Middle School Art

Working with middle school boys is never dull. The students in middle school are enthusiastic and fun to be around. In middle school, the students are open to a lot more things.

Boys learn by doing, creating, shaping. At McCallie, boys build pots, paint, draw, build sculpture, and make prints. After exposing students to the basics in artistic techniques and mediums, McCallie boys have a wide variety of opportunities to follow their artistic passions.

The art department faculty works with boys from all ranges of ability, beginning at the most basic level and on the most basic artistic fundamentals, and growing with the boys at their pace, opening their eyes to new media and new means of creative expression.

The most important thing my students can take from art is creative thinking which is used everywhere – in problem-solving, science, math, in general life. We are confronted with situations and dilemmas where we have to come up with solutions. We can each think and solve the problem in a different way; we share and learn from each other’s approaches. I am not sure the middle school student sees this right away at his stage in life. But, by pushing himself to come up with creative solutions, if he can do it in art, he can do it anywhere. – Teacher Suzanne Mortimer

middle school student rolling ink onto a stamp with art teacher Suzanne Mortimer

Course Descriptions

ART 610 - 6th Grade Art

ART710 - Art 1

In Art I, printmaking and collage are introduced as new forms of art making. Students create hand-built ceramic pots using slab techniques. Students in Art I study abstraction and non-representational art. Artists studied in Art I included Van Gogh, Hokusai, Picasso, Rivera, and Kahlo. Art I students look at the influences of Asian, African and Latino art on the work of these artists.

ART 810 - Art II

The 8^th grade, Art 2 classes learn and use new techniques including, pen and ink values, watercolor, and one-point and two-point perspective. Students will make an altered slab mug where they change the surface to add interest and design. In the study of Pop Art, students will create their own Pop Art paintings or sculpture. 8^th grade artists will also design and dye their own tie. The final project is an original sculpture made from materials of the student’s choice. All major art projects for Art 2 students relate to American art history and artists.

Suzanne Mortimer

Titles: Middle School Art Teacher

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