School Programs

For Kindergarten to Grade 3

Painting Technique Exercise

An introduction to painting with watercolours with emphasis on primary and secondary colours, pattern and line. Students will create a simple colour wheel. A composed abstract painting will introduce the techniques of washes, texturing with sponges, and stippling. Senior students will produce a final painting influenced by famous Canadian painters.

Monoprinting

An introduction to printmaking - students produce single prints using of a plexi-glass plate and water soluble inks. Basic printing techniques are explored prior to creating of a final print.

Clay Construction

Experimentation in handbuilding construction methods - pinch pot, slab building and coil technique. Students build a sculpture and apply surface decoration. Teachers are requested to supply a theme for this exercise. Objects can be bisque fired for an additional fee.

Clay Mask Making

An exercise in the design and construction of clay masks. Students roll out and cut the clay before applying surface texture by incising, imprinting and using additional clay to build up the surfaces. Teachers are requested to supply a theme for this exercise. Objects can be bisque fired for an additional fee.

Weaving

Students learn the basic principles of weaving. Using a set up loom and a variety of natural and synthetic fibres, students create a small hanging or bookmark. The students will use colour and shape to create a balanced pattern and design. Students may bring any additional ribbons or feathers that can be added to the basic weaving.

For Grades 4 to 8

Drawing Exercise

Students will experiment with different materials - pencil, charcoal and markers - to explore the unique qualities of each. Basic drawing techniques will be explored along with the use and development of the elements of design - line, tone, volume, texture and depth, prior to creating a final drawing.

Monoprinting

Students are instructed in the basic methods of printmaking with emphasis placed on a series of achromatic exercises designed to explore the elements and principles of design through line, shape, and texture. Students will then design and produce a final print.

Clay Handbuilding

Handbuilding techniques are demonstrated with emphasis on proper technique, quality and detail. Through the use of pinch pot, slab and coil construction a sculpture will be created. Teachers are requested to supply a theme for this exercise. Objects can be bisque fired for an additional fee.

Clay Mask Making

Handbuilding techniques are demonstrated with emphasis on proper technique, quality and detail. Various methods of producing texture are discussed and with the use of additional forms the student is encouraged to explore methods of altering the form to produce volume. Teachers are requested to supply a theme for this exercise. Objects can be bisque fired for an additional fee.

Weaving: Shoe Box Looms

Basic tapestry weaving techniques are demonstrated showing that pattern can be created by colour, shape and texture. Students are asked to provide a solid sided shoe box with a separate lid, which will be set up with a warp to make their own loom. Students may bring additional ribbons, feathers, beads, and other objects that can be added to the basic weaving.

Sculpture: Clay Figures

Hand building techniques are demonstrated with emphasison proper technique, quality and detail. Focus will be placed on understanding proper proportions and figure construction to produce a free standing figure. Objects can be bisque fired for an additional fee.

Sculpture: Figures In Wire

An introduction to the human figure where emphasis is placed on shape, proportions and movement. The students will use their imagination in bending and twisting the figure into balanced poses filled with action/movement. The wire armature will subsequently be used as an artists mannequin.

Printmaking: Collography And Stencil

An introduction to two basic forms of printmaking. Students create stencils to produce a repeat pattern image. This is contrasted with collography, a technique where collaged shapes and flat objects are used to imprint texture and designs onto a paper support to produce unique prints. Students learn basic printmaking skills and develop an awareness to visual elements such as composition, design and overall pattern.

For Grades 6 to 8

Watercolour Painting

Students will learn proper watercolour techniques under the guidance of a skilled artist. Through demonstration and discussion, student will focus on even and graded washes, wet on wet, and dry brush techniques, all using artist quality materials. Students will create a colour wheel, and develop a techniques page. Skills acquired will be subsequently applied in a final painting.

Design And Composition

A class for older students in which the process and critical thinking are emphasized rather than the product. Design elements such as static and dynamic planes, positive and negative space, form, line and texture are used to create space (depth) and composition. This is a drawing and collage exercise.

Clay Slab Work

An opportunity to create objects with clay. Clay is rolled out and cut into desired shapes. Students can then decorate the work with surface patterns, incising, and additional clay shapes. With an emphasis on proper technique, quality and detail, students will be challenged to think about both functional and sculptural aspects of their work. Teachers are requested to provide a theme for this exercise. Objects can be bisque fired for an additional fee.

Off-Loom Weaving: Dream Catchers

An Art Math Weave lesson in binding and off-loom weaving based on the aboriginal dream catchers. Using traditional materials, students will be challenged to use knots, hitches and design elements such as colour, size, texture, positive and negative space. This project will include a short history of the object.

Basketmaking

In this introduction to the ancient art of basket weaving, students will explore basic techniques, interlock concepts and ideas to produce a stake and strand basket of natural and dyed round and flat reed. Students are exposed to colour and weave effects with an emphasis on design principles. All students are able to complete one article in class.

Extended Workshops for Grades 7 and 8

These are extended versions of our regular programs that are two hours in length to allow the older student a chance to complete a more complex project.

Extended Clay

A hand building workshop in which the principles of design are stressed. Sculptural elements will be explored in relationship to the functional aspects of the work. Handbuilding techniques are demonstrated with emphasis on proper technique, quality and detail. Teachers are requested to submit a theme for this workshop. Objects can be bisqe fired for an additional fee.

Extended Design And Composition

This workshop is similar to the grade 6 to 8 design class with added components. Organization of pattern is explored with an exercise in creating freeform organic repeat or geometric (tessellated) patterning.

Extended Watercolour

This workshop is similar to the grade 6 to 8 watercolour class with a hands-on review of primary, secondary and tertiary colours and an exploration of techniques. Students will also work with frisket latex resist in positive and negative space.

Extended Drawing

This workshop is similar to the grade 6 to 8 drawing class. In addition to basic techniques, incorporating colour, controlled direction of line, tonal values and memory drawing from a still life setup will be covered.

PLEASE NOTE

Where possible, teachers are asked to choose themes that relate to other curriculum subjects, such as Social Studies (eg. Early Civilizations, First Nations Peoples), Mathematics (eg. Geometry and Spatial Sense, Measurement), and Science and Technology (eg. Structures and Mechanisms).