Visual Arts

Art 9 is an introductory art course that offers a range of media exploration for students interested in developing their visual art skills. The main focus is on learning to see, visual literacy, and expanding students’ vocabulary of art concepts. Students are taught the basic elements and principles of design, which are reinforced with class projects and discussions. Projects primarily include drawing, painting, ceramics, and sculpture. Students should finish Art 9 with a good idea of their own creative potential and feel ready to approach more specialized senior-level art courses.

Studio Art 2D allows students, previously enrolled in Visual Arts 9, the opportunity to create two-dimensional art, using imagination and inquiry. Students will explore, describe, and identify different techniques and processes while also refining their artistic skills. Possible mediums explored will be pencil, charcoal, pastels, graphite, ink, watercolor, acrylic, oil, and tempera. A respectful response and exploration of art within different cultures, including First People’s, will also be explored. Students are also urged to communicate their own personal stories and cultural self within their works of art. Students will also share their works of art and respectfully critique the art of others. Overall, the course allows Grade 10 students the chance to explore the plethora of artistic possibilities, and to express their personal emotions and intent, while also exploring different tools and techniques.

Drawing and Painting classes at Centennial are the more challenging application classes of Art. If looking for an explorative application of art, please enroll in Art Studio 10/11 or 12.

Open to:  Open to students in grades 10, 11 or 12.

Studio Art 2D 11 is a studio art course with a focus on two-dimensional media approaches, such as pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, pastel, and watercolor on paper or acrylic, and mixed media on board or canvas. This is an important course for students interested in possible art careers or developing a portfolio. Lessons are structured sequentially on the elements of design, such as line, tone, color, shape, form, and texture, and developed to allow the student to learn image development strategies such as observation, elaboration, magnification, simplification, and fragmentation. There is a sketchbook component which is mostly homework. Both traditional and experimental approaches are modeled and encouraged, with frequent exposure to historical and contemporary aspects of art-making.

Drawing and Painting classes at Centennial are the more challenging application classes of Art. If looking for an explorative application of art, please enroll in Art Studio 10/11 or 12.

Foundation: Studio Art 2D 10
Open to:  Open to students in grades 11 or 12.

This course follows closely the structure of the Studio Arts 2D 11 course but offers motivated students more challenges and freedom to pursue and develop their own ideas and styles in two-dimensional media. It is possible for a student to design their own approaches to projects, or to work more independently, particularly with respect to portfolio development. Students are encouraged to work on larger or more complex projects and may be interested in pursuing art at the post-secondary level. For this reason, they are encouraged to take part in District initiatives such as the “Emerging Talent” exhibition in January each year, or the Coquitlam Center show in May each year.

Drawing and Painting classes at Centennial are the more challenging application classes of Art. If looking for an explorative application of art, please enroll in Art Studio 10/11 or 12.

Foundation: Studio Arts 2D 11

An introductory three-dimensional art course with a strong focus on clay, the basics of hand-building, and wheel-throwing form two-thirds of the curriculum in Ceramics 11. Students make and glaze both functional and sculptural pieces. Concepts such as line, texture, volume, mass, plane, and balance are key to an understanding of three-dimensional media. Other three-dimensional media which may be explored are paper-mâché, wire, plaster, or assemblage. There is a strong expectation that students participate in studio management, kiln loading, artwork displays, and daily clean-up. Students should be prepared to delay taking projects home to allow for ongoing displays throughout the school. No previous experience in ceramics or sculpture is needed.

Open to:  Open to students in grades 10, 11, or 12.

This course is a senior-level three-dimensional art course that suits skilled students who wish to develop a personal approach to clay and other media. It is strongly recommended that students have previous experience in clay before signing up for this course. Completion of Ceramics 11 with a C+ or better is a good foundation for Ceramics 12. The projects are more difficult than those assigned in Ceramics 11, and the instructor will expect students to be able to work very independently. Both hand-building and wheel throwing with porcelain is explored, and there is a research project assigned which allows students to explore in-depth a topic related to three-dimensional art.

Foundation:  Studio Art 3D 11

Open to:  Open to students in grade 11 or 12.

Art Studio 10 is an introductory studio art course that allows students the opportunity to explore many different mediums, styles, and techniques. Students will create 2D and 3D art in the areas of drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, clay, and other possible mediums. Further comprehension of the use of the elements and principles of design as well as image development strategies will be studied and practiced. Students will be encouraged to explore different cultures, and social justice issues, while also developing a sense of who they are as an artist and individuals. Students will be taught how to recognize and evaluate design choices in art through in-class critiques and collaboration opportunities. Ultimately, this course allows students the chance to document, share and appreciate different mediums and styles of art, while also beginning to identify their own style and appreciation for specific mediums.

Open to:  Open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12.

Art Studio 11 is a senior-level studio art course that gives students a chance to further explore many two-dimensional and three-dimensional approaches to visual art expression. Students work on projects in the main areas of drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. Assignments are structured around the elements/principles of design, image development strategies, or art historical influences, but students are encouraged to develop their own personal style. Students should complete the course with an expanded understanding of historical and contemporary developments in art and a strong sense of their own artistic abilities and preferences.

Open to:  Open to students in grades 11 and 12.

Foundation: Art Studio 10

Art Studio 12 is a senior-level studio art course that allows students to further develop their artistic practice and pursue personal artistic expression in more depth. Projects follow the same expression areas as those in Art 11, (drawing, painting, printmaking, and ceramics/sculpture), but students are encouraged to find their own particular medium of expression and work more intensely on self-directed projects. Students taking Art 12 are usually be expected to be interested in a career within the field of art, but many simply enjoy the chance to further enhance their visual literacy and understanding of studio art practices. Help will be offered to those students who are preparing a portfolio for post-secondary Art applications.

Foundation:  Art Studio 11

This course serves as an excellent introduction to the world of making movies. Through examining what makes a great movie, the effects of media on our psyche, and the completion of several assignments, students will gain skills in visual storytelling, scriptwriting, storyboarding, effective camera use, and computer-based audio/video editing. A minimum of four movies will be shot and edited by each student. This course requires self-motivated students with the ability to work alone and in groups. Software to be learned and used will include Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects as well as others.

Open to: Students in grades 10, 11, and 12.

This course is designed to provide advanced opportunities for the filmmaker to further develop and enhance the skills introduced in Digital Film Making 11. Students will work in a number of different genres with an eye towards entering their best piece in Student Film Festivals (not mandatory). A 3rd year IDS is possible after the 11 & 12 courses if a student has advanced project ideas.

Foundation:  Film and Television 11, or by permission of the teacher.

Open to:  Open to students in grades 11 and 12.

This course will provide students with opportunities to explore two-dimensional graphic art and photographic processes. This is an introductory course that is designed to meet the needs of students who have little or no art background. Students will gain an understanding of how the elements and principles of design can be used to communicate moods, feelings and attitudes through a medium of photography. The course will focus on personal image development through a variety of photographic techniques. Students will use the camera as an artistic tool for recording images and expressing their ideas and emotions. Students will develop an understanding of the evolution of the camera and the history of photography as an art form.

Foundation:  Open to students in all grades.

This is a “hands-on” course for students interested in learning a bit about graphics, photography, and publishing. This is an introductory course designed to meet the needs of students with little to no art background.  Students will gain an understanding of how the elements and principles of design can be used to communicate moods, feelings, and attitudes through a medium of photography and graphic design, but will also include photo editing, design, and layout for the yearbook. Students will be a part of the team that produces the yearbook and can continue to Photo 11, Yearbook 11, or Graphic Arts 11 from this beginner course. They will also document the people and events of the school year. This course needs creative, committed, reliable students capable of working both independently and in small teams, with print deadlines always in mind.

Foundation:  Open to students in all grades.

This project-based course will build on the artistic and technical skills developed in Photography10. Students will deepen their ability to use elements and principles of design to create images to communicate moods, feelings, attitudes and information. Students will have an opportunity to work with digital SLR cameras, a standard kit lens and explore other specialty lenses in Photography 11. Students will learn new photographic techniques for use in everyday life to capture interesting and artistic photographs. They will develop their Photoshop skills to allow for greater editing of their own images. While this course is open to all grade 11 and 12 students, it is recommended that Photography 10 be taken before Photography 11.

Foundation:  Photography 10

This is a “hands-on” course for students interested in learning about printing and publishing. The curriculum includes the exploration of digital photography, photo editing, design and layout, writing, and editing. Students will be a part of the team that produces the yearbook. They will document, in photography and print, the people and events of the school year. This course needs creative, committed, reliable students capable of working both independently and in small teams, with print deadlines always in mind. Although no foundation course is required, previous courses in photography, ICT, and creative writing will make you an invaluable asset to the yearbook team.

Open to:  Photography 10: Yearbook

This course is designed for students who were in Yearbook 11 and would like to take on a leadership role with this project. Yearbook 12 students will be part of the team that produces the yearbook; however, they will be more involved in organizing the book for the year, designing the style of the book, managing student portraits, mentoring Yearbook 11 students, performing editor tasks, and finalizing pages for publication. Yearbook 12 students will also continue to explore photo editing, design, and layout, writing, and editing. This course needs creative, committed, reliable students capable of working both independently and in small teams, with print deadlines always in mind.

Foundation:  Graphic Production 11: Yearbook