Classes

9 Rotating Units lasting 4-6 Weeks each

Unit 1: Drawing

  • Skills: “The Elements of Art” (line, shape, form space, texture, value, and color) and “The Principles of Design” (balance, contrast, emphasis, proportion, hierarchy, movement, pattern, repetition, rhythm, and unity/variety)

  • Mediums: graphite, charcoal, pastels, Prismacolor, alcohol markers, etc.

  • Projects: booklet, sketchbooks, tessellations, life drawings, landscapes, etc.

Unit 4: Collaging

  • Skills: image selection, composition, abstract imagination, layering, depth, cutting and gluing techniques

  • Mediums: paper, magazine tear-outs, photos, tissue, newspaper, fabric, stickers, acrylic paint and markers, glue, etc.

  • Projects: self-portraits, fashion ads to protest art, advertisements, lanterns, literary collages, vintage/modern crossover cards, role models, animal puppets, 3D pets, masks, etc.

Unit 7: Fabric/Textiles

  • Skills: weaving, hand sewing, crocheting, knitting, textile knowledge, hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and more.

  • Mediums: felt, yarn, embroidery thread, looms, sewing needles, crochet hooks, knitting needles, cotton, etc.

  • Projects: ugly dolls, wall hangings, throw pillowcases, etc.

Unit 2: Living Forms

  • Skills: Expanding on the elements and principles, living form drawing will begin while studying human and animal anatomy lines of action and expression.

  • Mediums: graphite, charcoal, pastels, Prismacolor, alcohol markers, acrylic markers, etc.

  • Projects: illustration, characters, silly pets, portraits, self-portraits, etc.

Unit 5: Sculpting

  • Skills: shape, texture, proportion, spatial reasoning, material manipulation in 3-dimensional form, scoring, molding, shaping, joining, bending, and balance

  • Mediums & Tools: papier-mache, polymer clay, air clay, foam, upcycled materials, resin, wax, sponges, wiring, blocks, sculpting tools,

  • Projects: masks, abstract, tiny sculptures, buttons, magnets, bells/chimes, jewelry, candles, wire sculptures, characters, etc.

Unit 8: Photography

  • Skills: brand/model features, settings, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, framing, composition, scale, proximity, focal point, angles, various subjects and settings, lighting, and editing.

  • Mediums: phone cameras and digital phone editing apps

  • Projects: people, pets, and nature studies, etc.

Unit 3: Painting

  • Skills: Building on the previous foundations, various paint mediums and new tools will be introduced. Plan to be messy!

  • Mediums & Tools: acrylic markers, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, oil, tempera, tape, easels, brushes, etc.

  • Projects: printmaking, portraits, landscapes, characters, etc.

Unit 6: Nature Art

  • Skills: a deeper appreciation of the natural world, problem-solving, observation, creativity, incorporating nature into creative endeavors

  • Mediums & Tools: sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, pine cones, acorns, moss, etc.

  • Projects: homemade paper, bookmarks, sun catchers, leaf rubbings, embossing, nature weaving, fairy houses, dirt painting, nature journals, etc.

Unit 9: Film Studies

  • Skills: active vs. passive watching, implicit/explicit meaning, interpretive analysis, aesthetic approaches, technological approaches, film as social history, film history, multicultural styles, principles of film, types of movies, elements of narrative, mise-en-scene, cinematography, acting, editing, and sound production

  • Projects: class mise-en-scene and short film

Questions?