Visual Arts Department

Tommy Douglas Secondary School offers students a progressive and diverse program in the Visual Arts. Each individual is encouraged to develop their own unique artistic vision and skills.  Students will work both individually and collaboratively to inspire an environment of creativity, artistic integrity and respect.

At Tommy Douglas Secondary School, students will develop critical thinking skills as they become investigative and curiosity driven artists.  Inspiration from both historical and contemporary artists will challenge students to question the world around them, broaden their perspectives and realize the power of art as an expressive mode of communication. Ultimately students will become more passionate learners and compassionate members of our society with the confidence to imagine and create a better world.

Through both the creative and critical processes, students will learn how to develop ideas and make associations and connections in order to become skilled problem solvers.  This is an essential tool for students moving forward into future careers of any kind. The ability to generate and develop original and creative concepts is part of every project in our program. The opportunity to develop traditional skills and use contemporary technologies will also give students the ability to communicate well in our very visual world. Art is a language which transcends cultural barriers.

The Visual Arts Program offers a wide range of courses and opportunities.  The Foundation Courses (AVI) offer experiences in drawing, painting, sculpture, design and contemporary artistic processes.  The Digital Media stream (AWQ, AWR) offers courses in Digital Photography, Film and Video and Animation.  The Design Series (AWD) courses include an introduction to design, graphic design, fashion design and interior design.

 

VISUAL ARTS COURSES   

 

Grade 9 Visual Arts              AVI1O1                 Open

Students will use the creative and critical analysis processes and will interpret art within a personal, contemporary, and historical context.

 

Grade 10 Visual Arts            AVI2O1                Open

This course enables students to develop their skills in producing and presenting art by introducing them to new ideas, materials, and processes for artistic exploration and experimentation.

 

Grade 10 Visual Design        AWD2O1              Open

Projects will include introductions to graphic design, industrial design, fashion design and interior design and will give students the basic illustration and design skills to continue in the senior design courses. Design will also be offered at the senior level.

 

Grade 10 Photography         AWQ2O1               Open

This course is an introduction to the photographic arts and is a blending of scientific and artistic concepts. Students will learn digital SLR operations and skills with digital imaging software. This course leads to Grade 11 Film and Video.

 

Grade 11 Visual Arts             AVI3O1                Open

Students will use the creative process to create art works that reflect a wide range of subjects and will evaluate works using the critical analysis process. Students will also explore works of art within a personal, contemporary, historical, and cultural context.

 

Grade 11 Visual Arts             AVI3M1               University/College

Students will use the creative process to explore a wide range of themes through studio work that may include drawing, painting, sculpting, and printmaking, as well as the creation of collage, multimedia works, and works using emerging technologies.  PREREQUISITE: AVI1O1 or AVI2O1 - Visual Arts     This course leads to Grade 12 Art.

 

Grade 11 Visual Design         AWD3M1             University/College

This course enables students to further develop their knowledge and skills in design. Projects will include extended challenges in graphic design, interior design, architectural design, fashion design and industrial design.  Students will also learn about the connections between design and different contemporary and historical design styles. Both the creative and critical analysis processes will be explored in each design challenge as students are encouraged to think “outside the box”.​

 

Grade 11 Photography      AWQ3M1                 University/College

This course builds on the skills acquired in introductory photography and further challenges students to work in a variety of photographic genres. The emphasis continues to be on technical quality and the development of personal responses and innovative imagery. Students will examine the concepts of the middle period of photographic history as well as contemporary photography and apply a full range of analytical criteria to photographic works. The emphasis is on professional standards and applications.

 

Grade 11 Film/Video               AWR3M1               University/College

This course provides students with opportunities to further develop their skills and knowledge in visual arts. Students will work on storyboarding, planning, visualization, concept boards and editing of video works as well as film history and criticism with a focus on the Canadian film industry.  This course leads to Grade 12 Film/Video.

 

Grade 12 Visual Arts                  AVI4M1                             University/ College

This course focuses on enabling students to refine their use of the creative process when creating and presenting two- and three-dimensional art works using a variety of traditional and emerging media and technologies. Students will use the critical analysis process to deconstruct art works and explore connections between art and society. The studio program enables students to explore a range of materials, processes, and techniques that can be applied in their own art production and the development of a professional portfolio. Students will also make connections between various works of art in personal, contemporary, historical, and cultural contexts.

 

Grade 12 Visual Arts Workplace             AVI4E1                  Workplace

This course focuses on a practical approach to a variety of art and design projects related to the workplace. Students will use the creative process to produce a traditional and/or digital portfolio of their work in a variety of media. Students may focus on various aspects of visual arts, including advertising, ceramics, fashion design, graphic arts, jewellery design, and/or web design.

 

Grade 12 Visual Design                          AWD4M1       University/College

This course focuses on enabling students to refine their use of the creative process when creating and designing two- and three-dimensional works using a variety of traditional and emerging media techniques. The importance of divergent thinking in the creative process and original problem solving will be a focus of the course. Students will develop their own style and brand as they work towards promoting their work through social media. The emphasis will be on adapting sustainable and progressive practices as well as professional portfolio development.

 

Grade 12 -Film and Video                        AWR 4M1             University/College

​This course focuses on enabling students to refine their use of the creative process when creating and presenting film and video works using a variety of traditional and emerging media and technologies. Students will use the critical analysis process to deconstruct international films and explore connections between film and society. This course enables students to explore a range of styles and techniques that can be applied in their own productions. The student will develop video shorts for a demo reel of their work as well as creating a submission to a local film festival.

 

Grade 12 Information/Consumer Design (Yearbook)     AWE4M1        University/College

The Grade 12 Yearbook course will take a leadership role in the development of the TDSS yearbook. Students will participate in all aspects of production and design and act as role models for the Grade 11 Yearbook students. Everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the many roles a project like this requires. Students will take pictures, create graphics, design page layouts, edit videos and develop leadership skills as team and project managers. This is experiential learning at its best! Participants gain useful, real world skills in time management, marketing, teamwork, and design principles.​

 

Opportunities

SHSM Arts and Culture

The SHSM–Arts and Culture enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Students will start the SHSM in grade 11 and must select a two credit co-op in either their grade 11 or grade 12 year.  This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on arts management, architecture, graphic design, interior design, fashion design, film, or technical production. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four art major credits in the bundle of grade 11 and 12 courses.​ 

ARTS Council

The mandate of the Arts Council is to promote arts and culture at Tommy Douglas Secondary School.  Initially we will be looking at creating an environment within our new building that will reflect our school's committment to social justice and character education.  Students will propose and work towards enriching the school by displaying paintings, sculptures and installations.

The Council also will unite all the arts disciplines to bring together arts events and multi disciplinary performances.  A student does not have to be taking an art course to join.

We will meet once a week in the art room.  Meeting time and place will be on the morning announcements.

Hope you can join us!