Upper School Visual Arts

A survey of world art from pre-history to the present with a strong emphasis on Western art. Students study all major forms of artistic expression including painting, sculpture and architecture within diverse historical and cultural contexts. Image identification, critical analysis and evaluation of both context and aesthetics are emphasized.

This survey of the evolution of the visual arts focuses on the artistic production of world cultures as a foundation for an exploration and understanding of contemporary art. Students explore the relationship of visual sensibilities and the artistic process as seen in various cultures in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.

Students are introduced to the basics of architecture with emphasis on creative exploration of concepts such as structure, form, function, scale, color and spatial relationship. The course utilizes a hands-on design studio concept. Students study the psychological, social, cultural and historical aspects of architecture through slides and lectures.

In this studio class, students explore the elements of three-dimensional art through hand building techniques in clay to create functional pottery as well as sculptural works. A variety of ceramic techniques are presented including pinch, coil and slab construction, extruded forms, and the potter’s wheel. Various glazing and textural techniques in clay are also presented.

In this advanced course, students build upon the technical aspects of constructing forms with clay to further develop and refine their skills. Advanced projects such as creating figurative sculpture in ceramics as well as the exploration of abstract forms, experimentation with successive glazing techniques, and clay construction on a larger scale are emphasized.

This studio class is devoted to the art of drawing from life. The class emphasizes the development of observational drawing skills in black and white media including graphite pencil, charcoal, conté, and Copic markers and ink wash. Students create a portfolio of drawings that explore techniques such as contour line, value, contrast, shading, texture, blending, perspective, human figure proportions and composition.

In this advanced class, students begin experimenting with personal imagery and expressive forms of drawing. Students address advanced drawing topics including the potential of mark-making, distortion, scale, color harmonies, color blending, collage and mixing media using color pencil, pastel, charcoal, ink wash, Copic markers, gouache and watercolor.

Students will focus on building a fundamental platform for understanding how to communicate visually. Through a series of projects rooted in the history of graphic design, students will study composition, color, typography, and digital drawing concepts. The outcome of this course will be a student’s increased understanding of both how to create visual works and understand visual communication as a cultural tool.

This course focuses on computer-based imaging as an expressive tool. Combining digital illustration, typography and digital photography, students will create complex works that will create an understanding of digital platforms as an evolving art-making strategy, as well as prepare students for their application in a professional environment.

This class is a foundation course in the art of painting in the water-based media of acrylic. The study of color theory and composition in painting is an essential component of the course. Painting techniques relevant to this medium will be presented such as color mixing, blending, wet-onwet, scumbling, gradients, use of gel mediums, expressive brush technique, retinal painting and an introduction to a variety of painting surface preparation techniques.

Students begin investigating new concepts, techniques and approaches to painting in oil. More advanced painting topics include creating a series of paintings based on a theme, concept or art theory. Students are encouraged to develop their own visual ideas, subject matter and personal expressions to expand their aesthetic skills in painting.

Students are introduced to visual concepts, basic image capture, and camera functions with digital cameras. Students work through a series of creative projects that provide a strong foundation in the hardware, software and techniques associated with digital photographic imaging.

Advanced Photography will deepen students’ understandings of seeing photographically. Through a series of projects based on photographic concepts, students will refine their understanding of a color-managed workflow as well as investigate the application of photography as a cultural language.

Students will learn to work with malleable, subtractive and constructive materials. This class will study four different aspects of sculpture: malleable materials like clay, wax, plastilina, etc.; subtractive materials like wood, stone, alabaster, etc.; constructive materials like metal, cardboard, foamcore, etc.; and casting techniques for bronze, cast iron, etc.

Building on the skills and insights acquired in the sculpture class, Students are encouraged to develop and explore ideas that intrigue them on a personal level. The students will learn how to express these ideas using a variety of materials and techniques, emphasizing the development of a broad portfolio.