Visual Arts

Intro to Visual Art

This class is designed for all 6th graders and serves as the foundation of the Visual Arts program at The Northwest School. Students explore the elements of art—line, color, texture, shape, and space—through a variety of creative projects. Working across multiple media, students experiment with drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, photography, and digital drawing as ways to develop ideas and express themselves visually.

Daily sketchbook exercises build observation skills and creative confidence, while new vocabulary and discussions of both contemporary and historically significant artists help students understand how art connects to culture and personal expression. The course concludes with an independent project in which students apply the techniques and ideas they have learned to create a work of their own.

Ceramics

This exciting and challenging hands-on ceramics course is an introduction to the basics of ceramics/pottery. No experience is required, and students may take ceramics more than once in Middle School. With each class, we embark on new, creative, diverse projects that encourage students to be in control of the direction of their work. We learn and employ the elements and principles of art and design as we create and explore the vast world of art.

We experiment with both ceramic sculpture and functional pottery (like cups, vases, and bowls). While primarily a “handbuilding” class, we also create a fledgling project on the potter’s wheel! To glaze our masterpieces, we have more than 40 colorful and mesmerizing glazes to choose from. Occasionally, we integrate new materials into our artwork, including a bit of metal, wire, and melted glass. Our clay easily washes off, does not stain clothes, and students can keep (or gift) whatever they make! Let’s get started and make our ceramic dreams come true.

Collage: Cut Paper and Adobe Photoshop

In this course, students explore the histories of collage and create experimental collage artworks. Students will complete projects using mixed media art on paper and digital art techniques. We will explore how concepts of line, shape, form, value, space, and texture apply to collage, and how artists can use these concepts to tell original, multi-layered stories through their artwork.

Students will create all their work in the Skylight Print Studio, using a combination of physical art studio materials and digital art software. Students will have the opportunity to use Adobe Creative Cloud® and/or Procreate® software in this class. There is no experience necessary!

Printmaking: Procreate to the Printing Press

Learn how to transform your original drawings, designs, and collage artworks into beautiful graphic art prints. Projects introduce monotype, collagraph, and relief printmaking methods and incorporate both traditional and digital image-making processes. You learn how printmakers “think in layers” and by the end of the semester you develop new image composition skills, graphic design skills, and drawing skills.

In addition to learning about how to make prints, you also learn about the ways that the art of printmaking has played a key role in movements for social justice throughout history. You work with a range of physical artmaking materials as well as Adobe Photoshop® and/or Procreate® software in this class. There is no experience necessary! This class is for 7/8th grade art block.

Digital Animation Studio

In this class you learn to appreciate and create short digital animations with sound. Animation and motion design projects, incorporate a range of experimental digital image-making skills including digital drawing, digital collage, working with layers, and using animation timelines. The primary software we use is Procreate® on an iPad Pro. There are options to work with Adobe Photoshop® or Adobe Animate®.

We explore animation for character animation, motion graphics, and fine art animation. There is no experience necessary! This class is for 7/8th grade art block.

Stop Motion Animation Studio

In this class you will create two-dimensional and three-dimensional “desktop” stop motion animation artworks using a range of media and materials. As you create your own animations, you will gain skills in cinematography, puppet design, collage, drawing, storyboarding, and audio design. We will study historical animation examples as well as contemporary animation examples.

You will learn to use a range of creative production software on iPad Pros. You will create individual projects and collaborative projects. No experience is necessary! This class builds creativity and critical thinking skills while establishing lifelong confidence to experiment with all forms of animation.

Photography: Exposure

Students learn to compose digital photos using art, design, and photography principles. Students practice the foundations of aesthetic critique while exploring and analyzing the work of master photographers. Throughout this class, students learn how to use a digital camera to take properly exposed photos.

Students also spend part of the class modifying their digital photographs using image-editing programs. For creative inspiration, students view and engage with the work of photographers who are important to art history through frequent lectures and discussions. $75 lab fee.

Photography: Storytelling & Creative Practice

Students learn to use the camera as a tool for visual exploration. This class uses the camera to investigate and document the world around us from unique perspectives. We explore important genres such as surrealism and abstraction for inspiration.

We practice using our cameras in unexpected ways to achieve striking visual effects. Students also learn about symbolism and visual narrative in important works of art while practicing their own storytelling through photography. $75 lab fee.

Ceramics

This class is a year-long opportunity to learn many new and powerful ceramic art-making techniques through hand-building (hands-on sculpting) and wheel-throwing (using the mesmerizing potter’s wheel). We explore the vast palette of glazes, including experimenting with the unique process of fusing colored glass into and onto our artwork.

Using traditional and innovative techniques, we explore functional and abstract forms and focus on figurative sculpting, including realistic sculpting of a human head, animals, and masterpieces that defy description. Meanwhile, we continuously hone our pottery skills by producing cups, bowls, plates, vases, and more! We make useful, beautiful, unique, and satisfying pottery!

Sculpture & Materials Exploration

This year long class focuses on constructing three-dimensional artworks using a wide range of materials, including plaster, wire, wood, glass, and paper. Students learn to “think in the round” as they design and build sculptures, exploring how form, structure, and balance work in three dimensions.

Projects introduce students to a variety of technical processes, including stone carving, fused glass jewelry making, terrarium building, soldering, sewing, and building projects in the maker space. Students gain hands-on experience with tools and techniques such as carving, glass cutting, soldering, and glass fusing, and more - while developing problem-solving skills and craftsmanship.

The course concludes with an independent project in which students choose a material and process explored during the term and design a sculpture of their own.

Digital Animation with Procreate

In this introductory, semester-long, hands-on studio workshop course, students complete a range of accessible, experimental animation projects. In this class, students watch and discuss animated examples, design original animated characters, develop dynamic animated worlds, and create their own short animation concept tests. Students learn to apply concepts from cinematography, drawing, creative writing, sound design, and video production in their animation artwork.

Individual and group projects build creativity and critical thinking skills, while establishing lifelong confidence to experiment with all forms of animation. Students create 2D animation artwork with Procreate® software on iPad Pros. Students also have access to a range of software and technologies, including Adobe® Creative Cloud® and GarageBand®. All materials and technology are provided, and no experience is necessary!

Stop Motion Animation with Sound

In this introductory, semester-long, hands-on studio workshop course, students complete a range of accessible, experimental animation projects. In this class, students watch and discuss animated artwork examples, design original animated characters, develop dynamic animated worlds, and create their own short animation concept tests. Students learn to apply concepts from cinematography, drawing, creative writing, sound design, and video production in their animation artwork.

Individual and group projects build creativity and critical thinking skills, while establishing lifelong confidence to experiment with all forms of animation. Students create the illusion of motion with original stop motion animation sequences using a variety of materials and techniques. This class also focuses on the role of sound design in animation artwork. All materials and technology are provided, and no experience is necessary!

Graphic Design: Logos

In this semester-long course, we investigate how color, scale, rhythm, and visual metaphor are used to connect audiences with ideas through visual representations. We investigate brand identity, advertising, and information design. Students understand and apply the elements of design in both hands-on and digital formats, learning to simplify concepts while retaining personality.

We explore the basic principles of graphic design through a series of studio projects and critiques supplemented by short readings and class discussions. Students develop the skills, knowledge, and techniques to effectively utilize Adobe® Creative Cloud® applications, including Photoshop®, and Illustrator®.

Graphic Design: Typography

In this semester-long course, we investigate how typography is used in poster and publication design. Students understand and apply design principles, such as hierarchy and composition, across a range of projects, including creating unique letterforms, designing album covers, and making posters for real-world events.

Projects are supported by technical demonstrations, critiques, short readings, and class discussions. Students develop the skills, knowledge, and techniques to effectively utilize Adobe® Creative Cloud® applications, including Photoshop®, Illustrator®, and InDesign®.

Photography

Students in this year-long course explore a variety of photographic processes and concepts. Using big ideas in conjunction with the elements and principles of design, students work to master the fundamentals of good composition and quality craftsmanship in photography as an art form.

Students’ creative exploration is grounded in technical skills such as operating a manual SLR camera, film development, and important darkroom procedures. Students study the work of master photographers and other artists as sources of cultural and historical understanding and inspiration. Creative activities develop critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving. Students learn to welcome constructive criticism, work hard, and seek new experiences. $150 lab fee.

Drawing

So, you think you can’t draw? This semester-long course is designed for students of all skill levels and offers a supportive and inspiring introduction to drawing. Projects focus on the basic building blocks of drawing: contour, cross-contour, value, and linear perspective.

Students work from observation, photography, collaborative prompts, mixed-media explorations, and independent projects using pencils, microns, markers, charcoal, and colored pencils. Students draw daily in their sketchbooks to build skills, confidence, and creative habits.

Watercolor & Related Media

This semester-long class is suited for beginners as well as more experienced artists. It focuses exclusively on water-soluble media, including watercolor, gouache (opaque watercolor), Sumi color, India ink, and aquarelle pencils and markers. Students create both non-representational and carefully observed “realistic” works.

Students are given technical and conceptual prompts, and they write short artist statements for each project. Students gain experience with various critique formats, including self-assessments, written reviews, small group discussions, and roundtable sharing. They collaborate on group work, explore environmentalism, social activism, personal narrative, and formal abstraction, and learn about historical and contemporary artists who use water-based media to investigate similar issues.

Book Arts

This semester-long class focuses on handmade book structures, including pamphlet stitching, accordion folds, link stitching, tunnel books, and traditional Japanese bindings. Students learn to make functional sketchbooks and journals, and to create books as artwork.

This course offers interdisciplinary opportunities and a wide range of material choices, including drawing, painting, collage, digital art, writing, and experimental media. Lessons on book content address strategies for exploring and presenting ideas using sequence, seriality, and narrative.

Advanced Art

This year-long course is an opportunity for dedicated 12th grade visual art students who have taken at least one US visual arts class and want to develop a personally meaningful body of work be shown in a final exhibition with an accompanying publication. Students construct a work plan in tandem with the instructor that allows for exploration of their own interests and materials.

Students develop project proposals and participate in regular group feedback sessions. Students may choose to build a portfolio, explore large work or installation, or work with one theme all year. Students deepen their skill sets and their artistic voice. A focus is matching concepts to materials.

Students have an expansive sketchbook practice, researching work by professional artists for inspiration. Students have individual studio workspaces in the Summit Building that allow for concentrated studio practice. These spaces convert into show spaces at the end of the year to share the work with the whole community in the final exhibition.

We work on Artist Statements and applications for ongoing arts opportunities outside of school. Note: Portfolio submission is required for selective admission, and applicant interviews will take place during the school’s audition period.

Seniors only.

Intermediate Studio Art

This year-long class focuses on portfolio development while encouraging students to explore their own artistic voice. The course begins with several foundational projects often required for college or program portfolios, including a charcoal still life, a self-portrait, and a negative space study. Students also learn key techniques such as using a grid to enlarge or reduce an image, developing value, and working with a variety of materials.

While students complete formal exercises and studio projects in drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media, the class is largely self-guided and encourages experimentation and creative exploration. A monthly sketchbook practice supports idea development through prompts such as artist research and artwork studies.

The course culminates in a final exhibition where students present a body of work, write an artist statement, and create titles and labels. Throughout the year, students photograph their work and use these images to build a digital portfolio—either a personal website or a PowerPoint—that can be used for future applications or submissions.