Visual Arts

McQueen High School’s Visual Arts program helps students develop their creativity and technical skills through a wide range of courses in drawing, painting, design, and ceramics. From foundational art and ceramics classes to advanced AP and honors courses, students build strong portfolios, study art history, explore three-dimensional design, and express their artistic voice while working with industry-standard techniques and materials, preparing them for college, careers, and opportunities to showcase their work.

Art 1-2

Course # 6111-6112

One Year = 1 credit

Course Fee: $25

Art is an introductory class designed to give students a background for both understanding and producing quality visual art. This class follows a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum, as mandated by the Nevada Department of Education Standards for visual arts. Units in drawing on the right side of the brain, elements and principles of design, color theory, painting and multi-media may be explored. In Art 2 technical skills will be refined by working from observation, judging proportion using sighting and referencing. Artwork will incorporate basic composition and perspective. Students will demonstrate the use of the elements and principles of design, study the historical context of art, and develop their critiquing skills. Various drawing and painting materials and techniques will be used.

Art 3-4

Course # 6113-6114

Full Year = 1 credit

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Art 1-2

Course Fee: $50

In this second-year art course students will further develop their skills and techniques to create works with depth and volume. Various media will be incorporated to further student's knowledge in developing individual expression and ideas. The human figure will be explored through various media including the area of three-dimensional drawings. Students will examine the human form, learn proportion and mass of the figure. Self-expression and creative interpretation will be a focus. Art history will also be a key component in the curriculum.

Art 5-6 (H)

Course # 6113-6114

One Year = 1 credit (Honors)

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Art 3-4

Course Fee: $50

This third-year art course is for the advanced student seeking further enrichment through personal expression and self- evaluation. A focus on community awareness in the visual arts will be stressed. Students will be asked to demonstrate a personal theme and will develop a higher level of ability through self-motivation and direction. Students will be able to display their work within their school environment through personal or group shows. Culmination of the semester will have students submitting a portfolio and artist statements. Students will also submit artwork to the national Scholastic Arts competition.

Art 7-8 (H)

Course # 6117-6118

One Year = 1 credit (Honors)

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Art 5-6

Course Fee: $70

This class is for the advanced student who is seeking intense visual arts experience in a variety of media. These students may be planning a career or college degree in visual communications or fine art. AP/Honors students are encouraged to take approved/pertinent classes at the Nevada Museum of Art.

AP Art 2D Design

Course #6263-6264

Full Year = 1 credit (Advanced Placement)

Prerequisite: Completion of the 3-4 level Art Courses with a B or better and/or instructor approval.

Course Fee: $70 

This class is a year-long course for the advanced student who is seeking intense visual arts experience in a variety of media. These students may be planning a career or college degree in art or visual communication. The course is designed to prepare students to submit portfolios to the College Board's advanced placement Art Portfolio in 2D- design. Students enrolled in AP studio Art are required to submit a portfolio. This portfolio will consist of 5 matted pieces of their best quality work and twenty-four images of work showing a breadth of media and a concentration of one area of study. All AP exams have a cost associated with them.

AP Studio Art: Drawing

Course #6261-6262

Full Year = 1 credit (Advanced Placement)

Prerequisite: Completion of the 3-4 level Art Courses with a B or better and/or instructor approval.

Course Fee: $70 

This class is a year-long course for the advanced student who is seeking intense visual arts experience in a variety of media. These students may be planning a career or college degree in art or visual communication. The course is designed to prepare students to submit portfolios to the College Board's advanced placement Art Portfolio in drawing. This studio class will focus on drawing media. Students enrolled in AP studio Art are required to submit a portfolio. This portfolio will consist of 5 matted pieces of their best quality work and twenty-four images of work showing a breadth of media and a concentration of one area of study. Students are required to take the AP exam in May. All AP exams have a cost associated with them.

Ceramics 1-2

Course # 6131-6132

Full Year = 1 credit

Course Fee: $70

This introductory course focuses on the skills and knowledge that students need to create ceramic sculpture and pottery. Students will become familiar with the entire ceramic process from making clay to firing and glazing their work as well as the geology and chemistry of clay and glazes. Several important hand-building techniques will be taught including pinch building, coil building, slab building, and a brief introduction to wheel thrown pottery. Students will also become familiar with the elements and principles of art, as well as the work of some important ceramists and other modern sculptors.

Ceramics 3-4

Course # 6133-6134

Full Year = 1 credit

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Ceramics 1-2 and/or recommendation of instructor

Course Fee: $80

Ceramics 3 will focus heavily on advanced hand building and wheel throwing. Students will work with different clays and decorative methods. Clear use of the elements and principles of design will be stressed. Historical uses of clay and ceramics will be incorporated with all projects. Critiques will be used to evaluate student work and that of others. Ceramics 4 is an in-depth three-dimensional design study. Sculptural forms and advanced independent projects in sculpture, throwing, and hand building will be assigned. A high level of the use of the elements and principles of design will be stressed. Historical uses of clay and ceramics will be incorporated with all projects. Critiques will be used to evaluate student work and that of others.

Ceramics 5-6 (H)

Course # 6135-6136

Full Year = 1 credit (Honors)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Ceramics 3-4 and/or recommendation of the instructor

Course Fee: $80

In Ceramics 5-6 students will continue to expand on their knowledge of ceramic and glaze chemistry while continuing to refine their hand built and wheel thrown techniques. Students will study and research important technical and artistic developments in the history of Ceramics and its uses worldwide as well the work of important contemporary Ceramic artists.

Ceramics 7-8 (H)

Course # 6137-6138

Full Year = 1 credit (Honors)

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Ceramics 5-6 and/or recommendation of the instructor

Course Fee: $80

In Ceramics 7-8 students will have the opportunity to pursue and refine their artistic voice using the ceramic medium and the continued study of important historic and contemporary Ceramic artist. It is expected that students will demonstrate a high level of technical proficiency and knowledge. Students will create a body of exhibition quality work and will be required to exhibit their work.