Upper School Visual Arts

Drawing: Form and Light

Fall, Winter, Spring

Open to: Grades 9-12

The human act of drawing predates the written word. Children express innate joy when given the chance to draw. As we age, many of us draw less and less to the point where we abandon the skill entirely. Taught concurrently with Painting Methods, this class gives students permission to re-engage the skill while framing drawing as the foundation of visual art. We will learn how to draw from observation while exploring the possibilities of graphite, charcoal, ink, and more.

Drawing: The Human Figure 

Fall

Open to: Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Drawing: Form and Light, Painting Methods, or with permission of the department chair upon review of student artwork.

This course invites students to explore drawing the human figure, while reinforcing fundamental drawing techniques. Working with a live model, students will develop an understanding of the basic anatomy and proportions of the human form in order to render it accurately. We will revisit the elements and principles of art and design, as well as composition, and observational drawing methods. Once a foundation is achieved, students will also explore the expressive and conceptual possibilities of figure drawing.

Painting Methods

Fall, Winter, Spring

Open to: Grades 9-12

From oil paint to watercolor, this class serves as a guided exploration of pushing paint across a surface. Taught concurrently with Drawing: Form and Light, students will begin by utilizing paint as a drawing tool, laying down values and mixing grays to create the illusion of light. From there they will engage with color theory and paint-mixing techniques for both water and oil-based mediums. Rounding out their experience, students will be given the chance to create work independently, and unlock the joys of expression through paint.

Ceramics

Winter

Open to: Grades 9-12

This course will cover the expressive and creative aspects of clay. Students will learn the fundamentals of hand building— from coiled vessels to slab-built sculptures. Mold-making, stamping, glazing, and painting techniques will all be explored as students create decorative, sculptural, and functional objects. Students will develop proficiency in working with clay, developing at least five unique ceramic forms over the course of the term. Assignments will explore sculptural form, surface marking, and color aspects of ceramic art.

Digital Photography

Fall, Spring

Open to: Grades 9-12

This course provides students with a foundation in digital photography techniques and composition. Students will develop their technological understanding by primarily working in a manual setting with DSLR cameras, and continue to strengthen their application of the elements of art and principles of design. Their growth as artists will be supported through their exploration of composition as it relates to portraiture, photomontage, landscape, abstraction, and the narrative. Daily use of digital editing software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop will help students to refine their photographic images. Presentation of historical and contemporary photographers and techniques, weekly digital sketchbook assignment, as well as regular class and one-on-one critiques will further support student understanding and growth. All students are expected to use their own digital camera. There are limited loaner cameras available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Digital Media Lab

Fall, Winter, Spring

Open to: Grades 9-12

This course offers the opportunity for strong, highly-motivated students to design and undertake their own interdisciplinary projects under the guidance of a Creative Arts instructor. This course is ideal for students interested in digitally-based media including graphic design, illustration, animation, 3-D sculpting, and/or game design. Students will walk through the design process for their project: brainstorm, proposal, research summary, detailed plan, and regular progress reports. Students may enroll in this course multiple times over their time at Derryfield with permission of the instructor.

Graphic Design

Fall, Winter

Open to: Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: There are no prerequisites for this class, but it is recommended that students take drawing first.

Graphic design is the art of visual communication. By combining imagery and text, graphic designers communicate ideas through a variety of dynamic graphic media. Integrating art with technology, students in this course will utilize fundamental art principles with industry standard computer programs like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to effectively communicate a message. Students will develop original works that integrate typography and visual imagery through logo and brand design, promotional materials, and advertising. Regular class critiques will enhance student understanding and support artistic growth.

The Art of Worldbuilding

Winter

Open to: Grades 9-12

Avatar: the Last Airbender, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek: vastly popular intellectual properties that owe much of their success to the depth and richness of their worlds. They are tangible, meaningful, and enthralling. But how are they made? In this course, students will be introduced to a myriad of processes that artists, writers, and designers use to ideate anything from a simple character to an entire cosmology. This multimedia course will have students collaborating, writing, sketching, designing, and sculpting artifacts that will help to paint a picture of a vibrant, original world.

How Impressionism Changed the World

Fall

Open to: Grade 9-12

Learn how one art critic’s snarky review of Monet’s Impression Sunrise set off a movement that turned the art world upside down. In this course, students will examine the Impressionist art movement, and how the work and associated artists created a new paradigm for what art would look like in the 20th century. Through visual and critical analysis, discussion, and hands-on practice, students will develop an informed understanding about art criticism and the historical impact of Impressionism. Studio exercises, including en plein air painting, and experiential opportunities to view Impressionist work first hand will make for a robust learning experience for students of any level of understanding. This course is cross-listed as a History elective for 11th and 12th graders.

Sculpture and 3D Art

Spring

Open to: Grades 9-12

Students will learn to problem-solve creatively through traditional and contemporary ways of working in three-dimensions. Students will learn how to manipulate a variety of materials and use sculpting tools safely. They will analyze other works of sculpture through reading, discussion and critique and examine geometric, abstract and organic forms. Projects will include recycled and found-object, site-specific, and conceptual sculptures.

Studio Art Honors: Series and Exhibition Seminar

Year Long

Open to: Grades 11 & 12

Prerequisite: 2 trimesters of any visual arts course, or with permission of the department chair.

Exhibition within an art context facilitates a conversation between the maker and a viewer. Working in series allows for a longform engagement with a topic, and facilitates deep articulation of a concept. This course offers holistic guidance on the development of the student’s creative practice, while also giving them multiple opportunities to forge profound connections with the public through their artwork. Starting in the fall term, students work with prompts, and experience a structured engagement with the creative process. From inspiration to intent, then subsequent research, making, critique, and finally reflection, students will experience the life cycle of creating art at a rigorous level. In the winter, students conceptualize their own prompts, culminating into a budding series. They will arbitrate critiques and design periodic, pop-up shows so they may refine their vision. The spring semester is oriented around revising and refining work, as well as supplementing additional pieces to develop a series to exhibit in an end-of-year show.

Essential questions include: What influences and inspires me to create? What do I have to say using visual media? What kind of material can I use to communicate my intent? How does one learn to create affective experiences through works of art? In what context should my art piece be experienced? How can I create art consistently and in a sustainable way? In addition to visual art engagement, this course will emphasize sophisticated reflective writing, and articulate oral and written feedback during peer critique. Students may enroll in this course multiple times over their time at Derryfield with permission of the instructor.

Studio Art: Intro to Creative Practice

Fall

Open to: Grades 11 & 12

Prerequisite: 2 trimesters of any visual arts course, or with permission of the department chair.

This course is designed for students wishing to explore creating artwork within a more rigorously structured environment. Students will learn and practice the essential skills artists deploy as they claim being a practicing artist for themselves. They will be given the opportunity to experiment with new techniques and materials, or reinforce skills already developed in prior classes. Students will meet professional artists and attend arts-oriented events and field trips. Outside readings, sketchbook assignments, class critiques, and collaborative projects will further enhance and support student artistic appreciation and growth. In-studio efforts beyond the scheduled class time are required to meet the expectations of this class. Junior-level students who wish to develop a portfolio for college applications will find this class especially useful. Seniors already on the path to further artistic study will also be enriched by this intensive, studio-oriented environment.

Studio Art: Portfolio Building Seminar

Spring

Open to: Grade 11

Prerequisite: 2 trimesters of any visual arts course, or with permission of the department chair.

This course is designed for Junior-level students who are heavily invested in pursuing art, and plan on applying to a college-level art program. We will begin this course by compiling student artwork to excavate and illustrate the student’s goals for their artistic pursuits. We will then design a bespoke action plan that the student will execute during the term to fill any gaps, revise unfinished work, or conceptualize new works. We will also develop optional plans for the forthcoming summer break.