The Visual Arts classes at James Fowler High School are blended with grades 10, 11, and 12. This means that you can take art at any time that fits with your schedule. You can take Art 10, 20, and 30, and/or Advanced Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture 15, 25, or 35. It is not uncommon for students to take 5 to 7 art classes by the end of their grade 12 year.
The facility consists of 4 separate art rooms. Each room has a different designated purpose. There is a painting studio, drawing studio, sculpture studio, and a clay area with two operational kilns. This makes our art room one of the largest in the CBE.
Visual arts has a tradition of Fine Arts Tours. We have travelled to places such as Chicago, Italy, and Germany to experience original art works and culture. Although we aren’t currently able to go, we will resume the tradition once it is safe to do so.
At the end of their grade 12 year, students will have developed a strong portfolio to support application to an Art program within a post secondary institution. All students who have applied to such programs, including AUArts, Emily Carr, and OCAD have been accepted.
Programs Offered
Art 10, 20, & 30 are a series of courses unified by general goals that focus on the two-dimensional aspects of visual art. Drawing, painting, and printmaking are the primary areas of study, combined with a focus on the achievements of artists across time periods and across cultures.
Art 11, 21, & 31 are another series of courses that are unified by general goals that focus on the three-dimensional aspects of visual art. Sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, and other artisan crafts are the primary areas of study combined with art history and cultural references.
Advanced Techniques, Drawing 15, 25, & 35 is a series of drawing experiences intended to provide serious art students with an opportunity to communicate visually through the exploration of source of images, drawing materials and methods, critiquing and self-reflection and studio practice. Emphasis is on the student becoming an informed creator of solutions to visual problems while developing an appreciation for the significance of drawing.
Advanced Techniques, Painting 15, 25, & 35 are designed to provide serious art students with the opportunity to have an extended exploration of a painting area of personal interest. Students will be challenged to develop specific technical abilities in both traditional and non-traditional painting. This challenge will require students to work in a rich variety of means and materials in order to grow as painters and expand their repertoire of visual experiences.
Advanced Techniques, Sculpture 15, 25, & 35 will provide serious and highly creative students with the opportunity to communicate visually through the study of form and space, surface, history of sculpture, through the manipulation, assembling, and/or transformation of sculptural materials. Critique and self-reflection, studio management, and safe studio practice are expected components of this series of courses that will emphasize the student becoming an informed creator of solutions to three-dimensional problems.
Advanced Placement Studio Art 10, 20, & 30 will provide the highly motivated art student with the opportunity to prepare a portfolio of visual art that will be useful for earning entrance into post-secondary institutions. Successful Advanced Placement Art Students generally have the following attributes:
- A high interest in art and artistic aptitude.
- Their work stands out “above the crowd” in concept and technique.
- The student has the ability to meet deadlines and show focus and commitment to work.
- Creative approaches accompanied by good hand-eye coordination and dexterity
- Post-secondary art program or related career in mind for the future.
