FOUNDATIONAL CORE COURSES
Importance of Core Courses
Students are highly encouraged to take the foundation courses in each grade level. The skills and theoretical knowledge build sequentially over the four years. A good grounding in basic skills allows each student to be successful in developing a professional portfolio as well as prepare them for the special series classes where they can fine tune their interests.
AVI 1O1 –This Grade 9 course is an overview of foundation skills such as drawing, design, painting, sculpture and digital applications. Ancient and Classical art history are studied.
AVI 2O1 – The Grade 10 course offers opportunity to further develop skills in basic art applications. There is an emphasis on architecture and painting. The Medieval and Renaissance periods are studied.
AVI 3O1 – This Grade 11 open course is an introduction to foundation skills in art. The focus is on acquiring basic drawing, painting, design and sculpture skills.
AVI 3M1 – The Grade 11 course concentrates on portfolio building with assignments in drawing, design, painting, digital applications and sculpture. The Baroque, Neoclassic, Romantic and Impressionist movements are studied.
AVI 4M1 – The Grade 12 course encourages students to take their acquired skills and develop individual styles and modes of expression. The end result will be a strong portfolio that exhibits skill in both technique and the creative process. Modern and Contemporary Art will be studied.
Special Series Courses
Photography | Traditional & Digital
AWQ 2O1 – This course is an introduction to black and white photography as well as digital photography. Composition and creativity are emphasized.
AWQ 3M1 – This course is a continuation of digital and traditional photography with advanced darkroom and digital imaging skills.
AWQ 4M1 - Students develop their own style and approach to both traditional and digital photography with an emphasis on portfolio development.
Media Arts | Digital Arts
ASM 2O1 – This course is an introduction to using computer software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash to create works of art. Software: Adobe CC Photoshop
ASM 3M1 – Students will continue to develop skills in software applications as well as design skills and artistic ability in the creation of art. Software: Adobe CC Photoshop and Illustrator
ASM 4M1 – Students are encouraged to develop personal approaches to creating art using computer software. Software: Autodesk Maya and Meshmixer
Ceramics Arts
AWC 2O1 – Ceramics - This course is an introduction to pottery and clay sculpture with an emphasis on technique and design.
AWC 3O1 / 3M1 – Ceramics - This course includes hand building pottery techniques, clay sculpture and the potters wheel.
AWC 4M1 – Ceramics -This course challenges students to use their acquired skills to develop a personal style and approach to ceramics.
Indigenous Studies
NAC 2O1 – Indigenous Peoples in Canada – This course focuses on understanding First Nations, Metis and Inuit Ways of Knowing through historical and contemporary artifacts and artworks.
ARTS UNIONVILLE COURSES
The Visual Arts program provides opportunities for individual creative and imaginative growth as well as development of technical skills and innovation. Students will be introduced to experimental and traditional directions in drawing and painting. As well, they will specialize in sculpture, photography, printmaking (etching and silkscreen), design, ceramics, computer art, textiles, animation, video and installation art. Complementing the studio component will be studies in the history of art and critical analyses of one's own work. The student's discovery of individual strengths and directions is a prime focus. To develop the aptitudes of talented students interested in the visual arts, programs are being offered each semester in all four years. At each grade level students can expect to take part in field studies to art galleries or museums and have talks or portfolio evaluations by guest artists in a variety of artistic careers. In Grades 11 and 12 students take life drawing with professional models. Students' work is displayed in the school and annually in May at Markham Theatre and the Varley Gallery.
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AVI1OM |
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This course is exploratory in nature, offering an overview of visual arts as a foundation for further study. Students will become familiar with the elements and principles of design and the expressive qualities of various materials by using a range of media, processes, techniques, and styles. Students will use the creative and critical analysis processes and will interpret art within a personal, contemporary, and historical context. Design and sculpture are the focus of the class.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition. |
CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: Open |
GRADE: 9 |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AWM1OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AWM10M |
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This course offers an overview of visual arts as a foundation for further study. Students will become familiar with the elements and principles of design and the expressive qualities of various materials through working with a range of materials, processes, techniques, and styles. They will learn and use methods of analysis and criticism and will study the characteristics of Ancient and Classical historical art periods and a selection of Canadian art and the art of other cultures.
This course will introduce the theme of developing imaginative ideas and technical skills through drawing and painting. Both representational and abstract styles will be studied. Drawing concepts, the use of tone, line and volume through still life and portrait, will be developed in pencil, inks and chalks. Printmaking, through line etching, will reinforce design principles. Still Frame animation will be studied.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition. |
CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: Open |
GRADE: 9 |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AVI1OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AVI2OM |
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This course enables students to develop their skills in producing and presenting art by introducing them to new ideas, materials, and processes for artistic exploration and experimentation. Students will apply the elements and principles of design when exploring the creative process. Students will use the critical analysis process to reflect on and interpret art within a personal, contemporary, and historical context. Printmaking, design and sculpture are the focus of this class.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition. |
CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: Open |
GRADE: 10 |
PREREQUISITE: AVI1OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major or AWM1OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AWM2OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AWM2OM |
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This course emphasizes practical application of skill and introduction to new ideas, materials, and processes for artistic thinking and experimentation. Student learning will include the refined application of the elements and principles of design, incorporating the creative and design process, and the relationship between form and content. Students will also learn about the connection between works of art and their historical contexts. The Grade 10 Foundation course will continue to emphasize the development of creative artistic responses and technical skills through drawing and painting. Students will be introduced to acrylic painting, landscape drawing and expressive portraiture. Use of mixed media and colour will provide experiences in design. Studies of art history will continue with Medieval art and the Renaissance.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition. |
CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: Open |
GRADE: 10 |
PREREQUISITE: AVI1OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major or AWM1OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AVI2OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AVI3MM |
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This course enables students to further develop their knowledge and skills in visual arts. Students will use the creative process to explore a wide range of themes through studio work that may include drawing, painting, sculpting, and printmaking, as well as the creation of collage, multimedia works, and works using emerging technologies. Students will use the critical analysis process when evaluating their own work and the work of others. Architectural sculpture and a collaborative project are the focus of this class.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition. |
CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: University/College |
GRADE: 11 |
PREREQUISITE: AVI2OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major or AWM2OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AWM3MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AWM3MM |
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This course provides students with opportunities to further develop their skills and knowledge in visual arts. Students will explore a range of subject matter through studio activities, and will consolidate their practical skills. Students will also analyze art works and study aspects of Western art history as well as art forms from Canada and other parts of the world.
Students will study life drawing and personal painting projects in this course. In the life drawing section students will study the human figure in all forms of media, utilizing both quick and sustained studies. The use of models will help in rendering correct anatomical proportion, tone, and volume as well as translating the figure into a personal idiom of recognizable images. Independent personal painting projects comprise the focus of the second section. Students will work towards their own individual style, developing ideas into painting compositions. Use of acrylic or mixed media will allow individual development in a chosen area of concentration.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition.
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CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: University/College |
GRADE: 11 |
PREREQUISITE: AVI2OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major or AWM2OM - Visual Arts Foundation Major |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AVI3MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AVI4MM |
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This course focuses on enabling students to refine their use of the creative process when creating and presenting two- and three-dimensional art works using a variety of traditional and emerging media and technologies. Students will use the critical analysis process to deconstruct art works and explore connections between art and society. The studio program enables students to explore a range of materials, processes, and techniques that can be applied in their own art production. Students will also make connections between various works of art in personal, contemporary, historical, and cultural contexts. Illustration and installation art are the focus of this class.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition. |
CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: University/College |
GRADE: 12 |
PREREQUISITE: AVI3MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major or AWM3MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AWM4MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major
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Visual Arts Foundation Major AWM4MM |
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This course focuses on the refinement of students’ skills and knowledge in visual arts. Students will analyze art forms; use theories of art in analyzing and producing art; and increase their understanding of stylistic changes in Modern and Contemporary Art, Canadian Art, and art forms from various parts of the world. Students will produce a body of work demonstrating a personal approach. Students will continue to work from life and costumed models, building upon skills learned in Grade 11 Life Drawing. Both quick and sustained studies in a variety of media allow the development of perceptual, creative and technical techniques. Students will also work on developing a painting series, using images and a style that reflects their personal viewpoint. Emphasis will be placed on expanding subject choice and selecting appropriate style and technique.
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COURSE NOTE: Entry to Intensive Arts program through successful audition. |
CREDIT: 1 |
TYPE: University/College |
GRADE: 12 |
PREREQUISITE: AVI3MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major or AWM3MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major |
COREQUISITES: If you take this course, you must also take AVI4MM - Visual Arts Foundation Major |
both traditional and contemporary concepts in sculpture.