Visual Arts Classes

Students create artwork in a full-choice model called TAB (the artistic behavior). Students self-generate artwork after working through different art studios in the classroom. Studios include: drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, fibers, ceramics, sculpture and more. Artwork is unique to each student, based on their subject matter. No two pieces are alike. Students in 5-6th grades spend approximately one quarter in the visual art rotation. Students in 7-8th grades spend the entire year in visual art class.

In this introductory course, students begin by learning the basics of composition – rule of thirds, fill the frame, perspective, lighting, focus, etc. – with whatever device they have (iPad, phone, point/shoot, DSLR). As they improve their composition skills, they will also learn basic photo editing techniques using the Snapseed app, and combine both technique and editing into telling a good story with the photos they take. 

This course explores the experiences of creative writing. Students begin by exploring the creative process, digging in deep to what  inspires and excites them. Building off this foundation, students jump into exploring writing poetry, fiction, memoir, and multimedia expression. This experience culminates with a Final project and portfolio showcase of their work and learning.

This course explores the meaning and the practical steps of the creative process for artists of varied genres. Then we build on that understanding to create, craft, and revise flash fiction, memoir, and short fiction pieces. The course culminates with the exploration and writing of poetry and a multimedia final project for public presentation.

The influence of technology continues to change how we express ourselves and interact in our ever-transforming world. The Creative Design and Engineering I course, offered to all Upper School students, explores innovative emerging technologies in a hands-on creative learning environment. Students will in engage in design thinking projects and be introduced to a variety of physical and digital fabrication tools in areas such as computer-aided design (CAD), woodworking, metalworking, electronics, textiles, 3D printing, coding, laser cutting, and CNC cutting. Students will accomplish learning goals while developing valuable critical thinking skills and individual creativity, and will complete the course with a portfolio of works that they have produced. This course serves as a prerequisite for students to move to advanced programming, design, and art-tech fusion courses.

While CDE-I offers a glimpse into the tools and technologies available for
students to utilize, CDE-II provides students an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in all of the potential creative opportunities that they can imagine. Through individual and group projects, students will lead the development of physical and digital projects that allow their full creative potential to flourish. Students will finish the course with an understanding of the design and fabrication process and how it can apply to real-world production scenarios in areas such as computer-aided design (CAD), woodworking, metalworking, electronics, textiles, 3D printing, coding, laser cutting, and CNC cutting.

This course focuses on using the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop and
Illustrator) to further investigate the principles of graphic design. Students learn to better manipulate digital images, create digital illustration, work with typography, shoot and produce video. Projects are designed to promote complex conceptual thought and a deeper understanding of visual communication.

This course is designed to teach the fundamental tools for the development of multimedia projects. Students will produce, edit and publish responsible computer-based media including computer/motion graphics, print and video. While utilizing various media to create one product, students learn to hone their visual communication skills, gaining an understanding of planning, production, editing, and sophisticated use of sound and video equipment

This course is designed to expose students to the ways digital media can be used to impact identity formation; promote self-empowerment, as a tool for community building and as an agent for social change. Students partner with non-profit groups who serve the community, and collaborate on a media project to further the organization’s goals and mission. The non-profit’s goals may include issues of social justice, advocacy, environmental issues, sustainability, etc. The year-long project is a culmination of the students’ education and experience in Media Arts. To ensure the success of the project there is an emphasis on project proposal, planning, research and execution. Students are required to give a presentation of learning; highlighting their semester-long partnership and body of work.

This course is designed to allow students to strengthen their multi-media technology skills; to augment visual production skills with technology likely to be encountered in the broadcast field; to provide for creative expression; to improve media skills for any career path in the information age; to gain a deeper understanding of the language of visual communication and to promote media literacy. Students will be exposed to production techniques, including nonlinear editing, digital editing, standard and computer animation, presentation software, digital photography, video recording/editing, multi-track audio recording, Web site design, and lighting. Working individually and in groups, students will also learn how to write scripts, prepare storyboards and conduct interviews. Productions will include commercials, interviews, skits, musical pieces and longer programs, with an opportunity to broadcast them to the Cannon Community using the Internet and radio.

Studio Art Advanced Placement is designed for students who are seriously
interested in the practical experience of art. The AP examination for the course is not written; instead, students submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the school year.

The instructional goals of the class are to encourage creative as well as
systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues; to emphasize making art as an ongoing process that involves the student in informed and critical decision-making; to develop technical skills and familiarize students with the functions of the visual elements; and to encourage students to become independent thinkers who will contribute inventively and critically to their culture through the making of art. This course is designed as an intensive program requiring students to meet for a great number of contact hours. Students need to work beyond the class period, and trips to museums and galleries are required extensions of the course. (The college formula for a studio art course is two hours of outside work for every hour of class time.) Students may create a 2-D Design Portfolio (prerequisite is Studio Arts I or Media Arts I), 3-D Design or Drawing Portfolios (prerequisite Studio Arts II or completion of 2-D AP portfolio). Students may enroll for a second year to complete a different portfolio.

A deeper exploration of artistic behaviors and practices, this course is a further examination of how art across various media can be used to communicate ideas. Students will develop their artistic voice by pursuing themes that they develop independently. Through a choice-based classroom model – students will have the flexibility to choose to work across a variety of media: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and digital production.

This course is an introduction to deep studio practice. Focusing on one or two particular forms of expression – be it drawing, painting, printmaking, culture, digital – students will have an introduction to creating series of work based around their own artistic voice. Students may enroll for more than one year.

This course is a continuation of the Studio Arts II Honors class. Students will research and develop independent projects that focus on one or two forms of expression – be it drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital. Continuing their work from Studio Arts II, students will create series of artworks based around their own artistic voices. As an honors level course, students will be expected to conduct more independent research and work on projects outside of class.

This one-year introductory course focuses on two- and three-dimensional art production, both in Commercial and Fine Arts based practices. Content includes the introduction to and subsequent application of the elements of art and principles of design. A variety of studio projects provide exploration in the areas of drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and introduction to the Adobe Creative Suite. This course is team-taught by Studio Art and Media Arts faculty.