Art I’s first period class works on their class assignment on a Monday morning with Ms. Johnston’s guidance
After several requests from students for an art class, Art I appeared on the course selection card last spring as a fine arts credit.
“It was very helpful,” said senior Jose Garcia who is taking Art I. “Because I didn’t want to play an instrument.”
In the past, the options for a fine arts credit were AP art history or music.
Ms. Diana Johnston is the Art I teacher as well as the Academic Decathlon and Art History instructor. According to Johnston, the art course will cover design principles.
“We’re going to be introducing all the mediums: charcoal, color pencil, oil pastels, paint, 3D, ceramics, et cetera,” Johnston said. “We’re going to slowly roll those out.”
The class is designed to give a smooth gateway into the art world. Johnston said that the class is designed for beginners.
“The way this is graded isn’t necessarily on how ‘good’ the product is,” Johnston said. “But the effort that was put into it and the progress the student shows from one art project to the next.”
Garcia said that the atmosphere of the course is encouraging.
“The teacher is very nice and does not criticize us,” Garcia said. “It’s more about the progress.”
However, not all progress is possible since several students that are interested in advancing in art earned their Art I credit in middle school.
“But, hopefully,” Johnston added, “if the program goes well, we can maybe expand it so that other art classes are offered for credits so that they don’t have to be stuck with just Art I.”
Art students will also be eligible to join National Art Honor Society in the spring, Ms. Johnston said.
“We’re hoping that by having the honor society students, we can have a more robust art club where we do art projects around the school that we haven’t been able to complete,” Johnston said.
Students such as Garcia as well as the school will benefit in more ways than just earning or offering a fine arts credit.
“It’s not really easy,” Garcia said. “But art can bring out your emotions such as when we get to draw. Your art has emotion in it.”