Starting in the 2026-27 school year, the Gibbons fine arts department will offer seven new semester-long electives. These courses are designed to give students an introduction into different forms of design. All courses are offered to juniors and seniors (excluding Cartooning & Comics Art II Honors).
The following descriptions are pulled from the Gibbons Course of Studies.
Cartooning & Comics Art I & II Honors
Cartooning & Comics Art I Honors is a course that will explore the ancient tradition of conveying stories/ideas through words and pictures. Students will study the history of sequential art and its broad range of styles and genres, and they will write and draw their own short stories in several different formats. Students will also learn how to publish their own stories online.
Cartooning & Comics Art II Honors is a course that is designed to be a continuation of Cartooning & Comics Art I. Students will be asked to display a more advanced level of drawing and visual storytelling, and the projects will be greater in length and more substantive in content. Students will be expected to work independently and develop their own story ideas and more advanced techniques in drawing will be pursued.
Interior Design Honors
This hands-on, project based course introduces students to the creative and technical world of interior design. Students will explore how to transform residential and commercial spaces into functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing environments. Through sketching, model-building, and real world challenges, students develop foundational skills in design principles, solace planning, color theory, materials selection, and substantial practices.
Figure Drawing Honors
This course is designed for all students, from those with no prior art experience to experienced artists seeking to deepen their figure-drawing skills. Students will study the fundamentals of figure drawing, including basic human anatomy, proportion, gesture, and form, as well as the historical importance of these methods. Students should expect to work diligently, take creative risks, and engage thoughtfully in the artistic process, while also enjoying the endless possibilities of drawing people.
Introduction to Computer Modeling Honors
The course will cover the basics of 3D object modeling in 3D studio Max software. No drawing ability is necessary. Students will learn the fundamentals of how to visualize and construct basic objects using polygons and then learn how to create and apply their own texture maps to the objects. The skills acquired in this class can be applied to video games, 3D animation, architecture, and other areas in the entertainment and communication fields.
Photography Honors
This course introduces the fundamental techniques used in digital photography. Emphasis is placed on concept and content as well as technical proficiency. Students will learn to operate digital camera equipment and accessories as well as explore digital manipulation using Photoshop and other digital imaging software and techniques. Students will explore the image-making process using a variety of mixed media and digital photo techniques.
Printmaking Honors
This course is designed for all students, from experienced artists to those who’ve never taken art before. Students will experiment with creating monoprints, stamps, stencils, intaglios, woodcuts, linoleum cuts, collographs, and embossments, learning the technical skills and historical importance of these methods. Students should expect to work diligently, take creative risks, and engage thoughtfully in the artistic process, while also enjoying the endless possibilities of printmaking.
