Art & Design

Art Program Required Courses

Stagecraft (8th Grade)
The Middle School Stagecraft class takes students through the creative and practical process of building sets for theater productions. Students learn the safe and proper use of hand tools in order to build scenery for the stage. They also learn the appropriate materials and joinery techniques necessary for building basic platforms and flats. Once scenery is built, students learn proper painting techniques such as cutting in, and rolling. 

Visual/Digital Arts Electives

Photography & Film Making
This elective is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to develop and then create a film. Beginning with a study of photography and photoshop, students progress to project-based experiences that help them to write, critique, film, edit, and produce cinema rooted in a story that they develop. Assessment will consist of photography presentation and critiquing, individual and group presentations (both traditional and media-based), and use of digital technologies.

Digital Sketch & Draw
This course explores digital drawing and art using Wacom drawing tablets, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Students will be encouraged to seek creative ways of using technology to prepare projects and assignments. Color Psychology, character design and drawing techniques will be the main focus of this class. Design for blogging, portfolio setup and logo design will be studied. The core software for this class will be Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, though the exploration of other software and how to use design and art software will be a focus.

Jewelry Fabrication & Design
This is an introductory course in which students learn basic principles of design and jewelry fabrication, while working with copper, brass, and silver filled wire & sheet. Students will also be encouraged to incorporate nonmetal objects into their work. They can expect to learn how to cut, drill, file and hammer metal. Wire work, chain maille, and installing manufactured rivets will also be covered. Students will develop a plan, taking into consideration design elements such as composition, movement, balance, aesthetics, and wearability.

Composition and Design: What Your Eye Sees and How to Change It
In this art class, students will begin by learning how an artist uses the principles of design to arrange their images on the page. Students will paint, draw, use mixed media and create collages. They will learn how they can trick the eye of the viewer by studying Op-art, Pointilism and Trompe-l’oeil realism. The course will also focus on the artists, M.C. Escher, Victor Vasarely, Georges Seurat, Fillip Brunelleschi, amongst others.