This course is designed to develop both aesthetic and conceptual inquiry while working with ceramic materials. Students will be introduced to the varied techniques of designing and constructing three-dimensional clay objects and become aware of the various technical aspects of the ceramic materials while exploring individual expression. Selected ceramic historical material will be included with an emphasis on contemporary ceramic art genres. (Grades 9-12)

This course builds on all of the skills learned in Ceramics. With a focus on wheel-throwing, this course is designed for the artist who wants to continue their exploration of clay. Along with learning basic wheel-throwing skills, students will incorporate hand-building, surface treatments, and glaze techniques to make both sculptural and functional ceramics. They will also learn how to fire and load/unload kilns and mix their own clay and formulate their own glazes. At the end of the course, students will have a portfolio of photographed Ceramic work. (Grades 10-12; one semester)

This drawing course is designed to develop the basic elements for building drawing skills. The students will be introduced to the varied techniques of drawing on a picture plane. Skills of visual perception through careful observation will be taught with perspective drawing and the use of light logic. A number of drawing materials will be investigated. A historical overview will be included. Students will have the opportunity to make creative and conceptual work in the second semester. (Grades 9-12)

This studio course offers adventurous students an opportunity to learn traditional animation techniques to make meaningful art works. Students work with drawings, paintings, sculptures, or found objects and study animation as an expressive medium. Techniques inspired by direct animation, stop motion, and animated drawings/photos, rotoscoping, and flip books are explored by each student. Students watch animated projects by both historical and contemporary artists to help create a context for their own work. (Grades 9-12; one semester)

Figure Drawing is the study of the human form in addition to studying technical aspects of drawing such as representing line, light, form and shape. Beyond the development of technical skill and aesthetic ideas, life drawing allows students to have the complex human experience of attempting to represent a live person in their work. Students will learn specific technical skills to help them to draw accurate representations, but the class will emphasize the expressive interpretation of drawing a professional artist’s model. Students will study different ideas about anatomy and the human figure in portraiture, drawing, and in other artwork. This study will provide points of departure for students' own creative expression. We will be drawing from professional models that will be at times in costume and other times without clothes. Campbell Hall is asking that you give permission for your student to attend those classes where students will be drawing models not wearing clothes. (Grades 10-12; one semester)

This course introduces students to the major developments in the language of world cinema throughout the history of film. The curriculum includes but is not limited to: American and European Cinema in both documentary and fiction forms; Genre Films, primarily from Hollywood, and the French New Wave; New Hollywood and the American Independent movements, as well as Asian cinema and animation. Every week students will watch complete films, read historical texts on movement/genres/directors, write about films and/or texts, and participate in discussions. (Grades 9-12; no prerequisite; one semester)

In the first half of the course, students spend the first month drawing. Students learn basic concepts of depicting form, space, light, shadow, perspective, and proportion. After the first month, students work in acrylic paint. They learn the basics of painting from observation. This includes color mixing/theory, understanding light logic, composition, perspective, techniques specific to acrylic paint in addition to the care and maintenance of tools. Students learn how to construct their own canvases. The second half of the course is dedicated to improving technique and exploring concepts. Students create from both imagination and observation on a series of works. They are required to maintain their level of technique while exploring creative projects. (Grades 9-12)

Students in this course use either acrylic or oil paint. Students continue to develop basic skills and understanding of color, three-dimensional illusion, composition, and concept. Assignments require students to focus on personal subject matter. For example, students may make work about personal experience, histories, political interests, memories, or dreams. Text/mixed media may be introduced into the work. Students focus on examination of the self through painting. Students may work from photographs if they have a conceptual reason for doing so. Otherwise, the work is from observation or imagination. (Grades 10-12; one semester; prerequisite: Painting I)

Advanced Painting students begin using oil paint. Students learn how to mix oil paint and use different media specific to oil paint. They learn different techniques that are also specific to oil paint. Students visit museums to study these techniques. Advanced Painting students focus on concepts and creating a body of work that explores an idea or concept. They learn to pursue an idea through several different pieces. Students are free to choose the size and shape of their work. Students research different artists who deal with similar formal or conceptual ideas. Students visit galleries and read/research in various contemporary art journals. (Grades 10-12; one semester; prerequisite: Painting Intermediate)

Students will make photographs as an art form using a 35mm camera and the black-and-white darkroom. In addition, students will learn the language of photography through the study of various visual elements including composition, light, and form. This vocabulary will be used in class discussion, research, presentation, and written assignments. Additionally, students will gain experience in critical discourse through group critique. The study of both contemporary and historical photographers will place the medium within a larger cultural context. Assignments are designed to help students learn the specifics of camera operation, darkroom technique, and the visual language of photographs. (Grades 9-12)

Students continue their study of photography on an individualized basis with each student finding their voice as a photographer. Through open-ended prompts, students may choose their own subjects and design unique projects. Curriculum includes more in-depth technique in camera operation and exposure, lighting, use of Adobe Creative Suite, digital printing, book-making, and multimedia. While finding their personal vision, students will continue to investigate various aspects of the history of photography and its traditions, collect inspiration in sketchbooks, and refine their skills in analyzing photographs. By the end of the course, students will have developed a new body of work along with a written artist statement. (Grades 10-12; one semester; prerequisite: Photography)

In this course, students will solve problems and use the medium of printmaking as a vehicle for creative expression incorporating the elements of art and design principles. Students will create original artwork using traditional print techniques. Students will explore certain print processes, which can be accomplished with or without a press. The exposure to a wide variety of printmaking techniques allows students to create posters, books, and stamps. The study of historical and contemporary prints informs the students not only of printmaking techniques but also of historical and cultural contributions of the art of printmaking. (Grades 9-12; one semester)

This course covers three-dimensional processes, materials, forms, and concepts. As all visual classes, this is project-based and student-centered, using inquiry into meaning as a way to explore various technical media including rigid (wood), plastic (ceramic and modeling clay, wire), additive (plaster, paper), subtractive (stone, plaster), and installation. It may also incorporate new technologies (laser cutter, 3D printers). In tandem with these hands-on processes, students will consider the history of artist practices and the questions that artists ask as they work towards the creation of forms in space. (Grades 9-12; one semester)

This introductory course will cover the basic principles and techniques of writing, producing, and directing multi-camera television studio productions. Students will work in a collaborative environment and learn hands-on operation of studio and control room equipment including camera, switcher, character generator, prompter, audio mixer, video recorders, microphones, studio lighting, and green screen techniques. Each student will rotate in positions both on and off camera to gain full knowledge of the teamwork involved in putting on a television program both in studio and field production. For the end of semester assignment, students will pitch a program idea such as a demonstration show, an interview, talk show, sketch comedy, dramatic short, sitcom, music video, etc. to be produced as a final multi-camera television project. (Grades 9-12; one semester)

This intermediate/advanced course is a continuation of Television Production I. Students will have the opportunity to operate equipment such as the jib, Steadicam, spider dolly and mobile switcher on location. This course focuses on both single and multi-camera style shooting for in-studio and field productions. Students will create, develop and shoot a variety of projects such as a news show with entertainment segments, sports, weather, editorials, a music video, commercial, and talk show. Students participate in gathering content and will write, produce, direct, shoot and edit television shows produced by the class. Students will also videotape a live Campbell Hall concert and/or sports event for a live stream broadcast using a multi-camera television set-up. (Grades 9-12; one semester; prerequisite: Television Production I and/or department approval)

In this year-long course, students will learn the basic history, theories, and techniques of producing short-form artistic films. Students will learn skills in storyboarding, planning a shoot, directing, cinematography, editing (both picture and sound) and acting. During the year we will produce four short films, designed to teach aspects of narrative montage. We will also produce a short sound only film, to bring awareness to the vast impact of sound in the filmic world. The course will develop both a verbal and visual critical language, primarily through the extensive critique process, both of student films as well as professional films. One of the foundations of a critical vocabulary in the study of cinema is Mise-en-Scene, which we will build on all year, looking at how contemporary directors have used this language to their own ends. Students can work independently and in groups, depending on their own interests. All students are required to exhibit one film at the Campbell Hall Film Festival at the end of the year. (Grades 9-12; year long)

This year-long course builds on the foundations of narrative montage introduced in Video Production and focuses more class time on writing/critiquing scripts as part of film production. In our continuing development of both a more articulate visual and verbal language, the course focuses on the ‘Mise-en-Scene’ from one film director during the year. We will watch, critique and write about specific aspects of the film to more clearly understand how the visual can articulate ideas to support or challenge the story. In addition to professional film critique, more class time is set aside for the critique of students’ films. All students must participate in the Campbell Hall Film Festival at the end of the year. (Grades 10-12; prerequisite: Video Production; year long)