The Visual Arts program encourages innovation while stressing strong technical and presentation skills. The program also promotes an awareness of current issues and ideas in the visual arts as they relate to contemporary society. The comprehensive curriculum allows students to build upon a foundation of Design Concepts and Drawing I in their freshman year and continues with studio, art history, and portfolio development classes with their experience culminating with an intensive Senior Project.

COURSE OFFERINGS

​2-D

DESIGN CONCEPTS
DRAWING I
DRAWING II
DRAWING III
DRAWING IV
PAINTING I
PAINTING II
​PAINTING III
PHOTOGRAPHY I
​PHOTOGRAPHY II
​​PHOTOGRAPHY III
​ART HISTORY
3-D

SCULPTURE I
SCULPTURE II
SCULPTURE III
SCULPTURE IV
CERAMICS I
CERAMICS II
​INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
DIGITIAL

GRAPHIC DESIGN I
GRAPHIC DESIGN II
GRAPHIC DESIGN III
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLISHING

​FRESHMAN YEAR
Required courses:
  • 2D/3D Design Concepts:​
                   Design concepts is taught in two separate classes, a 2D Design Concepts class taught by Ms. Carpenter, and a 3D Design Concepts class taught by Ms. Whittier. Each class is a semester long. The course is aimed to teach Freshmen students the basics of design that they will implement throughout their time at ARGS. 
  • Drawing I: 
                    Drawing I is taught by Mr. Bartlett and teaches Freshmen Visual Arts majors the fundamentals of drawing. The class focuses on introducing students to new techniques, critiquing their peer's work and fostering their creativity, self-expression and self-confidence.
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SOPHOMORE YEAR
Available courses:
  • Drawing II:
                     Drawing II, taught by Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Odom, Drawing II goes more in depth with the concepts and techniques taught in Drawing I and gives students more freedom to explore and develop their personal style.
  • Sculpture I/II
                          Sculpture I/II, taught by Ms. Whittier, takes the basics learned by students in 3D Design Concepts and expands on them. Students work on assignments that help them explore new mediums and techniques. They will then hold group critiques with their peers to gain new perspectives on their work. 
  • Painting I
                         Painting I, taught by Mr. Bartlett, introduces students to the fundamentals of painting for the first time. Students will work on assignments aimed at teaching them the building blocks of the medium, with lessons focusing on color, composition, and light.  
  • Graphic Design I
                         Graphic Design I, taught by Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Odom, introduces students to the technology and techniques needed for design. Students will be introduced to and taught to utilize Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign programs. Students will also explore elements of typography, color, and learn about modern graphic designers. 
  • Ceramics I
                         Ceramics I, taught by Ms. Whittier, introduces students to clay medium and techniques. Students focus on learning the foundations of clay molding and create abstract clay pieces as well as plates, cups and bowls. 
  • Photography I
                         Photography I, taught by Ms. Carpenter, focuses on traditional photography and printing techniques. Students will be introduced to the functions of their camera and the fundamentals of light and composition.
  • Digital Photography
                         Digital Photography, taught by Ms. Carpenter, focuses on photo manipulation and editing. Students will be taught to navigate Photoshop and other editing programs. Students will also be introduced to the functions of their camera and the fundamentals of light and composition.
  • Industrial Design
                         Industrial Design, taught by Ms. Odom, introduces students to the process of product design in regards to aesthetics, comfort, safety, and the environment. Students will be introduced to Adobe Illustrator and Blender for the design process, along with hand construction and 3D printing to create models and prototypes of student designs. 

JUNIOR YEAR
Available courses:
  • Drawing II/III
                    Taught by Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Odom, Drawing II and III goes more in depth with the concepts and techniques taught in Drawing I and gives students more freedom to explore and develop their personal style.
  • Painting I/II
                       Painting I, taught by Mr. Bartlett, and II, taught by Ms. Whittier. Painting II gives students more freedom in exploring the medium, and students hold critiques of their peers works. Painting II students are also free to design and work on a group mural somewhere in the school. 
  • Sculpture I/II/III
                        Sculpture I/II/III, taught by Ms. Whittier gives students opportunity to explore three dimensional materials. Sculpture III students are given more freedom to work on independent pieces for their portfolios. 
  • Ceramics I/II
                       Ceramics I/II, taught by Ms. Whittier, teaches students clay molding techniques and fundamentals. Ceramics II gives students more freedom to explore the medium and work outside their comfort zone.
  • Photography I/II
                       Photography I/II, taught by Ms. Carpenter, focuses on traditional photography and printing techniques. Photography II goes more in depth with these studies and allows students more freedom to explore their photography. 
  • All digital courses
                      Graphic Design I/II/III and Digital Photography are taught by Mr. Bartlett. Ms. Carpenter and Ms. Odom. Digital courses focus on teaching students Adobe programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator to implement in design and photography. 
  • Industrial Design
                         Industrial Design, taught by Ms. Odom, introduces students to the process of product design in regards to aesthetics, comfort, safety, and the environment. Students will be introduced to Adobe Illustrator and Blender for the design process, along with hand construction and 3D printing to create models and prototypes of student designs. 

Required courses:
  • ​Art History
                    Art History, taught by Mr. Bartlett, teaches students about art movements, artists and the development of certain mediums. Students will learn in depth about the artists that may have been mentioned in their studio classes, and will gain a greater knowledge and appreciation for art as a whole.

SENIOR ​YEAR
Available courses:
  • Drawing II/III/IV
                   Taught by Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Odom, Drawing IV gives students freedom to develop work for their portfolio and work outside their comfort zones. 
  • Painting I/II/III
                      Painting I, taught by Mr. Bartlett, and II/III, taught by Ms. Whittier. Painting II/III gives students more freedom in exploring the medium, working on portfolio pieces, and students hold critiques of their peers works. Painting II/III students are also free to design and work on a group mural somewhere in the school. 
  • Photography I/II/III
                     Photography I/II/III, taught by Ms. Carpenter, focuses on traditional photography and printing techniques. Photography II/III goes more in depth with these studies and allows students more freedom to explore their photography.
  • All 3D courses
                       Sculpture I/II/III/IV and Ceramics I/II, taught by Ms. Whittier,  gives students opportunity to explore three dimensional materials such as clay, paper, and wire. Sculpture III/IV students are given more freedom to work on independent pieces for their portfolios. 
  • All digital courses​
                       Graphic Design I/II/III and Digital Photography are taught by Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Odom. Digital courses focus on teaching students Adobe programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator to implement in design and photography.
  • Industrial Design
                         Industrial Design, taught by Ms. Odom, introduces students to the process of product design in regards to aesthetics, comfort, safety, and the environment. Students will be introduced to Adobe Illustrator and Blender for the design process, along with hand construction and 3D printing to create models and prototypes of student designs. 
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Required courses:
  • ​Senior Project
                      Senior Project, taught by Ms. Carpenter, is a class for senior visual art majors to develop their portfolio, artist website and other portfolio works. A visual arts major's ARGS career culminates into their Senior Project, which this class will be devoted to.


* all schedules are flexible and students who showcase an adept knowledge of the subject of one class may be allowed to skip to higher levels that suit their skill level