Fine Arts
Learn. Craft. Flourish.
Through our variety of courses, students discover new ways to express themselves and bring their ideas to life. From hands-on ceramics to digital design, the Fine Arts Program nurtures creativity, imagination, and the confidence to create.Courses Available
Studio Arts
- Ceramics I- Fundamental Skills
- Ceramics II – Creative Expression & Pottery Techniques
- Art I
- Drawing
- Painting
- Honors Art Portfolio
Ceramics I- Fundamental Skills
Ceramics I – Fundamental Skills
Course Number: 1193
Grades 10-12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
Students will learn and demonstrate understanding of the physics of clay and basic capability in the three hand building techniques (pinch pots, coil, slab). A variety of surface decorating techniques will be used from glazing to mixed media.
Ceramics II – Creative Expression & Pottery Techniques
Course Number: 1220
PREREQUISITE: Ceramics I
Lab Fee: $30
Grades 10-12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
Students will explore the styles and techniques of modern ceramic artists to solve challenging problems in ceramics. There will be a focus on higher level hand-building, sculpture, and an introduction to the pottery wheel. Surface decoration will be explored in greater detail, including alternative glazing techniques. Students will create projects that combine contemporary, conceptual art with function.
Art I
Course Number: 0881
Grades 9-12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
Students will learn & apply a developing knowledge of the elements and principles of design to produce creative art projects, using multimedia in drawing, painting and possibly sculpture that reflects their understanding of these concepts and their personal self-expression. Projects are designed to challenge the student and to utilize their independent thinking and problem solving skills. Art history and cultural connections will be woven into the hands-on learning process. Specifically, students in this class will learn the prerequisites needed to excel in all other art courses.
Drawing
Course Number: 1185
PREREQUISITE: Art I
Grades 10-12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
Students will explore elements of drawing through use of different drawing techniques, styles & materials. This course not only emphasizes drawing as an art form and means of personal expression, but also a way to increase visual literacy; understanding what and how we see. Drawing students will develop their observation and accuracy skills as they progress through a variety of classroom assignments such as still life drawings, oil pastel, chalk pastel, pen & ink, figure drawing, landscapes, portraits, etc. A wide range of drawing media will be used: such as graphite, charcoal, pastel, oil pastel, ink and colored pencils while students continue to develop compositional understanding. A variety of artists will be studied as students discover how they are relevant in art history and to the individual student’s work.
Painting
Course Number: 0884
PREREQUISITE: Art I and Drawing
Grades 10-12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
This course not only emphasizes painting as an art form & means of personal expression, but will also increase visual literacy; understanding what we see and how we see it. Some drawing ability is needed (prerequisite Art 1 & drawing) before you start to paint so that you can develop your observational skills, and then translate them as you progress through a variety of classroom assignments such as landscape and still life. Students will complete a number of exercises and some teacher-led tutorials before they start painting independently.
Honors Art Portfolio
Course Number: 0806
PREREQUISITE: Art I, Drawing, and Painting as well as a teacher recommendation
Grades 11 -12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
Enables highly motivated students to complete original, high-quality work that may be submitted for college entrance. This course also functions as the prerequisite for AP Studio Art as completing some parts of the AP Portfolio. As an Honors level course, this class involves more time and commitment than regular high school courses and is therefore intended for students with a serious commitment to art. Timely completion of assignments, studio performance, original thinking, and critiques are essential parts of this course. This semester student will be required to complete a portfolio that will demonstrate a range of abilities through the completion of specific assignments, writing assignments, and summer work. Summer assignments are required.
Meet our Staff
Mr. Smith
I’ve been teaching art and lovin’ it at NHS since 2015, and also have a lot of experience teaching at the college level. While there’s a lot to embrace teaching art, I most especially love helping students unearth their ideation skills and creative problem-solving habits. I push them to become lifelong learners, and honestly, they inspire me to do the same. Outside of school, I work as an illustrator, author, and animator – passions that help inform my teaching.
Mr. AJ Smith
NHS Art (AP-Art, Honors Illustration, Graphic Design, Ceramics)
Mrs. Rakoski
Ms. Hart
I’m Rose Hart, an art teacher with six years of experience inspiring creativity in the classroom. A passionate painter and illustrator in her personal life, I bring that same energy and curiosity to my teaching. My favorite part of the job? Watching that “aha” moment when a concept clicks and students are suddenly driven by a genuine need to explore more. For me, it’s not just about teaching art, it’s about lighting a spark that keeps growing.
Ms. Rose Hart
NHS Art (Photography, Art-1)
Photography
Photography I
Course Number: 0710
Grades 9 -12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
While not required for this course, it is highly recommended that students have access to a 35mm SLR camera. How was photography invented? What are the basic principles of exposure to get an image technically correct? What can I do to improve the composition and visual interest of my photographs? In this course students will learn about the beginning of photography, connecting science, history and art - as they explore via a variety of photographic processes how to make images that are technically correct and visually strong in expressing themselves through their images. Students will turn a room into a camera, take pictures with handmade cameras, get into the darkroom and into photoshop and DSLRs and acquire “pro” smartphone photography skills. No camera is required.
Photography II
Course Number: 0720
PREREQUISITE: Photo I
Lab Fee: $30.00
Grades 10-12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
This course will reinforce the skills that students learned in Photo 1. Students will continue to use the essentials of photography and basic photo editing tools in traditional photographic methods for film and darkroom. In addition, students will focus more on developing skill sets and understanding of digital photographic methods. Students will use professional photographic tools and technology to continue to prepare themselves for the future. There will be many challenging assignments geared to encouraging creative problem-solving skills and a unique personal vision. Finally, students will continue to explore past and contemporary photographers to inspire their work.
Honors Photography
Course Number: 1105
Prerequisite: Photo I, Photo II, and a teacher recommendation
Lab Fee: $30.00
Grades 11-12
1 Semester
What is important to you as a photographer? Where do photographers find a subject 2.5 Credits and the means to explore it deeply? Where do we stand in relation to the work of our contemporaries? How do new techniques and technologies inform a photographer’s practice and creative voice? This course is intended for serious photography students. Here you will develop an extended photographic portfolio exploring a subject of your choosing while practicing new exposure and print production skills. Students enrolling in this course should have a growing sense of personal commitment to photography and the disciplined practice needed to produce strong work independently. This course is intended to develop a college portfolio and/ or to prepare students for AP Art and acts as a prerequisite to that course.
Art & Technology
Art & Technology
PhotoShop
Course Number: 1186
Grades 9 – 12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
This introductory course familiarizes students with the digital imaging and editing capabilities of Adobe Photoshop. While Photoshop has a very extensive set of robust features, students will ease in, learning one-stepat-a-time. Though class projects are created almost entirely in the digital realm, this course is rooted in traditional art fundamentals: Students will learn to understand and apply the Elements of Art & Principles of Design, like any other introductory art course. Lessons also cover the logistics of properly saving, storing, and sharing digital image files.
Computer Animation
Course Number: 1152
PREREQUISITE: PhotoShop
Grades 10 - 12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
Animation is the study of and application of visuals in motion. This course will expose students to a range of techniques from traditional hand drawing / design to digital mediums such as Adobe Animate CC. Students will delve into the history and science of animation, narrative fundamentals, character design, motion graphics, and stop motion, with an emphasis on 12 Principles of Animation. Throughout the semester, students will need to hone and apply creative problem-solving skills in their planning, creating and marrying artwork to motion.
Graphic Design
Course Number: 0722
PREREQUISITE: Introduction to Art and one of the following computer courses: PhotoShop or WebDesign
Grades 10 – 12
1 Semester
2.5 Credits
Our Graphic Design course at NHS explores the ever-evolving field of visual communication – encompassing various disciplines such as branding, logo design, and information design. Our curriculum provides a strong foundation in typography / design fundamentals coupled with a reliance on the building blocks of visual language, the Elements and Principles of Design. Students will work in both traditional studio and computer graphics projects, at times collaborating with other NHS classes or even businesses/projects in the community. (Course qualifies for the G.L.O.B.A.L Citizenship Program)
Honors Illustration
Course Number: 0723
PREREQUISITE: Art 1, Drawing, and Painting, or Art 1, PhotoShop, and Animation or Graphic Design
Grades 11-12
Full Year- 2 semesters
2.5 Credits/semester- 5 credits total
Occupying the sweet spot between the expression of fine art and the communication of graphic design is illustration. We see it all around us – From animated gifs on social media to book covers to artwork appearing on stickers, clothing, puzzles, and packaging. This Honors Level course will combine the use of digital medium like ProCreate on the Apple iPad with traditional analog materials. Students will explore an illustrator’s working process/materials/techniques and get a general understanding of avenues for creating commercial art.
AP Studio Art
Course Number: 1171
PREREQUISITE: Three Art Classes preferred, Honors Course Teacher Recommendation
Grades 11-12
Full Year- 2 Semesters
2.5 Credits/semester- 5 credits total
Portfolio Review by AP board is required at end of course
Students are required to take the Advanced Placement Exam given by the College Board in May and must pay any requisite costs for the exam. The AP Studio Art course is a college level year long program and intended for highly motivated students who are seriously interested in the study of art. AP course requirements are significantly more rigorous and students should demonstrate commitment and accomplishment while enrolled. It is recommended for the AP student to have previous training in art or be able to demonstrate through a portfolio an ability to create fine art. AP expectations are for students to strive for quality of production and experience in the investigation of 2D art making , techniques and personal vision as students create an investigative portfolio of 15 works around a theme of their personal choice. The course is designed as an intensive one‐year program and includes summer assignments. Students choose the 2D medium to work in from drawing and painting to collage and mixed media and from photography to computer art and graphic design. (Course qualifies for the G.L.O.B.A.L Citizenship Program)