Visual Arts

In this course, students engage in a diverse exploration of creative expression through various mediums, techniques, and themes. They learn fundamental concepts such as composition, space, color, design, form, and movement while also delving into the works of famous artists to gain insight into different cultures and experiences. The course begins with a study of Frida Kahlo and a collaborative tessellation project, culminating in the creation of painted wings symbolizing freedom and creativity. A signature Goal III and Goal IV - inspired project will ask students to connect with senior citizens at a local retirement home, creating and presenting portraits as a means of sharing their creativity and appreciation for the elderly.

Overview of Topics

• How can different art mediums and techniques be used to express ideas, feelings, and themes?
• What role does composition, space, color, and design play in creating effective artwork?
• How do the works of famous artists provide insight into diverse cultures and experiences? 
• How can art be used as a form of service and connection within the community?

Emphasized Skills

• Creative expression and exploration
• Understanding of composition and design principles
• Analysis and interpretation of artworks 
• Collaboration and community engagement 

Signature Activities

• Study of Frida Kahlo and creation of a collaborative tessellation project
• Visit to a senior citizen home to create and present portraits to the residents
• Exploration of diverse art mediums and techniques to express ideas and emotions 
• Display of original artwork in the annual Celebration of the Arts

In this course, students engage in the exploration of the elements and principles of design through various mixed media and sculptural processes throughout the year. Students develop fundamental drawing skills while being introduced to the work of contemporary and historical artists who create three-dimensional and mixed media art, learning about their techniques, materials, and artistic approaches. Through hands-on projects, students investigate how design elements work together while experimenting with diverse materials and processes to create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of art. 

Overview of Topics

• How do contemporary and historical artists approach three-dimensional and mixed media work, and what can we learn from their techniques and materials?
• What role do the elements of design (line, shape, color, value, texture, space, form) play in creating depth and dimension across different media?
• How do the principles of design (balance, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity, variety) guide artistic decision-making in mixed media compositions?
• How can different artistic techniques, materials, and sculptural processes be combined to create visually compelling three-dimensional and mixed media works?
• What skills and techniques are necessary to manipulate form, space, and materials in both two-dimensional and sculptural applications?
• How can mixed media art and sculpture be used as forms of creative expression and storytelling?

Skills Emphasized

• Understanding of the elements and principles of design across multiple media
  Study and analysis of artists who work in three-dimensional and mixed media formats
• Understanding of historical and contemporary sculptural and mixed media art practices
• Mastery of various techniques to create depth, dimension, and form through sculptural and mixed media processes
• Experimentation with diverse materials to explore color, texture, line, and shape relationships
• Development of spatial awareness and three-dimensional thinking through sculptural exploration
• Precision and attention to detail in creating intricate patterns and dimensional designs using various materials
• Collaboration and creativity in creating a cohesive body of mixed media and sculptural work

Signature Activities

• Researching and presenting on artists who create three-dimensional and mixed media work
• Practicing value and form development through clay work, assemblage, and mixed drawing media to demonstrate dimensional relationships
• Constructing mixed media works that integrate found materials, traditional drawing media, and sculptural elements
• Writing artist statements to reflect on creative processes, material choices, and artistic intentions
• Displaying student work in rotating hallway exhibitions throughout the year to showcase ongoing learning and artistic growth
• Sharing mixed media and sculptural work in the visual art show at the annual Celebration of the Arts

This course builds upon the foundational skills developed in Grade 6 with significantly more complex projects and deeper artistic inquiry. Like working artists, students are tasked with generating their own original ideas, gathering materials and tools, exploring their ideas with false starts, changes in direction, and the freedom to make mistakes. Students develop advanced drawing skills while exploring the elements and principles of design through sophisticated mixed media and sculptural processes that connect directly to their studies in history, literature, science, and theology. Developing craft and exploring methods and materials that hold personal meaning are essential aspects to this course of study. Students engage with contemporary and historical artists who work in three-dimensional and mixed media formats, analyzing their techniques and conceptual approaches. Projects integrate academic content from other disciplines, requiring students to research, synthesize, and visually interpret complex themes and concepts. Materials explored include pencil, charcoal, plaster, clay, ink, acrylic paint, and found objects, with each project building sophisticated visual skills and conceptual understanding.  

Overview of Topics

• How can art be used as a form of complex self-expression that connects to academic learning across disciplines?
• How do contemporary and historical artists approach interdisciplinary themes in their three-dimensional and mixed media work?
• What is the importance of exploring advanced materials and methods in sophisticated art-making processes?
• How can visual elements and design principles be used to create conceptually rich and technically proficient compositions?
• How do artistic processes mirror research and inquiry methods used in other academic subjects?
• How can art serve as a vehicle for exploring and expressing complex ideas from literature, history, science, and theology?

Skills Emphasized

• Advanced development of drawing skills and technical proficiency with diverse materials
• Study and analysis of artists who create interdisciplinary three-dimensional and mixed media work
• Integration of academic content from other subjects into complex visual projects
• Mastery of sophisticated design principles including balance, contrast, pattern, emphasis, unity, and variety
• Development of advanced color theory understanding including hue, tone, intensity, and color relationships
• Research and synthesis skills that connect artistic practice to academic inquiry
• Critical thinking and problem-solving through extended, multi-layered projects

Signature Activities

• Researching and presenting on artists whose work connects to interdisciplinary themes
• Creating complex, long-term projects that integrate content from history, literature, science, or theology
• Developing advanced technical skills through multi-stage projects using pencil, plaster, clay, ink, acrylic paint, and mixed media
• Writing comprehensive artist statements that analyze both technical processes and conceptual connections to other academic subjects
• Participating in cross-curricular critiques and discussions that examine how artistic work relates to learning in other disciplines
• Displaying sophisticated mixed media and sculptural work in rotating exhibitions throughout the year that demonstrate academic connections
• Presenting final projects at the annual Celebration of the Arts

This course is designed to deepen students' understanding of the elements of design, emphasizing their application in creating realistic artwork. Through focused instruction, students will learn how to use line, shape, texture, form, space, and balance to compose detailed and lifelike pieces. Projects encourage students to refine their skills in observational drawing, helping them translate what they see into realistic representations. In addition to design elements, the course introduces color theory, with a strong focus on painting techniques. Students learn how to mix and apply colors effectively, gaining a deeper understanding of color relationships, harmony, and contrast. This course also incorporates art history, allowing students to study influential artists and movements, enriching their creative practice with a sense of historical context and inspiration. This course concludes with the creation of a master copy painting, inspired by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. To complete this project students must recall all of the skills that have been developed over the course of the year. 

Overview of Topics

• How can the elements of design be used to create realistic artwork?
• What role does observational drawing play in translating what we see into realistic representations?
• How does color theory impact painting techniques and the overall composition of artwork?
• Why is studying art history important in enriching our creative practice and providing historical context and inspiration?

Skills Emphasized

• Understanding and applying the elements of design (line, shape, texture, form, space, balance) in artwork 
• Refining observational drawing skills to create detailed and lifelike pieces
• Mixing and applying colors effectively in painting 
• Developing a deeper understanding of color, relationships, harmony, and contrast
• Studying influential artists and movements in art history to enrich creative practice and gain historical context and inspiration

Signature Activities

• Plein-air drawing/painting
• Still-life composition (graphite, charcoal, pastels)
• Exploration of Color Theory via the creation of a master copy
• Exhibition in the annual Celebration of the Arts

This foundational course introduces students to the core elements of visual design through hands-on exploration of dry drawing media, including graphite, charcoal, and pastel. Students will develop essential observational and technical skills while building a strong understanding of scale, proportion, value, and texture—the fundamental components of effective drawing. Through a combination of live observational drawing and working from photographic references, students will learn to analyze form, create accurate representations, and express visual ideas with confidence. The course emphasizes both technical proficiency and creative problem-solving, providing students with the tools needed to translate three-dimensional subjects onto a two-dimensional surface. By the end of the course, students will have developed a working knowledge of dry media techniques, an ability to render convincing light and shadow, and an understanding of how proportion and scale affect composition. This course serves as a prerequisite for Ceramics 1 and provides essential skills applicable across all visual arts disciplines.

This foundational course introduces students to the core elements of visual design through hands-on exploration of painting. Students will develop essential observational and technical skills while building a strong understanding of scale, proportion, value, and texture, with a particular emphasis on color theory—the fundamental components of effective painting. Through a combination of live observational painting and working from photographic references, students will learn to analyze form, create accurate representations, and express visual ideas with confidence. Students will discover the advantages of working from limited color palettes as practiced by artists of the past, exploring approaches such as the Zorn Palette, the Old Masters palette, and more. The course emphasizes both technical proficiency and creative problem-solving, providing students with the tools needed to translate three-dimensional subjects onto a two-dimensional surface. By the end of the course, students will have developed a working knowledge of painting techniques, an ability to render convincing light and shadow through color, and an understanding of how proportion and scale affect composition. This course serves as a prerequisite for Ceramics 1 and provides essential skills applicable across all visual arts disciplines.

This advanced course builds directly upon the foundational skills and concepts developed in Drawing: Foundations, challenging students to apply their understanding of scale, proportion, value, and texture to more complex and demanding subject matter. Students will expand their technical proficiency with dry media—including graphite, charcoal, and pastel—as they explore advanced drawing techniques such as linear and atmospheric perspective, the intricacies of portraiture, and other sophisticated compositional challenges. Through intensive studio practice combining live observation and photographic reference, students will develop the ability to create convincing spatial depth, capture nuanced human features and expression, and handle increasingly complex visual problems. By the end of the course, students will have created a cohesive body of work demonstrating advanced drawing techniques, 
refined observational skills, and the ability to render challenging subject matter with confidence and accuracy. The course emphasizes critical analysis and the development of each student's individual artistic approach and visual language. Prerequisite: Art I Drawing: Foundations

This advanced course builds directly upon the foundational skills and concepts developed in Painting: Foundations, challenging students to apply their understanding of scale, proportion, value, texture, and color theory to more complex and demanding subject matter. Students will expand their technical proficiency and creative vision as they explore three major genres: portraiture, landscape painting, and abstraction. Through intensive studio practice combining live observation and photographic reference, students will learn to navigate the unique challenges each genre presents—from capturing the subtleties of human features and expression in portraiture, to conveying depth and atmosphere in landscape compositions, to exploring non-representational approaches through abstraction. Building on their previous work with limited color palettes, students will develop greater confidence in color mixing, optical effects, and personal palette development. The course emphasizes the practical application of design elements to solve complex visual problems while encouraging students to develop their own artistic voice and approach. Students will engage in critical analysis of their work and that of their peers, deepening their understanding of how technical choices impact meaning and expression. By the end of the course, students will have created a cohesive body of work demonstrating advanced painting techniques, conceptual depth, and the ability to tackle challenging subject matter across multiple genres. Prerequisite: Art I Painting: Foundations

This course introduces students to the rich world of printmaking, building upon the compositional and technical skills established in Drawing 1 or Painting 1. Students will investigate both traditional printmaking techniques—including drypoint, linocut, and woodcut—as well as more experimental processes such as monotype and collagraph. Through hands-on studio practice, students will learn the fundamentals of creating an edition of prints, understanding the critical differences between proofs and final prints, and developing their ability to assess and refine their work throughout the printing process. The course emphasizes the unique visual opportunities that printmaking offers, particularly in exploring positive and negative space and understanding how a plate design can evolve and transform through successive printings. Students will develop technical proficiency in preparing plates, mixing inks, operating the press, and troubleshooting common printing challenges. By the end of the course, students will have created multiple editions demonstrating mastery of various printmaking techniques and a sophisticated understanding of how the medium's particular constraints and possibilities can be used to create compelling visual work. Prerequisites: An Art I and Art II course

Art IV gives advanced art students an opportunity to continue pursuing their interest in the visual arts. Projects are more independently conceived and many choices are made by each individual student. These assignments inherently give students a wider range in subject matter and media. Individual chosen paths of study may include linoleum cut printmaking, collage, mixed media drawing, designing with text and image, acrylic painting of their choice of subject, or the self-portrait. Students in Art IV often take on particularly ambitious projects that likely span several marking periods. Students are continually assessed on work in progress until project completion. Students will turn to art 
history to discover how artists in the early twentieth century developed a personal style in response to historical events and the rejection of academic tradition. Prerequisites: Art I through Art III

The AP Studio Art course is designed to challenge secondary school students to create the equivalent quality of work of first year college level students. The intent of this course is to develop a body of work that exhibits a proficiency in design and technical skills, as well as the ability to develop and express personal ideas. Students are challenged to recall and further develop their drawing, painting, and design skills to meet the AP Portfolio expectations. The AP course scoring rubric expects growth and exploration within one's own topic of study. Students are asked to choose their subjects and media as a point of departure for their individual portfolios. This process is labeled by the AP Portfolio scoring process as a “Sustained Investigation”. It is the goal of this course to develop the aforementioned skills as well as execute work at the highest level possible. The AP Portfolio requires a total of fifteen pieces 
for submission. Required: Open to students in Grades 11 and 12 with departmental recommendation

This course is designed for students who have placed out of AP Studio Art and would like to continue to develop a portfolio for the college application process. The media and subject matter for each individual student are open. Students are expected to develop ideas with preliminary sketches and support their images with reference material. These projects include charcoal and graphite drawings, oil and acrylic and watercolor painting, and printmaking. This course essentially continues with the AP expectation of creating quality pieces in a self-directed path. Throughout the course of the term, students are introduced to historical art references that serve to inform students about process and possibilities for resolve. These projects are often ambitious in terms of scale and detail and span several marking periods. The pieces executed in this course may be considered for both the Scholastic Art Awards Competition and their supplemental portfolio for the college application process. 
Prerequisite: AP Studio Art

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles and practices of Ceramics. Students will develop proficiency in handbuilding techniques, including pinching, coil building, and slab construction, while also receiving foundational instruction in wheel throwing. Students will examine clay properties, firing processes, glazing techniques, and studio safety protocols. With hands-on exploration and experimentation, students will apply concepts of form, volume, and spatial relationships in the creation of both functional and sculptural ceramic works. The course will incorporate historical and cultural analysis of ceramics from diverse traditions and time periods. Students will explore how to give feedback during peer critiques that foster critical thinking and communication skills. Throughout the duration of the course, each student will develop their personal artistic voice through thoughtful engagement with clay.  Students will cultivate creativity, technical craftsmanship, analytical critique abilities, and professional studio habits. Student assessment is based on technical execution of assignments, demonstrated effort, and consistent adherence to studio practices. The development of a sustained and reflective artistic approach is fundamental to expanding artistic knowledge and building transferable skills across media.
Prerequisite: Art I