Visual Arts

At The Storm King School, students can pursue precise observational drawing, expressive personal statements, build 3-Dimensional models, or explore the digital realm with photography and design. SKS helps students reach their artistic potential, and learn critical thinking and problem solving skills for the broader academic realm.

Our curriculum is designed to stimulate creativity and enhance visual literacy. Students hang their works throughout the campus, host exhibitions in the larger Cornwall-on-Hudson community, and reproduce their work in the school arts magazine, The Voice.

SKS students follow a traditional art-foundation program. At every step of the way, they are encouraged to explore their own interests and ideas for art-making assignments, whether in watercolors or in graphic design. Studio activities often involve creative problem solving with group projects in sculpture and printmaking while taking advantage of our natural environment. Drawing and composition are emphasized at every level of study, along with the value of constructive criticism. Students receive individual feedback from our accomplished instructors and from classmates through group critiques. In the digital art courses, students gain valuable experience creating graphics for the Visual and Performing Arts department.

For those interested in pursuing visual arts professions, our art teachers and college counselor provide valuable guidance on arts careers and art-school applications. Our advanced courses emphasize portfolio development and students attend National Portfolio Day to meet with college representatives. These students can take college level course work with our AP Studio Art or AP Art History courses.

Classes Offered

Middle School Art

This is an art course that introduces students to various art movements, cultural influences, artistic genres, artists, and their artwork. The main emphasis of the course is to teach hands-on studio arts techniques while students engage in personal research and explore their own creativity by utilizing historical and contemporary art concepts and techniques. Examining and discussing artwork is a crucial part of this course. Students will be encouraged to express opinions about art in an intelligent and articulate manner. Throughout the course students will compile a portfolio of artworks reflective of their research, understanding, creativity, and personal growth.

Art, Culture, & Global History

Freshman studies cover world history and the art and culture that shaped that history. The art a culture creates becomes the physical record of a civilization. It mirrors the culture and frames the history. The culture a civilization creates is, in turn, the catalyst for the civilization’s achievements which is then reflected in the art work. The study of the art a civilization creates and the history of that civilization are so intertwined, that studying them both gives the student the fullest scope and deepest understanding of any historical era. Freshmen study how human cultures grow using common themes, rather than how individual cultures grow in semi-isolation. These studies are designed to teach world history and art starting with early paleolithic cultures through to the beginnings of the modern world and the 20th century. The course looks at history not through strict chronological study, but through thematic study (adaptation, conflict, self-identification, defining the physical world). Art not only reflects these themes, but pushes culture forward toward new definitions of the themes.

There is a writing and research component in both aspects of the course that includes analyzing historical eras and the art and architecture connections to the cultures. There is also a hands-on component that will involve creating art work based on historical models, exploring the techniques, and adding personal expression to truly understand the motivations of the cultures involved.

Intro Art 1

This course is a pre-requisite for all students unless they pass a portfolio review to place into a higher-level course. The technical focus of the course is on color theory, observational drawing, and the elements and principals of design. Students will be exposed to watercolors, acrylics, mixed media, sculpture, and ceramics. There is a cultural component wherein students learn the function of art in different historical eras which is assessed through student presentations, quizzes, and essays.

Digital Design

Students will respond to a series of complex design challenges through a series of hands-on projects using ProCreate, Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom. Each exercise is designed to expand their creative thinking processes, help them articulate ideas, and develop visual literacy through classwork, research practices, and practical knowledge. Emphasis will be placed on constructive feedback to peers and responses to the work of professional artists and designers. To gain a significant understanding of the universal language of graphic design in the 21st century, students will also explore the many ways art contributes to various cultures through the study of the art and artists of those cultures and historical periods. To conclude the semester, students will build a professional, functional website using their portfolio of works.

Digital Photography

(Students required to have taken Art 1, Digital Design, or equivalent)

In this course we will explore digital photography in relation to fine art. Students will be introduced to the world of photography through digital cameras and Adobe Photoshop. Students will be asked to produce artwork and participate in class discussion to better understand the physical, conceptual and theoretical characteristics of the electronic media as it pertains to art and art making. Emphasis will be placed on the students’ development of understanding of the evolution of art, photography and electronic imaging as well as art history. This knowledge will help them to produce expressive and thoughtful works of art.

Broadcasting Club

In this hands-on, non-credit course students learn and execute live web video broadcasting of the school’s significant athletic, academic and extracurricular activities. Students work on broadcasts as videographers, score operators, commentators, and producers.

Drawing and Painting

This is a course that focuses on observational drawing and painting. It is a classical course in the traditional sense. The students will learn how to paint using watercolors, and acrylics. They will focus on realism working from the environment, still life, the landscape, and human portraits. Students will also learn 3-D techniques creating sculptures and ceramics. All of the techniques are built on the basics learned in Art 1.

Advanced Studio Art

This is a special course that focuses on portfolio preparation and individual student development. In this course, students focus on creating an individual body of work that is cohesive, yet demonstrates a breadth of abilities. Materials and topics to be covered will be based on student interest and technical skill levels. Students must be either in their Junior or Senior year to be enrolled in this course.

AP Studio Art

The course is designed to prepare students for the New York State AP Art History exam, and will include practice exams and lessons in test taking strategies. A survey course of Art History from ancient civilizations to the modern era. The course covers Western and non-Western art with an emphasis on the cultural forces that influenced the art. There is a writing and research component that includes critiquing specific art works, and analyzing historical eras in art.

AP Art History

(Requires recommendation from previous year’s history teacher: this course is offered every other year unless there is significant interest.)

This course is a seminar art history course. It is taught following the AP art guidelines, and at the end of the year the students must pass the AP art exam to receive the college credit. The course meets both a history requirement and an art requirement.

Fashion Design

Fashion design is part of our interdisciplinary and individualized approach to education. Students in this class will learn the technical skills of sewing, pattern making, and the creative skills of drawing designs and fabric arts (including printmaking on fabrics, and 3-D design). The course will also feature a history of design with a special look at where the industry is headed (sustainable fabrics and industrial processes). Finally, the course will explore the fashion industry with a look at marketing and manufacturing. There will also be opportunities for year-long cornerstone projects created by the students that investigate various aspects of the fashion industry. This may include working with local designers on marketing or sourcing issues, or any topic that addresses a local need. Within the course, there is a series of workshops run by industry professionals on entrepreneurship, branding, sewing, etc. As in all or our classes, there are trips into New York City and environs to look at museum collections and talk to professionals in the fashion world. These classes, experiential trips, and individual projects will give the students a well-rounded background in this exciting and multifaceted industry, and an insight into the next educational step they would need for their careers.

Video Production

A fully hands-on course that focuses on all aspects of creating fictional and documentary filmmaking. Throughout the course, every student performs at least one key pre-production /production and/or post-production task- writing, directing, acting, producing, cinematography, or editing.

Departmental Overview