Holy Cross High School

Arts Department

Course Outline for Students and Parents

Graphic Arts 20 and 30

Students will study the elements and principles of design through  art assignments.  They will produce a portfolio of hands on projects. These assignments  will help students to develop the basic visual skills necessary to become beginner designers and informed  consumers.   This course also prepares students who are interested in  possibly working in graphic design and related industries.

Outline of In-Class Assignments

1. Lettering  and Typography - Literal to the Graphic - Transformation

2. Multi-media Image Making  -  Drawing Exploration

3.  Perspective - Introduction to two  and three point perspective.  This includes a large drawing of a city.

4.  Poster making and/or banner making (computer assisted)

5. Elements and Principles of Design Exercises - Includes color study

6. Photographic Story - Grade 11- Eight Steps to...doing a favorite or everyday  activity

Grade 12- Creative story using photos and computer manipulation

7. Airbrush Techniques

8. Adobe Photoshop  and Adobe Illustrator Exercises:  Grade 11 - 1. Computer backgrounds 2. Collage  3. Distorted Faces

Grade 12  -  An ad to promote a product using backgrounds, collage, typography  and  some small slight distortions.

9. Desktop Publishing: Grade 11 - 1. Menu and Storybook Cover

  Grade 12 - 1. Brochure  and Children’s book 

10. Scratchboard

11.  Printmaking:   Grade 11 -  Linocut or woodblock and incised print   Grade 12 -  Embossing   and Mono printing

12. Screen Printing

Outline of Homework Assignments

1. Sketchbook/Computer (weekly assignments which take approximately 1 hour per week to complete)

2. Sketch Journal and/or Altered Book  (Collect  and create images which are meaningful and special to you  Both of the homework assignments should take approximately 15 to 60 minutes per week,  depending on the time available - begin the term doing many of these in the back of your sketchbook or your altered book and therefore at the end of the term you will not have to  do these assignments )

3.  Study Graphic Designers, Artists, or Interview of a person in the  design industry and record your findings

Evaluation

In class graphic design assignments.......................................................65%

Sketchbook, art history and/or art careers assignments..........................10%

Journal or Altered Book..........................................................................10%

Final portfolio interview and evaluation....................................................15%

***All students must show respect for all people in the classroom, all supplies and equipment.  Students  must show responsibility for all organization  and clean up procedures. Effort, attendance, punctuality and attitude are all included in the above evaluation.