The students are off to a good start in Fine Arts, enjoying Painting, Form Drawing, Calligraphy, and Music this year:
Painting
Grades 1 through 5 are practicing the wet-on-wet painting technique with liquid watercolors.
The First Graders are immersing themselves in the world of primary colors, guided by engaging stories. The Second and Third Graders are exploring the full spectrum of colors, creating vibrant paintings inspired by fables like 'The Fox and the Crow.' The Fourth and Fifth Graders are delving into their Main Lesson blocks, translating their learnings into meaningful paintings. For instance, they recently painted a Cherokee Rose, symbolizing the suffering of the Cherokee Nation on the Trail of Tears.
The Sixth and Seventh Grade class used the wet-on-dry technique to paint tree branches, emphasizing the negative space around the branches and leaves.
Form Drawing
Form drawing ranges from simple compositions of lines and curves to complicated interwoven geometric patterns. It supports spatial awareness, eye-hand coordination, reading, and mathematical thinking.
In Ki Michelle's class, the students draw simple line and curve variations. Form drawing is all about movement. From large to small, the first graders move these forms with their bodies by walking them on the ground or drawing them into the air before finally putting them on paper. Ki Meredith's class enjoys the new challenge of mirroring forms over a horizontal or vertical axis. Ki Paulyna's class draws intricate interweaving forms that require much focus.
Calligraphy
In their study of the Middle Ages, the Sixth and Seventh Grade students are learning the art of Calligraphy. They are currently learning the medieval Gothic style which they will apply in their Main Lesson books. Eventually, they will branch out and learn a chosen calligraphy style.
Music
Grades 1 through 3 are having music twice a week. In addition to learning seasonal and festival-related songs, they have now started to play the pentatonic flute. So far, the students love the sound and feel of the flutes made of natural cherry wood, and they have already learned to play a few notes on them. Characterized by its five-note scale, the pentatonic flute allows beginning players to produce harmonious and melodious sounds right from the start, fostering an intuitive sense of rhythm and melody.
