Visual Arts at TA–Create What Inspires You

Thornton Academy’s Visual Arts program offers a rigorous, sequential, and academically grounded study of aesthetics, art history, art creation, and art criticism. At its core, the program emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and the joy of creative expression. TA students explore their creativity while developing a distinct personal style.

Graduates of the Thornton Academy Visual Arts regularly go on to attend leading art schools across the United States.

Explore The Arts

Where Imagination Takes Shape

A person wearing purple headphones draws figures on a clipboard in the foreground, with a blurred indoor setting in the background. — Visual Arts 1
In this course, students build a strong foundation in art while experimenting with drawing, painting, collage, and a variety of other media. You’ll learn the elements and principles of design, explore the work of a wide range of artists, and develop the skills needed to communicate your own ideas through art. Creative problem-solving is at the heart of this course. Through hands-on projects, research, sketchbook work, and regular practice, you’ll experiment, take creative risks, and discover what makes your work uniquely yours.

A young girl with a long braid paints a floral scene on a canvas in an art studio. — Painting
Explore color. Experiment with paint. Create something uniquely yours. In this course, students explore the creative possibilities of tempera, watercolor, acrylic, ink, and other painting media. You’ll learn how to see, mix, and use color while developing the techniques and skills needed to work confidently with a variety of painting tools and materials. From still life and landscapes to portraits, abstract art, and non-objective compositions, you’ll explore a wide range of subjects and artistic approaches. Along the way, you’ll study artists and their work while developing your ability to look closely, think critically, and make creative choices.

Ceramics
Get your hands dirty and turn clay into something amazing. In this hands-on studio course, students explore the creative and technical world of ceramics through handbuilding and wheel throwing. You’ll learn how to shape, construct, and glaze clay while creating both functional pottery and sculptural works of art. Along the way, you’ll discover the science behind clay, explore different clay bodies and glazes, learn to use a variety of tools, and dive into the rich history of pottery and ceramics.

Courses Designed for All Students

Our curriculum prepares students for post-secondary success by strengthening their skills and understanding in theory, design, and artistic practice.
Visual arts courses at Thornton Academy are designed for all students—not only those pursuing careers in the arts. Students typically begin with Visual Arts I, where they build a foundation in the elements and principles of art. From there, they are encouraged to expand their interests and abilities through studio courses in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics.

Visual Arts I

Students will learn the elements and principles of design, and develop skills and perception through drawing, painting, collage, and other media. Learning about a variety of artists and their work will be embedded in the curriculum. This class stresses creative problem solving as an important part of an artist’s work. Reading, research, written work, and sketchbook homework will be assigned on a regular basis. Students will develop a portfolio of work, which will be considered part of their final grade.

Visual Arts II

Students will expand on the skills they have learned in VAI
while exploring complex concepts, meaning, and big ideas
in their own artworks in a wide range of mediums. Media
may include but is not limited to: drawing, painting, mixed
media, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and ceramics.
Historical and contemporary influences will inspire all artmaking. Research, project planning, homework completion, the development of a digital portfolio, and additional time in the studio is essential for student success.

Ceramics

This is a hands-on studio course that focuses on various handbuilding and wheel throwing construction methods. Students will learn about the technical aspects of working with clay and glazes to create both functional and sculptural, well-designed pottery. Clay bodies, the stages of clay, tools, glazes, and the history of pottery are important topics that will be covered. Research, creative problem solving, and group critiques are all integral components for this class. Additional time developing projects in the clay studio will be required.

Sculpture

This sculpture class is designed for students that have a desire to work within the 3-dimensional format. Students will design and create a variety of 3-dimensional sculptural forms, exploring the use of space in various media, such as paper, clay, wood, plaster, or found objects. Research, the history of sculpture, creative problem solving, and group critiques are all integral components for this class. Additional studio time is required for success in this studio class.

Drawing

Students will be introduced to the methods, materials, and
aesthetics of drawing and working with media such as graphite, conté, charcoal, pastels, and ink. Subject matter and content in this class will include but is not limited to still life, landscape, animal study, architecture, the human form, and portraiture. Art history, research, project planning, weekly sketchbook completion, the development of a digital portfolio, and additional time in the studio is essential for student success.

Painting

Students will explore the beginning techniques, processes, and
aesthetic aspects of working in tempera, watercolor, acrylic,
ink, and other paint-based media. Students will learn how to
see and use color, understand and apply the science of color,
and learn how to use painting tools properly and creatively.
Students will study a wide range of subject matter, including
but not limited to still life, landscape, portraiture, abstract, and
non-objective themes. Art history, art criticism, and aesthetics
are an integral part of coursework. Research, project planning,
homework completion, the development of a digital portfolio,
and additional time in the studio is essential for student success.

AP Art & Design

The Advanced Placement Art & Design Program consists of three portfolio options—2D design (includes photography), 3D design, and drawing, which correspond to the most common college foundation courses. AP Art & Design is not based on a written exam; instead, students must submit a portfolio and written commentary in May to the AP College Board. Advanced Placement Art & Design is a course designed for senior artists who will be applying for admission as a visual art major at the post-secondary level. Summer coursework is assigned upon acceptance in the spring, and is due the first day of school in the fall. Quarter one concentrates on portfolio preparation and documentation for the post-secondary art program application process. The art-making pace and process is rigorous and requires an advanced skill set in media and technique, research completion, complex concept, and ideation documentation; and sophisticated work production in and outside of the studio.

Unified Art

Unified Art is structured around standards addressed in our
visual arts curriculum.The content is designed to create an
environment that supports the development of leadership skills for all students and the empowerment of all students to foster an inclusive class and school-wide environment. Pursuing various methods of artistic study and expression, all students will enhance their understanding of the world and increase their ability to communicate.