Visual Arts

Sketches and Strokes

Students at Marist have the opportunity to study all levels of drawing and painting. Introductory classes begin with working from observation and build a solid foundation that includes composition, perspective, and color theory. More advanced classes address conceptual components, expand to include a greater variety of techniques and materials, and help students develop their own artistic voices. Marist offers a yearlong AP class in studio art as well as opportunities for advanced students to pursue specific interests through independent study.

In addition to in-class studio time, students interested in drawing and painting have several opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities. Marist's Art Club provides after-school studio hours and also supports the school with art-related projects. Art students also submit work to Marist's award-winning visual and literary arts magazine, the Rapier.

Courses

List of 12 items.

  • Foundations Ceramics 7-8 (FA315: Grades 7-8)

    This one-term elective is an introductory-level ceramics class that will focus on teaching students the fundamentals of using clay as a medium. Not only will students learn the essentials of the ceramic firing process, but students also will create a portfolio of hand-built projects that cover a variety of techniques. This course will cover the following methods: slab building, pinch pots, and coil building. This course may be taken more than once in seventh and eighth grades.
  • Foundations Introduction to Design (FA317: Grades 7-8)

    This one-term course is an introduction to the elements and principles of design, as well as a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, and printmaking. The students will learn how to function as an independent art student in that space. Students will develop art-making strategies and a visual communication vocabulary by exploring a variety of two-dimensional art-making processes. Additionally, students will learn to articulate their understanding of art through open discussions and critiques. Students will be challenged to create their own personal work and find creative solutions to visual problems.
  • Beginning Ceramics (FA341: Grades 9-12)

    This one-term elective is an introductory level ceramics course that will focus on teaching students the fundamentals of using clay as a medium. Not only will students learn the essentials of the ceramic firing process, but students also will create a portfolio of hand-built projects that cover a variety of techniques. This course will cover the following methods: slab building, pinch pots, and coil building.

    8th grade students may take this course with the permission of the instructor.
  • Intermediate Ceramics (FA342: Grades 10-12)

    This intermediate-level studio art course will focus on creating thrown work on the pottery wheel. Building off of the skills learned in Beginning Ceramics, students will further their knowledge of this media by using a variety of clay bodies that will expand their understanding of the formulation of clay. Students will be expected to make a large quantity of wheel-thrown pieces to be selected for the final critique.

    Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics (FA341)
  • Advanced Ceramics (FA343: Grades 10-12)

    This advanced studio course will focus on developing a comprehensive portfolio of ceramic work that shows the students’ understanding of the medium. Students may work with clay in any method they choose, hand building or wheel throwing. At the start of the term, students will write a proposal that covers what they intend to make for the term and why it is essential to them as an artist. This will be the first time many students are creating projects on their own and therefore they are strongly encouraged to attend open studios, which will be available once a month.

    Prerequisites: Beginning and Intermediate Ceramics (FA341 and FA342).
  • Beginning Drawing and Painting (FA346: Grades 9-12)

    This beginner-level studio art course will introduce the elements and principles of design through hands-on approaches to two-dimensional and three-dimensional art making. Students will become familiar with the materials and tools in the painting and drawing studio, including three-dimensional approaches to curating the entirety of the work they are asked to make. The students will learn how to function as an independent art student in that space. Students will develop art-making strategies and a visual communication vocabulary by exploring a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art-making processes. Additionally, students will learn to articulate their understanding of art through open discussions and critiques. Students will be challenged to create works based on a series of prompts and exercises.
  • Intermediate Drawing and Painting (FA347: Grades 10-12)

    Students learn to paint from observations and personal ideas and are exposed to painting and drawing ideas from both historical and contemporary contexts. Students will be introduced to design through hands-on approaches to two-dimensional and three-dimensional art making. Students will become familiar with the materials and tools in the painting and drawing studio, including three-dimensional approaches to curating the entirety of the work they are asked to make. Watercolor, gouache, acrylic paint, wood, plastics, cardboard, and cellulose are used for assignments. Some out-of-class drawing and painting is required.

    Prerequisite: Beginning Drawing and Painting (FA346)
  • Advanced Drawing and Painting (FA348: Grades 10-12)

    This one-term course is for the student with special interests and aptitude for two and three-dimensional artwork. Independent project work is required in this class. Students will continue to incorporate design through hands-on approaches to two-dimensional and three-dimensional art making. Students will become familiar with the material and tools in the painting and drawing studio, including three-dimensional approaches to curating the entirety of the work they are asked to make. Watercolor, gouache, acrylic paint, wood, plastics, cardboard, cellulose are used for assignments. Some out-of-class drawing is required.

    Prerequisite: Beginning and Intermediate Drawing and Painting (FA346 and FA347) or by approval of the instructor
  • Introduction to Photography (FA361: Grades 10-12)

    This beginner level studio art course will focus on developing an understanding of the 35 mm film camera, the dark room, and the history of photography. Students will be given a variety of projects that focus on learning how to use their cameras effectively to create quality prints. Though primarily focused on technique, students will be asked to push themselves in creating meaningful images. These images will be presented at the end of each project in a critique, as well as at the end of the term when they present a final portfolio. Each critique gives students the opportunity to display their knowledge of the artistic language they have acquired in this class as well as previous art classes. 
  • Architectural Drawing and History (FA 350: Grades 9-12)

    This one-term course is designed to introduce students to both the basic isometric and orthographic drawing. After demonstrating an understanding of different types of perspective drawing (one-point, two-point, three-point, and shadows), the class will shift to observational drawing inside and outside of the Marist campus buildings. This part of the course will combine gestural and technical drawing. As an historical context, students also will learn the basic historical language (vocabulary and syntax) of architecture. In the final weeks of the course, students will use architectural drawing for creating more abstract, conceptual works of art. Students will be required to purchase a moleskin notebook, pencils, and an eraser.
  • Art, Business, and Creativity (FA355: Grades 11-12)

    This one-term course is designed to prepare artists for promoting their art through social media, preparing their portfolio for presentations with art directors and agents, understanding legal business aspects of being a professional artist, and learning how to create designs for the art market.

    Prerequisite: Beginning Drawing and Painting (FA346).
  • Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man (FA375: Grades 11-12)

    Students will spend the term reading aloud Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man, a book reflecting upon the American Dream and race. It is both an autobiographical coming-of-age novel (bildungsroman) and a thinly veiled examination (roman a clef) of many aspects of American history. Unlocking the novel involves a deep understanding of African American history, the Bible, material culture, mainstream and Black American literary traditions, formal and vernacular language, family stories, mythology and folk traditions, paternalism, colonialism, art history, music, beliefs about progress and technology, psychology, and feminist gaze theory. Plus, this Surrealist novel, considered to be one of the great American books, uses humor and word-play to create a comic-tragic story that becomes something of a sequel to Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Since so much of the novel takes place in New York City, most years the class walks in the footsteps of the Invisible Man from Harlem to Centre Street.

    Prerequisite/Corequisite: AP Art History (FA902).


     

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  • Photo of Brian Cole

    Mr. Brian Cole 

    Teacher

Marist School

3790 Ashford Dunwoody Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319-1899
(770) 457-7201
An Independent Catholic School of the Marist Fathers and Brothers