Painting and Drawing

Traditional skills needed in representational drawing and painting develop as students in this course delve into a variety of materials and techniques. Concentration is placed on shading, linear perspective, color choice, and proportion. Subject matter includes still life, figure drawing, portraiture, and landscapes. Approaches to be explored are in the classic, expressive, and applied art veins. Students are expected to keep a sketchbook. Effort and conscientious completion of all requirements are important aspects of grade determination.

Students may prepare for an IB visual arts exam by taking painting and drawing courses for at least two years. To take an SL exam, only one of the two years must be in 11th or 12th grade. To take an HL exam, the student must enroll in painting and drawing courses in both 11th and 12th grades. Juniors and seniors preparing for an IB exam in the visual arts must participate in the IB visual arts seminar, which meets for 30 minutes weekly and includes occasional field trips on Saturday or Sunday. 

Advanced Painting and Drawing

To strengthen students' observational drawing and painting skills, this course emphasizes accuracy in rendering structures and three-dimensional forms. Some of the materials used in Painting and Drawing are explored further using more technically developed methods. In addition, students spend much of this course in media exploration and personal image development. Students are required to work in a sketchbook outside of class. Prior experience creating representational art is necessary. In particular, students must have a solid foundation in linear perspective and in rendering three-dimensional form, as well as some experience working with color. Effort and conscientious completion of all requirements are important aspects of grade determination.

This course may be taken more than once.

Students may prepare for an IB visual arts exam by taking painting and drawing courses for at least two years. To take an SL exam, only one of the two years must be in 11th or 12th grade. To take an HL exam, the student must enroll in painting and drawing courses in both 11th and 12th grades. Juniors and seniors preparing for an IB exam in the visual arts must participate in the IB visual arts seminar, which meets for 30 minutes weekly and includes occasional field trips on Saturday or Sunday.

Prerequisite: Painting and Drawing or permission of instructor

Portfolio Preparation and AP Studio Art: Portfolio

An ability to work independently on art projects is essential in this intensive class, in which each student's goal is to prepare a portfolio of painting and drawing work for college application and for an independent showing at George School. Prior experience with a wide range of art materials is expected so that the focus is on producing work of high quality for an effective portfolio of finished work. In the first term, specific assignments are given. In the second and third terms, students are responsible for developing the remainder of their portfolios by creating works that reflect their own individual voices in art. In the AP version of this course, students must complete and extensive body of work as prescribed by the AP Studio Art guidelines.

Students may prepare for an IB visual arts exam by taking painting and drawing courses for at least two years. To take an SL exam, only one of the two years must be in 11th or 12th grade. To take an HL exam, the student must enroll in painting and drawing courses in both 11th and 12th grades. Juniors and seniors preparing for an IB exam in the visual arts must participate in the IB visual arts seminar, which meets for 30 minutes weekly and includes occasional field trips on Saturday or Sunday.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and, in most cases, Advanced Painting and Drawing