Visual Arts

Visual Art students will learn how to create both contemporary two-dimensional and three-dimensional artworks individually and collaboratively that show originality and visual design principles and studio habits of mind. Students will be able to develop an art process where they are aware of techniques tools and studio work ethic in the following pathways: Media Arts, Visual Arts-2D, Ceramics, and Graphic Design. Students will understand the interdisciplinary connections of visual design in everyday aspects of one’s life, and they will present a visual product that serves a consumer’s need. Students will interact with working professionals and learn about visual artists in contemporary society.

The following Graphic Design and Visual Arts/Commercial Arts CTE pathways are available for students:

Multimedia Production
Multimedia Design Honors
Multimedia Design Advanced
3D Media Design
Art Production 2
AP Studio Art 2D Design
AP Studio Art Drawing
Art Entrepreneurship

Donations to the LBHS Art Department are welcome! Please make checks payable to LBHS, memo Art Department, Ceramics, Graphic Design, or Media Arts.

Laguna Beach High School
625 Park Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Graphics/Photography

The LBHS Graphics courses are based on a comprehensive, yearlong curriculum, and all students are required to participate in all projects/competitions. Each course provides knowledge and experience in a broad range of styles. Depending on the level of study, there are also assignments and activities related to critically analyzing art/photography, learning about the history of art, practicing skills, creating original works, understanding color theory and the elements of art, managing time, and pursuing art as a college or career pathway. There are also opportunities for students to train with professional guest photographers/designers as well as create and present their own work.

Courses

Graphic Fundamentals (*UC Approved)
- Beginning Adobe - Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
Photography 1 (*UC Approved)
- Beginning Digital Photography - Photoshop, InDesign
Photography 2 (*UC Approved)
- Advanced Digital Photography - Photoshop
Financial Literacy - Introductory Personal Finance

Media Arts

Multimedia

Multimedia Production
Credit: 10 Credits/Year
Skills: Students learn how to produce artistic designs using digital and Industrial Media. Students learn Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign,CorelDraw, DTG, sublimation, 3D printing, plotting, screen printing and laser cutting.

Multimedia Design Honors
Credit: 10 Credits/Year
Articulation Credit: College Credit available through Saddleback Community College
Skills: Students design playbills, catalogs, posters, t-shirts, banners and wall murals, etc. Students learn new design techniques using the Adobe Suite and Corel Draw and be exposed to printing on a variety of mediums.

Multimedia Design Advanced
CCA Credit: 10 Credits/Year Open to:
Grade 10-12
Skills: Throughout the year students will do district-wide projects that include designing and producing playbills, catalogs, posters, t-shirts, banners and wall murals, etc.

3D Media Design
Credit: 10 Credits/Year Open to: Grade 9-12
UC Approved: Yes
Articulation Credit: College Credit available through Saddleback Community College
Skills: This course is concerned with visualization and creation of 3D computer-generated models and their applications in today's manufacturing, multimedia, communications, and publishing industries. In addition to developing a working knowledge of 3D terminology and concepts, each student will learn how to create a variety of 3D geometric models from technical drawings, sketches, real models and written descriptions.

Scott Wittkop
Media Arts Teacher
swittop@lbusd.org

Video

Video Production I
Credit: 10 Credits/Year
Open to: Grade 9-12
Skills: The Video Production course will begin with a 6-week unit on film history, appreciation, and analysis. The remainder of the first semester will be occupied by a series of training videos and projects such as a mini-documentary, a music video, and a commercial. During the second semester, students will form production teams and produce 4 episodes of the school web series “Breaker Live.” The final project will be a short film entry to the LBHS Film Festival.

Video Production Advanced
Credit: 10 Credits/Year
Open to: Grade 9-12
Skills: This course will provide students with a deeper understanding of video production as a form of artistic expression. During the first semester, students will fine-tune their production skills by producing the school web series with high expectations in technical skill and professionalism. During the second semester, students will have a chance to individually explore advanced techniques such as time lapse, animation, and digital effects and create innovative film projects in advanced genres such as avant-garde, film noir, and animation.

Jun Shen
Video Production Teacher
jshen@lbusd.org

Visual Arts - 2D

In the Visual Arts Pathway, students are recommended to take Art Production I, Art Production 2, and AP Studio Art or Art Entrepreneurship. Students can take the Career and Technical Education Pathway that includes Art Production 2 and AP Studio Art 2D Design/Drawing or Art Entrepreneurship in order to become a pathway completer.

Students who fulfill this pathway can be eligible for scholarship opportunities through the Laguna College of Art & Design, Festival of Arts, Sawdust Festival, and many other organizations.

Instructor: Shelley Juhl-O'Brien

Courses - Pathway Brochure

Art Production 1 (*UC Approved)
Art Production 2 (*UC Approved)
AP 2D Art & Design (*UC Approved)
AP Drawing (*UC Approved)
Art Entrepreneurship (*UC Approved)

CTE Pathways

Art Production 2- Concentrator (*UC Approved)
AP 2D Art & Design or AP Drawing- Capstone (*UC Approved)

Art Production 2- Concentrator (*UC Approved)
Art Entrepreneurship- Capstone (*UC Approved)

Cove Gallery Young Artist Mentoring Program

Laguna Beach High School visual art students have the opportunity to display their artwork at the Cove Gallery, Laguna Beach. Young artists will be taught how to display their artwork in a professional gallery space and how to market their work successfully.

Visual Arts - 3D

Ceramics 1 - Open to grades 9-12, UC Approved. Ceramics 1 is a year-long introductory course into the ceramic arts that is designed for students with no clay experience. Students explore three-dimensional design through learning the 5 clay-building techniques, as well as many clay surface finishing effects. A year of ceramics meets the Visual and Performing Arts graduation requirements.

Ceramic 2 - Open to grades 10-12, UC Approved. Recommended preparation Ceramics 1 with a B or better. Ceramics II students will explore three-dimensional design in greater detail through new hand building and wheel throwing assignments as well as in depth ceramic technique driven assignments. Throughout this course, students are able to focus on technical, historical, aesthetic, cultural and contemporary concerns of clay artists and sculptors as they develop their own personal and artistic style of creating art.

AP Studio Art 3D - Open to grades 11-12. Recommended preparation: Completion of Ceramics II with a grade of B or better. AP Studio Art 3D Design is for students who are interested in the practical experience of a college level art class. This course is a yearlong course designed for students who have a proficient grasp of clay building techniques as well as surface finishes. In AP Studio Art 3D Design students will investigate all aspects of the Advanced College Placement three-dimensional portfolio. AP students will be encouraged to express themselves through their own personal style and develop high quality college level artworks. Students will be provided the opportunity to submit their portfolio for the AP exam in the Spring.

About the Instructor

Somer Selway has a BFA in ceramics and a masters degree in education. She has been teaching high school for over 15 years now and seeing students enjoy the creative process is her favorite part of the job. She was the 2018-19 Crystal Apple teacher recipient.

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