Grossmont High School
La Mesa, CA
About Digital Arts
Digital Arts is an art class in which students investigate the relationship between art and technology. The class provides training in digital media with an emphasis on design and the arts, using Adobe CS3 software, including Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as Corel Painter, and digital photography. Students explore digital illustrations, graphic design, digital painting and digital image blending. The computer is utilized as the tool to acquire art skills including color theory, and principles of composition and elements of design. This class teaches students how to express their creativity in a variety of design venues.
Class work is divided into several areas: Exercises, assignments, research and presentations.
Exercises are meant to teach students an understanding of composition and design and specific technical skills on the computer.
Assignments require student understanding and use of media and techniques; resolving the art problem assigned creatively with individual ideas expressed; showing a clear understanding of composition and design and an input of their own creativity.
Research involves gallery critiques and research on specific artists assigned.
Presentations include oral or written explanations of completed work, as well as group presentations of assigned group work.
Digital Arts meets the Fine Arts Graduation Requirement:
This class meets the Fine Arts high school graduation requirement and the UC “f” Visual or Performing Arts requirement.
Creative Arts assignments are visual problems that students resolve using skills learned, an understanding of composition design, and creativity.
Regional Occupational Programs provide practical training applicable for careers. Digital Arts includes training in computer design skills necessary for careers in fields of digital media and multimedia.
Receiving College Credit for Digital Arts:
Digital Arts articulates with both of the East County community colleges, therefore students may earn college credit as well as high school credit for the class, as long as a sequence of two articulating courses are taken while in high school. This college credit is not just for the students attending Grossmont or Cuyamaca Colleges. This credit is transferable to most California 4 year colleges and universities. Students taking a sequence of two articulating courses, such as Digital Arts 1-2 and Digital Arts 3-4, Digital Arts 1-2 and Photography 1-2, or other combination of two articulating courses, receive college credit for both courses in which they have received grades of “B” or better. Please speak with the teacher or guidance counselor to find out which Grossmont High School classes articulate and earn students college credit.