Arts

Fine Arts

Fine Arts Program
Discovering Expression Through Fine Arts

Our art program simultaneously nurtures creativity, curiosity, and self-expression and builds artistic skills. Through hands-on experiences, students explore a wide range of materials, techniques, artists, and cultural traditions that connect art with classroom learning and the world around them. As they progress, students develop greater independence and purpose in their artistic choices.

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  • Pre-Primary

    Exploring Art Through Play

    Pre-Primary students discover art through playful, hands-on experiences that encourage imagination and sensory exploration. They learn to recognize and name colors while exploring the foundational elements of art, including line, shape, and texture. Working with paint, clay, crayons, and collage materials, students practice drawing, cutting, and gluing to help develop fine-motor skills and coordination. Each experience encourages creative expression and helps children build confidence in their ideas and abilities.

  • Kindergarten

    Discovering the Elements of Art

    During this year, students practice using materials responsibly and discover different ways to communicate ideas through art. Art projects connect with classroom learning, including letters, science, and the environment, allowing students to further deepen their understanding of color, line, shape, texture, and form. They also explore developmentally appropriate tools and techniques that strengthen fine- and gross-motor skills and encourage problem-solving. 

  • Lower School

    Building Their Artistic Skills

    In Lower School Fine Arts, students build their artistic skills through a thoughtfully scaffolded sequence of projects, with techniques and concepts introduced at each level providing a foundation for increasingly sophisticated work. Students explore a variety of materials and techniques while drawing inspiration from Florida’s plants and animals, the seasons, diverse cultures, and artists ranging from the old masters through modern art. Through age-appropriate projects, students strengthen observation, problem-solving, listening, cooperation, and creative thinking while taking pride in their work.

    Throughout the year, students have opportunities to celebrate their creativity by displaying their artwork in the classroom and contributing pieces to the annual Student Art Show, where families can recognize and enjoy their accomplishments.

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  • Grade 1: Building Creative Skills

    Students strengthen their foundational art skills while exploring the elements of art and introductory principles of design, such as pattern, repetition, and balance. Through drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and mixed media, they refine fine-motor skills and develop techniques they can apply to increasingly complex projects. Connections to academic studies and an introduction to modern art encourage students to explore new ideas and approaches. Students expand their art vocabulary and begin making intentional choices about materials, color, and composition.

  • Grade 2: Developing Artistic Techniques

    Students expand their understanding of the elements of art and principles of design through a variety of materials and processes, including drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, and ceramics. They study modern artists and explore art movements to discover how artists use different styles and techniques to express ideas. Cultural, seasonal, and holiday projects provide opportunities to connect art with traditions and classroom learning. Students develop craftsmanship, follow multistep artistic processes, and make creative choices that reflect their individual perspectives.

  • Grade 3: Expanding Artistic Foundations

    Through experiences with artists, cultures, and varied art forms, students in Grade 3 refine their craftsmanship, expand their vocabulary, and build confidence in their creative problem-solving and artistic decisions. Students develop greater independence as they strengthen their understanding of composition, the elements of art, and the principles of design. Landscape and still-life projects emphasize spatial relationships, overlapping, depth, balance, rhythm, and movement. The class works on three-dimensional projects, including the clay fish inspired by Florida’s marine life and papier-mâché animals inspired by Florida wildlife, which allow students to explore form, texture, and construction. Students explore cyanotype printing using natural objects to create compositions while discovering how sunlight produces an image. They also experiment with other printmaking techniques, developing an understanding of pattern, texture, and repetition. An introduction to grid drawing helps students strengthen their observational skills and understand proportion, placement, and accuracy when translating an image into a drawing. 
     

  • Grade 4: Growing as Artists

    Students build confidence in the art studio through skill-based lessons that introduce foundational techniques in drawing, ceramics, printmaking, and mixed media. They learn essential ceramic vocabulary and processes while developing drawing skills through grid techniques and guided practice. Through hands-on projects and artist connections, students strengthen their technical skills, creative problem-solving, and confidence as young artists.

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  • Middle School

    Continue to Explore Connections Through the Arts

    In Middle School Fine Arts, students continue to explore connections between art, history, science, language arts, and technology through a variety of engaging, hands-on experiences. As students develop greater confidence and interest in detail-oriented projects, they participate in increasingly sophisticated studies of drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media.

    Lessons emphasize the creative process, encouraging experimentation, problem-solving, critical thinking, and personal expression while introducing students to a wide range of artists, cultures, and artistic traditions. Research, discussion, and reflection are incorporated throughout the curriculum, allowing students to make meaningful connections between art and the world around them.

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  • Grade 5: Strengthening Artistic Foundations

    Students strengthen foundational artistic skills while exploring a variety of media and techniques. Through creative projects, they are introduced to artists and cultural connections while developing creative thinking, problem-solving, and self-expression. Students also have opportunities to share their work through the annual Student Art Show.

  • Grade 6: Foundations of Studio Art

    Students deepen their understanding of studio art through experiences in ceramics, painting, and printmaking. They are introduced to art history and cultural connections while continuing to develop technical skills, creative thinking, and confidence in their artistic choices.

  • Grade 7: Building Advanced Studio Skills

    Students build upon their previous studio experiences through increasingly complex work in ceramics, painting, and printmaking. Their studies expand to include art history and world cultures, with an emphasis on creative problem-solving, artistic expression, and the continued development of technical skills.

  • Grade 8: Advanced Artistic Study and Expression

    Students engage in more advanced studies of ceramics and sculpture, painting techniques, printmaking, and design processes. Art history and cultural connections continue to inform their work as students develop greater independence, refine their artistic voice, and apply the skills they have built throughout the Fine Arts program.

    Student artwork is celebrated throughout the year and showcased in the School’s annual Student Art Show, giving students opportunities to share their creative achievements with family, friends, and the school community.

Main Campus: PK4 - Gr. 8
Gulf Stream Campus

3600 Gulf Stream Road
Gulf Stream, FL 33483
Phone: 561.276.5225   Fax: 561.276.7115

DBC: PK1, PK2 & PK3
Delray Beach Campus

2515 North Swinton Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: 561.278.7735