Fine Arts

For complete COURSE DESCRIPTIONS, click on Course Title below in chart and/or go to Class Registration

For complete TEXTBOOKS/SUPPLIES, click on Course on Class Registration 

For TUTOR BIOGRAPHIES, click on Tutor Name in below chart and/or go to Class Registration

For assistance in choosing the correct class, please see WEST's Class Track Guidelines

Tuition Payments are broken up with two payments for semester classes and four payments for annual classes

 

---

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Acting Essentials
For the curious, creative, beginner, or somewhat experienced actor! Students will have the opportunity to learn about the art of acting through voice, movement, expression, character development, along with the basics of stage presence, and an introduction to improvisational skills. By reading through scripts, playing dramatic exercises and games, acting out scenes, and performing a 10 minute One-Act play for the showcases, students will build confidence and skills that will benefit all areas of life. Wherever your skills currently are, you will grow from there, in preparation for auditions, or simply to gain more confidence in the craft, in a fun, non-judgmental, colorful, creative class setting. There will be much laughter, encouragement, and growth! 

• Students are welcome to join this class anytime throughout the year.

Cartooning
This class will be a two fold focus; cartooning and art history. From Prehistoric Art to Modern Art, students will follow the progression and influence of art throughout the world. Projects and cartoon characters will be developed around the central theme of art history. The class will begin with a strong drawing focus to lay a foundation for confidence and skill in designing original cartoon characters. Cartooning is a fun and powerful way to take art and communicate with your viewers. Students will learn value, proportions, and perspective drawing while we design cartoons. The class will learn about and create their own political cartoon, marketing cartoon character, caricature art, and a simple animated cartoon strip.  No matter where your artistic skills are, this class will give a solid base for successful artistic expression as well as the knowledge of how art has historically shaped the people and culture around it. 

Beginning Oil Pastels see samples below
Oil pastel is a fantastic medium for transitioning young artists from black and white to color. Lessons will cover fine arts concepts such as color, blending, light and shadow, perspective and dimension, and layering and composition. Class is fun and upbeat, and students apply everything they learn immediately into their work. The bottom line goal is to help students become familiar with techniques of pastel use and color to the point where they can use pastel to express their own ideas in painting. They will be amazed at what they're capable of even when drawing isn't really their strong suit. Each student is required to finish and submit at least one final painting demonstrating the techniques taught in class. All submitted work will be cropped and mounted onto matte board by instructor and made ready for presentation, if time and class size allows.

Drawing Basics see samples below
To provide a solid foundation in drawing basics. Drawing is a very important building block that is foundational to all other mediums of art. Students will learn and apply a wide variety of art techniques, terminology, and uses of various drawing tools as they are introduced to elements of line, tone, shading, blending, graphing, and many other important concepts that will radically improve drawing skills. Lessons will cover fine arts concepts such as light and shadow, perspective and dimension, and layering and composition. Class is fun and upbeat, and students apply everything they learn immediately into their work.

High School 3D Art Exploration
Join us to engage with different techniques and artists to develop your ability to combine color, balance, and composition in multiple dimensions. Projects will include a ceramic clay project, fibers and felting, printmaking techniques, various sculpture armatures, assemblages, innovative sculptural book/paper-making and more. Projects change each year so that students may register for this course more than once!

Please note the additional $80 supply fee for the year to be paid via Venmo, check or cash to Mrs. Wielgus on the first day!

Course Objectives for Students

• Become familiar with 3-4 artists and be able to show how their work or techniques have impacted culture
• Learn and demonstrate elements and principles of art
• Exercise economy with materials
• Experience joyful discovery that comes with creating with the hands
• Participate in a showcase at the end of each semester

HUMAN-ities
What are the core cultural pieces to humanity? Philosophy, Music, Money, Food, Literature, Architecture, Art, Drama and more. This class studies the major components of life and the relationship we have with the world around us, including world civilizations and their achievements through the classic elements of society. We will explore how different cultures have influenced one another throughout history from ancient times to the 21st century through hands-on, engaging activities, projects and discussions. We will study popular movements and how they shaped our modern society. By discussing different genres, themes, styles, and ideas from different time periods, we will gain a better understanding of how the past has influenced the present. Throughout this course we will marvel at the gifts and talents God has given us as humans and how He has gifted each one of us with His creativity.

This class is full of exploration and fun! Students will leave the semester with a solid knowledge base of human culture.

To complement the “hard” sciences like math, science, and personal finance, this class will help us gain a more full understanding of how humanity has expressed itself throughout the ages and how we can evaluate scientific discoveries through God’s moral compass.

This course also serves as a history or elective credit.

This class is also an excellent precursor to PSEO Art Appreciation and World Civilizations as well as a solid course before or after 8-12th grade Worldview, World Religions and World History.

Interior Design
This course will be an introduction to the world of interior design and architecture. Students will master the use and impact of color, learn the significance of space and scale and create their own design projects. Over the year, the students will learn how to design floor plans, lighting plans, create perspective drawings, implement color and understand color psychology, as well as design their own design firm and master a final design project just like a professional designer. This will be a very comprehensive course, designed to give the students a foundation in design that they can build from in the future.  An understanding of different design styles and their impact will help the students understand more about their personal design taste and how they can be implemented to minimize weak spots in a room and create balanced, functional spaces that are inviting. This is going to be an exciting and fun class that will allow each student achieve the necessary skills to implement in their own space or expand into a career interest for the future! There will be a final project at the end of each semester with a presentation and the students will build a personal professional portfolio with their work over the year. If working with architecture or design is something that you are considering studying in the future, this course will be a wonderful introduction to both worlds.

Introduction to Photography
This Introductory Photography Course offering will have students focus on 3 primary outcomes:

1. Use photography to express who they are and the world around them
2. Learn and practice basic concepts such as: composition, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, using and creating light, portrait shooting, posing, and basic editing
3. Develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the way that photography affects culture and everyday life

Course will consist of the presentation of new concepts, in-class “behind the camera” labs, peer and tutor feedback, and a look at the history of photography in and through culture.  Weekly at home assignments are designed to practice concepts taught in class.  A student showcase will conclude each semester.  Students will need to have their own active Google account.  All assignments and class communications will take place via Google Classroom.  

* Because every camera is different, the class will not cover the specific, technical aspects of your camera. Students must know how to operate their camera and adjust their ISO, aperture (f-stop), and shutter speeds. READ your camera's manual and become familiar with the basics of it. 

Middle School Art ExplorationCome prepared to dabble in techniques in drawing, painting, and sculpture using a variety of mediums. Students will gain an understanding of spatial concepts and learn how to describe what they see using the elements and principles of art. This class works in 2D and 3D, collaborative projects, a ceramic clay project, color theory, paper arts, printmaking and other mixed media fun! Projects change each year so that students may register for this course more than once!

Please note the additional $35 supply fee to be paid via Venmo, check or cash to Mrs. Wielgus on the first day!

Course Objectives for Students:

• Become familiar with 3-4 artists and be able to show how their work or techniques have impacted culture
• Learn and demonstrate elements and principles of art
• Develop more technique in several mediums
• Exercise economy with materials
• Experience joyful discovery that comes when using the hands and materials to create
• Participate in a showcase at the end of each semester

Mixed Media A - Alternates Years with Mixed Media B see samples below
Students will be introduced to three new mediums: pen and ink, watercolor pencil, and compressed charcoal, and will also move into Advanced Pastel concepts. Lessons will rotate through these mediums, beginning with the seven basic strokes of pen and ink, and incorporating watercolor into the pen and ink projects. In oil pastel, rather than learning one lesson at a time, Mixed Media students will do a series of oil pastel paintings from start to finish, with a goal of completing at least 4 paintings by the end of the year. We will incorporate all lessons learned in previous classes, including drawing basics for a good initial sketch, composition, backgrounds, blending, light and shadow, and perspective. Lessons will cover a wide variety of technique in all mediums, from extremely detailed to more abstract. Students will also learn how these mediums have been used by famous artists of the past, as well as present-day applications. (Sample lessons shown below represent all mediums). Some discussion of Art History is also included.

Mixed Media B - Alternates Years with Mixed Media A see samples below
Students will be continue with three mediums: pen and ink, watercolor pencil, and compressed charcoal, and will also continue Advanced Pastel concepts. Lessons will rotate through these mediums, beginning with the seven basic strokes of pen and ink, and incorporating watercolor into the pen and ink projects. In oil pastel, rather than learning one lesson at a time, Mixed Media students will do a series of oil pastel paintings from start to finish, with a goal of completing at least 4 paintings by the end of the year. We will incorporate all lessons learned in previous classes, including drawing basics for a good initial sketch, composition, backgrounds, blending, light and shadow, and perspective. Lessons will cover a wide variety of technique in all mediums, from extremely detailed to more abstract. Students will also learn how these mediums have been used by famous artists of the past, as well as present-day applications. (Sample lessons shown below represent all mediums). Some discussion of Art History is also included.

Private Piano/Guitar Music Lessons
Students will receive private lessons on the instrument of their choice learning music theory, technique, and practice skills. Lessons will be catered to each student based on previous experience, skill, and learning style. The primary purpose of these music lessons will be to develop musical ability and personal practice skills while accomplishing any goals students want to set for themselves.

Private Drum Lessons
Students will receive private drums lessons learning music theory, technique, and practice skills. Lessons will be catered to each student based on previous experience, skill, and learning style. The primary purpose of these music lessons will be to develop musical ability and personal practice skills while accomplishing any goals students want to set for themselves.

WEST Secondary Choir
Do you love to sing? Do you love listening to music? Do you have a desire to perform? Join your friends in this Choir experience for an exciting 90 minutes each week of singing together and exploring the instrument God built into each one of us! Choral ensemble experience is a great way to build confidence and teamwork that will transfer into many other disciplines including public speaking, worship teams, and musical theater. 

In this course students will: 

• Gain confidence in their singing voice and demonstrate proper vocal techniques
• Apply musical skills as they create music in an ensemble setting.
• Explore and experience a variety of musical styles using 2-4 part harmony. 
• Participate in each semester's showcase event. 
• Grow a love for vocal music as they grow into lifelong music participants.

---

FINE ART SAMPLES

Sample Lessons from Drawing Basics (Fall Semester)

---

Sample Lessons from Beginning Oil Pastels (Spring Semester)

 

---

Sample Lessons from Mixed Media A & B 

Additional Advanced Oil Pastel Samples