Our Visual Art Department offers a variety of art classes in 2D, 3D and material explorations. Here is a description of our courses:

INTRO TO ART 

Prerequisite:  None

This course gives students a foundation in art based on their interest in: drawing, the elements of design, ceramics, art history, art criticism, and a chance to study a wide  variety of artists, styles and media including pencil/graphite, printmaking, clay, acrylic painting, scratchboard, sculpture, and paper collage. This is an excellent course  to give students a thorough understanding of visual communication and personal expression. An important thought: Students who take art courses score  higher on the SAT tests! (On average 59 points higher in verbal and 44 points higher in math. Elizabeth Murfee)

DRAWING AND PAINTING 

Prerequisite:   Intro to Art

This course provides a range of art opportunities based on the class' choices. These include drawing, painting, color theory, the elements of design, art history, art criticism, and a chance to study a  wide variety of artists, styles and media including pencil/graphite, charcoal, color pencil, ink, watercolor, and acrylic painting. This is an excellent course to build a student's creative confidence and problem solving ability through drawing and painting. Students who love art and who have taken Introduction to Art are strongly encouraged to sign up!

BEGINNING CERAMICS

Prerequisite:   None

This course gives students the opportunity to spend an entire trimester with their hands in clay! The class covers the basics of hand building including the  pinch, coil, slab, and slump methods. It also gives students a chance to try ceramic sculpture, and create a wide variety of clay projects. No previous art  courses or experience with clay is necessary.

INTERMEDIATE CERAMICS 

Prerequisite:  Beginning Ceramics 

Did you love Beginning Ceramics and want to build on what you have learned? Then this is the course for you! Students who have taken ceramics will get to choose hand building or wheel throwing as their focus during this course. Hand building will include advanced slab techniques, paper clay sculpture, and large vessel making. Throwers will learn to throw larger amounts of clay for bigger vessels, make lidded jars, and a few more structural and aesthetic tricks. Only those who have taken Beginning Ceramics can sign-up for this course.

Art Studio 2D and 3D

Prerequisite: 2 visual art courses at PHS

If you want the time to explore your own ideas, hone the techniques you are interested in and receive support from your peers in a studio setting, this is the class for you! This art course gives students the opportunity to practice their preferred mediums and to consider how the art they create can address the issues they care about. Students will create their own art while exploring issues and artists, journaling/sketching, and discussing ideas with peers. Their final artworks could come in a variety of forms such as drawings, paintings, installations, sculptures, temporary murals, and performance art. Just as artists do, students will research the work of other artists to get inspired. Students will acquire a new “voice” from their research, experiences, explorations, and creations. “Change doesn’t start with action; it starts with vision. Artists are great at creating visions. ” – Steve Lambert. Please note: Only those who have taken two other art courses at PHS can sign up for this course.

Sculpture

Prerequisite:  Introduction to Art and Beginning Ceramics

Did you love Beginning Ceramics and want to build on what you have learned about 3D art? Then this is the course for you! Students in this class will get to choose from a myriad of 3D techniques and genres to learn, including, but not limited to, clay sculpture, plaster carving, mixed media assemblage, installation art, Earthworks and plaster casting.

 

 

The Visual Art Department sponsors many different types of events throughout the year.

Art Nights/ Art Extravaganza

Families and friends of current art students are welcome to attend these events that mark the end of each Trimester. The evening includes an exhibit of student artwork, the opportunity for students to show their guests what they have learned by making art with them, People’s Choice voting, and a light dinner.

Field trips

Field trips we have been on include going to the Portland Art Museum, visiting OSU’s Visual Art Department, touring the murals of Corvallis, touring WOU’s campus and Fine Art’s programs and checking out an exhibit at the PRAx on the OSU campus.

Outside Exhibits

Students exhibit in and outside of school. Some of the other exhibit venues include the Philomath Museum, PRAx, and the annual Clothesline Art Sale in Downtown Corvallis.  

Service

Student’s participate annually in an Empty Bowls and Soup Sale with the Culinary Arts program to raise money for Philomath Community Services. Students make ceramic bowls and soup to sell to the school community. Ceramic students sometimes collaborate with younger students on making their 2D designs 3D realities, like the monster mash artworks!

Art Club is a student run club that meets once a week at lunch and then after school to do a range of art related activities, including workshops, mural paintings, helping with Empty Bowls, and art fundraisers to go on art-based field trips like overnights to Seattle!