Visual Arts
Philosophy:
Hawken School’s visual arts emphasizes hands-on learning that promotes higher order thinking, and nurtures each student’s creative powers. Whether students are engaging in studio arts as independent learners or collaboratively, our department faculty as professional artists, inspire, mentor, and model a welcoming and safe atmosphere. Students and faculty alike are invited to explore their untapped creativity, which connects the world around them with the richness of the visual arts tradition.
The Middle School Visual Art Program is composed of a variety of different courses that correlate with other classes and consider the essential question of each grade level. All units begin with an inquiry or problem and a set of guidelines for students to follow. The goals of the Middle School Art Department:
- Ensure that a student’s experience with art includes direct applications with a variety of materials and tools.
- Attends to the social and ethical dimensions of learning
- Emphasizes deep understanding
- Demands a disciplined approach to analysis and communication
- Balances collaborative and individual work
- Cultivates a sense of personal agency
- Leverages emerging technologies as a tool to enhance learning
- Allows for the possibility of multiple solutions
Highlights of the program include Middle School Musical Set Design, An Evening of Art and Music, and the Biomimicry Art and Science Forum.
Grade 6:
1st Trimester:
Drawing & Painting
Broaden your experience of drawing, and painting, in a variety of genres including observational drawing, portraiture, and landscape. A variety of two-dimensional media will be explored. Students will create using pencil, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, and watercolors. This course provides a deeper exploration of media and techniques by looking at historical and contemporary styles, and by engaging in meaningful experimentation.
Ceramics
Create works of art from clay using a variety of different techniques. Students will learn about the basics of firing and glazing ceramic pieces. Students will also explore the concept of form versus function when dealing with ceramic arts.
2nd Trimester:
Studio Art
Studio art is the fundamentals of art in which students can explore a variety of art techniques and materials. Students can look forward to having experiences in drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Printmaking
Printmaking is a class that will explore techniques and materials used to create original prints. This course provides the opportunity for students to explore a range of printmaking processes including Relief, Monotype, Silk Screen, and Stamping and Stenciling. Printmaking is a great way to learn about the history and language of original prints as a unique art form and as a basis for further artistic exploration.
3rd Trimester:
Studio Art
Studio art is the fundamentals of art in which students can explore a variety of art techniques and materials. Students can look forward to having experiences in drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Drawing & Painting
Broaden your experience of drawing, and painting, in a variety of genres including observational drawing, portraiture, and landscape. A variety of two-dimensional media will be explored. Students will create using pencil, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, and watercolors. This course provides a deeper exploration of media and techniques by looking at historical and contemporary styles, and by engaging in meaningful experimentation.
Grade 7:
1st Trimester
Ceramics
Create works of art from clay using a variety of different techniques. Students will learn about the basics of firing and glazing ceramic pieces. Students will also explore the concept of form versus function when dealing with ceramic arts.
Drawing & Painting
Broaden your experience of drawing, and painting, in a variety of genres including observational drawing, portraiture, and landscape. A variety of two-dimensional media will be explored. Students will create using pencil, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, and watercolors. This course provides a deeper exploration of media and techniques by looking at historical and contemporary styles, and by engaging in meaningful experimentation.
2nd Trimester
Set Design
This hands-on course is necessary for any student interested in behind the scenes look into setting the stage for a theatrical performance. Students will create objects, paint and come up with unique and innovative costumes that relate to the Middle School Musical. Students will get their first experience into painting a mural on the back of the stage, and experience what it is like to be part of a performance from the visual artist’s perspective.
PrintMaking
Printmaking is a class that will explore techniques and materials used to create original prints. This course provides the opportunity for students to explore a range of printmaking processes including Relief, Monotype, Silk Screen, and Stamping and Stenciling. Printmaking is a great way to learn about the history and language of original prints as a unique art form and as a basis for further artistic exploration.
3rd Trimester
Studio Art
Studio art is the fundamentals of art in which students can explore a variety of art techniques and materials. Students can look forward to having experiences in drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics.
Textile Art
Explore the use of soft materials such as yarn, silk and wool to create works of art. Students will learn the process of sewing, embroidery and weaving to create one of a kind works of art.
Grade 8:
1st Trimester
Studio Art
Studio art is the fundamentals of art in which students can explore a variety of art techniques and materials. Students can look forward to having experiences in drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics.
Printmaking
Printmaking is a class that will explore techniques and materials used to create original prints. This course provides the opportunity for students to explore a range of printmaking processes including Relief, Monotype, Silk Screen, and Stamping and Stenciling. Printmaking is a great way to learn about the history and language of original prints as a unique art form and as a basis for further artistic exploration.
2nd Trimester
Ceramics
Create works of art from clay using a variety of different techniques. Students will learn about the basics of firing and glazing ceramic pieces. Students will also explore the concept of form versus function when dealing with ceramic arts.
Drawing & Painting
Broaden your experience of drawing, and painting, in a variety of genres including observational drawing, portraiture, and landscape. A variety of two-dimensional media will be explored. Students will create using pencil, charcoal, pastels, acrylics, and watercolors. This course provides a deeper exploration of media and techniques by looking at historical and contemporary styles, and by engaging in meaningful experimentation.
3rd Trimester
3D Art
In this course, students will investigate the creative process through a curriculum that encourages the development of both technical and conceptual skills in three-dimensional construction. This class will include a review of historical and contemporary approaches to three-dimensional art. Students will create and manipulate forms in space through a variety of genres including carving, modeling, ceramics and construction. There are many ways to make objects and this class will give you the tools necessary to discover your best approach to 3D art making.
Studio Art
Studio art is the fundamentals of art in which students can explore a variety of art techniques and materials. Students can look forward to having experiences in drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics.
Independent Projects
Students that are self-motivated by any art medium are welcome to use this class to dive deep into a project. With an idea, plan or theme in mind for a particular area of study, students are guided in creating works of art.
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
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