In Visual Arts, students are encouraged to explore deeper meanings in art and the world. Art is a powerful tool of expression, which is why we offer multiple ways for students to make a statement.
Here, students can study painting, drawing, design, and sculpture; they can explore technical and aesthetic challenges; venture into ceramics, or design their own fashion show as an Art Major. Take advantage of a personal year-round studio space and discover artistic passions — we have all the tools to help.
At Cheshire Academy, there are no prerequisites and no restrictions; we provide you with space, tools, and independence to work and grow both recreationally and studiously. Within our department, we encourage you to apply the visual arts contextually to the world around you. Drawing from both contemporary art and art history, you’ll develop an understanding of the elements and principles of art and design such as composition, color, and perspective.
Whether you wish to pursue art in college or simply need a creative outlet, we have the flexibility, resources and time to help you discover new talents. Importantly, you’ll develop more confidence in your abilities to express yourself in new and exciting ways.
Ceramics (click to expand)
Students in our ceramics program take advantage of hand, wheel, and mold methods of construction. They examine special hand building and wheel techniques, glaze and decoration methods, and firing processes, and leave the program with the success and knowledge of throwing a bowl and cup on a wheel, and understanding to use the pinch, coil, and slab methods.
Digital Photography (click to expand)
In this course, students are introduced to digital photography technology and software, and are assigned school-issued Canon DSLR cameras. Students learn and use Adobe Bridge as a tool for organization and storage, and Photoshop CC as the central tool for editing. Beyond building upon and improving their own photography skills, students learn the works of other photographers, digital artists, and various sophisticated techniques that can further evoke their own skills and talents.
Drawing (click to expand)
Cheshire Academy’s drawing class is dedicated to those desiring to focus on drawing as a means of visual inquiry. Not only do students learn about gesture, contour line, positive and negative space, and other integral parts to visual work, they also manipulate a variety of mediums, including pencil, ink, pastel, oil pastel, and others.
Painting (click to expand)
In painting, students learn to accurately discern relationships of shape, form, color, and value through various paint mediums. Students explore through use of watercolor, acrylic, and tempera paint, developing disciplined technical skills with those mediums, such as paint handling and application.
Printmaking (click to expand)
Our printmaking program is perfect for students interested in monoprint, lithography, transfer, woodcut, linoleum, and drypoint. Printmaking students learn to mix various elements to achieve the correct viscosity of ink, to apply the right amount of ink to their selected surface, and to effectively wipe a plate to achieve a good print. Printmaking is structured, yet spontaneous as to encourage each student’s originality and self-expression.