ART is a vast area that is only touched on in our school. We are proud to offer the range from Ceramics to Painting as a spring board for our students to become interested in the many career areas of Advertisement through Zoo Design. My personal goal is that we expand how art is created, the variety of surfaces that can be used and introduce possible job avenues these styles and materials could be used in after high school. So in many ways our room is just Painting Crazy. Have a Great Summer!

The class expands on the Art Elements and Design Principles. Students explore a range of mediums from clay to glass creating images of self. General content includes printmaking, drawing, glass mosaics, charcoal, clay and painting.

Ceramics is an overview of clay in its many possibilities. Students work on skills of clay construction, coiling, slab, and wheel throwing. General information of ceramic machines like the kiln loading, firing, and care are introduced. The pugger use and maintanence is a group experience and the slabber-extruder are expected that the student uses and cleans. Actual projects range greatly. Last year cups to teapots were created.

Drawing is the beginning of seeing. How to create a texture, develop pattern, consider balance and strengthen the image message the student is trying to portray are important parts of this class. Generally drawing with basic shapes, light and shadow, perspective and views of social conscience are covered. Several mediums expanded from pencil include ink, chalk and scratch art.

This is a cumulative class to review elementary learned skills in Art Elements. There are projects that express personal views in drawing, ceramic creations, surrealism style painting and Art Critic. This is the next level to an intermediate understanding and application of the students' knowledge of the visual arts as they explore ideas that relate to their expanding world. The course is intended to increase the students' abilities to work with both familiar and new materials to develop their awareness of the creative processes that go into making and appreciating art.

The Painting course covers a number of styles through time. Several styles are expanded into the individuals work. An Fine artists painting replication really forces the student focus on color breakdown and just how much work is put into a good piece of art. A variety of painting surfaces are explored from glass to wood helps open up the possibilities for where art is found in our everyday lives.

Melrose Area Schools
Barbara Dettler