Art 12: The Artist’s Studio – Vision to Exhibition

By the time students reach Art 12, they’re not just making art—they’re making statements. This capstone visual arts course at LightStars Academy is designed for high school seniors or advanced students who are ready to curate their own collection, refine their personal style, and prepare for life beyond high school as confident, skilled artists.

Art 12 is structured like a professional artist's studio. Students enter the course with a foundation of technical skill and creative vision, and they leave with a polished portfolio ready for college applications, scholarship submissions, or even gallery consideration. Every assignment encourages students to think critically, work independently, and produce work that is thoughtful, cohesive, and uniquely their own.

At the heart of the course is a semester-long independent art series—a self-directed body of work exploring a central theme or question. Whether that theme is identity, justice, emotion, transformation, or place, students will:

     Propose their concept and rationale

     Conduct research and collect inspiration

     Draft and revise their work across multiple media

     Write artist statements that articulate their intentions

While students have significant creative freedom, they also receive ongoing mentorship from instructors and peers. Through critiques, check-ins, and virtual studio sessions, they sharpen their communication skills and gain valuable feedback that informs their process. Instruction focuses on portfolio preparation, presentation strategies, and techniques for elevating concept-driven art.

In Art 12, students may work in a wide range of media, including:

• Advanced drawing and painting

• Mixed media collage

• Digital and photographic art

• Installation or 3D works

• Video, performance, or sound art (optional)

This course also introduces students to professional practices in the arts—how to document artwork, write bios and statements, create a digital portfolio, and present work in virtual or in-person exhibits. The semester culminates in a Final Exhibition Project, where students curate a personal gallery of selected works and present their artist journey to a public or classroom audience.

Because LightStars Academy is trauma-informed and student-centered, we place a strong emphasis on student voice, reflection, and identity. We believe every student has something meaningful to say through art—and Art 12 is the platform to say it boldly.

By the end of Art 12, students will:

• Have a college- or career-ready portfolio

• Understand professional artistic practices

• Demonstrate conceptual depth and technical mastery

• Express themselves with clarity and confidence

• Leave a legacy of their creative journey