Noble and Greenough School Course Catalog

Painting I serves as an introduction to basic elements and techniques of painting. Projects will focus on understanding color, form, composition and space and developing a sense of individual expression. Class critiques and discussions are an integral part of the course, serving to foster the development of critical and analytic skills. To understand their work within a broader context, students will look at a variety of works from the history of painting and will participate in field trips to local galleries and museums. Working media will consist primarily of acrylic-based paint with the potential for explorations in watercolor and oils.

This class builds upon the concepts learned in Painting I, placing greater emphasis upon individual expression and the development of personal content while building observational skills advancing the technical manipulation of the paint itself. Students will focus upon principles of design such as unity, rhythm, and balance and push their understanding of color theory in support of artistic claims. Group discussions and critiques will be an integral part of this course as will the exploration of other forms of paint media such as oils, gouache, and watercolor.

This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of drawing. Students will learn to use the formal elements of design to describe their perceptions, with an emphasis on drawing from observation and expressive mark-making. Formal areas of study include the uses of line and contour, shape and composition, value, proportion, space, linear perspective, and color theory. Group discussions and critiques of weekly in-class and homework assignments are an integral part of this course, as are museum and gallery visits.

Students in Drawing II build upon skills acquired in Drawing I while developing the ability to think conceptually and critically about their work with increased risk-taking and independence.  As students experiment with new concepts, media, and techniques, they will assume more responsibility, reinventing assignments in ways that reflect a more personal form of investment. Group discussions and critiques will require that students demonstrate a working understanding of the vocabulary of design as well as an ability to analyze and discuss both their own progress and that of their peers. 

Ceramics I is an introduction to the fundamentals of hand-building and throwing on the wheel with clay. Emphasizing functional vessels, students are encouraged to experiment with form and volume, engaging the three dimensional aspects of pottery while also experimenting with a wide range of surface treatments. Class critiques and discussions are an integral part of the course, serving to foster the development of critical and analytic skills. All projects require students to explore a variety of possible artistic and technical solutions.

Ceramics II builds upon concepts and experience gained in Ceramics I, placing greater emphasis upon the promotion of individual expression via experimentation with both surface and form. Students will focus upon principles of design such as unity, rhythm, and balance. Group discussions and critiques will be an integral part of this course.

Students learn the basic technical and creative devices of making photographic imagery in this single-semester introduction to darkroom photography. This course emphasizes the fundamental techniques of exposing and processing film, working in a darkroom and learning to see the world through the lens of a camera. Students will study elements of design such as using light, composing space and examining line, texture and form. Weekly assignments demand that students photograph outside of class time. Critiques, discussion of images from both historical and contemporary photographers and lectures on camera technique also define this course.

Photography II is a continuation of the technical and conceptual foundation of Photography I. This course challenges students to master their craft while developing a personal aesthetic. Photo II has both a darkroom and digital component, covering advanced printing techniques, medium and large format camera systems, memory and storage issues, white balance, software such as Adobe PhotoShop and Lightroom, and the challenge of photographing in color.  Class time is dedicated to in-depth discussions of historical and contemporary photographers, demonstrations and class critiques. This course stresses the descriptive and narrative potential of photography while introducing a wide range of technical skills that students may use to augment their personal vision.  Cross-media projects involving traditional cameras, digital negatives and alternative processes will be introduced and encouraged. Students will create a final portfolio of work demonstrating a breadth of knowledge in multiple medias while showcasing a coherent personal voice.

This course offers students a chance to explore the extensive possibilities of printmaking, from monotype to relief printing to collographs. Because printmaking bridges many disciplines—drawing, painting, photography, and ceramics—students will engage some open-ended challenges as they gain technical proficiency. Emphasis will be on visual thinking and the development of imagery through a combination of process, observation, and imaginative mark-making. Students will participate in either a studio or museum visit as part of learning about the history of printmaking.

This full-year course follows the guidelines and goals set forth by the College Board for the 3D Design Portfolio. This course stresses understanding the principles of three-dimensional design, mastery of the manual skills of ceramics, creative problem solving, and developing the ability for critical analysis. Critiques provide an opportunity for communication and development of a visual language. Monthly group critiques enable the class to discover as a peer group how each student is developing as an artist and solving visual problems. Individual weekly critiques provide for one-on-one discussion of progression. The course culminates with a formal group exhibit in the Foster Gallery.

AP Studio Art is a full-year studio course that enables highly motivated students to pursue college-level work through the development of a drawing or painting portfolio. The course follows guidelines for the portfolio requirements set by the College Board. The portfolio represents the sustained investigation of a central theme and a fundamental understanding of the elements of design. Students complete weekly studio-based projects and homework assignments on rigorous deadlines, participate in all gallery and museum field experiences, and attend all AP critique sessions. The course culminates with a formal group exhibit in the Foster Gallery.

This course challenges students to understand the notion of modernism from the emergence of the avant-garde in the 19^th century through its full flowering in the late 20^th. After defining "Modern" art and "Modernism," the course will examine major modern artists, artworks, concepts and the social, political, and intellectual contexts that shaped them. The course will focus on the relationship between development of intellectual and political ideas and the development of significant urban cultural centers in both Europe and America. Students will learn a vocabulary of terms that will enable them to articulate how a specific piece of art reflects the concerns of a given culture in its material, subject matter and iconography. This course does not fulfill the Visual Arts requirement.