Middle School arts classes provide students with opportunities to create within the visual art realm.  Skills are built and then maintained through practice, growing more sophisticated and challenging as the student matures.  Specific assignments depend on a number of variables including availability of materials, both new and familiar, collaboration with other courses and the needs of current students.  In visual art, as in all art, process or production is the most important element.  Wrestling with ideas, manipulating materials, refining and revising work are parts of the creative process; the process results in visible changes that provide the student with sense of accomplishment and developing aesthetics.
As we teach students to create works of art, we make connections to the history of art in world cultures.  Elements of design, (color, line, value, shape, pattern, texture) are the backbone of every assignment and vocabulary and technique for critiques and casual conversation is presented and practiced.
 
 

Fall Term:  Art classes began with an all grades paper sculpture project that will result in a finished bas relief.  The students started by learning a variety of skills such as scoring, building specific shapes, and creating texture with paper.  The students then chose an object and setting for their theme.  The final versions will be colored and textured with collage materials and titled.  The final projects will be on display in the halls, and in the dining hall through the Spring. 

students at work

Winter Term:  During the winter months we will practice drawing and painting skills and techniques.  Both watercolor and tempera paint and a variety of drawing tools from pencil to ink will be introduced.

•  Fifth graders will explore color and color theory before attempting a still-life.  The still-life will present each student with a variety of shapes and patterns in an arranged situation to record and represent with color relationships as a focus.

• Sixth graders work as a group to paint a large mural.  This year they are recreating a colorful West Indian market scene.  Each student will be responsible for a small section and work with others to insure that their individual painting helps complete the whole picture. Prior to this project they practiced mixing paint by making secondary and tertiary colors, and by tinting and shading colors. Different artists will be introduced throughout the term, and may include projects to emphasize their individual style.

• Seventh graders in this term did not have art in the Fall, so they work on the paper sculpture projects. 

• Eighth graders will be introduced to drawing from life using exercises from Betty Edwards book, Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain.

Spring Term: Students will work on a variety of printmaking techniques, specifically monoprinting.  

6th grade students working on "Chirsto inspired sculptures"

 
 

Middle School Visual Art Teachers:
Lance King   (currently on leave for 2002/2003 school year)
Suzanne Roy  (Arts Department Head, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades)
Margery Ziff  (7th grade and 8th grade)

Website links:
Lakeside Upper School Art Department
Seattle Art Museum