West Cary Middle School Visual Arts

Under the direction of Ms. Amanda Schulte​

West Cary offers five different Visual Arts courses that explore the creation of 2-D and 3-D art using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Each student is required to buy a 9x12 hardcover sketchbook.

Student artwork is shown in West Cary’s Student Showcase, North Carolina State Fair, "Gifts of Gold" (Wake County School's arts showcase), and Artsplosure (Raleigh Arts Festival).

Courses-

Visual Arts Exploratory- This course is for beginning artists. Visual Arts Exploratory introduces students to the Elements of Art and the application of these elements to the students’ original art. This course focuses on medium exploration and building artistic confidence. Students will be introduced to prominent past, contemporary, and multicultural artists. (1 Semester)

Visual Composition- This course is for a wide range of artists building skills for understanding, appreciating, and producing visual art. Students will engage in the study of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design using a variety of media.  Students will be introduced to prominent past, contemporary, and multicultural artists. (1 Semester)

Pottery/Sculpture- This course is for students who want to create works using three-dimensional techniques using clay. Students will create a variety of clay projects using the pinch, coil, and slab hand-building techniques. Glazing techniques will also be investigated. In this course, students will translate two-dimensional images into three-dimensional sculptures and develop the ability to

critically analyze works of art. Students will be introduced to prominent past, contemporary, and multicultural artists. *Requires Visual Arts Exploratory or Visual Composition Prerequisite (1 Semester)

Drawing- Students will learn drawing techniques using various two-dimensional media (graphite, charcoal, alcohol markers, etc.). Perspective, value, and line will be explored in this course. The artworks created during the course will utilize subjects from observation and imagination. Students will develop perceptual skills, and the ability to critically analyze works of art. In this course, students will be introduced to prominent past, contemporary, and multicultural artists.  *Requires Visual Arts Exploratory or Visual Composition Prerequisite (1 Semester)

Painting- Students will learn two-dimensional techniques with a variety of paints that may include: tempera, watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media. Students will create and investigate different genres of paintings including still-life, portrait, landscape, and abstract. In this course, students will develop perceptual skills, and the ability to critically analyze works of art. Students will be introduced to prominent past, contemporary, and multicultural artists. *Requires Visual Arts Exploratory or Visual Composition Prerequisite (1 Semester)