ART I 

course description

Overview:

The demands of the 21st century require today’s students to live and work in a rapidly changing technological society. Through art education, students develop visual literacy, learning to perceive and respond to the visual world with increased awareness and discriminating judgment. Education in the visual arts must have a significant place in a balanced school curriculum. Comprehensive art curricula should be conceptually based, sequentially developed and focused on both creative and critical thinking to enable students to become self-confident, self-governing, and contributing members of society.

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Students explore the many ways art contributes

to culture and examine the power of art to raise social consciousness. Participation in strong art programs based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for

art develops powerful skills of observation and engenders true appreciation of the role of art in society. In addition, art exercises students’ critical and creative thinking

processes, helping them articulate and solve problems in multiple ways.

Through the study of art and artists of different cultures and historical periods,students gain significant understanding of themselves and others. They learn to view art as a reflection of cultural ideas, beliefs, and social conditions and develop

thinking and verbal skills through discussions in which life and art are compared and contrasted.Importantly, art also enables students to communicate in highly effective, non-verbal media. 

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• TEXAS

• Knowledge and skills. Foundations: 

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• observation and perception The student develops and expands visual literacy skills using critical thinking, imagination, and the senses to observe and explore the world by learning about, understanding, and applying the elements of art, principles of design, and expressive qualities. The student uses what the student sees, knows, and has experienced as sources for examining, understanding, and creating original artwork.

• The student is expected to:

• consider concepts and ideas from direct observation, original sources, experiences, and imagination for original artwork;

  identify and understand the elements of art, including line, shape, color, texture, form, space, and value, as the fundamentals of art in personal artwork;

  identify and understand the principles of design, including emphasis, repetition/pattern, movement/rhythm, contrast/variety, balance, proportion, and unity, in personal artwork; and

  make judgments about the expressive properties such as content, meaning, message, and metaphor of artwork using art vocabulary accurately.

   

• Creative expression The student communicates ideas through original artwork using a variety of media with appropriate skills. The student expresses thoughts and ideas creatively while challenging the imagination, fostering reflective thinking, and developing disciplined effort and progressive problem-solving skills.

• The student is expected to:

  use visual solutions to create original artwork by problem solving through direct observation, original sources, experiences, narrations, and imagination;

  communicate a variety of applications for design solutions;

  use an understanding of copyright and public domain to appropriate imagery constituting the main focal point of original artwork when working from images rather than direct observation or imagination;

  create original artwork to communicate thoughts, feelings, ideas, or impressions;

  collaborate to create original works of art; and

  demonstrate effective use of art media and tools in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, fiber art, design, and digital art and media.

   

• Historical and cultural relevance The student demonstrates an understanding of art history and culture by analyzing artistic styles, historical periods, and a variety of cultures. The student develops global awareness and respect for the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures.

• The student is expected to:

  compare and contrast historical and contemporary styles while identifying general themes and trends;

  describe general characteristics in artwork from a variety of cultures, which might also include personal identity and heritage;

  collaborate on community-based art projects; and

  compare and contrast career and avocational opportunities in art.

   

• Critical evaluation and response The student responds to and analyzes the artworks of self and others, contributing to the development of the lifelong skills of making informed judgments and reasoned evaluations.

• The student is expected to:

  interpret, evaluate, and justify artistic decisions in artwork by self, peers, and other artists such as that in museums, local galleries, art exhibits, and websites;

  evaluate and analyze artwork using a verbal or written method of critique such as describing the artwork, analyzing the way it is organized, interpreting the artist’s intention, and evaluating the success of the artwork;

  construct a physical or electronic portfolio by evaluating and analyzing personal original artwork to provide evidence of learning; and

  select and analyze original artwork, portfolios, and exhibitions to form precise conclusions about formal qualities, historical and cultural contexts, intentions, and meanings.