Drawing I introduces students to the foundations of drawing through curiosity, observation, and practice. Students learn how to look carefully at the world around them while developing skills in proportion, contour line, shape, value, and shading. Projects progress from simple to more challenging, with each drawing building on skills learned in the one before it. The goal is to help students become more confident observers and more capable, expressive artists.

Drawing II builds on the skills developed in Drawing I, challenging students to look more closely at space, detail, and the relationships between objects. Students strengthen their observational drawing skills while also exploring how artwork can become more personal and meaningful. Projects may incorporate objects, colors, environments, and styles that connect to students’ own experiences and interests. As students learn to see more, they also begin to develop a stronger individual voice in their drawings.

Design introduces students to the elements of art and principles of design through experimentation, play, and creative problem-solving. Students explore how artists use line, shape, color, pattern, balance, contrast, movement, and other visual tools to organize ideas and create strong compositions. Through a variety of hands-on projects, students learn to make thoughtful creative choices while discovering how even simple shapes and colors can communicate ideas and create visual impact.

Cartooning combines drawing and writing to help students create characters, stories, and visual narratives. Students begin by learning the basics of cartooning through humorous single-panel and multi-panel comics, experimenting with expressions, poses, dialogue, timing, and visual storytelling. Later, students create their own heroes and develop original comics inspired by the idea of the hero’s journey, connecting larger adventures to the challenges and experiences of middle school life. The course encourages imagination, humor, storytelling, and individual drawing styles.

Ceramics I introduces students to the basic tools, techniques, and possibilities of working with clay. Students learn how to shape, score, slip, join, texture, and decorate clay while creating both functional and sculptural forms. Projects progress through techniques such as pinch pots, slab construction, and introductory wheel throwing, allowing students to build their skills with each new challenge. Along the way, students explore how form, pattern, surface, and craftsmanship can transform clay into unique works of art.

Graphic Design introduces students to creating art with digital tools using iPads and programs such as Procreate. Students learn essential techniques including digital drawing, working with layers, selecting and transforming images, combining photographs and drawings, and creating digital collages. Projects encourage experimentation with color, composition, typography, and imagery while showing students how contemporary artists and designers communicate visually. The emphasis is on using modern tools not simply for their effects, but as new ways for students to develop ideas and express themselves.