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Queens Satellite Academy
High School
The aim of this course is to provide students with a guided series of satisfying and meaningful art projects that are accessible and enjoyable for all regardless of "artistic ability." The premise is that everyone is creative and therefore "artistic." The series of projects has been chosen to bring out the artist in every student. They focus on shape, symmetry, balance, relationships and color. Student work is displayed in the classroom and in the school. I. The Preferential Shapes Test (based on Signs of Life by Angeles Arrien) We explore the five universal shapes and discover our preferences for them and what these preferences reveal about our temperaments and goals. II. Mazes and Labyrinths We learn how to draw a simple labyrinth from an ancient model. We analyze the components of the labyrinth. We look at pictures of labyrinths from ancient to modern times. III. Mandalas We study mandalas (circular, symmetrical designs reflecting wholeness and unity) as they appear throughout the world in all forms of art in all cultures. We explore their composition in line, shape and color and begin to draw our own, first working in white pencil on black paper to understand light, darkness and contrast, then with color. We work with drafting tools and freehand. We copy designs to understand them, and we create our own. We work on group designs and on individual ones. |