“The effort to see things without distortion takes something like courage, and this courage is essential to the artist, who has to look at everything as though he saw it for the first time.” - Henri Matisse
Upper School art at Mount Vernon Presbyterian School entails a curriculum that is driven by the student’s own experience, memory, observation and/or imagination. The foundation of art, the elements of design: line, shape, direction, size, texture, color, and value and principles of design: balance, gradation, repetition, contrast, harmony, dominance, and unity, are presented in a fashion where students are compelled to take ownership of their ideas and media. Through the creative experience the student will see validation of their art and be inspired to come back knowing there are more ways to question, think and develop the same themes. Observational and nonobjective approaches to media are complemented with a further understanding of art analysis through critique, aesthetics, the richness of art history and multicultural heritage in art. Upper school offers Art I-Introduction, Digital Photography, Year Book–Publishing, Art II-Ceramics, Art II–Drawing Medias, Art III–Advanced Studies, Art IV–Advanced Studies and Princeton University approved Advanced Placement Studio Art-Drawing. Each art course grading is accomplished through a comprehensive accumulation of points including credit for growth and improvement.
