FINE ARTS

Lower School – Exploring the Elements of Art and Visual Thinking
This two-dimensional studio art course provides a solid foundation in the skills, techniques, knowledge and attitudes necessary to produce and understand visual art. Students learn how to create and critique art and are encouraged to relate the beauty and meaning of art to their own lives. The importance of the elements and principles of art, the study of known artists, the development of creative and critical thinking skills are stressed in this course. Students learn about the historical and contemporary role of art in the world and their own community. A variety of artistic media are explored, utilizing black and white as well as color. Emphasis is placed on vocabulary, responsibility and craftsmanship.

Lower School – Techniques in Drawing and Painting
This course blends the imaginative and technical aspects of art and design. Designed for students who are just learning to draw realistically, the course provides an introduction to drawing from observation, utilizing drawing, painting and printmaking media. The class focuses on composition, proportion, value, color and creative mark-making. The styles and techniques of a variety of artists are analyzed to demonstrate how both real life settings and the imagination can be sources for creating expressive works. The principles of art and design are reviewed and applied in planning and resolving work on a continual basis. Throughout this course, students have the opportunity to work in a broad variety of media, explore personal ideas, develop technique, and respond to artwork using a critical method of analysis.

Lower School – Advanced Drawing and Painting

Lower School – Exploring Sculptural Forms



This course introduces students to working and thinking in 3-D.  This hands-on class includes a variety of traditional sculpture materials such as wood, clay and fabric as well as contemporary media and found objects.  Students learn different sculptural techniques including; carving, paper mâche, sewing, wire and assemblage.  Students are encouraged to use their problem solving skills to produce thoughtful, original and imaginative work.  The class looks at a number of sculptors both historical and contemporary.  Students start to build their art vocabulary and develop the ability to think critically.  With these tools they are able to speak about art in an informative manner during group critiques.  Each student is required to maintain a sketchbook, recording their ideas, exercises and research for each assignment. 

Lower School – Ceramics: Hands On Clay
This course introduces students to working with clay and understanding its different characteristics and many possibilities.  This hands-on class covers multiple hand-building techniques including; coiling, slab building and modeling.  Students use these techniques to create original sculptural forms using both observation and imagination.  Clay provides the vehicle for endless exploration.  The class looks at a number of ceramic artists both historical and contemporary.  Students begin to develop the vocabulary of art and clay.  In class critiques promote thinking critically and speaking about art in an informative manner.  Each student is required to maintain a sketchbook, recording their ideas, exercises and research for each assignment. 

Upper School – Drawing and Painting
This course blends the imaginative and technical aspects of art and design. Designed for students who are just learning to draw realistically, this course is an introduction to drawing from observation using both drawing materials and painting media. The class focuses on line, value, composition, linear and atmospheric perspective, and mark-making. The styles and techniques of a variety of artists are used to see how they used both real life settings and their imagination to create their own expressive works. Basic principles of composition and color are explored. Students have the opportunity to work in a broad variety of media. Personal expression, creative techniques, critical analysis of artwork, and art history are included.

Upper School – Illustration
This course is especially relevant to students who enjoy drawing and painting, combining various media and introducing personal ideas into their artwork. This course explores the basic elements of visual narrative, including composition, continuity and mood through hands-on exercises in drawing, collage, printmaking, and painting media. Both traditional and non traditional approaches to visual art are considered, including non figurative art in pure color and form. Instruction in drawing from life will also be emphasized to help students to capture action and expression. These newly developed skills are used to create personal stories in drawings and paintings and collages, which depict students’ own experiences, ideas and dreams. Students are introduced to a number of artists as well as a variety of art materials and techniques.

Upper School – Portfolio Preparation
Students in this class focus on creating works for a portfolio that reflect the skills and quality that art schools are looking for in their prospective students. Instruction in basic drawing and painting technique, learning to see, and developing personal themes are explored through a variety of materials and techniques. Techniques explored within this course include drawing, painting, printmaking and a combination of both. Subjects explored include drawing the figure in space, which focuses on the human body by drawing and studying the model as a means to expand visual perception and refine drawing skills; drawing and painting the still life; and the personal narrative. Concepts of composition, surface and texture, size and scale and light and color are investigated. Students are expected to consider a variety of traditional and unconventional subjects ranging from landscape and the body to text and self-generated topics.

Upper School – Sculpture
This course is taught as a survey of sculptural techniques and media.  It is designed to expand the students’ understanding of three-dimensional art forms.  Students experience traditional methods such as carving, relief and construction.  Emphasis is placed on looking at the work in-the-round.  Creativity and craftsmanship are both important factors for the completion of successful artwork.  Students also work with conceptual ideas and non-traditional materials including found objects and assemblage.  They learn to think three-dimensionally and develop a vocabulary for properly discussing art.  They are introduced to a long tradition of sculptors from the distant past to the present.  They do research to further their understanding of contemporary sculptors and share their knowledge with their classmates during group critiques.  Each student is required to maintain a sketchbook, recording their ideas, exercises and research for each assignment. 

Upper School – Advanced Sculpture
Building on the foundation of Sculpture I, this class delves more deeply into sculptural techniques and media.  The pieces are larger and more involved.  The goal is to expand the students’ knowledge of three-dimensional art forms and challenge their creative approaches to it.  Students are strongly encouraged to bring their own unique approach to each undertaking.  Students engage in multiple traditional sculptural methods such as carving, assemblage and construction.  Students are also introduced to Installation Art through group collaborations and individual works.  Emphasis is placed on creativity, structure and craftsmanship.  The class works both observationally and conceptually.  Students learn to think three-dimensionally and to speak critically of artwork.  They are introduced to a long tradition of sculptors from the distant past to the present.  They reference art historical information and research to further their understanding of contemporary sculptors.  They share their knowledge with their classmates during group critiques and presentations.  Each student is required to maintain a sketchbook, recording their ideas, exercises and research for each assignment.  This course has a prerequisite of Sculpture I.

Upper School – Ceramics: The Fundamentals of Clay
This course explores working with clay and understanding its different characteristics and many possibilities.  This hands-on class covers multiple hand-building techniques including; coiling, slab building and modeling.  Students use these techniques to create original sculptural forms using both observation and imagination.  Students are encouraged to use their problem solving skills to produce thoughtful, meaningful and imaginative work.  The class looks at a number of ceramic artists both historical and contemporary.  Students learn the vocabulary of art and clay.  In class critiques and presentations promote thinking critically and speaking about art in an informative manner.  Each student is required to maintain a sketchbook, recording their ideas, exercises and research for each assignment. 

Upper School – Darkroom Photography


This course explores traditional black and white printing and processing film. Emphasis is placed on the photographic image as a means of expression and the use of the camera to explore the visual world.  Students shoot, process film, and print their photographs in the darkroom.  The history of photography is discussed, including image research, reading and writing. Students need to supply their own 35mm film manual camera.  Some color photography is explored, including film and digital. A sketchbook is an integral part of the students’ learning.  There is a $30 lab fee for film and paper supplies.

Upper School – Advanced Photography
Advanced Photography is for the experienced photography student.  Students must have completed either Darkroom Photo or Digital Photo, or pass a portfolio review of past experience. This course covers advanced darkroom techniques incorporating different film, papers and chemistry.  An equally large emphasis of the class includes digital cameras and working with Adobe Photoshop software.  We also explore and experiment with various "alternative" photographic processes such as hand applied photo emulsions and polaroid films. A major component of the class is working with the studio lighting environment doing both portraiture and still life images. The sketchbook and photo blog are an integral part of the class to do writing and research that is significant for each assignment.  Assignment themes focus on self-exploration as well as social issues concerning the students. A manual film 35mm is required for each student to own and bring to class. Students should have their on SLR digital cameras. The lab fee for this course is $20 to cover film and paper supplies. A usb stick/ flash drive is required of each student for class.

Upper School – Digital Arts
This course offers a broad overview of the realm of digital arts. This course uses the elements and principles of design to understand the programs in Adobe Suite (including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign). In this course students explore the use of typography and color theory, both on and off the computer. They use other media of art such as drawing, painting and photography to scan into computer and make digital compositions. After completing a design, students gain skill in crafting “mock-ups” (what a product would look like after it has come back from a printer). Students attain an understanding of self-promotion to help them build their portfolio. Students use such tools as scanners, inkjet printers and laser printers in a mac based lab.