AISD Visual Arts Program

Art I is the foundation of all other art courses. Art I enables students to gain a broad understanding of art. Students participate in a variety of learning experiences, including vocabulary review, two- and three-dimensional art-making, exploration of historical and cultural heritage, and evaluation of techniques. Students are introduced to a wide range of areas and techniques to encourage them to take advanced art courses in more than one media. Students use direct observation, imagination, and personal experiences as inspiration for art works. Throughout the year-long course, students maintain both a portfolio and a sketchbook documenting what they have learned about the elements of art and the principles of design.

Art II is an advanced level course which emphasizes a higher level of art studies than its prerequisite. Students develop their own art interests through the study of trends in art and art history. Studio experiences include drawing, painting, printmaking and sculptural projects. Students will each maintain a sketchbook and demonstrate progress over time by developing a body of work and organizing a portfolio.

Through observation of demonstrations and guided practice, students gain the skills needed to construct original realistic or non-objective sculptures using additive or subtractive methods in paper, cardboard, wire, found object, clay, plaster, wood, and metal. Students analyze and compare trends in sculpture to aid them in making decisions about design, installation and exhibition of their works.  

Painting students investigate a wide range of techniques and media in painting including ink, watercolor, acrylics, oils and mixed media. Themes painting students must explore include still lives, models, perspective, landscape, portraits,self-portraits and abstractions. Students develop their own interests and artistic themes by making multiple paintings with similar intent and subject but with changes in technique, format, media or style. 

Students interested in developing both the skills and concepts related to drawing and painting, will be required to submit a body of works developed around a central theme. The work done in this course will be the foreground for AP Portfolio the following year. 

Students challenge their creativity by developing multiple solutions to the same problem. Students build on knowledge of art elements and principles of design by creating complex artworks, including still lives, figure studies, landscape studies, and conceptual pieces. Students explore a variety of electronic media and techniques, analyzing their advantages and limitations. 

Photography students produce a photographic series, exploring ways to produce emotional content and mysterious or surrealistic effects in their photographs. Students experiment with the effects of light by producing photographs of the same subject under a variety of lighting situations. Students should identify local, state, national, and global issues as sources for their works and interpret their ideas in personal styles. Students will develop a thematic concentration by investigating, interpreting and reinventing a subject by attempting multiple solutions. 

AP Drawing Portfolio students create original drawings in their own styles, developing themes ranging from pictorial accuracy to subjective interpretation. Students will use a variety of mediums including pencils, graphite, soft pastels, oil pastels, pen, brush and ink, markers, charcoal, electronic media and mixed media. Students are required to submit a digital portfolio and take the AP test.

Students enjoy hands-on projects, such as drawing, painting, metalworking, printmaking, sculpture and design. Students learn about various art techniques, famous artists, and historical art periods. 

Students participate in a variety of learning experiences, including vocabulary review, two- and three-dimensional art-making, exploration of historical and cultural heritage, and evaluation of techniques. Students are introduced to a wide range of areas and techniques to encourage them to take advanced art courses in more than one media. Students use direct observation, imagination, and personal experiences as inspiration for art works. Throughout the year-long course, students maintain both a portfolio and a sketchbook documenting what they have learned about the elements of art and the principles of design.