Visual & Fine Arts

The Visual Arts program challenges students to use a variety of materials, techniques and visual concepts. Art is a mixed-grade level year-long course, or a semester course, during which students use the visual arts to help enhance identity, looking through many world cultures.  Emphasis is placed on creative expression, aesthetic perception, artistic heritage and developing critical thinking skills.  Some of the areas explored include two and three dimensional media. Below are some course highlights written by our art teachers.

ART STUDIO (Art Instructor: Karla Miller)

The fall semester emphasis in my classes is Drawing/Painting and the spring semester emphasis is Design/Sculpture. The course meets the California State Art Standards for grades 6, 7 and 8, and is the foundation for transition to high school level visual arts.  Ms. Miller’s Art course may be taken for 1-3 years; projects change each year.

Ms. Miller’s Fall 2008 Update
Welcome / bienvenue / bienvenido / velkommen / chao mung / karibu / failte . . . to the heart of art - ART STUDIO H101!  Classes are full, minds are busy and creative, and music inspires students in their 2D Drawing and Painting class.  We start out becoming familiar with the studio by developing a personal abstract mixed-media collage.  It includes Italian sgraffito and Japanese sumina together as a mural for each period.  In the fall, these are on display in the school library, Room H101 and in the H-Wing, Art Gallery.  That project ends with a student written “Artist Statement”. Students also learn drawing techniques using pencil, graphite and chalk.  They practice contour line usage with others as models for short poses.  We look at many famed artists’ portraits and self-portraits, and study proportion and scale drawings of children and teens.  Student create an abstract figure drawing / water color painting with either an Impressionist or Expressionist twist. Students are also involved in a paper mixed-media self-portrait entitled “Pillars of the Community”.  We finish that project with a poetry self-evaluation as an Artist Statement.  Stop by the Art Studio anytime.  Just pick up a Visitor’s Pass at the main office.  Also, we offer a very special thank you to all families who donate to our art program!  For more information, contact Art Educator teacher Karla Miller at .