Visual Arts
Every individual has a personal creative vision: this is the premise upon which the arts program at Newton Country Day is based. When each student is encouraged and challenged to develop her creative imagination, sensory awareness, and appreciation of her own and others' artistic talents, her personal vision will flourish. The breadth of our arts program affords students a myriad of opportunities to explore and express themselves creatively.
Middle School
Visual art in the Middle School is an exploratory experience. For some, it may be their first structured studio art class. The goal of these classes is the discovery of the creative energy inherent in each student. Through guided instruction, students will be exposed to the elements and principles of art and design. Projects may involve paint, drawing materials, printmaking, and working with traditional and non-traditional materials. Our visual art courses introduce students to problem-solving, self-discovery, and understanding the discipline and process of creating. Exposure to art history places projects in a historical context and gives students insight into the minds of others before them, as well as building pathways to cross-curricular experiences.
Grade 5 Visual Art
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 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
Grade 6 Visual Art
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
Grade 7 Visual Art
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
Grade 8 Visual Art
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
Upper School
In the Upper School Visual Arts, students begin with foundational techniques in drawing and painting, progressing to printmaking and mixed media work, and exploring more conceptual artwork as they advance through the program. Through critical thinking and artistic critique, students develop a personal artistic voice, tackling large scale and ambitious projects. Advanced courses challenge students to create portfolios that exhibit technical skill, conceptual depth, and a sustained exploration of personal themes, preparing them for college-level art production and to be submitted for visual art competitions.
Art I
The Art 1 course is an introduction to intermediate studio techniques and processes. Throughout the year, students complete projects that strengthen their pre-existing knowledge of the Elements of Design. Students in this course complete drawings in charcoal, graphite, and colored pencil. All of the drawing skills in this course provide students with the foundational knowledge they need to create an oil painting by the end of the year. Art 1 also challenges students to think critically about their work. This course engages in the practice of art critiques. Students demonstrate the ability to speak about the technical and conceptual aspects of their work with their peers and instructor.
Art II
Art III
This course expands on the foundational skills provided in both Art I and Art II. Drawing techniques and skills introduced previously are recalled and applied to more challenging assignments and new media. Students are introduced to advanced topics such as color theory, linoleum cut printmaking, acrylic painting, and advanced design and compositional assignments. Grades are assessed on each student's investigation of the new media as well as focusing on creativity and self expression. A sustained and focused approach to this course is essential to maturing as a student artist. Prerequisites: Art I and Art II
Art IV
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. Prerequisites: Art I through Art III
Advanced Placement Studio Art
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: recommendation of their Art I or Art II teacher. This course is a two-year commitment.
Honors Portfolio
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