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For our Early Childhood Program students, creative projects are a mainstay of their curriculum and you'll often see smocked children painting their Thanksgiving turkey or using a straw to blow paint "Thing One's" blue hair. In the Lower School, students are introduced to the elements of art and principles of design during weekly art classes. Students use a variety of media including acrylics, clay, colored pencil, pastels, and watercolor. At each grade level, the curriculum incorporates age-appropriate art history and introduces the students to some of “The Masters” and their works.

Once a student reaches the seventh grade, the curriculum broadens to include a basic introduction to the birth of art “–isms,” where we explore a range of historic and contemporary art styles. Students explore a variety of mediums and applications, and practice techniques for each. We encourage a wide variety of ideas and celebrate unique solutions to many problems, both in and out of the traditional classroom mentality. Perhaps the most exciting part of this class is their participation in the student art show at the end of the school year, which includes art from all studio and graphic design classes from grade 7 through grade 12. 

In the Upper School, students have multiple options for creative expression in the studio and digital lab. Courses are designed to encourage experimentation with idea development and a variety of materials and techniques. Students experience different ways of making, with goals of developing skills, expanding creativity, and communicating messages visually. Emphasis is placed on practicing each step of the artistic process, from preliminary sketch to display, ultimately fostering student choice, growth, and reflection.  

Studio Art courses include:

• Introduction to Studio Art
• Intermediate Studio Art 
• Advanced Studio Art
• Portfolio
• AP Studio Art
• Introduction to Graphic Design
• Advanced Graphic Design

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Graphic Design courses include:
           Introduction to Graphic Design

• A fusion between technical skill and artistic mastery
• Focus on the components of effective illustration and design while creating projects ranging from pop culture graphics, typography portraits, and Lego illustrations to logos, advertisements, and brochuresStudents will establish a strong foundation both in conceptual design and in design software such as the Adobe Creative Suite

           Intermediate Graphic Design

• Expanded proficiency in all aspects of the design process, including the use of formal design principles, type as image, creative brainstorming, conceptualizing, critical thinking, collaboration, and presentation
• Delves into advanced print design, and students create projects such as menus, posters, and infographics
• Students examine graphic design as a component of society, culture and general history, as well as studying various influential designers
• Presents an overview of basic UX, UI, and web design with the final goal of creating websites using a web-based website builder and hosting service with a focus on translating design skills into this new medium 

           Advanced Graphic Design

• Projects in this course continue thematically, with individual choices for programs and ideas 
• Students begin to work in series, creating a group of pieces that reflect advanced technical skills, as well as creative and original insight
• Integrates design principles and software, typography, digital illustration, digital imaging, page layout, and prepress techniques with emphasis on the design process from visualization to production 
• Students are responsible for the design and production of a fully integrated campaign consisting of major projects including several components across multiple media forms, as well as some real-life commissions 
• Individual and collaborative work is expected including branding and packaging as well as prototyping for interactive media
•  The teacher supports the students in expanding technical skill and encouraging creativity, introducing new media and formats, such as environmental and exhibit design and video editing and production

​Amy Jackson
Upper School Studio Art
Wake Forest University—B.A.
Virginia Commonwealth University—M.A.E. 
Appointed 2004

​​Kendra Wert
Lower & Middle School Studio Art
Bowling Green State University-- B.F.A.
Appointed 2021

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Morgan Kemp
Upper School Graphic Design & Yearbook
University of Lynchburg—B.A.
Appointed 2025

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SLACK HALL: Lower and Middle School Art Studio, Upper School Art Studio, and Slack Hall Graphic Design Lab

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Equipment & Tools:

• Full range of drawing, painting, and sculpture materials
• Printing press
• Five potter's wheels
• Kiln
• Extruder
• Slab roller
• Pug mill
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Digital drawing equipment 
• Scanner
• Laser and ink-jet printers
• Large format printer
• Photo printer
• Variety of DSLR cameras