Visual Arts

List of 7 items.

• Art History

  The Art History course surveys art from Altamira to the 20th century, emphasizing mastery of aesthetic principles, appreciation of formal elements, and recognition of stylistic developments. Special attention will also be paid to the historical context in which art has been made and from which much of its meaning is derived. Students study reproductions of major works of painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography, and at least one off-campus trip to an exhibit or museum will be offered during the year.

• Ceramics

  Students explore the creative process as they work with materials and techniques used in ceramics. Demonstration and discussion are used to teach methods and skills in hand-building, sculptural, and wheel throwing processes.  Classes are offered in the school day, after school, and in the evening. 

• Digital Imaging

  As photography evolves into a digitally-dominated medium, proficiency in the digital darkroom becomes increasingly important for serious photographers, as well as for those who use photographic images in other ways. The digital darkroom enables artists to perfect their vision and explore ideas using current technological tools as applied to the fundamentals of photography. 
  
  Digital Photography provides an introduction to the tools and concepts of contemporary photography. Students will learn and use Photoshop to digitally process their images. They will learn post-production techniques and tools such as layering, paths, color and contrast, histograms, and levels as they create their finished works. 

• Film

  The film students learn to craft effective narratives and to work collaboratively with their peers on original projects, which are invaluable tools that will serve students in whatever they pursue in their lives.
  
  Our classes are a wonderful intersection of technology and creativity as students write, shoot and edit their own short films using industry standard cameras and editing software. By studying the history of film with an emphasis how changes in the world are reflected in this relatively young art form, students again a wider perspective on the world.

• Graphic Design

  From postage stamps to giant billboards, from iPhone screens to IMAX screens, graphic design permeates our environment. Understanding how to apply basic 
  design concepts to the presentation of informative or persuasive material is crucial to communicating with an audience. Students must think broadly and creatively as they learn to combine typography, image, space, color, movement, time and form to convey messages in the most effective ways. 
  
  This course provides an introduction to design concepts concentrating on learning how to skillfully combine images and text to communicate with an intended audience. Students will work on traditional design problems leading to a portfolio of pieces illustrating the concepts learned.

• Photography

  In this beginning photography class, students learn to use a 35mm camera, develop black and white film, enlarge photographs, and prepare photographs for presentation. The art of photography is emphasized, with an introduction to the history, aesthetics, and techniques of the medium.

• Yearbook

  In Yearbook we strive to build a book that is consistent to our school’s mission, values and reflective of our history; when it is all said and done we end up with our annual the DEACON.
  
  In class we strive to promote all of St. Stephen’s diversity and works to maintain the integrity of good journalism ethics. Students use the industry standard publishing software InDesign to learn the art of layout, along with digital cameras to learn the art of Photojournalism and editing photographs using Photoshop.