Visual Art

Grade 9 Art

This course develops from the grade 8 course, and is designed for students of all levels of interest and ability in art. The course offers a general exposure to a variety of media and art disciplines. 

Students continue to gain exposure to a wide variety of techniques and media, and to achieve a sense of personal satisfaction and discovery. Their technical abilities and their capacity to communicate and express ideas and feelings are further extended. Interest and curiosity concerning art from the historical, cultural, aesthetic, social, and psychological perspectives are encouraged. There is a strong emphasis on understanding the creative process in art-making and on fostering an appreciation of art, artists and culture that is uniquely Canadian.

Grade 10 Art

This course builds on the grade 9 art course and is designed for students of all levels of interest and ability in art. The course is also designed to help prepare students for the International Baccalaureate Art Programme, both standard and higher levels. There is a strong emphasis on understanding and using the creative process in art-making. Students continue to gain exposure to a wide variety of techniques and media, and to achieve a sense of personal satisfaction and discovery. Their technical abilities and their capacity to visually communicate and express ideas and feelings are further extended. Drawing exercises and art history research assignments will be incorporated into each unit of study and based on the practical work done in class. Critical analysis will be explored and encouraged for judging the student’s own artwork and the artwork of others from historical, cultural, aesthetic, social, and psychological perspectives. Successful completion of grade 9 art or submission of a portfolio is a prerequisite. 

Grade 11 Advanced Art

Students who elect to take advanced art in grade 11 must have a keen interest and strong ability, as this course requires concentration and extra effort outside of class time. Students will be exposed to a variety of media, art techniques and visual concepts. Over the course of the year, they will have a deeper understanding of the creative process, gaining mastery over several art media. They will refine studio skills to discover ways in which art becomes a powerful tool of communication. Critical analysis will be sharpened for judging the student’s own artwork and the artwork of others. There is a strong focus on understanding and applying the creative process to produce original works of art. Each student will produce a body of studio work for exhibition. However, there is also a required drawing component in each unit of study with an emphasis on developing and strengthening drawing skills in a variety of drawing media and styles. The goal of practical work is to provide a portfolio containing examples of work in various media. Interest in specific media is encouraged, but a generalist approach is considered the best preparation for those who may wish to pursue art in CEGEP or university. Each student is expected to participate in the year-end graduation exhibition. Successful completion of grade 10 art, or teacher approval based upon a portfolio submission, is a prerequisite.

Grade 11 Art Activity

The grade 11 art activity course is designed for students of all levels of interest and ability. There are two major units of study of roughly equal duration. These projects are individualized for each student depending on their personal interest and needs. There is a strong emphasis on understanding and using the creative process in art-making and on fostering an appreciation of art, artists and culture. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Our visual arts co-curricular program allows students to experiment with and express their creative talent, pursue their artistic passions and develop an appreciation for art.

Senior School Art Club

Everyone is welcome. You do not have to take art, or have taken art, to join the club. It meets twice a week after school. Students work on their own ideas in their choice of discipline in consultation with the senior art teacher. There is also the opportunity to work on the set and props of the Senior School play. As it is difficult to take some of the art materials home, art club allows students the opportunity to catch up on missed class assignments or to use a more time-consuming approach or technique to art-making.