Visual Arts - The Oakwood School

The Visual Arts at Oakwood gives students a comprehensive 360-degree education in art including the history of art, the various mediums and the how-to applications for them to explore and express their own creativity often integrating topics from student core studies into the art studio projects. Students’ artwork is showcased throughout the school as well as in the community. Exhibit opportunities can include Spring School Art Show, The Greenville Museum of Art and Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge.

Lower School

Our Lower School art program recognizes and celebrates the various learning styles and cultural differences of our students. Students are instructed in the care and use of materials and tools in a safe, appropriate manner. Organizational skills are taught as students learn to take care of their individual workspaces. This includes knowing how and where to retrieve and return supplies from their appropriate places within the art room environment. Students are taught to use problem-solving skills by encouraging creativity.

Middle School

In Middle School art classes, students study and create works of art including collage, sculpture, portraits and landscapes based on different cultures and time periods, learning about famous artists and styles. Students in the Middle School Art Program use art making to encourage creative problem solving and self-expression. They use their sketchbooks to record, plan and problem-solve ideas for projects. Projects are integrated with the content of the core curricula at each grade level. Middle School Art students use their computers to research artists and art movements on the Internet, and the resulting information is used to inspire and enrich their art projects.

8th Grade Art

This is a hands-on introductory art course based on the Elements of Art (line, shape, form, color, texture, pattern, space). Students develop skills in understanding and appreciating art history, aesthetics, art criticism and studio art techniques and explore different art media such as drawing, painting, working with clay, sculpture techniques, collage, printmaking and mixed media. Each project focuses on one or more of the elements of arts. Potential projects include an inside-out silhouette, a recycled project, collagraph monoprinting, and various drawing and painting exercises. Students participating in this class are expected to display their work in exhibits both at school and in the Greenville community. Students are graded on their planning process, sketchbook/journal, class critiques, exploration and mastery of the techniques, presentations, and completion of projects in a timely manner.

Art Exploration (9-12)

The Oakwood Upper School offers an individualized visual arts program. Art Exploration is a choice based art elective. This course allows students to focus on their choice of studio activities in one or more of the visual arts: drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, collage, and/or multimedia art. Students begin the course by creating their own journal in which they record their ideas, inspirations, and research. Students use the creative process to create art works that reflect a wide range of subjects. With the support of the teacher, students develop a personalized plan of activities and/or projects to be completed each quarter. Course rubrics are designed by the students and the teacher and are used to assess the students’ works. Student work will also be assessed through journals, statements, presentations and critique sessions. Assessments will encourage risk-taking and focus. Finally, any student wishing to develop a portfolio will receive teacher support in this endeavor.