. Students will learn the following:
• The fundamentals of two-dimensional art and cell animation
• The use of digital cameras, Photoshop, and Painter to explore digital imagery
• Three-dimensional modeling and animation using the award-winning software Lightwave 3D
• Two-dimensional animation, editing, and sound sampling with Flash
• The production of logos, titling and other graphic design work using Illustrator
Prerequisite: Studio in Art. Under special circumstances, the student may ask for instructor permission.
A lab fee of $10 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

ADVANCED STUDY IN ART
All students must have previous experience in the subject area they choose; recommended preparation is a minimum B average in preparatory courses. These are advanced studio courses in which the talented or highly-motivated art student can work in a heavily enriched program. The student may choose the area that he/she wishes to concentrate in. All advanced courses may be taken for as many semesters as the student chooses. All advanced art courses are honors level.

5142 ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY H
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12
5144 ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY H
1 semester  1/2 credit  Grades 10-12
This course is designed to help students build design skills, including the ability to research, plan, and execute work in a systematic manner. Each assignment contains a degree of flexibility, giving students choice of subject matter. The student will be expected to supply his/her own film and paper with a cost to the student of around $50. AP (2D Portfolio) is optional.
Prerequisite: Photo II
A commitment to the photo process is mandatory. A lab fee of $10/$20 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

5104 ADVANCED ART STUDIO H
1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12
Open to students recommended by an art teacher, department director or parent.
•This course should be taken for two consecutive years.
•An enriched studio situation for students doing advanced work in a variety of 2-D and 3-D art media.
•Art majors wishing to improve their skills in various art media with an emphasis on drawing and painting, three-dimensional work and mixed media.
•Students developing portfolios for college, art school or AP consideration.
•Students may choose to prepare and submit an AP Drawing Portfolio at the end of their second year in the course or their senior year. The portfolio requires 24 unique works of art.
•This course will require work outside of regular class time.
Students will be required to provide the following materials: sketchbooks, drawing pencils, special erasers, art portfolio and art tool box. Other optional supplies may be suggested but will not be required.
Prerequisite: Drawing and Painting or portfolio review and instructor's permission under special circumstances.
A lab fee of $20 will be collected to offset the cost of classroom supplies.

ADDITIONAL ADVANCED ART COURSE OFFERINGS
Depending on enrollment, students enrolled in the following courses may meet in regular sections of each, but will follow an advanced curriculum. All advanced students will be required to provide similar supplies to those required for the prerequisite courses.

1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12
1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12
5134  Advanced Jewelry H
5152  Advanced Sculpture H         
5116  Advanced Ceramics H
5176  Advanced Studio in Video H
5166  Advanced Studio in Computer Arts H

• Niskayuna High School art students may apply for school credit for course work taken outside of school such as Junior College of Albany’s “Summer Arts Program,” New York State’s “Summer School of the Arts,” private lessons, etc.
• Programs with which we are familiar and that provide documentation for and evaluation of student work accomplished in their program will be granted credit with prior approval of the art director.
• Students taking other programs that do not provide us with that information, or with which we are not familiar, must present a portfolio of their work to the art director.  The director will evaluate the work and decide whether or not school credit may be granted for the work accomplished in that particular program.
• Prior approval must be granted by the art director if students wish to be considered for school credit.

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