Art Website 

(This site includes videos and information for all the Franklin Arts offerings).

Course Offerings:

The mission of Franklin’s Visual Arts Department is to offer an excellent education in design and the visual arts. The classes offer a solid grounding in the fundamentals and principles of art, multicultural art, art history, perception, organization and self-expression. Courses will prepare students for further education at the college level or a potential career in liberal arts.

Art 1-2: Beginning Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. No Prerequisite Grades 9-12 Beginning class explores discipline-based applications of the Elements and Principles of Art and Design. Students will use a variety of media. Drawing, painting, printmaking and other media are strong foci for this class. Art History will be included in the curriculum. Art 1-2 is required to be successfully completed in order to continue the sequence of visual art courses. Course aligned with National Core Art Standards.

Art 3-4: Intermediate Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: Art 1-2: Beginning or Portfolio Grades 10-12 This course will continue the emphasis on composition and design skills using a variety of media. This course will continue the study of drawing, painting and printmaking. Art History will have a stronger emphasis in this course. Students will also participate in class critiques analyzing their own as well as their classmates art. Portfolio development will be introduced in this course. Course aligned with National Core Art Standards.

Art History: Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. No Prerequisite Grades 10-12 This is a course designed to introduce students to Art history. This Art History course is designed to allow students to examine major forms of artistic expression through a variety of formats such as video, essays, drawing, photography and painting covering cave paintings to the present. The focus will be on art history from the mid 1800’s to the present, with a concentration on the 20th century. Students acquire an ability to examine works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to articulate their thoughts and experiences. All art courses are aligned with National Core Art Standards.

AP Studio Art: 2-D Design Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: Two Art credits (not including ceramics) Grades 11-12 This is a course intended for students who are interested in pursuing the study of art in higher education and as a career. This course will have students build a portfolio of work that demonstrates the mastery of 2-D design through any two dimensional process. Design involves purposeful decision making in using the Elements and Principles in an integrative way. The program is a one year program developing fifteen pieces exploring a student generated Inquiry Question. Portfolios are graded on process, experimenting with materials, written explanation and synthesis of materials. Working outside of class is critical for the success of developing a strong portfolio. This is a rigorous, fast-paced class. Students should expect to spend at least ten hours per piece and have a finished piece due every week to two weeks. Portfolios are due the first week of May. All work will be photographed and uploaded to the College Board website. Students who score well on the portfolio receive college credit. All art courses are aligned with National Core Art Standards.

Photography 1-2: Foundations Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: Basic computer skills Grades 9-12 This is an introductory survey class in which students will acquire skills in digital photography in the context of a fine arts class. Students will explore photographic composition and framing techniques through the use of digital cameras. The majority of class time is spent on computers working with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop and a variety of Google programs such as Google docs, classroom, slides and sites. There will be sometimes during class for shooting photographs but outside class time will be needed for getting most photographs. Students will be writing about their work and doing research on other contemporary photographers. The emphasis will be in online presentations rather than printed work. Course aligned with the National Core Art Standards.

Photography 3-4: Intermediate Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) Prerequisite: Photography 1-2: Foundations Grades 10-12 This class is geared to the student who wants to further explore fine arts photography. They will learn more advanced digital skills in Photoshop and Lightroom and explore stop motion photography and layout design. Periodic oral and written critiques allow students to develop analytical, reflective and critical thinking skills. There will be opportunities for students to relate with professionals in the field of photography through guest speakers. Art History related to photography will have a larger emphasis in this course as well. The course content, instruction and assessments are aligned with the National Core Art Standards.

Ceramics 1-2: Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. No Prerequisite Grades 9-12 This introductory course exposes students to both wheel throwing and hand built techniques (slab, slab cylinder, pinch, coil, drape construction). Students will also be familiarized with both safety and best practice protocols in the ceramics lab. Students will learn to throw basic forms such as bowls and cylinders. They will also make various hand built pieces including mugs, geometric and organic forms, and other functional and non-functional pieces. Students will learn how to apply under glazes and over glazes and about various decorative firing techniques.

Ceramics 3-4: Intermediate Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: Ceramic 1-2 Grades 10-12 This course emphasis understanding already learned in Ceramics 1-2. Students will further investigate more advanced firing and glazing techniques in the ceramic arts. Ceramics 3-4 is designed for students who have already completed Ceramics I-2 and want to perfect and refine their ability, craft and design. New techniques will be introduced and applied in more complex ways than in Ceramics 1-2. New firing techniques will also be introduced such as under glazing, stains, and oxide application. Students will also develop a body of work to be used in a portfolio or showcased in school or community exhibition

Ceramics 5-6: Advanced Course credit earned: Fine Arts or Elective (1.0) May be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: Ceramics 3-4: Intermediate Grades 11-12 This course is for students who have already studied ceramics and want to enhance their skills in both wheel throwing, hand building and glazing. This class is for serious ceramic artists who want to pursue a career in ceramic production or want to study the ceramic arts in college. In Ceramics 5-6, students will continue to develop skills and knowledge in ceramic design and create work at a highly advanced level. Ceramic 5-6 students will also incorporate advanced techniques in surface design and glazing. Student work will also demonstrate technical mastery and proficiency and aesthetic craft. This body of work will be developed into a digital portfolio used for college admission or as professional collateral for entry level employment in the ceramic arts