High School

This course offers students a three-dimensional vehicle for individual expression and exploration. Class assignments include pinch, coil, and slab hand-building techniques and a variety of wheel-thrown vessels. Students will further their understanding of pottery through carving, stamping, sgraffito, slip usage, and the addition and subtraction of clay. Glaze practices are investigated through brush application, stamping, wax resist, dipping, and pouring. 

Darkroom Photo Studio provides students with an introduction to photography using the darkroom. This course invites motivated students to explore traditional, alternative, and contemporary photographic techniques. Emphasis will be placed on three major areas: the camera and how to use it, composition, and various printing processes such as silver nitrate, cyanotype, Van Dyke brown, digital transferring and aquatint plates. Students will apply historical appreciation and learned techniques to create original, expressive photographic works that reflect their personal vision.

Digital Art & Design is an immersive course that teaches fundamental principles of digital drawing, painting, and graphic design using the Visual Arts computer lab and Wacom drawing tablets. Using industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, students learn photo editing, manipulation, original illustration, and commercial art creation alongside traditional concepts such as the elements and principles of art and design, typography, composition, and color theory. Projects may include movie posters, vector illustrations, logos, digital paintings, typographic designs, photo composites, and personal websites.

This intensive drawing course emphasizes technique, composition, and two-dimensional problem-solving. It focuses on observational drawing techniques and instructs students on how to control and manipulate a variety of media. Students will learn skills in depicting line, value, volume, form, texture, and space. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their personal style and concepts. 

Advanced Drawing is a project-based course that builds on foundational drawing skills, focusing on media exploration, narrative, and concept-based work. Students will experiment with unconventional tools and surfaces, develop series-based drawings, and explore personal and thematic content. Emphasis is placed on refining techniques, developing a unique visual voice, and producing portfolio-quality work through meaningful, independent projects.

This intensive full-year painting class puts emphasis on technique, composition, and two-dimensional problem-solving. This course focuses on observational painting techniques with instruction on how to control and manipulate paint to create original works. Students will learn skills in color theory, value, volume, form, texture, and space. Projects in still-life, portraiture, interior space, and landscape will be introduced. Students will also be given the opportunity to develop their personal style and concepts. 

The Painting II course will build on the knowledge and skills developed in Painting I. Projects in figurative, abstract, and observational painting will support a deeper understanding of color, paint application and treatment, and visual understanding. Through the exploration of traditional and contemporary viewpoints, each student will be encouraged to develop a personal vision and painting style. Students will continue to build their understanding and skills with the painting elements and principles, including color, line, shape, form, tone, texture, pattern, and composition. Sketchbook assignments will support class work. (Prerequisite: Painting I)

In this dynamic course, students will explore the history, techniques, and creative avenues of printmaking. Emphasis is put on concepts like positive and negative space, texture, line, and shape while experimenting with a range of techniques such as drypoint etching, linocuts, monotypes, and book arts. Students will utilize digital tools for design, bridging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation, and aim to connect their work to different subject areas. 

Academic Elective - Application Only

This course is for advanced students who are preparing a portfolio for applications to art colleges, art programs within universities, or personal artistic advancement. The curriculum covers disciplines and topics in greater depth and gives students the opportunity to be more independent, expressive, and exploratory with their work. Emphasis will be put on drawing and other portfolio prep in the fall. This course requires time management and independent work to meet rigorous deadlines and complete their portfolio by mid-year. Students will be required to keep a sketchbook and complete nightly assignments.  The course writing component will include a research paper, artist statement, and short written responses throughout the year. Class critiques will provide students with instruction on how to give, accept, and implement constructive criticism. Final projects include both presentation and personal websites as well as an independently organized Senior Show. (Academic Elective)