Art @ Guilford Day School
Don't miss the First Annual GDS Juried Art Show on May 21! Click here for more details!
Primary and Intermediate School (grades 1-6)
In primary and intermediate school art, students are exposed to a wide range of
materials. Projects are generally goal oriented and take from one to
several class periods. Each student will use new materials as well as use
some familiar materials in different ways. The environment in these classes
is always supportive of effort despite skill level, while still challenging
each student to continue to improve their basic skills and imagination. Time
for free expression with a variety of materials is provided. Students attend art as part of their specialist rotation that also includes drama, PE, and music.
Junior High (grades 7-9)
Junior high art (grades 7 and 8 only) focuses on more sophisticated techniques and improved
skills in a variety of media. Students will learn traditional challenges in
art like perspective, proportion, mixing of colors and other such building
block skills. Projects in junior high last for several days, and students
are encouraged to continue to push their skills and abilities. Students are
asked to be reflective about work they have done, and occasionally comment
on the work of others. Students will leave junior high with a basic
understanding of issues in art making and a strong sense of their potential
as artists. Students attend art as part of their specialist rotation that also includes drama and PE.
Senior High (grades 10-12)
Students in high school are asked to define themselves as creative thinkers
and artists. Materials available to high school students include painting,
drawing, ceramics, design, computer art and photography. Students will be
asked to address projects in their own way, finding what is interesting to
them in the project and explore it. Students will learn many techniques and explore
issues about particular media and historical information about the styles of
art. Students will be asked to think critically about their own and others’
work. Each student will be given a sketchbook with assigned sketches each
week to keep them practicing with both the skills of sketching and coming up
with ideas. These sketches will often be directly related to projects they
are doing. Students in high school attend art for the entire year.
