Fine Arts Department

The St. Thomas Fine Arts program continues to grow. The Moran Fine Arts Center allows us to expand the program in new and exciting ways. Along with our dramatic productions on the St. Thomas campus, our students are also involved in productions at our sister schools – Duchesne, Incarnate Word Academy, St. Agnes.

Music classes and activities include Band (Football Band and Concert), Orchestra, Beginning Band, two Jazz Bands, the Honors Music, Chamber Music (including Brass Quintet and Percussion Ensemble).

Visual Arts classes include Drawing I and II, Painting I and II, Photography I and II, Ceramics and Sculpture.

DEPARTMENT MEMBERS

Mike Nebel, Teacher / Fine Arts Dean
Dan Green, Teacher / Theatre Director
Jack Hanna, Basilian Fathers / Teacher / Languages Dean
Donald Thoede, Teacher / Band Director
Susan Wallace, Teacher
Joshua Wilson, Teacher / Choral Director / Textbook Coordinator

FINE ARTS COURSES

FUNDAMENTALS OF ART is offered as a foundation course open to Freshmen only. The course will introduce the student to the different mediums offered in art such as ceramics, drawing, painting, and sculpture. (One semester)

DRAWING I is an introductory course that concentrates on understanding and manipulating the two-dimensional surface through a series of structured drawing problems, including still life and environment. Shape, form, line, surface, value, and texture are investigated with a variety of media, including pencil, charcoal, and ink. (One semester)

DRAWING II begins with a series of exercises in line designed to train the eye and hand through progressively more difficult assignments. Different kinds of drawing media and paper are examined. Students are encouraged to be expressive and imaginative. Students will study the drawings of well known artists in history. Pre-requisite: Drawing I and recommendation. (One semester)

PAINTING I is an introduction to painting that provides an exploration of paint through the use of acrylics, tempera, and watercolor. This course will also explore the way we perceive color, and how it is altered. The study of paintings and painters through local field trips to the museum are necessary. (One semester)

PAINTING II will teach students advanced techniques using several different painting mediums. This course focuses on an analysis and exploration of painting styles as students explore portrait, landscape, still life, and abstract art. Slide lectures and museum visits are designed to promote an understanding of contemporary painting issues. Prerequisite Painting I and recommendation. (One semester)

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY I Students will learn and apply traditional photographic compositional techniques and design while photographing with their digital cameras. Photo images will be downloaded into computers and manipulated with the use of Photoshop and other graphic software. This course is designed to challenge the student’s aesthetic and technical application in producing competition photographs. Students will be assigned 10-12 traditional genre photo assignments that are to be completed over the weekends. An eight matted print portfolio will be required for the semester exam. (1 semester)

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY II Students will expand their knowledge of digital photography from what they achieved in Digital Photography I. The shooting assignments will range from traditional, personal exploration, commercial application and photographic experimentation with the emphasis of advance Photoshop techniques of enhancement. A ten matted print portfolio will be required for the semester final exam. (One semester)

CERAMICS I This course will introduce students to the methods of clay preparation, hand building, and wheel forming. The class will include methods of decoration, glazing, and firing in the making of individually expressive forms that could be practical or conceptual in nature. (One semester)

CERAMICS II This course expands the ceramics knowledge of the students by introducing advanced handbuilding and wheelthrowing techniques to construct larger and more complex assignments. Students will learn about and apply a variety of glazing techniques to functional and sculptural projects. Creating pottery on the potter’s wheel will also be explored. (One semester)

SCULPTURE I is an introductory course into the creative uses of clay, paper, and plaster. Students will develop an understanding of three-dimensional form and its relationship to space. Local visits to sculpture found in our city is necessary for proper viewing and understanding. (One semester)

ART HISTORY will be open to all students and provide an introduction to the history of art from the perspective of visual recognition as well as research into the most significant contributions made in the field. The course will cover the ancient to the contemporary art periods with visits to local museums and galleries to broaden understanding of the transition of art through time. (One semester)

BAND produces the St. Thomas Eagle Band. Students study and perform a variety of musical styles in the band repertoire. The band performs at football games, concert performances, festivals, and local concert tours. Prerequisite: At least one year experience with a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument.

BEGINNING BAND provides class instruction for students with no previous musical training. Class instruction at the beginning level provides a supportive, motivating setting which allows the student to develop the skills necessary to perform at the more advanced level of the St. Thomas Eagle Band. By the end of one semester, the student will be able to enroll in the regular Band course. The Beginning Band performs at school concerts. (One semester)

ORCHESTRA produces the St. Thomas Orchestra. The class is offered to students who show an interest and willingness to learn their choice of violin, viola, cello or bass. The orchestra performs at concert performances and festivals. There are no prerequisites; students at the beginning level are welcome.

JAZZ BAND allows the student to study and perform the many varieties of jazz, swing, Latin, funk and rock music. The class includes instruction in improvisation, and provides a venue for guitarists, pianists, and bassists. Pre-requisite: Enrolled in Band and recommendation.

HONORS BAND (Open to juniors and seniors) An in-depth study for students with a greater interest in music and music theory. In addition to the requirements of the Band or Orchestra class, students must participate in All-State, solo/ensemble competitions, attend all sessions on music theory, and produce an honors project each semester. Pre-requisite: Recommendation and Audition.

VOCAL ENSEMBLE is open to all students interested in singing. The student will be introduced to proper vocal technique (voice range, diction, pitch) through both solo and ensemble settings. The students will perform at Mass, in concert, and participate in All-State and solo/ensemble competitions.

MUSIC HISTORY is open to students who are interested in music history and how it reflects the culture in which it is created. Specific artists from each period who demonstrate the key movements in music as well as identifying key musical instruments, forms, and terms will be explored. (One semester)

THEATER I introduces students to the world of theater. Onstage practice and performance, practice of stage movement, vocal technique, and improvisations prepare students to bring both scripts and characters to life. Students perform dramatic monologues, pantomimes, and duet scenes. Additionally, students participate in all aspects of a typical theatrical production by seeking out props, discovering motivations for actors, developing sound effects, creating costumes, designing a set, and ultimately producing a one act play. (One semester)

THEATER II continues the introduction to theater – including onstage practice, performance, stage movement, vocal technique, and improvisations. A significant portion of the class focuses on self-evaluation (with aid of camera), but students also attend and evaluate performances in Houston area theater. Additionally, students workshop ideas, original monologues, and some playwriting technique. The final project is a collaborative creation and production of a one act play. Pre-requisite: Theater I. (One semester)