LOWER SCHOOL VISUAL ARTS

Through projects, the youngest Lower School students begin with an introduction to important foundation skills with common creative tools such as painting, color mixing, and the principles of clay. They build an "art vocabulary" and strategies for sharing a workspace. As students grow, they are introduced to a variety of two and three dimensional media. At this level the artwork is often connected with stories. Children may sculpt or depict characters and / or scenes from their own personal "life stories" or others to which they have been exposed. By the Gate House year, projects combine creativity with a strong, technical craftsmanship element. Students explore projects with multiple steps and practice planning and inventing ways of challenging their own skills to make their ideas become a reality.