Visual Arts

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic tenets of visual art, including two- and three-dimensional studio projects, independent and collaborative work, and art history as an inspiration for studio assignments.

Students are expected to begin with an overall concept of the work but can expand their initial ideas or media of choice. They are encouraged to delve deeply into their concepts and may draw upon numerous artistic models introduced each term for inspiration and aesthetic refinement. Students may choose the faculty members who facilitate their unique creative odyssey and are supported with frequent critiques and discussions of their work. Portfolios will be reviewed for effort, creativity, innovation, skill, and refinement. Students will also complete frequent self-evaluations of their creative processes. Prerequisites: one art course at Kent School, summer study, and departmental portfolio review.

This is a course in which students seek experimental solutions representing three-dimensional models and two-dimensional drawings and the properties and qualities of space. Projects include perspective drawing, design, scale plans, elevations, and models. This course also attempts to respond to the dynamic nature of contemporary architecture.

Ceramics focuses on the use of the potter’s wheel and some hand-building techniques. Students research several ceramists, sketch their vessels, and gain the confidence to work with this ancient medium. Students work with a range of decoration methods, including slip, oxides, and high-fire glazes.

Digital Imaging teaches students how to use a digital camera and manipulate their files using the Adobe Creative Suite. Students explore digital imagery and digital capture while expanding their understanding of computer software. Since the computer has become an essential tool for designing and manipulating images, the process’s instant results help increase the learning rate.

Students work with a variety of techniques and media to create portraits, still lifes, and landscapes. A range of conceptual and aesthetic challenges inherent in contemporary drawing or “work on paper” are considered. Representational skills are honed, but the artist’s voice is encouraged.

If a student is interested in photography, we recommend starting with film and a manual camera. Film is still relevant for fine art photography, and studying film first will improve a student’s digital images. Some students choose to work analog through the advanced level, but others transition into digital images after completing one term.

Students learn to sketch their designs and transform basic patterns to construct a garment. Selecting and cutting fabric in tandem with the use of the sewing machine is accomplished in one term. Students explore various historical periods and contemporary fashion to inspire their work and consider the difference between appropriation and appreciation in their influences.

This class probes the techniques and materials of oil painting within the context of still life, portraiture, and landscape. The students also explore color as a means of artistic expression and are encouraged to complete oil sketches to stimulate their creative process. Topics include color theory, design issues with color, developing ideas for painting, abstraction, and contemporary painting approaches.

This course addresses the inclusive nature of contemporary sculpture and 3-D design. Students explore traditional and innovative materials and techniques. Topics vary each term and have included: portraiture, site-based installation, modular constructions, relief, and mobiles. Students research various artists and cultures to inspire their creative process and to sketch and document their ideas.