"As a visual arts teacher, it is important to search deep within each middle school student and highlight her unique potential and creative expressions! Teaching realism along with working from the imagination, students learn how to analyze and skillfully interpret their visual world. This nurturing process is taught by having students explore the art elements and principles of design. In addition, they use a variety of art materials along with learning interesting facts and themes in art history. By the end of 8th grade, the majority of our students would have experience “art themes” of the still life, nature studies, landscapes, figure studies, self-portraits, animal studies, perspective (vanish points) and linear designs. As a result, middle school students are able to develop their very own personal styles and appreciation of the visual arts!"
Dexter Middle School Art Curriculum Includes:
Dexter Middle School Art Curriculum Includes:
- Learning how to effectively use the art elements (line, shape/form, color, space, and texture).
- Learning how to effectively use the principles of design (unity, balance, movement, rhythm, emphasis/focal point and scale/proportion).
- Learning how to accurately draw one and two point perspective.
- Learning how to use accurately draw and shade objects, people and faces in a realistic manner.
- Learning the techniques and application of tempera, watercolors, and acrylic paints.
- Working with various artistic styles of the past and modern time (Realism, Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Pop, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism).
- Learning how to analyze and critique artworks base on the knowledge of the art elements, principles of design and art history.
- Working with multi-media such as art/color pencils, oil/chalk pastels, charcoals, color construction paper, scissors, glue, clay, cloth, paints, ink, bushes, beads, feathers, gems, mosaics, craft sticks, card board, etc.
- Learning about various cultural aesthetics from around the world (Africa, China, Japan, Europe, South America and Mexico).