Visual Arts

Primary and Intermediate School (grades 1-6)
In primary and intermediate school art, students are exposed to a wide range of materials. Projects are generally goal oriented and take from one to several class periods. Each student will use new materials as well as use some familiar materials in different ways. The environment in these classes is always supportive of effort despite skill level, while still challenging each student to continue to improve their basic skills and imagination. Time for free expression with a variety of materials is provided. Students attend art as part of their specialist rotation.

Junior High (grades 7-8)
Junior high art (grades 7 and 8 only) focuses on more sophisticated techniques and improved skills in a variety of media. Students will learn traditional challenges in art like perspective, proportion, mixing of colors and other such building block skills. Projects in junior high last for several days, and students are encouraged to continue to push their skills and abilities. Students are asked to be reflective about work they have done, and occasionally comment on the work of others. Students will leave junior high with a basic understanding of issues in art making and a strong sense of their potential as artists. Students attend art as part of their specialist rotation.

High School (grades 9-12)
Students in high school are asked to define themselves as creative thinkers and artists. Materials available to high school students include painting, drawing, ceramics, design, computer art and photography. Students are given the opportunity to address projects in their own way, finding what is interesting to them in the project and exploring it. Students learn many techniques and explore issues about particular media and historical information about the styles of art. Students are asked to think critically about their own and others’ work. Each student keeps a sketchbook with assigned sketches each week to practice both the skills of sketching, coming up with ideas and researching artists and art movements. These sketches will often be directly related to projects they are working on. Students in high school attend art for the entire year.  Courses are determined by student interest and may include Studio Art, Digital Design, Photography (black and white), Ceramics, Drawing and Painting, Advanced Art.