Observational Contour Line Drawing

Introduction to Visual Arts students learned about the concept of drawing from the right side of the brain.  Students were encouraged to ignore what they already new of drawing a hand and focus in on what they were actually seeing in their hands.  The class composed to different hand gestures for their drawings and then explored value through line by creating patterns to suggest different ranges in value.  Their final drawings were then inked with natural bamboo ink pens.

Exploring Graphic Design in Three Dimensions

The Introduction to Graphic Design class explored the work of the iconic graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister.  Sagmeister has blurred the line between fine art and graphic art, creating a body of work that serves a deeper cause outside of marketing and consumerism.  The students responded to his work by creating word sculptures focused on conveying an inspiring and somewhat humanitarian message.  The students were encouraged to draw connections from their message to the materials used, the typography and the place they chose to install their sculpture at Black River. 

Introduction to Art: Surreal Clay Sculptures

Students in Introduction to Visual Arts learned basic clay techniques and properties while exploring the artists and work of the Surrealist movement.  The students created hollow forms using white earthenware clay.  The forms were finished with acrylic paint and then spray lacquered.  The class did an exceptional job planning and executing their ideas. 

Introduction to Graphic Design: Using Text to Explore Elements and Principles

The Introduction to Graphic Design class began the year learning about the elements and principles of design and completed a geometric composition exploring these design elements using text as texture.  The students did an outstanding job creating really dynamic compositions that show a strong amount of depth and movement. 

Late to Post...... Two Dimensional Design Transformation Paintings and Final Multi Media Projects

The second semester of the Two Dimensional Design Course offered a lot more freedom in idea development and approach.  The following paintings are a mixture of pieces from a unit exploring concepts in "transformation" and also the final projects which required that the students explored at least three different mediums in their paintings.  Both paintings forced students to think critically and engage in individual idea development.  During the final projects the students spent a lot of time exploring the effects of mixing mediums which resulted in extremely expressive and innovative works. 

Clockwise from top left: DeMarcus (10th grade), Joey (12th grade), Zoe (10th grade), Lisa (12th grade).

Above Left to Right: Ashley (12th grade), Matt (9th grade), Kristina (10th grade).

Above Left to Right: DeMarcus (10th grade), Kristina (10th grade), Bri (10th grade).

Above Left to Right: Stephanie (11th grade), Emma (12th grade).

Above left: Hannah (10th grade), Emily (12th grade), Jessica (12th grade).

Late to Post..... 4th/5th Grade Watercolor Ship Paintings

The Fourth and Fifth grade art classes spent the last part of the year working on watercolor ship paintings that reflected their personalities. Students considered the structure of their ship, the surrounding scenery of ship and also the time of day in relation to their own personalities.  Additionally, the students learned about points of views, mixing colors and working with wax resist with their watercolor paintings.  Beautiful work!

Late to Post..... Outstanding Life Drawing Work - G Block

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer.  Due to the Rainy weather today, I have been organizing files on my computer and realized I had some images of some gorgeous work done by last year's life drawing G Block Course.  I am so proud of the work the students in this course did.

Above Left to Right: Jessica (12th grade), Shelby (10th grade), Zoe (10th grade).

Above Left to Right: Bri (10th grade), Dylan (10th grade), Ilana (10th grade).

Above Left to Right: Zoe (10th grade), Jessica (12th grade), Tallon (12th grade).

Above Left to Right: Emma (10th grade), Shelby (10th grade), Bri (10th grade).

Hands, Hands and more Hands! Exploring idea development with Richard Serra

The Three dimensional design course spent several classes learning about the work and approach of sculptor Richard Serra.  More specifically students reflected on his verb list compilation created in the late 1960s for inspiration or purpose.  Students chose an action from his list to illustrate in their sculptures.  The focus in production for this unit was on mold making and casting.  The students planned out hand gestures to incorporate in their sculptures and created molds by dipping their hands wax.  The molds were thin filled with plaster of paris. Once they were dried the class began working on composing and installing their sculptures.  Their final structures were to incorporate an additional medium, besides the hands, and also to include text in someway.  The students really enjoyed the process and ended up with some outstanding work!

Harrison Clark, 11th grade

John Seif, 11th grade

Jessica Walker, 12th grade

Marte Balke, 11th grade

Picasso!! 4th & 5th Graders learn about the many styles of Picasso and create their own Picasso style ceramic portraits.

In February, the fourth and fifth grade classes spent a week learning about the diverse styles of Pablo Picasso's work.  Students then specifically focused on his abstract portraiture work.  The class responded to this style with a clay sculpture project mimicking Picasso's profile approach to portraiture.  The class made sketches before beginning their clay works. Student's started with a large rectangular slab of clay and cut out a profile of a face.  Students worked with the scrap clay adding facial features using a slip and score technique.  After an overnight fireing of their project they were then able to glaze their work.  Each student's final project was extremely unique!

Intro to Graphic Design: Exploring Non-Commercial Poster Design

Last semester the Graphic Design students learned the history and evolution of poster design.  Students were then challenged with designing and producing their own non-commercial poster  (supporting a cause or movement).  Students learned about color theory and mixing and were to complete these projects in a hard-edge painting style, with crisp edgeds and clean color transitions.  Students worked hard carefully mixing colors in order to maintain flat color within their designs. 

Top Left to Right: Daisy MacGilbert, Jenna Kaetzel, Zoe Hoover, Caitlin Reed. Bottom Left to Right: Amber Bergeron, Dylan Martinez, Theo Munch, Ashley Bergeron.

Left: Rachel Chase. Right: Leah French

Ceramic Busts!! Three Dimensional Design First Semester

Students in Three Dimensional Design began the year working with clay. The following projects were completed by creating a newspaper based form and draping clay slabs over the molds to create hollow bust sculptures. The students completed the work with acryllic paint and a lacquer spray.

Jessica Walker, 12th Grade

Marte Balke & Jenna Kaetzel, 11th Grade

Max Singer, 12th Grade

Daisy MacGilbert, 12th Grade

Paul Rokus, 10th Grade

Chuck Close Self Portraits

Two Dimensional Design Students completed self-portraits in response to the exploration of the life and work of Chuck Close. The students learned tools and techniques to create form with charcoal.

DeMarcus Young, 11th Grade


Joey Sherrell, 12th Grade

Bri Overkamp, 10th Grade

Daisy MacGilbert, 12th Grade

Ashley Bergeron, 12th Grade

Ben Winebrenner, 10th Grade