Washington High School offers a wide variety of visual arts courses, ranging from Art 101 to AP Art History and college dual-credit.
Classes
Art 101
This class is the first art class you should take at Washington. You will experience many types of art in this class, including drawing, painting, collage, digital art, and 3D art. We will learn about the elements and principles of art through creating projects.
Art Appreciation
In this class you will learn more about how and why artists make the work they do. This class provides an overview of art from a historical, contemporary and aesthetic frame of reference. This is a dual-credit Kirkwood class.
Drawing 1
This drawing class has an emphasis on drawing from life and basic drawing skills with varied media.
Painting 1
In this introductory painting class, you will use watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. You will learn basic painting techniques and color theory.
Sculpture
In this class, you will explore 3D sculpture using various media.
Photography 1
In this introductory photography class, you will learn how to work with basic camera controls, such as ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.
Ceramics 1
In this introductory ceramics class, the focus will be on hand building techniques.
Drawing 2
This advanced drawing class helps you further develop your artistic voice. Focus will be on media, explorations, and contemporary art practices.
Painting 2
In this advanced painting class, you will further develop your artistic voice. Focus will be on media, explorations, and contemporary art practices.
Ceramics 2
In this advanced ceramics class, focus will be on media, explorations, and contemporary art practices. Skill in hand building and the potter’s wheel will be further explored in the course.
Photography 2
In this advanced painting class, you will further develop your artistic voice. Focus will be on media, explorations, and contemporary art practices.
Illustrator
In this graphic design class you will learn how to use Adobe Illustrator. This course is a dual-credit course at Kirkwood.
Digital Imaging
In this graphic design class, you will learn how to use Adobe Photoshop. This course is a dual-credit course at Kirkwood.
AP Art History/Art History 1 and 2
This course is a year-long course where you will look at and analyze works of art within their historical context. You will also examine major forms of artistic expression from the ancient world to the present from a variety of cultures.
All high school students may take this course. The course will prepare you for the AP exam in art history. If you take Art History 1 and 2 they are dual-credit courses through Kirkwood and you will receive 6 credit hours upon successful completion of the year.
AP Studio Art
This AP course is a year-long course where you will develop your AP portfolio to submit during AP exams or to college submission. Portfolio types include Drawing, 2D Design, and 3D Design. This course may be taken during the junior or senior year. Prerequisites include foundations of art and three other art classes, or instructor approval.