Visual Art Program Description
Central’s PVA Art program expects students to act and think like an artist. In this program, you will be asked to develop your artistic skills through a series of courses that will challenge and encourage your inner Picasso. Art is learned through trial and error, mastery of technique, understanding fundamental principles and being able to incorporate them into meaningful and technically sound 2-D or 3-D pieces of art.
Students with a wide range of backgrounds enter our program to learn and practice the foundations that will lead them towards personal style and innovation by the end of Grade 12. This program is an intensive study in visual art and includes a wide range of media exploration, art history, art appreciation, and professional development in the arts. Students will explore drawing techniques and styles, colour exploration, painting, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry. Having an art studio class every day of the school year helps to maintain your skill level and challenge your creative spirit. Students in PVA Art may also benefit from the Advanced Placement Studio Art program as well. This is a college-level program offered while still in high school. Please visit our Art Gallery to see some of the work created in our studios. Central also offers a general arts program for students that want to study art, but just not at the PVA level.
Instagram - @cmhsvisualarts
Celebrating Art, Photography, Media Arts and Fashion Design from the students at Central Memorial High School and PVA.
Advanced Placement Studio Art
Advanced Placement (AP) is a College level program that offers students post-secondary course work while still in high school. It is offered across the United States and Canada, and most post-secondary institutions grant university or college credits for AP course work.
Advanced Placement Studio Art is when students learn and produce artwork that is considered to be College Level. Students accepted into Central Memorial’s PVA program are given the opportunity to pursue Advanced Placement Studio Art during their Art 30 and Art 35 Classes.
- Students work towards the creation of a portfolio that is sent to the AP College Board in New York for judging
- students who receive a qualifying grade for their AP portfolio may use that result as college credit
- once you are enrolled at a post-secondary institution, you may use these credits towards your degree
- students that agree to take on the challenge of AP will explore and develop their artistic skills beyond the high school level.
When do I decide if AP is right for me?
There is no pressure on students to commit to the AP Criteria until they are in Art 30 (Grade 12). A series of work is the most challenging and difficult part of AP Program, but students work closely with their teacher and have plenty of guidance. Students must complete a series of 12 images that relate together by not only a related concept, but by technical style and approach. Please see our Gallery and look for the images labeled AP for examples of student work.
For more information about the College Board or AP, please click here.
Visual Arts Gallery
Project examples from the PVA visual arts program
Photography Gallery
Project examples from the PVA photography course
Visual Arts FAQ
PVA Visual Arts Alumni
Several graduates of the PVA Visual Arts Program have gone on to post-secondary programs or are currently pursuing professional careers. Alumni include:
Alberta College of Art and Design
- Stephanie S.
- Renåe J.
- Felicity H.
- Jace L.
- David H.
- Olivia P.
Carleton University, Ottawa
- Adam P. (Architecture)
- Simon M. (Architecture)
Emily Carr University of Art and Design – Vancouver
- Ellena L.
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax
- Jessie L
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto
- Rhyden B.
Ryerson University – Toronto
- Jeanine B. (Fashion Communication)
University of British Columbia Okanagan
- Naomi O. (Visual Arts)
University of Calgary
- Melissa D. (Visual Arts)
Vancouver Island University – Nanaimo
- Stephanie W. (Interior Design)