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Visual Arts education at HGHS is centered around developing visual literacy and thinking creatively. All students benefit from the visual art curriculum in that they develop and establish creative habits of mind. Our students also learn a wide variety of art-making processes from traditional through to digital. Some students go on to study Visual Art at the tertiary level to train further for a variety of creative industries. Our facilities offer computer labs, a book room, a senior design room, a photography lighting studio, senior painting studios, and several printing presses.
Art can lead to a diverse range of careers such as graphic design, spatial design, concept design, photography, animation, set design, web design, jewelry metalsmithing, glass artist, ceramicist, 3D artist, Arts education, product design, Illustration, architecture, marketing, advertising, creative design, writing and curation, and fine artist.
All courses at Level 3 are University approved and will allow students to gain academic endorsements as well as enter Scholarship.
Students explore a variety of media and processes, such as paint, watercolour, pencil and ink while learning the key elements and conventions that make up a work of art. In addition to the practical and formal properties of artworks, students are encouraged to consider the bigger questions of why artists make artworks and how works are interpreted, viewed and valued in a range of contexts.
Level 1 Art is an open entry course for students who would like to cultivate their creativity and confidence in practical art. Throughout the course, a range of media and techniques will be used to develop an overall theme which will culminate in the making of a Folio of work at the end of the year. Media used may include but is not limited to, acrylic paint, watercolour, drypoint printing, collage and cutouts as well as pencil charcoal and India ink. Critical thinking and literacy are developed in visual art by researching established practice.and students are encouraged to communicate their ideas in written formats as well as in visual responses.
Level 1 Art is an open entry course for students who would like to cultivate their creativity and confidence in practical art. Throughout the course, a range of media and techniques will be used to develop an overall theme which will culminate in the making of a Folio of work at the end of the year. Media used may include but is not limited to, acrylic paint, watercolour, drypoint printing, collage and cutouts as well as pencil charcoal and India ink. Critical thinking and literacy are developed in visual art by researching established practice.and students are encouraged to communicate their ideas in written formats as well as in visual responses.
This course is suitable for students interested in expanding their creative visual communication skills. The course will build on students’ knowledge of graphic design conventions such as posters, packaging or magazine layout, logo, or character development while they discover their creative style. An authentic learning environment is where the students choose and develop their theme and ideas while using established practice relevant to their desired outcome. An independent exploration into the creative design processes and ongoing problem-solving is a crucial component of this course, along with the use of digital formats such as Adobe Creative Cloud.
This course is suitable for students who enjoy taking photographs and being creative.
Students are taught how to use a single lens reflex digital camera in order to have total control of the photographic image making process. A range of techniques are explored including compositional conventions, depth of field, shutter speed, colour, lighting and photo editing. Individualised programmes of study are encouraged with students deciding on their own thematic pathway supported by studying the work of tradition and contemporary photographers. The creative process of analysis, generating ideas, developing artworks, refining and extending ideas is central to this course. Students will gain confidence in their creativity and critical thinking as well as advancing their techniques and skills using the Adobe creative cloud.
This course is suitable for students who want to explore their own creativity within the field of photography. Previous knowledge of camera techniques is built upon and an individual program of study is followed with students choosing their own theme for the year. It is expected that in-depth research of traditional and contemporary visual artists including photographers is carried out in order to enable students to refine their work over time. This practical course encourages the art of image making with the camera to generate ideas and clarify directions as well as experimentation and manipulation of photographic images using the Adobe creative suite. The external Folio submitted at the end of the year is an edited presentation of the student’s ability to systematically demonstrate conventions and ideas in photography practice.