The Foundation for a Meaningful Life
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA

Upper School - Visual Arts Courses

Courses

List of 10 items.

  • Two-Dimensional Design I (2D1)

    2D1 is a foundation course with an emphasis on drawing skills, including proportion, design and composition, and color theory. In this course, students apply abstract ideas and themes to their work. They begin to look at art with a more focused eye towards composition, and they participate in class critiques. Projects include drawing, oil pastel, and mixed media collage.

    Students who successfully complete 2D1 will be able to:
    -       Understand proportion, value, and gradient in drawing
    -       Extrapolate from an existing work to create a new, abstract design
    -       Demonstrate interpersonal understanding as they create a self-portrait collage
    -       Care for their materials and maintain a clean workspace
  • Two-Dimensional Design 2 (2D2)

    2D2 is an advanced course in two-dimensional design. Students further investigate drawing techniques, and projects may include drawing, printmaking, and collage. 2D2 is a one-term class offered to eighth and ninth graders after completion of the required 2D1.

    Students who successfully complete 2D1 will be able to:
    -       Understand proportion, value, and gradient in drawing
    -       Care for their materials and maintain a clean workspace
  • Sculpture

    Sculpture is an introduction to creating art in three dimensions. Students explore the elements of space and form while designing work that ranges from abstract to realism. Materials may include wire, cardboard, plaster, found objects, wood, stone, mixed-media, and ceramic sculpture. Sculpture is a one-term class offered to eighth and ninth graders after completion of the required 2D1.

    Students who successfully complete Sculpture will be able to:
    -       Design, plan, and execute an enlargement sculpture
    -       Demonstrate movement in wire sculpture
    -       Care for their materials and maintain a clean workspace
     
  • Ceramics

    This course is an introduction to the pottery studio, with an emphasis on hand building and ceramic construction. Students are challenged to think in three dimensions as they plan, draft, and build pieces that often combine function and form. Students learn techniques ranging from pinching to simple wheel throwing in an expansive, clay-only studio. In addition to construction, students explore glazes and glazing techniques from dipping to antiquing. Ceramics is a one-term class offered to eighth and ninth graders after completion of the required 2D1.

    Students who successfully complete Ceramics will be able to:
    -       Understand methods of clay construction; pinch, coil, slab, wheel
    -       Understand glazing techniques
    -       Care for their materials and maintain a clean workspace
  • Digital Photography and Media

    Digital Photography and Media is a course in the basics of photography using digital cameras. Students focus on composition and techniques of image capture; topics include camera usage, file format, exposure, white balance, lighting, creativity, and image editing software. Students learn to use Adobe Photoshop Elements to manipulate, correct, and crop images; students also explore advanced Photoshop techniques such as drawing within the program, combining images, and creating images from a blank canvas. Students also learn the basics of stop-motion animation and may create a short animation. Digital Photography and Media is a one-term class offered to eighth and ninth graders after completion of the required 2D1.


  • Painting

    Painting class builds on the principles of Two-Dimensional Design 1. Working from photographs and from life, students explore composition and mix colors to depict their subjects. Students work in a range of media, including watercolor and acrylics. This is a one-term class offered to eighth and ninth graders after completion of the required 2D1.

    Students who successfully complete Painting will be able to:
    -       Compose a picture
    -       Demonstrate understanding of color mixing
    -       Replicate colors they see
    -       Care for their materials and maintain a clean workspace
  • Printmaking

    Printmaking offers students an introduction to printing. Students explore different printing techniques, ranging from relief and intaglio to monotyping. Students participate in exchange portfolios and are welcomed into the communal feel of printing in a working print shop. While specific printing skills are assessed, students are also asked to show a competency in composition as well as knowledge of the elements and principles of design. Printmaking is a one-term class offered to eighth and ninth graders after completion of the required 2D1.

    Students who successfully complete Printmaking will be able to:
    -       Work both additively and reductively with ink
    -       Create multiple matrices using different materials
    -       Work within a communal space and exhibit respect for other’s work and ideas
    -       Care for their materials and maintain a clean workspace
  • Portraiture

    Portraiture is offered to eighth and ninth grade students interested in exploring the history and methodology of making portraits. This course meets three periods per rotation. Students complete pieces that explore the relationship between art, artist, and identity, and they learn how the role of the portrait has changed throughout history. Students work in a range of media, including drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and painting. Students who select this course will also need to select a second elective for the Winter/Spring terms.


  • Advanced Studio Art

    This advanced ninth grade course is a full-year immersion in the art studio and is graded as a full academic course on par with math, English, history, science, and world language. Students are selected for Advanced Studio Art based on portfolio review by the visual arts faculty. Students complete work in two-dimensional media, including drawing, pastels, drypoint etching, mixed media, and acrylic painting. They visit galleries and explore the work of contemporary working artists. Exhibit opportunities exist at the School and in the larger community.

    Students who successfully complete Advanced Studio Art will be able to:
    -       Complete a still-life drawing using principles of proportion, value, and tone
    -       Manipulate images with Photoshop
    -       Understand the techniques of drypoint etching and create a series of prints
    -       Understand social issues in art through an iconic portrait
    -       Care for their materials and maintain a clean workspace
  • Innovation and Design

    In this course, which meets three periods per six-day rotation, eighth and ninth graders use 3D design software and the Center for Creativity & Design’s CAD / CAM machines (Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided-Machine) to design and generate solutions to solve proposed problems and fulfill design briefs. Students learn how to document their work and communicate their ideas to peers and members of the school community. Students immerse themselves in the design process and practice the skills of research and analysis, teamwork, communication, sustainability, engineering, and technical documentation. 


48 MAIN STREET
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201