Fine Arts Department

Want to learn to play an instrument? Looking to improve your considerable musical talent with fellow students--maybe even start a band? Have a talent in drawing or photography that you want to develop? Are you the next great actor?

The commitment St. Thomas has made to the arts is shown in its newest building, the Moran Fine Arts Center. The center has allowed us to expand the program in new and exciting ways. Not only have our photography, drawing, ceramics and sculpture classes been allowed to grow, but the new facility has allowed us to expand our course offerings in music and drama. Along with our dramatic productions on the St. Thomas campus, our students are also involved in productions at our sister schools – Duchesne Academy, Incarnate Word Academy and St. Agnes Academy.

FINE ARTS COURSES

FUNDAMENTALS OF ART

This course is offered as a foundation course open to freshmen only. Through experimentation with visual language, form-making, project-based learning and a range of increasingly difficult exercises, the foundation experience leads to a deepening awareness and understanding of basic artistic and design-based principles. For many students, The Fundamentals of Art class will be their first experience of working in an environment where a disciplined approach to "art making" and "art thinking" is the focus. The class is important for the development of artistic viewpoints and challenging preconceived ideas and attitudes toward creativity. (One semester)

DRAWING I

This course is an introductory course is skill based and therefore involves much hands-on guided practice. Assignments are structured on working from direct observation as well as abstraction and symbolism. Strong emphasis is also placed on design and composition. A variety of mediums are used, such as graphite, ink, charcoal, colored pencil, block printing and collage. (One semester)

DRAWING II

This course is a course designed for the student who has already mastered the basic concepts and skills of Drawing I and is confident enough to be more independent in the development of complex compositions. Both color and mixed media are used in Drawing II. Art research, knowledge of art historical movements, and personally based imaginative assignments are integrated into the curriculum. Prerequisite: Drawing I and recommendation from his Drawing I teacher. (One semester)

DRAWING III

This course extends the basic understanding from the Drawing I course and the developed skills in the Drawing II class. In the class the student will explore more complex and challenging assignments. Students may experiment with various drawing mediums, develop in depth subject matter and compositions and work with a variety of papers and sizes. Prerequisite: Students must have earned a 96, or above in the Drawing II class and have approval from the art teacher of that discipline. These Drawing III students may be placed in a Drawing I or Drawing II class to facilitate that student's schedule. (One semester)

PAINTING I

This course is an introduction to painting that provides both practice and exploration through various paint mediums. Color theory, color perception, as well as color mixing and application techniques will be pursued. Assignments are derived from both art historical movements as well as direct observation for life. (One semester)

PAINTING II

This course encourages the student to challenge his current painting abilities by striving for greater complexity in content, creativity and technique. Focus will be on the exploration and analysis of contemporary art trends, and art historical movements while also tapping into the students' personal visual interests. Prerequisite: Painting I and recommendation from the teacher who taught that course to the student. (One semester)

PAINTING III

This course extends beyond the basic understanding from the Painting I course and the developed skills in the Painting II class. The student will explore more complex and challenging assignments. Each student will broaden his ability by experimenting and applying his knowledge in a wide range of painting mediums, papers and canvas, subject matter, and painting techniques. Prerequisite: Students must have earned a 96, or above in the Painting II class and have approval from the art teacher of that discipline. These Painting III students may be placed in a Painting I or Painting II class to facilitate that student's schedule. (One semester)

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY I

Students will learn and apply traditional photographic compositional techniques and design while photographing with their own digital cameras. Photo images will be downloaded into the school's computers and saved on the individual's "H" drive account. This course is designed to challenge the student's aesthetic and technical application in producing competition quality photographs. Students will be assigned eight to ten traditional genre photographic assignments that are to be photographed over the weekday afternoons and evenings and the weekends. At the end of the semester, students will learn how to manipulate their images by using Photoshop Elements software filters or other types of photographic software. (One semester)

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY II

This course will expand their knowledge and challenge their creative skills from what they accomplished in Digital Photography I. The shooting assignments will range from traditional, personal exploration, commercial application and photographic experimentation with the emphasis in advanced Photoshop techniques. A digital image portfolio will be required for the semester final exam. Prerequisite: Students must have earned an 80 or above in Digital Photography I and a recommendation from that student's Digital Photography I teacher is required. (One semester)

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY III

Students will build upon the knowledge and experiences they accomplished in Digital Photography II to develop a personal portfolio of high quality photographs. The student will develop an in-depth portfolio concentrated on two themes with several assignments on each theme to demonstrate the student's ability to create interesting compositions by using dramatic lighting situations, alternative subject matter, various photographic techniques and equipment and subject topics that have not been photographed previously. Prerequisite: Students must have earned a 96, or above in the Digital Photography II class and have approval from the art teacher of that discipline. These Digital Photography III students may be placed in a Digital Photography I or Digital Photography II class to facilitate that student's schedule. (One semester)

CERAMICS I

This course introduces students to the possibilities of creating functional creative handbuilt projects. The emphasis of craftsmanship and individual three-dimensional design will be stressed while producing unique one-of-a kind ceramic art. Various glazing techniques will be taught and students will apply different types of glazes to achieve the utmost appearance for each individual project. A few projects students will create are; large bowls, tall vases, platters, bottles and other challenging functional pottery. (One semester)

CERAMICS II

This course expands the ceramic knowledge and creative talents that were introduced in Ceramics I class while introducing advanced handbuilding and introductory wheelthrowing techniques to construct larger and more complex assignments. Students will be introduced to basic pottery wheel throwing techniques by using an electric pottery wheel. Emphasis will be to refine creative techniques of handbuilding while exploring the possibilities of wheelthrown pottery. All ceramic pieces will be bisque fired and glazed fired with traditional and alternative glazes. Prerequisite: Students must have earned an 80 or above in Ceramics I and a recommendation from that student's Ceramics I teacher is required. (One semester)

CERAMICS III

This course will allow students to explore a wider variety of ceramic construction from the basic knowledge of working in clay and creating complex functional utilitarian forms in Ceramics II. Students will create between six to eight functional ceramic projects. This course is designed for the student to work independently and develop a theme of his own portfolio of highly crafted ceramics. Each student will experiment with a variety of projects, glaze applications and kiln firings. Prerequisite: Students must have earned a 96 or above in the Ceramics II class and have approval from the art teacher of that discipline. These Ceramic III students may be placed in a Ceramics I or Ceramics II class to facilitate that student's schedule. (One semester)

SCULPTURE

This course is an introductory course in three-dimensional design and construction. Thu creative and conceptual assignments, students will explore a variety of media, techniques and styles of art-making. This course will begin with the theories of Elements and Principles of Sculpture design and then proceed, to the process, to put into practice what the student have learned. Guided and independent practices, in an intuitive and creative fashion, are integral throughout the course. (One semester)

ART HISTORY

This course is open to all students and provides an introduction to the history of art from the prehistoric age through contemporary trends of today. Through a chronological approach students will learn to recognize different styles of art and the most important artists. The audio-visual presentations in the classroom will be enriched with visits to the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston and the Menil Collection. (One semester)

BAND

This course produces the St. Thomas Eagle Band. Students study and perform a variety of musical styles in the band repertoire. The band performs at football games, concert performances, festivals, and local concert tours. Prerequisite: At least one year experience with a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument.

BEGINNING BAND

This course provides class instruction for students with no previous musical training. Class instruction at the beginning level provides a supportive, motivating setting which allows the student to develop the skills necessary to perform at the more advanced level of the St. Thomas Eagle Band. By the end of one semester, the student will enroll in the regular Band course.

ORCHESTRA

This course produces the St. Thomas String Ensemble. The class is offered to students who show an interest and willingness to learn their choice of violin, viola, cello or bass. The orchestra performs at concert performances and festivals. There are no prerequisites and students at the beginning level are welcome, but some musical knowledge is highly recommended.

JAZZ BAND

This course is an elective course that allows the student to study and perform the many varieties of jazz, swing, Latin, funk and rock music. The class includes instruction in improvisation, and provides a venue for guitarists, pianists, and bassists. Prerequisite: Enrolled in Band or Orchestra and recommendation.

HONORS BAND

This course is an in-depth study for students with a greater interest in music and music theory. In addition to the requirements of the Band or Orchestra class, students must participate in All-State, solo/ensemble competitions, attend all sessions on music theory, and produce an honors project each semester. Prerequisite: Recommendation and audition, only open to juniors and seniors.

VOCAL ENSEMBLE

This course is open to all students interested in singing. The student will be introduced to proper vocal techniques (voice range, diction, pitch) through both solo and ensemble settings. The students will perform at Mass, in concert, and participate in All-State and solo/ensemble competitions.

MUSIC HISTORY

This course is a course open to students who are interested in music history and how it reflects the culture in which it is created. Specific artists from each period who demonstrate the key movements in music as well as identifying key musical instruments, forms, and terms will explored. (One semester)

THEATER I

This course introduces students to the world of theater. Onstage practice and performance practice of stage movement, vocal technique, and improvisations prepare students to bring both scripts and characters to life. Students perform dramatic monologues, pantomimes, and duet scenes. Additionally, students participate in all aspects of a typical theatrical production by seeking out props, discovering motivations for actor, developing sound effects, creating costumes, designing a set, and ultimately producing a one act play. (One semester)

THEATER II

This course continues the introduction of Theater I, including onstage practice, performance, stage movement, vocal technique, and improvisations. A significant portion of the class focuses on self-evaluation (with the aid of video), but students also attend and evaluate performances in the Houston Area theater. Additionally, students will develop workshop ideas, original monologues, and playwriting techniques. The final project is a collaborative creation and production of a one act play/film. Prerequisite is Theater I. (One semester)