(a) General requirements. Students may fulfill fine arts and elective requirements for graduation by successfully completing one or more of the following art courses: Art I, Art Appreciation, and Art and Media Communications I (one credit per course).     
      (b) Introduction.      
        (1) The fine arts incorporate the study of dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts to offer unique experiences and empower students to explore realities, relationships, and ideas. These disciplines engage and motivate all students through active learning, critical thinking, and innovative problem solving. The fine arts develop cognitive functioning and increase student academic achievement, higher-order thinking, communication, and collaboration  skills, making the fine arts applicable to college readiness, career opportunities, workplace environments, social skills, and everyday life. Students develop aesthetic and cultural awareness through exploration, leading to creative expression. Creativity, encouraged through the study of the fine arts, is essential to nurture and develop the whole child.       
        (2) Four basic strands--foundations: observation and perception; creative expression; historical and cultural relevance; and critical evaluation and response--provide broad, unifying structures for organizing the knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. Each strand is of equal value and may be presented in any order throughout the year. Students rely on personal observations and  perceptions, which are developed through increasing visual literacy and sensitivity to surroundings, communities, memories, imaginings, and life experiences as sources for thinking about, planning, and creating original artworks. Students communicate their thoughts and ideas with innovation and creativity. Through art, students challenge their imaginations, foster critical thinking, collaborate with others, and build reflective skills. While exercising meaningful problem-solving skills, students develop the lifelong ability to make informed judgments.       
        (3) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.       
      (c) Knowledge and skills.      
        (1) Foundations: observation and perception. The student develops and expands visual literacy skills using critical thinking, imagination, and the senses to observe and explore the world by learning about, understanding, and applying the elements of art, principles of design, and expressive qualities. The student uses what the student sees, knows, and has experienced as sources for examining, understanding, and creating original artwork. The student is expected to:                  (A) consider concepts and ideas from direct observation, original sources, experiences, and imagination for original artwork;                   (B) identify and understand the elements of art, including line, shape, color, texture, form, space,  and value, as the fundamentals of art in personal artwork;                   (C) identify and understand the principles of design, including emphasis, repetition/pattern, movement/rhythm, contrast/variety, balance, proportion, and unity, in personal artwork; and                   (D) make judgments about the expressive properties such as content, meaning, message, and metaphor of artwork using art vocabulary accurately.         
        (2) Creative expression. The student communicates ideas through original artwork using a variety of media with appropriate skills. The student expresses thoughts and ideas creatively while challenging the imagination, fostering reflective thinking, and developing disciplined effort and progressive problem-solving  skills. The student is expected to:                  (A) use visual solutions to create original artwork by problem solving through direct observation, original sources, experiences, narrations, and imagination;                   (B) communicate a variety of applications for design solutions;                   (C) use an understanding of copyright and public domain to appropriate imagery constituting the main focal point of original artwork when working from images rather than direct observation or imagination;                   (D) create original artwork to communicate thoughts, feelings, ideas, or impressions;                   (E) collaborate to create original works of art; and                   (F) demonstrate effective  use of art media and tools in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, fiber art, design, and digital art and media.         
        (3) Historical and cultural relevance. The student demonstrates an understanding of art history and culture by analyzing artistic styles, historical periods, and a variety of cultures. The student develops global awareness and respect for the traditions and contributions of diverse cultures. The student is expected to:                  (A) compare and contrast historical and contemporary styles while identifying general themes and trends;                   (B) describe general characteristics in artwork from a variety of cultures, which might also include personal identity and heritage;                   (C) collaborate on community-based art projects; and                   (D) compare and contrast career and avocational opportunities in art.         
        (4) Critical evaluation and response. The student responds to and analyzes the artworks of self and others, contributing to the development of the lifelong skills of making informed judgments and reasoned evaluations. The student is expected to:                  (A) interpret, evaluate, and justify artistic decisions in artwork by self, peers, and other artists such as that in museums, local galleries, art exhibits, and websites;                   (B) evaluate and analyze artwork using a verbal or written method of critique such as describing the artwork, analyzing the way it is  organized, interpreting the artist's intention, and evaluating the success of the artwork;                   (C) construct a physical or electronic portfolio by evaluating and analyzing personal original artwork to provide evidence of learning; and                   (D) select and analyze original artwork, portfolios, and exhibitions to form precise conclusions about formal qualities, historical and cultural contexts, intentions, and meanings.         
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §117.302 adopted to be effective July 28, 2013, 38 TexReg 4575