Fine Arts
	We believe that every student has artistic capacities, and we ask them to draw on those capacities in every subject they study. It is in our fine arts class, however, that students learn and practice the skills that enable them to express themselves visually. The result is that all our students, even those who did not attend a Waldorf elementary school, become fluent and comfortable with a wide range of methods and materials. Like learning the grammatical rules of language before writing a novel, students soon put what they've learned to work in expressing their ideas and perceptions in highly individual ways. In addition to teaching students to draw with perspective and proportion, to cross-hatch, shade, and find form in mass, we encourage students' skills in reworking, critical thinking, analyzing, experimenting, and general problem-solving using all their intellectual and intuitive faculties. Waldorf students spend at least 90 minutes a week drawing and painting and are expected to complete projects outside of class as needed. Students taking the sculpture elective spend an additional 90 minutes studying their craft. Waldorf students develop a heightened visual awareness of the world around them, a strong work ethic, and a level of skill that lives up to their potential.

	Fine Art 9
	Ninth Grade Course, Ms. Cooper
	The study of light and dark will be the foundation of our artistic explorations in ninth grade. Arising out of this base will be such themes as: contrast, mark-making, texture, line, form, gesture, balance and composition. Students will practice various drawing and shading techniques with varied black and white media, as well as practice new approaches to open up seeing and observing. They will take in examples of drawings of great masters, study historic languages of form as well as nature's language of form, and engage in graphic and calligraphic practice in pen and ink which will strengthen the sense for balanced and confident composition.

	Fine Art 10
	Tenth Grade Course, Ms. Cooper
	The tenth grade will continue working in two-dimensional endeavors, building upon ninth grade foundations, and will work toward discovering and developing a more personal art. In addition to drawing skills, working with form arising out of color, with use of translucent layers, as well as opaque media will be explored. More concentrated dialogue and critical thinking will develop through viewing, discussing, and copying of artists' styles and works--both modern and classical. A timely art museum trip, when appropriate, will be an important element for personal inspiration.

	Fine Art 11
	Eleventh Grade Course, Mr. Carter
	Students will continue with drawing and painting. They will be challenged to experiment and expand on the fundamentals from previous years. Independent work will increase with a series of portraits as well as other personal and larger scale projects. Some time will be devoted to observations of contemporary and historical artists in order to familiarize students with the processes of artists and to provide inspiration and a point of departure for their own work.  Students will be encouraged to keep a sketchbook/journal in order to reflect, record and devote private time to the development of their personal artistic/poetic "voice."

	Fine Art 12
	Twelfth Grade Course, Mr. Carter
	In the 12th grade program, students will continue to develop art built around their own sensibilities and natural tendencies.  A self-portrait will be a formal assignment as well as a series of independent projects.  Also, larger scale works and experimentation will be encouraged.  Individual projects will be important for the development and cultivation of a personal vision in art, as well as working with materials of choice.  A sketch book/journal will be an important aspect of outside work to record ideas and images. The sketchbook will become an autobiographical collection of the year, to be used for art-making and reflection. Trips to local art museums, with written assignments, will provide inspiration and challenge critical thinking, in addition to generating dialogue about art and aesthetics. Students will be expected to exhibit their art work at graduation.