MYP5 General Course Description Teacher: Marina Velázquez
Students focused on refining their technical skills and exploring the relationship between visual imagery and communication. Over the course of the year, they worked with a variety of painting mediums, including acrylics and watercolors, learning to control brushwork, layering, and color blending to express mood, movement, and meaning. Students also explored the power of visual design through a unit on poster design and typography, where they combined imagery and text to convey clear, impactful messages. Throughout the year, students were encouraged to make intentional artistic choices and develop a personal visual voice.
Collection #1
Puerto Rico in Acrylics
Students began the year by learning acrylic painting techniques, including layering, blending, and creating texture. They applied these skills to a creative project, where they used expressive color and form to depict scenes, symbols, or concepts connected to Puerto Rican culture. Whether focusing on natural landscapes, cultural symbols, or personal connections to the island, students learned how to layer and blend acrylics to convey mood, movement, and depth.
Collection #2
Watercolor Landscapes
Students learned and explored watercolor painting, a medium known for its delicate and fluid qualities. Students studied Puerto Rican landscapes as their inspiration—examining the vibrant, lush rainforests, serene beaches, and dramatic mountain views of the island. Through this unit, they learned how to control the transparency and fluidity of watercolor, experimenting with washes, gradients, and layering techniques. Students were encouraged to focus on capturing the atmospheric qualities of light, texture, and color in their landscape paintings.
Collection #3
Words & Pictures
This unit focused on the intersection of words and images, exploring the art of poster design and typography. Students were introduced to the role of visual communication, studying how text and imagery work together to create impactful messages in posters, advertising, campaigns, visual novels, and social movements. Students designed their own posters, considering how layout, font choices, color schemes, and imagery could be used to enhance the message they wanted to communicate. The project required students to think about the balance between text and images and how design elements can influence the viewer’s understanding of the message.
Joel Hernández
Sergio Alejandro García
Isabella Rivera Estrella
Brianna Forde
Emma Muñiz
Liam Garity
Yuxin Liang Qian
Amina Ochoa
Zorelys Rivera
David Méndez
Melania Vélez
Mireia Betancourt
Tito Febbo Whitney
Ignacio Pagés
Ava García
Ariana Bermúdez
Paola Sánchez
Isabel Rivera Fernández
Alan Román
Gabriela Bolinaga
Lucía Feliciano
Melanie Onofrej