Vertical Alignment of Visual Arts Skills tied to College Readiness
By Grade 12, Visual Arts Majors will be able to:
Art Appreciation, Aesthetics and Criticism
Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary and historical visual art forms including folk art, performance art, earthworks, installation, video, computer, drawing, painting, sculpture and fine craft
Understand censorship and political implications of art and its impact on working artists.
Read and use the work of critics, historians and artists in research and demonstrate sophistication and personal voice in writing.
Use art publications, local galleries and museums for inspiration and research
Articulate and justify aesthetic and thematic concerns, intentions and process culminating in a formal written artist’s statement.
Evaluate the work of others in class critiques and written reviews
Techniques, Skills, and Knowledge
Demonstrate advanced skill and experience in 2D and 3D media.
Show a comprehensive set of sketchbooks chronicling their thought process and ideas.
Initiate, articulate and solve challenging creative problems in order to create meaningful artworks in a personal style and voice.
Integrate and combine various arts media and disciplines.
Complete a portfolio with 24 examples showing breadth of skill and development of a single idea.
Professional Development
Produces a professional gallery show
Prepare and maintain a visual portfolio of work in CD format
Practice art in a sustained, disciplined fashion, identifying and meeting deadlines
Work collaboratively with other artists, and/or as a mentor or intern
Understand a variety of professional art careers and how to prepare for them.
By the End of 11th Grade, Visual Arts Students Should be Able to:
Art Appreciation, Aesthetics and Criticism
Student demonstrates knowledge of contemporary and historical visual art forms including
performance art, earthworks, installation, video, computer, fine craft
Student researches censorship and political content in art resulting in a written paper
Student uses art publications, local galleries and museums for inspiration and
research
Student is able to articulate and justify their aesthetic and thematic concerns, intentions and
process culminating in a first draft artist’s statement.
Student evaluates and reflects on their work and that of others in written form.
Techniques, Skills, and Knowledge
Student demonstrates proficient skill in 2D and 3D art media.
Student has a comprehensive set of sketchbooks chronicling their thought process and ideas.
Student initiates, articulates and solves challenging creative problems
Student identifies and develops personal subject matter and voice
Student completes a portfolio with 12 – 15 examples showing breadth of skill
Professional Development
Student begins a visual portfolio of their work in CD format
Student is aware of a variety of college and training programs for art careers
Student creates a web site for their work
By the End of 10th Grade, Visual Arts Students Should be Able to:
Art Appreciation, Aesthetics and Criticism
Student demonstrates knowledge of a variety of historical art forms and artists
Student uses art publications, local galleries and museums for inspiration and research
Student conducts interviews with professional artists.
Student evaluates and reflects on their work and that of others in written form.
Student identifies personal voice and style in the work of others
Techniques, Skills, and Knowledge
Student demonstrates proficient skill in watercolor and acrylic painting
Advanced work in hand building and throwing ceramics
Figurative sculpture
Building on more complex forms in metal
Student demonstrates project planning and record of thought in a comprehensive sketchbook
Student explores creative problems and selects projects from a selection of options
Professional Development
Student practices art in a sustained, disciplined fashion, identifying and meeting deadlines
Student is introduced to post secondary options for art study
(Intermediate Level) By the End of 8th and 9thth Grade, Visual Arts Students Should be Able to:
Art Appreciation, Aesthetics and Criticism
Student demonstrates knowledge of modern art movements and major artists
Student effectively uses the internet to research images for visual information
Student evaluates and reflects on their work and that of others in written form.
Techniques, Skills, and Knowledge
Student demonstrates proficient skill in relief, intaglio and silkscreen printing
Proficiency in hand building and throwing ceramics
Introduction to the figure in sculpture using armatures
Proficiency in piercing and sawing metal
Use of sketchbook to design projects with multiple ideas
Professional Development
Student enters 2 – 3 outside competitions or exhibitions per year
Students independently records activities and updates resume annually
Students learn to cut mats and display their work in a professional manner
Foundations Level Grade 6 – 7
Art History, Aesthetics and Art Appreciation
Students will identify and connect characteristics of visual arts within a particular historical period, style, or culture. Students will identify societal, personal an historical motifs.
Students will visit the Denver Art Museum and local galleries.
Students will create art works based on historical subjects and styles.
Students will practice and learn the art criticism model using description, analysis, interpretation and evaluation and successfully write 4 reviews per year.
Students will identify the elements of art and the principles of design in the analysis of artworks.
Students will be able to critique their work and the work of others and receive criticism by teachers and peers.
Students will interpret artworks as visual text.
Students will write art reviews and critiques clearly and cogently.
Techniques, Skills and Knowledge
Students will identify and use the basic Elements of Art including line, color, shape, form, value, texture, and pattern.
Students will identify the basic Principles of Design including scale, proportion, repetition, balance, rhythm, emphasis and unity
Students will be able to maintain art materials and equipment safely including pencils, brushes and knives.
Students will become proficient with basic drawing techniques including gesture, perspective, contour, and shading.
Students will become proficient with visual measuring and be able to see size relationships as they practice observational drawing.
Students will be able to identify and create works in the basic subject categories of art including still life, portrait, figurative, landscape, cityscape, animals, and plants.
Students will develop and maintain a personal sketchbook with class notes, personal images and assigned drawings.
Students will become proficient with basic color mixing, and vocabulary including “hue, intensity, value, complements, and color schemes.
Students will become proficient with basic sewing techniques and be introduced to fiber art.
Students will learn basic wheel throwing techniques of centering and pulling clay.
Students will become proficient in basic hand building skills used in ceramics (pinch, coil, slump)
Students will learn basic armature skills used in sculpture
Students will become proficient in basic jewelry techniques of chain making, clasps and bails.
Professional Development
Students will prepare their art exhibitions including labels, hanging art and attending
their openings at school shows.
Students will create a professional resume and update it annually.
Students will be introduced to a variety of professional careers in art.
Students will maintain a portfolio of all current work.
Students will maintain a professional toolbox of supplies.
Students will enter two art shows or contests outside of the school.