Course Description Handbook 2014-2015 Rev.2 | Page 24

Comic Arts & Graphic Novels Create your own cartoon character! This course connects literature with the visual arts. Students develop visual images from written text; utilizing comics as a format for expressing opinions, exploring people, cultures, politics, ideas, conflicts, dreams and tragedies. Course work will include a historical overview of comics, writing storylines, designing characters, developing drawing styles, and establishing storyboards. Digital Arts & Animation This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skill demanded in the Computer Graphics and Computer Animation fields. In this course students will develop the concepts for and create the storyboards for various animated pieces. Some study of professional movies will be included. The movie will be created using a series of still photographs of the characters with minor movements between each still photo. This course may be taken more than once to take your mastery to a higher and more complex level. Directed Independent Art (Senior Course) (Cum Laude Recognition) Directed Independent Art is designed to provide advanced art students with the opportunity for in-depth study in their field of interest. A course of art projects agreed upon between the student and the instructor. Students will be required to: 1. Write a contract with the cooperating teacher outlining the projects to be accomplished each quarter. 2. Do research appropriate for each project. 3. Keep a sketchbook of ideas, drawings, and notes throughout the year. 4. Complete the work contracted each term. 5. Prepare a portfolio for art school admissions, scholarship competitions or art shows. Introduction to Digital Photography In this course students will explore digital photography and related technologies. Students will be given assigned readings and writings, will be asked to produce work to participate in class discussion to better understand the physical, conceptual and theoretical characteristics of the electronic media. Emphasis will be placed on the students' development of an understanding of the evolution of and the theory associated with art, photography and electronic imaging. Students will be introduced to the basic technology necessary for the production of their work. Students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to use the tools competently in the production of their work; however, the production and analysis of expressive and thoughtful work is the main objective of this course. Photography as a business (freelance and studio), as well as laws of photography will also be covered. *Students must have access to their own digital camera. 24 Table of Contents