Units of Study

Essential Questions

Getting to Know Myself as an Artist

★How do artists work?

★How do artists learn from trial and error?

★How do artists and designers care for and maintain materials, tools, and equipment?

Expressing My Identity: Self Portraits

★How do personal reflection and group critique help us to develop more effective artistic work?

★How does creating art enrich people’s lives?

Still Life Drawing / Painting

★How do objects, artifacts and artwork collected, preserved, or presented, cultivate appreciation and understanding?

★How does collaboration expand the creative process?

Gesture & Movement Drawing

★How do artists grow and become accomplished in art forms?

★What responsibilities come with the freedom to create and share artistic work?

Art & Activism

★How do life experiences influence the way we relate to art?

★How do artists and designers create works that effectively communicate ideas or influence people's lives?

★How does artmaking contribute to awareness and understanding of one’s lives and the lives of others in the community?

Landscape Drawing / Painting

★How does knowing the contexts, histories, and traditions of art forms help us create works of art and design?

★How does making art attune people to their surroundings?

★Why do artists and designers follow or break from established traditions?

Zines & Bookmaking

★How does the presentation of artwork affect how the viewer perceives and interacts with the work?

★How do artists and designers find a particular direction that is effective for their work?

Printmaking

★Why is it important for safety and health to understand and follow correct procedures in handling materials, tools, and equipment?

★What criteria and methods are used to select work for presentation or preservation?

Fashion

★What conditions, attitudes, and behaviors support creative risk taking and innovative thinking?

★How does art and design enhance people’s lives and influence culture?

Arts Careers

★What is the function of art museums, galleries, and other venues that display artwork?

★How are artworks cared for and by whom?

★What is innovation and why is it important to the advancement of society?