Open Studies Course Registration

Grades 9-12: In this course students will learn how to create powerful illustrations that bring articles, essays, and interviews to life. Whether they're printed in a magazine or published online, they will learn how illustrators respond to breaking news, cultural trends, and social issues through compelling imagery. Students will work with real-world prompts, just like a professional illustrator! This class will introduce students to today’s careers in editorial illustration—from freelancing for The New York Times to contributing to platforms like The New Yorker, or Buzzfeed. No matter your drawing style—bold and graphic or detailed and painterly—you’ll sharpen your voice and visual storytelling skills needed to get your work seen and prepared to publish in today’s fast-moving media landscape.

Grade 9-12: In this course, students will draw from a live model as they investigate the human form. Students will use various 2D drawing media as they work through a progression of drawings that investigate how different approaches to the figure can address mood, and emotion. From fast paced gesture drawings to intermediate poses, students will produce a portfolio of figure drawings that range in style from traditional to more contemporary and conceptual approaches that embody a student's personal artistic vision.

Grades 9-12 Beginning with an understanding of compositional principles and the basic camera functions, features, and possibilities, students learn to create digital photographs. From a variety of prompts intended to tap into students' interpretation and experience of the visual world around them, students collect imagery in their daily lives, at home, and outdoors. As the course progresses, the class explores the Adobe Photoshop program as a tool to refine images and explore options for manipulating imagery for expressive purposes. Note: Students must have their own digital camera (cell phone or DSLR). Access to the Adobe Creative Suite is included for the duration of this course.

Grades 9-12: Students in this class will explore image, motion, character, and narrative storytelling through 2D digital techniques. Students will be challenged to create work from their personal experiences and will work both independently and collaboratively while building foundational drawing skills. Final portfolios will include concept drawings, storyboards, and completed short animations.