Art

Academy students in grades K-5 learn to appreciate the visual, historical and cultural aspects of art. In-depth study of museum-worthy artists and their respective techniques, followed by lively classroom discussions, culminates in hands-on art activities based on the featured artist’s work. For each grade level, the lives and artistic styles of 5 to 6 different artists are examined. Chosen artists will vary from year to year, and selection criteria is based, in part, on the exhibition schedule of local art museums. Opportunities for field trips are plentiful, as there are many wonderful art museums in our area.

 

The elements of art are highlighted as lessons on line, color, value, form, shape, space and texture are woven throughout the curriculum. Emphasis is placed on projects related to art history and multi-cultural diversity, as well as areas where science and social studies intersect with art. Students experiment with different art styles, both realistic and abstract, encountering a variety of art periods and “isms” along the way. (Pointillism, Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism) Critique and self-reflection play an important role in artistic growth. Students learn to utilize feedback from others, and they navigate working collaboratively with classmates on group projects.

 

Lessons on contour drawing, quality of line, proportion and composition build the artistic foundation for students in all grades. Each class studies a grade-appropriate aspect of color theory, Students in grades K-2 explore color relationships, primary colors, warm and cool colors, and effective mixing of secondary colors. More in-depth study of the color wheel, complementary colors, tints, shades, and tones occurs in grades 3-5. Common to all grade levels in Lower School are lessons on landscape, still life, and portraiture. All students work with acrylic paints to create vibrant self-portraits on canvas. Each grade does some form of printmaking, weaving, sewing, assemblage, and occasionally, papiér maché.

Kindergarten students focus on developing basic artistic skills, hand-eye coordination, and proper use of scissors. Although the majority of art projects, at their level, will revolve around cut-paper, drawing, and painting, Kindergarten art is all about experimentation. Building 3-dimensional art projects, weaving with paper, and working with textiles are also essential parts of the art curriculum. Kindergarten students learn about Piet Mondrian, Paul Klee, Georges Seurat, Eric Carle, Georgia O’Keeffe, Roy De Forest, and Jackson Pollock.

 

First and second graders have fun exploring new concepts in art as they strengthen their artistic abilities and discover new creative challenges. They draw, paint, construct, collage, print, cut, sew, and weave. They learn about positive and negative space. Featured artists include: Yayoi Kusama, Wassily Kandinsky, Jasper Johns, Vincent van Gogh, William H. Johnson, Alma Thomas, Henri Rousseau, Edgar Degas, Wayne Thiebaud, Keith Haring, Takashi Murakami.

 

Building on lessons learned in lower grades, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders gain confidence in drawing more realistically, using shading techniques such as blending, smudging, stippling, and cross-hatching. They train their eyes to see how light hits an object, and they learn about one-point perspective. Our annual “Recycled Materials Art Project” encourages sustainability and reuse in a fun way. Working over several class periods, students use hot glue and duct tape to create sculptural art pieces made with repurposed recycled materials. 

Examples of featured artists include Frida Kahlo, Marc Chagall, Albrecht Dürer, Henri Matisse, Jacob Lawrence, Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Faith Ringgold, Rosie Lee Tompkins.