Visual Arts

Participation in visual arts helps students grow academically and foster an appreciation for the arts that they will carry with them into adulthood. At FMHS, we are proud to offer a variety of opportunities for our students to explore artistic endeavors.

Visual Art

This class includes beginning drawing, painting, pottery, and sculpture. We recommend all freshmen take it, but it’s open to all of our students. In this class, students learn the techniques they need to further their study in either two or three-dimensional visual art.

Students learn the elements of visual art (line, color, texture, shape, etc.) as well as how to effectively express themselves using a variety of materials and styles. They explore drawing, photography, watercolor painting, pottery and sculpture, learn basic art history, and more.

2D Studio Art

2D Studio Art is a second-level drawing and painting course. It builds on the basic drawing and painting skills students learned in Visual Art.

Some of the many ways students further their art education in this class include working with charcoal and learning various techniques as they draw large portraits and cityscapes. They also learn classical techniques by working extensively with acrylic paint. They do printmaking, cut stencils and make linoleum cuts, and explore street art and action painting. Among other things, 2D Studio Art students also learn digital painting and editing techniques on their iPads.

2D Studio Art students develop their unique artistic style and explore their own ideas.

3D Studio Art

This is a second-level pottery and sculpture class that builds on the basic pottery and sculpture skills students learned in Visual Art class. Students learn more complex methods of handbuilding, wheelwork, and glazing, including sgraffito and building a teapot. 3D Studio Art students branch out into diverse media and building methods, including basketry reedwork, plaster and wax molds, head and torso sculptures, and architecture-inspired models.

AP 3D Design

This is a college-level class, open to all students who want to progress in pottery and sculpture. We welcome all students who earned a B+ or higher in 3D Studio Art. There is an enrollment fee, and it requires some summer work.

In AP 3D, students explore their ideas and develop processes to build a college-ready portfolio of work. Students learn to photograph, critique, and talk about art, and they earn college credit if they pass the College Board portfolio review. We culminate the completion of this class with a student show at a professional gallery.

AP 2D Drawing

AP 2D Drawing is a level-three drawing and painting class. It is open to all students who want to progress in any 2D media including drawing, painting, or printmaking, and who earned a B+ or higher in 2D Studio Art or to seniors with teacher approval. There is an enrollment fee, and it requires some summer work.

In this class, students explore their ideas and create processes as they build a college-ready portfolio of work. Students learn to photograph, critique, and talk about art, and earn college credit if they pass the College Board portfolio review. We culminate the completion of this class with a student show at a professional gallery.

AP 2D Design

AP 2D Design is a level-three digital design, photography, and digital art course that focuses more on the principles of design or commercial art than on fine art. There is an enrollment fee, and it requires some summer work.

This class is open to all students who want to progress in drawing and painting and who earned a B+ or higher in 2D Studio Art. It is the prerequisite to both AP 2D classes.

In AP 2D Design, students explore their ideas and develop processes as they build a college-ready portfolio of their work. Students learn to photograph, critique, and talk about art, and earn college credit if they pass the College Board portfolio review. This class culminates in a student show held at a professional gallery.