Visual Arts

Early Childhood Art with Ms. Christina Mariotti

Christina is a beloved artist in the Fayetteville community and has worked at The New School for 13 years.

Here are her words:

“I am located in the large and beautiful, high ceiling room called the Studio in the Early Childhood area. There are so many things to do in our space, but one of our favorite things is making art and talking about other artist’s techniques. The space is very accommodating and allows us to paint in large scale using different size brushes and different size paper. Three dimensional items that we construct are put together with tape  cardboard and Styrofoam pieces and then sometimes that will be painted on. The concept of what can be painted on is endless and gives the children a sense of freedom".

Early Childhood Outdoor Classroom with Ms. Natalie Ramsey

The outdoor classroom is an outdoor open space that offers children opportunities for big movement, vigorous social play, and explorations big and small. Their activities help them refine motor skills and teach them how the world works.  Children ages 3-4 get the opportunity to garden, dig, make mud pies in our outdoor mud kitchen and take nature walks around our beautiful campus. 

K-4th Art with Ms. Katie Parker

In our lower school art classes, students are introduced to several different artists, techniques, and mediums throughout the year.  They practice age appropriate skills that correlate with those artists and techniques and also experience other hands-on art projects.  Students come to art knowing that they can express themselves in creative ways, learn new skills, use their imaginations, and make beautiful messes!

We have an annual art show in the spring semester where each student's artwork is represented and displayed throughout the school.  This is always an exciting time for the students because it gives them a sense of pride and ownership while also celebrating their hard work. 

5th-6th Art/STEAM with Ms. Lauren Whitmore

Middle School artists are building upon foundational methods of making while using materials in both new and familiar ways. We are refining motor skills through creation and communication; students will be learning some American Sign Language as well! Through focusing on safety, self-discipline, and emotional control, Middle School artists are able to begin using more complex tools and technology in constructing both 2-D and 3-D art. Additionally, students are synthesizing the creative process with problem solving and critical thinking skills to figure out how to ideate a project and actualize it. Utilizing lectures, discussions, first hand experience, and student-driven research, we will be learning about typifying artists and their work alongside periods in art history. Our Middle School students are already making fantastic work, and we have a marvelous year ahead of us!

7th-12th Art with Ms. Aaron Giles

Our upper school art classes are busy this semester! We will be working on a variety of projects using mixed media in our Visual Arts class from collage to 3D sculptures. The Graphic Design I students are learning Adobe Illustrator and will be creating artwork digitally with an expressive flare. Ms. Aaron is teaching a few special classes this year including Fiber Arts, Printmaking, Ceramics, and AP 2D Studio Art. 

Below are brief descriptions of the goals for the Upper School art classes.