IN OUR CLASSROOM

Most lessons are demonstrated step-by-step using a document camera and a projector. Upper grades learn conceptual and observational drawing as well.  Emphasis is placed upon the elements and principles of design and encompass a wide array of techniques and styles in drawing, painting and sculpting. Our projects reflect the changing seasons, holidays and Catholic holy days. We have created portraits, cartoons, still lifes, landscapes and abstract art using pastels, crayons, colored pencils, markers, watercolors, acrylics, tempera paints and clay. Our students learn about a new artist each month and critique what they like or dislike about their artwork. Using Google Classroom, we study biographies of famous artists as well as art terms learned in each assignment. During our third trimester, we have fun playing Art History Jeopardy and Pictionary reviewing masterpieces and genres.

FINE ARTS FOUNDATION

4th Grade: Color Theory

5th Grade: Elements of Art

6th Grade: Principles of Art

7th Grade: Perspective

8th Grade: Art Critique & Composition

ARTISTS OF THE MONTH 2023/2024:

September: Bob Ross - Landscape Painter & Instructor

October: Georgia O'Keeffe - American Modernism Painter

November: Norman Rockwell - American Illustrator

December: Mary Cassatt - Impressionist Painter

January: Maud Lewis - Folk Art Painter

February: Keith Haring - Pop Artist

March: Pablo Picasso - Cubist, Surrealist and Modern Artist

April: Claude Monet - Founder of French Impressionism

May: Jasper Johns - Abstract Expressionism

PORTFOLIO

Villa Joseph Marie, Archbishop Wood and Conwell Egan offer scholarships in Art.

A high school art portfolio should contain 8 - 10 pieces of original artwork. It is important to show your range in using different mediums (colored pencils/pencils, charcoal, pastels - oil and chalk, paint - watercolors and acrylic, photography - if digitally altered or incorporated into a design and digital design - anything created using a graphics platform). Your art should convey your own personal style. In other words, your artwork should have your stamp on it without being generic.  It should consist of:

• Observational drawings, 4 or 5 (drawing from real life, not from a photograph or from imagination)

 — Self Portrait/Portrait - a person or yourself

 — Still Life - inanimate objects

 — Landscape - nature

 — Perspective - three dimensional objects displaying depth with a clear vanishing point

 — Figure drawing - drawings of the human body

• Graphic design - logo design/branding, advertising, publishing

• Fashion design

• Three-dimensional artwork - photograph of sculpture

*If you are applying for an art scholarship or need assistance in compiling a portfolio, please see me.  A letter of recommendation will be written after review.

ANNUAL ART SHOW - Student Gallery and SKD STREAM night Thursday, May 2nd. 

Mrs. Ann Parisian, Art Teacher

I have over nine years experience as a Catholic School Art Teacher.  Prior to my years within the Philadelphia Archdiocese, I taught drawing as a Young Rembrandts Instructor and worked for over twelve years as a Graphic Designer in New York City. 

If you have any questions regarding the Art curriculum at Saint Katharine Drexel, please feel free to contact me at aparisian@skdschool.org