Whether you’ve been traversing the Art Department for years, or you’re interested in exploring a new art course, there are over a dozen unique opportunities offered for students to be creative and express themselves over a broad range of mediums. It doesn’t matter if you’re there because you enjoy creating or because you plan on getting an art degree after high school. The course offerings allow for advancement and understanding in fields ranging from the fundamentals to art history for students of every talent level at West. Taking an art class is a great way to learn the basics and have fun in a relaxing environment. The basics include drawing and painting, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and design classes that give students the chance to use different materials such as paints, oil pastels, drawing pencils, film cameras, pottery wheels, Adobe applications, etc.  From there, students can take studio, art history, and art and design classes to simulate the experience of collage art courses. You don’t need to be the most talented artist to enjoy an art class; classes are designed to work with students of all levels. 

Beyond the department, students can submit artwork to a variety of art shows and competitions.  The Lincoln-Way West art show, hosted every year, gives artists the opportunity to display their best works for the community to see. 

I wanted to thank both Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Labriola for their constant support with information and insights. The bulk of this article comes from their help, and I am very thankful. I also wanted to thank the students that allowed me to photograph their artwork and class environment, I hope you all enjoy representing your classes for this article. 

Below is an overview of the core classes offered in the Art Department: 

Meet the Teachers: 

Mr. Labriola 

“I started teaching in the L-Way District in 2001 after graduating college. I’ve taught at all of the L-Way high schools throughout my career, and I have been at West since 2016. I am a Lincoln-Way Central graduate, and after high school I earned my bachelor’s at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where I began my college experience as a pre-med major. I quickly decided that wasn’t the correct path for me and I switched my major to Art Education during my sophomore year since art had always been a passion of mine throughout high school.” 

“As the Department Chairperson of the Art Department, I teach 3 class periods. However, I have 5 different classes that I teach within those 3 periods. AP Art and Design, Drawing and Painting Advanced, Photography 1, Photography 2, and Digital Design. I really enjoy all of my classes and don’t think I could pick just one as my favorite. I love how art classes create a relaxed environment where students can express their creativity. My favorite thing about teaching art is watching students discover a passion or a talent that they didn’t realize was there.” 

Mrs. Johnson 

“After North closed, I came over to teach at Central and West. I have traveled between buildings for my whole career. This year I travel between East and West. I graduated from the University of Illinois (I have a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Art Education from the University of Illinois) and began teaching at Lincoln-Way at the start of my career. I have been here for 29 years, worked at all four buildings, taught in the reading and Art departments, and have taught all of the classes we offer in the art department at some time along the way.”  

“This year I am teaching Art Fundamentals, Ceramics 1, Ceramics 2, Advanced Studio Art, Jewelry, and Drawing & Painting 1. I enjoy them all, but Ceramics is my favorite. I love getting messy. And I really love watching students take a lump of clay and make it into something beautiful. Every single person can benefit from time creating. Find something that allows you to express something individual and really use that opportunity. Dance, act, sing, play an instrument, create art. These are all endeavors unique to humans.” 

Art Department Class Offerings

Art Fundamentals

Length: Semester 

Art Fundamentals is a course in the Art Department designed to provide a variety of experiences in the visual arts for both students who plan to continue in art and students who wish to take only one semester of art. Students are given a wide range of materials to create their pieces, including experiences in ceramics, watercolor, and acrylics and learn to utilize the elements and principles of design along with art history. Art Fundamentals is a great class for beginners in art and those looking to utilize a wide range of techniques. 

Jewelry 1 

Pre-Requirements: None  

Length: Semester 

During Jewelry 1, students explore basic jewelry-making processes and design techniques. Professional jewelry techniques such as sawing, sanding, filing, buffing, soldering, etching, and stone setting are taught in this course. Examples of the basic projects for students to choose from include pins, rings, key chains, earrings, and pendants.  

 Drawing and Painting 

Pre-Requirements: Art Fundamentals 

Length: Semester 

Drawing and painting is a continuation of the drawing and painting skills learned in the Art Fundamentals course. Students are given the opportunity to use acrylic paints, watercolor, pencil drawings, scratch boards, and color pencils. 

 Drawing and Painting Advanced 

Pre-Requirements: Art Fundamentals & Drawing and Painting 

Length: Year 

Drawing and Painting Advanced is a continuation of the Drawing and Painting course and its skills, with more sophisticated material and techniques, such as … and a stress on creativity.  

 Ceramics 1 

Pre-Requirements: None 

Length: Semester 

Ceramics 1 is a course designed to give students the opportunity to express themselves using clay using a variety of hand-building construction techniques, including pinch, coil, and slab.  

 Ceramics 2 

Pre-Requirements: Ceramics 1 

Ceramics 2 is a continuation of the ceramics course offerings, with the skills and techniques studied in the first ceramics class. Projects center around hand-building and wheel throwing techniques which will be introduced during this class. 

 Photography 1 

Pre-Requirements: None 

Length: Semester 

Photography 1 is the initial photography course designed to teach students the basic photographic skills. Through this course, students will achieve competence in taking photographs, developing film, and using darkroom techniques; as well as basic digital photograph skills and photo manipulation on the computer using Adobe Photoshop. Students are given their own film and camera, encouraged to take an array of unique photos that represent the components of photographic composition; taught how to develop film using the chemicals and darkroom located in the classroom; and use Photoshop to manipulate digital photographs and create unique designs on the Adobe programs. 

 Photography 2 

Pre-Requirements: Photography 1 

Length: Semester 

Photography 2 is a continuation of the techniques and materials studied in the first photography course. Students use more advanced techniques in both darkroom and digital photography will be explored. Students tackle assignments both individually and in collaboration with other classmates.  

Design and Illustration 

Pre-Requirements: None 

Length: Semester 

Design and illustration is a course designed to give students a better insight into the practices and techniques of visual advertising and communication as used in graphic design and illustration.  

Digital Design  

Pre-Requirements: Design and Illustration 

Length: Semester  

Digital design is a continued course offering of the skills learned in Design and Illustration, with a strong emphasis placed on the digital aspects of graphic design. Students will utilize Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to develop designs for projects similar to those a professional graphic designer would encounter, including choosing font choices, color applications, and layout designs. 

 AP Art and Design  

Pre-Requirements: Completion of 2nd level course in any area  

Length: Year 

AP Art and Design is an AP course designed to compare to the first year of college coursework in studio art. AP Art and Design is for highly motivated students, who have completed their course offerings in any of the ceramics, drawing and painting, photography, 3D design, or digital design courses. Students will be required to submit a portfolio for the AP Studio Art exam in the spring for college credit. (Note that the recommendation of a teacher is needed to participate).  

AP Art History 

Pre-Requirements: None 

Length: Year 

AP Art History is an AP course representative of an introductory college art history class that will eventually culminate in the AP Art History examination to determine college credits earned. This course is great for art students hoping to major in art in a university, or any students who are looking to add an AP level course to their schedule.