• Visual Art

  • About the Visual Art Pathway

    "We live in a visual world. Nearly everything man-made, from athletic shoes to websites, has been touched in some way by the hand, mind, and eye of a creative person. Visual artists create art to communicate ideas, thoughts or feelings. They use a variety of methods — painting, sculpting or illustrating — and an assortment of materials, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencils, pen and ink, photography, plaster, clay and computers. Visual artists are categorized in two groups: Fine artists create art to satisfy their need for self-expression while Illustrators and graphic designers put their artistic skills at the service of commercial clients, such as major corporations; retail stores; and advertising, design and publishing firms."

    -excerpt from the 2020-21 FBISD High School Course Selection Guide

    About SFAHS Art

    The Stephen F. Austin High School Visual Arts Department is an award-winning department that prides itself on community and student engagement. They constantly create and display artwork in and around the Austin High School campus; at any given time the walls of S.F.A. are covered with student art and visual expression.

    SFAHS Visual Arts team is also consistently displaying artwork in and around the community in such venues such as the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Visual Arts Scholastic Event of Texas, Fort Bend County Fair Art Auction, Sugar Land Art Center, and Texas Art Education Association Conference. 
     
    As a whole, the Fine Arts Department cultivates and creates multiple large-scale showcases a year; including the Spring Fine Art and Cultural Club Showcase. The Spring Showcase is an opportunity for each Fine Arts to showcase their students with a gallery walk, and performances by performing arts, as well as cultural clubs discussing their culture and traditions. 

    Art Fee: To pay the art fee please visit the AHS Revtrak account.

  • Campus-Level Courses

    Art I
    Offered in: 9–12 • Prerequisites: N/A
    Description: Art I is a prerequisite for all other art courses in senior high school. Students examine natural and man-made objects, explore the art elements of line, value, texture, color, form, and space. Students apply the principles of design, pattern, contract, emphasis, balance, proportion, harmony, rhythm, and movement in developing and creating original artworks using a variety of media and techniques in a general, structured, step-by-step manner. Artworks of master artists (traditional and contemporary) as well as fellow students are studied to allow students to grow in the appreciation of art and to develop evaluation skills.

    Art II, Drawing I
    Offered in: 10–12 • Prerequisites: Art I with portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art II, Drawing I provides students who have successfully completed Art I, or have demonstrated an advanced artistic ability (based on portfolio), an opportunity to further develop their drawing skills through the use of high-level thinking processes and techniques. Contour, gesture, pen and ink, pastels, mixed media, value and perspective techniques will be studied. More challenging media, study of contemporary and traditional art, and world cultures will inspire students and help them develop an individual drawing style.

    Art III, Drawing II
    Offered in: 11–12 • Prerequisites: Art II — Drawing I, portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art III, Drawing II provides the serious art student an opportunity to refine and develop advanced drawing skills and techniques in a variety of media and problem-solving situations including technology. Students are to create original works of art in an expressive-inventive and imaginative way. Throughout the course, the student is provided opportunities to choose from a wide variety of drawing media, techniques, and subject matter (traditional and contemporary) in order to develop a style, theme, or interpretation. In-depth design problems encourage the use of art elements and principles of design, which include experiences in abstract, non-objective, and realistic drawing approaches. All projects and works of art are to strengthen and develop the student’s portfolio.

    Art IV, Drawing III
    Offered in: 12 • Prerequisites: Art III — Drawing II, portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art IV, Drawing III is an independent study course allowing students to develop themes and individual styles in personal art works. It provides the serious art student an opportunity to refine and develop advanced drawing skills and techniques in a variety of media and problem-solving situations including technology. Themes range from pictorial accuracy to subjective interpretation. All projects and works of art are to strengthen and develop the student’s portfolio. The focus is to correspond and enhance the advanced placement drawing and two-dimensional course.

    Art II, Painting I
    Offered in: 10–12 • Prerequisites: Art I with portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art II, Painting I offers students who have successfully completed Art I an opportunity to extend their technical skills in a variety of painting styles and media. In-depth design problems encourage research of artworks of other artists and cultures and include experiences in abstract, non-objective, and realistic approaches.

    Art III, Painting II
    Offered in: 11–12 • Prerequisites: Art II — Painting I, portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art III, Painting II offers the continuing art students, who may be considering a career in art, the opportunity to extend and refine his/her technical skills in a variety of painting styles and media. In-depth design problems encourage the use of art elements and principles and include experiences in abstract, non-objective, and realistic approaches. Personal experiences, as well as inventive and imaginative themes, are the basic ingredient for original works of art. A major focus of the course is the study of significant painters and how the culture and/or historic period influenced their styles and subjects. All works of art serve to strengthen and develop the student’s portfolio.

    Art IV, Painting III
    Offered in: 12 • Prerequisites: Art III — Painting II, portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art IV, Painting III is an independent study course allowing students to develop themes and individual styles in personal artworks. Sources of ideas for their work come from students’ investigations of their environment for visual and structural ideas. Students will develop understanding of form, investigating, interpreting, and reinventing a subject through multiple portrayals guiding students in thematic development. A major focus of the course is the study of significant painters and how the culture and/or historic period influenced their styles and subjects. The projects and works of art are to strengthen and develop the student’s portfolio. The focus is to correspond and enhance the advanced placement drawing and two-dimensional course.

    Art II, Ceramics I
    Offered in: 10–12 • Prerequisites: Art I with portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art II, Ceramics I is a study of three-dimensional design in clay. Study will begin with the fundamental hand-building techniques of coil and slab construction, and an exploration of the clay surfaces. Students will experiment with various finishing techniques. Students are taught studio habits and time management.

    Art III, Ceramics II
    Offered in: 11–12 • Prerequisites: Art II — Ceramics I with portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art III, Ceramics II offers an in-depth study of clay for the serious student who has successfully completed Ceramics I. Students will develop personal style of expression through refining and developing skills previously introduced, as well as an introduction to wheel throwing, various clays, and glaze formulation. A historic emphasis will be placed on the evolution of studio ceramics and current issues within the field of ceramics. All projects and works of art are to strengthen and develop the student’s portfolio.

    Art II, Sculpture I 
    Offered in: 10–12 • Prerequisites: Art I with portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: The Art II, Sculpture I studio course, devoted to the three-dimensional art forms, will offer the student opportunities to become more proficient in modeling and constructing original creations using additive and subtractive methods. References to both cultural and historical sculptures will allow students to recognize the value of sculpture. Students are taught studio habits and time management.

    Art III, Sculpture II
    Offered in: 11–12 • Prerequisites: Art II - Sculpture I with portfolio review and instructor recommendation/approval
    Description: Art III, Sculpture II is an advanced art class designed for the student interested in studying in-depth three-dimensional form. Advanced additive and subtractive methods will be explored as students continue to strengthen design skills and emphasis on form and space. All projects and works of art are to strengthen and develop the student’s portfolio. Students continue to practice studio habits and time management.

    AP Drawing Portfolio
    Offered in: 10–12 • Prerequisites: Art III and instructor recommendation/approval with portfolio
    Description: AP Drawing Portfolio is a college-level course open to students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art, concentrating on drawing. AP Drawing Portfolio Exam is not based on a written exam; instead, the focus will be to submit portfolio exams to College Board for evaluation and the successful completion of the AP course at the end of the school year. Students create a portfolio of work to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of materials, processes and idea over the course of the year. Work focuses on the use of mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade. Portfolio Exam contains two sections. The Selected Works Section, which requires students to demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials, process and ideas. The Sustained Investigation section requires students to conduct a sustained investigation based on questions, through practice, experimentation, and revision. Both sections of the portfolio require students to articulate information about their work.

    AP 2-D Art and Design Portfolio
    Offered in: 10–12 • Prerequisites: Art III and instructor recommendation/ approval with portfolio
    Description: AP 2-D Art and Design Portfolio is a college-level course open to students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art, concentrating on 2-D design. AP 2D Art and Design Portfolio Exam is not based on a written exam; instead, the focus will be to submit portfolio exams to College Board for evaluation and the successful completion of the AP course at the end of the school year. Students create a portfolio of work to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of materials, processes and idea over the course of the year. Work focuses on the use Elements and Principles of Art and Design, which includes figure ground relationship, connection, juxtaposition and hierarchy. Portfolio Exam contains two sections. The Selected Works Section, which requires students to demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials, process and ideas. The Sustained Investigation section requires students to conduct a sustained investigation based on questions, through practice, experimentation, and revision. Both sections of the portfolio require students to articulate information about their work.

    AP 3-D Art and Design Portfolio
    Offered in: 10–12 • Prerequisites: Art III and instructor recommendation/approval with portfolio
    Description: AP 3-D Art and Design Portfolio is a college-level course open to students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art, concentrating on 3-D design. AP 3D Art and Design Portfolio Exam is not based on a written exam; instead, the focus will be to submit portfolio exams to College Board for evaluation and the successful completion of the AP course at the end of the school year. Students create a portfolio of work to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of materials, processes and idea over the course of the year. Work focuses on the use Elements and Principles of Art and Design, which includes balance, repetition, relationship, connection, juxtaposition and hierarchy. Portfolio Exam contains two sections. The Selected Works Section, which requires students to demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials, process and ideas. The Sustained Investigation section requires students to conduct a sustained investigation based on questions, through practice, experimentation, and revision. Both sections of the portfolio require students to articulate information about their work.

  • Our Photo Gallery

  • All course information is as described in the 2020-21 High School Catalog.